Dasgupta, Shashibhusan (1911-1964) scholar, critic, and writer, was born in the village of Chandrahar in barisal district. He passed IA from B M College, Barisal, BA (Hons) in Philosophy from Scottish Church College, Kolkata, and MA in Bangla Language and Literature (1935) from Calcutta University. In 1939, he also obtained his PhD degree from this university.

After completing his MA, Shashibhusan joined the Bangla Department at Calcutta University as a researcher. For his scholarly work he won the premchand-roychand studentship (1937) and was appointed lecturer in the Bangla Department. In 1955, he was appointed Ramtanu Lahiri Professor and then head of the department.

The principal achievements of Shashibhusan were in philosophy. He identified the form of Indian spiritual meditation and demonstrated the relationship of Buddhist tantricism and Saivite-Sakta-Vaishnava philosophies with bangla literature. His major writings in this area are Obscure Religious Cults: As a Background of Bengali Literature (1946), An Introduction to Tantric Buddhism (1950), Aspects of Indian Religious Thought, Shriradhar Kramavikash: Darshane O Sahitye (1952) and Bharater Shaktisadhna O Shakta Sahitya (1960). His writings on literature include Bangla Sahityer Nabayug, Bangla Sahityer Ekdik, Sahityer Svarup, Upanisader Patabhumikay Rabindramanas, Upama Kalidasasya, Kavi Jatindranath O Adhunik Bangla Kavitar Pratham Paryay, Tolstoy Gandhi O Rabindranath, Shilpalipi, Bharatiya Sadhanar Aikya, Bauddhadharma O Charyagiti etc. He also wrote novels, plays, poems and books for children. In recognition of his scholarship, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Prize (1961). Shashibhusan Dasgupta died in Kolkata on 21 July 1964. [Mahbubul Haque]