Narayan Debnath, creator of Handa Bhonda and Bantul The Great, passes away

The creator of Bantul The Great, Handa Bhonda, Nonte Phonte and many other such characters, Narayan Debnath, breathed his last on Tuesday morning round 10.15 am. He was 96. The artist was suffering from several health complications for a long time. He was admitted to a private hospital on December 24, last year, with neurological and respiratory problems. He was put on ventilation on January 17 after his condition deteriorated.
Narayan Debnath was born in 1925, shibpur, Howrah in a family of jewellery makers.From an early age, he would make designs of jewellery and was drawn towards art. After his schooling, he took admission to government art college, but could not complete it because of the raging World War II. Fresh out of college, he started his career with a few advertising agencies. Slowly he got drawn to cartoons and created his famous characters one by one. Last week, the senior cartoonist received the Padma Shri Award at the hospital bed by state ministers.
In January 2021, Narayan Debnath was admitted to the same hospital after facing several complications. A special multidisciplinary medical board, constructed by the hospital, informed that From Tuesday morning his condition deteriorated. Blood pressure and heart rate turned unstable.
After his death, not just artists, painters but several politicians including the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, expressed grief and extended condolences.