Hensman anthony biography of william

Indian singer, writer and folk poet

For the 1967 film, see Antony Firingee (film).

Anthony Firingee (1786–1836; Bengali: Antōnī Phiringī, lit. 'Anthony the foreigner'), born as Hensman Anthony, was a Bengali languagekavigan singer-writer and folk poet of Portuguese origin known for his works in Bengali devotional songs in the early part of the 19th century.

He was also noted for his performance in literary face-offs known as Kavigan.^[1][2]

Biography

Born Hensman Anthony, the sobriquet Firingee (though an Indian by birth) was used colloquially as a reference to his Portuguese origins.

Although not much is known of his early life, Anthony arrived in Bengal sometime in early 19th century and subsequently came to settle in Farashdanga, in the town of Chandannagar in West Bengal.

He married a Hindu Brahmin widow named Saudamini and was deeply influenced by Bengali culture and language, as well as the Hindu religion.

Eventual