To write a biyer biodata in English, translate the labels and the ordinary words, but keep Bengali names, places and kushti terms as they are, in English letters. So "Babar Naam" becomes Father's Name, and "Adi Bari" becomes Native Place, while gan stays "Gan" and gotra stays "Gotra". Use one spelling for every name and keep it everywhere.
Most Kolkata families, and almost every family sending a proposal outside Bengal or abroad, use an English biodata. Many keep a Bengali copy as well for elders and the ghatak.
When an English Biodata Makes Sense
An English copy is the practical choice in a few common cases. The other family is from another state. The boy or girl works in Bengaluru, Pune or abroad and will read it first. The proposal comes through a matrimony site or office colleagues. Or a cousin who reads no Bengali is helping to check the match.
For grandparents in Bardhaman or a jyotishi who matches kushtis in Bengali, the Bengali copy still reads better. Making both from the same details is easy, as shown below.
Bengali Biodata Words and Their English Form
| Bengali biodata word | Write in English as | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Patrer / Patrir Biodata | Marriage Biodata, or Biodata | The ready English titles |
| Babar naam, Mayer naam | Father's Name, Mother's Name | Labels translate |
| Sri, Smt. | Shri / Mr., Smt. / Mrs. | Keep the family's habit |
| Swargiya, Marhum | Late | "Late Debasish Sen" |
| Adi bari | Native Place | Add "now Bangladesh" if it applies |
| Bartaman basasthan | Current City | Where the family lives now |
| Kushti / kosthi | Horoscope details | The section heading |
| Rashi, nakshatra, lagna | Rasi, Nakshatra, Lagna | Keep the terms |
| Gan | Gan (Deb, Nara or Rakshas) | Explain once in brackets if needed |
| Mangal dosh | Manglik | Yes, No, Partial or Don't Know |
| Mama | Maternal Uncle | Not just "uncle" |
| Dada, Didi | Elder Brother, Elder Sister | |
| Jamaibabu | Brother-in-law (sister's husband) | |
| Grihini | Homemaker |
Two traps. "Mama" translated by a tool often comes out as plain "uncle", which loses whose brother he is. And "Bangal" or "Ghoti" do not need translating at all. If the family wants to say it, write it as it is.
Star and Rashi Names That Change
On an English biodata, rashi and nakshatra print in their Sanskrit form, which is not always the Bengali spelling the family knows. A few examples:
| Bengali kushti | English biodata |
|---|---|
| Brisha | Vrishabha |
| Karkat | Karka |
| Brishchik | Vrishchika |
| Punarbasu | Punarvasu |
| Bishakha | Vishakha |
| Shrabana | Shravana |
| Rebati | Revati |
They are the same signs and stars. If an elder compares the two copies, tell them so. When you search for a star in our form, typing the Bengali spelling may not find it, so pick it from the list by its Sanskrit name.
Names and Spellings
Bengali names have more than one English spelling. Soumik, Sowmik and Saumik are all common, and so are Chatterjee and Chattopadhyay. Pick the spelling on the person's certificates or passport, and use exactly that spelling on the biodata, in WhatsApp messages and on matrimony sites.
Places too. Bardhaman or Burdwan, Barishal or Barisal. Either is fine. Just do not use both in one biodata.
What You Type Does Not Translate
In our maker, switching the language changes the labels, the section titles, and list answers such as diet, family type and marital status. It does not touch what you typed: names, college, job line, About Me and your own fields stay exactly as they are.
So if the Bengali copy has the name typed in Bengali script, retype it in English letters for the English copy. Rewrite About Me in English yourself. Machine translation of a Bengali About Me usually reads stiff and sometimes wrong. Also rename own fields, for example Gan stays Gan, but a field you named Didi in Bengali script needs an English label.
Our longer guide on translating a biodata into English covers the general rules and the mistakes tools make.
A Filled English Sample
The details are made up. The kushti rows are examples, not worked out from the date.
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ayan Chakraborty |
| Date of Birth | 3 March 1994 |
| Time of Birth | 5:40 am |
| Place of Birth | Howrah |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Caste / Community | Brahmin |
| Education | B.Tech (Electrical), Kalyani Government Engineering College |
| Job / Occupation | Senior engineer, a private company, Salt Lake |
| Rasi | Karka |
| Nakshatra | Pushya, Pada 1 |
| Chevvai / Manglik | No |
| Gotra | Shandilya |
| Gan (own field) | Deb gan |
| Father's Name | Shri Prabir Chakraborty, retired, Indian Railways |
| Mother's Name | Smt. Ruma Chakraborty, homemaker |
| Sisters | 1 (married) |
| Native Place | Faridpur, now Bangladesh |
| Current City | Howrah |
Pushya is in Karka rashi and in Deb gan, so the three rows agree.
Making Both Copies
- In the biodata maker, pick Bengali and fill everything in. Download the PDF.
- Change the biodata language to English. Labels and list answers switch to English.
- Retype the name and any Bengali-script text in English letters. Rewrite About Me.
- Check the preview and download the English PDF.
If the name and date of birth stay the same, the second language copy does not count as a new biodata. The next screen after every PDF also offers a free Word file (.docx) of that copy for Microsoft Word.
On an English biodata the blessing line starts switched off. Turn it on and the Bengali lines, such as Sri Sri Prajapataye Namah, are still there under the Bengali heading. To build the Bengali copy first, you can make a Bengali biodata here.
Common questions
Should a Bengali Biodata Be in Bengali or English?
Choose by the reader. English for other states, abroad and matrimony sites. Bengali for elders, the ghatak and most families in the districts. Many families keep both.
How Do I Write Adi Bari in English?
Write Native Place, then the district, and "now Bangladesh" if it applies: "Faridpur, now Bangladesh".
How Do I Write Gan in English?
Keep the word: "Gan: Nara gan". Add "(Deb, Nara or Rakshas)" once if the reader may not know it.
Will the Rashi Print as Brisha on an English Biodata?
No. It prints under its Sanskrit name, Vrishabha. It is the same sign.
Can I Use Google Translate for the Whole Biodata?
For a rough draft only. Fix names, kushti terms and relations like Mama by hand.
Related Guides
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