Bharatchandra (1712-1760)  medieval narrative poet, was born at Penro Basantapur (Pandua) village under Bhurshut Pargana of Howrah and Hughli districts, son of Narendra Narayan Ray, zamindar of Bhurshut Pargana, and Bhavani Devi.

Bharatchandra was proficient in Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, and Hindi. He studied grammar, drama, rhetoric, music, the Puranas and Agam or the esoteric shastras (of the Hindus) and also taught these subjects. He was the court poet of the King of Navadwip, krishnachandra roy, on whose orders he wrote Annadamangal (1752).

Annadamangal was not only Bharatchandra's greatest achievement, it is also one of the finest extant examples of medieval bangla literature. When the poem was written, Bengal was under Muslim rule. Life was unsettled and there were frequent conflicts. There was also a famine. These events are reflected in the poem. Although the ostensible purpose of Annadamangal was to portray the greatness of the goddess Annapurna, who was worshipped by Krishna Chandra, Bharatchandra also portrayed real-life characters like Bhavananda.

Annadamangal is in three parts. The first part describes the 'Daksa Yajna' or the great sacrifice performed by Daksa, the marriage of shiva, the goddess's incarnation as Annapurna, the construction of Benares by Vyasa, the birth of Bhavananda, etc. The second part contains the tale of Vidyasundar, while the third part contains the fight between Mansingh and Bhavananda. The last part describes the journey of Mansingh to jessore via Burdwan and his defeat of pratapaditya. It goes on to narrate how Bhavananda went to Delhi and was imprisoned on the orders of Jahangir and finally how Bhavananda was freed by the grace of the goddess Annada.

Other writings of Bharatchandra include satyapirer panchali (1737-38), Rasamanjari (1740-43), Nagastakam (1745-50), Vidyasundar, Chandinatak, Gangastakam, etc. However, Annadamangal is considered his masterpiece. King Krishna Chandra gave the poet the title 'Raigunakar' in recognition of his poetic achievements.

Bharatchandra was perhaps the greatest of the 18th century poets. Annadamangal displays an elegance of language and lyrical quality coupled with a brilliant use of rhetorical devices. Bharatchandra died in 1760, his death signalling the end of the medieval period of Bangla literature. [Khandker Muzammil Haq]