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Kazi Nazrul Islam Biography

Born On: 25th May 1899
Born In: Churulia, Burdwan District of West Bengal
Died On: 29th August 1976
Career: Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary
Nationality: Indian

Nazrul said, "Even though I was born in this country (Bengal), in this society, I don't belong to just this country, this society. I belong to the world." Also known as the 'Vidrohi kobi' or 'rebel' poet' in Bengali literature and 'bulbul' or 'nightingale' of Bengali music, Kazi Nazrul Islam was one of the most inspiring personalities of undivided Bengal between 1920 and 1930. For a significant part of his life, he was considered as the pioneer of post Tagore modernity in Bengali poetry. The several ways in which he expressed himself include poems, short stories, plays and political activities. Most of his works protested against the slavery, communalism, feudalism and colonialism forced upon India by the British rule. To sum it all up, in the 1000 year history of Bengali music, K. N. Islam was the most original and creative. He brought traditional music to the people by fusing different elements of North Indian classical music.

Early Life
Kazi Nazrul was born on May 24th 1899 in Churulia village in the district of Burdwan, West Bengal. He lost his father, Kazi Fakir Ahmed at an early age and was nicknamed 'Dukhu Mia' or 'sorrow' by the village people because of the hardships and misery he faced in his early life.

He became the muazzin of the village mosque at the age of ten and started teaching at the local school. It was at this point that he leaned about the practices of Islam which led him to join his uncle, Bazle Karim's folk group as a performer and composer. It is believed that his motivation in literature came from this stint.

At 11 years, he resumed his studies only to discontinue them again due to financial crisis and work in a bakery and tea shop in Asansole. However, in 1914, he re-entered school in Mymensingh district and managed to complete class 10.

In 1917, he joined the Indian Army and served it for three years as Battalion Quarter Master Havildar. Nazrul's engagement with a girl called Nargis ended in 1921 owing to her father's unreasonable conditions and he later married Pramila Devi in 1924.

Career
In May 1919, while serving the army, Nazrul composed and published his first piece 'The Autobiography of a Delinquent' or "Saogat". He was already publishing literary periodicals like Parbasi, Bharatbarsha and others from the Karachi Cantonment.

After leaving the army in 1920, he settled in Calcutta and joined the 'Bangiya Mussalman Sahiya Samiti' where he wrote his first poem 'Bandhan-hara' or 'Freedom from bondage'. He kept adding other poems viz., 'Bodhan', Shat-il-Arab', 'Kheya-parer Tarani' and 'Badal Prater Sharab' etc. to the same collection for several years and was critically acclaimed all over the country for these.

Nazrul worked with great writers like Mohammas Mozammel Haq, Afzalul Haq, Kazi etc and also visited the Shantiniketan to meet Rabindranath Tagore in 1921 with whom he maintained close association.

In 1922, he reached the peak with his work with 'Bidrohi' which appealed to the classes and the masses alike. It was published in 'Bijli' (Thunder) magazine and was co-incidentally in accordance with the civil disobedience movement of 1942.

In 1922, a bi-weekly magazine, 'Dhumketu' ('Comet'), published his political poem which led to Nazrul's arrest. On April 14th 1923, he was transferred to Hooghly in Calcutta and was later released in December 1923. While imprisoned, he composed a large number of poems and songs.

Kazi Nazrul Islam became a critic of the "Khilafat" struggle and the Indian National Congress for not embracing political independence from the British Empire. He encouraged people to fight against the British and organized the 'Sramik Praja Swaraj Dal'. On 16th December 1925, Nazrul started publishing the weekly 'Langal' as the chief editor.

In 1926, he settled in Krishnanagar and wrote poetry and songs for the downtrodden and weak classes of the society. His famous poem 'Daridro' ('Pain or Poverty') was written during this time. Nazrul also composed ghazals in Bengali and became the first person to introduce Islam into traditional music. The first record was a huge success. Shamasangeet, Bhajan and Kirtan that combined Hindu devotional music was also created by him.

In 1928, he started working as a lyricist, composer and music director for 'His Master's Voice Gramophone Company'. His songs, together called 'Nazrul geet', were broadcasted over several radio stations and he was enlisted with the Indian Broadcasting Company.
After his mother's demise, Nazrul's works changed from topics of rebellion to religion. He got into mainstream Bengali folk music and explored 'namaz' (prayer), 'roza' (fasting) and 'hajj' (pilgrimage). He devoted works to 'Qu'ran' and the life of Islam's prophet 'Muhammad'.

In 1933, he published a collection of essays - 'Modern World Literature' - which had different themes and styles of literature. He also published 800 songs based on classical ragas, kirtans and patriotic songs in 10 volumes.
Nazrul slowly moved in Indian theatre in the year 1934 and the first picture for which he acted was based on Girish Chandra's story called 'Bhakta Dhruva'. He also composed and sang for this movie. A film "Vidyapati", based on his play, was featured in 1936. One of his biggest moves in the industry was writing songs and directing music for 'Siraj-ud-Daula' - a bioepic play.

1939 was a good year for him where he began working for the Calcutta radio and he started producing music such as 'Haramoni' and 'Navaraga-malika'. He sang predominantly in the raga 'Bhairay'. In 1940, he started working as a chief editor for 'Nabayug', founded by A.K. Fazlul Huq.

When Rabindranath Tagore died on 8th August 1941, he composed two poems dedicated to the veteran.

Death
Nazrul's health started deteriorating as a result of Pramila Devi's paralysis and he underwent several mental treatments after 1941. He even stayed at a mental asylum for four months in 1942 and was re-admitted in Ranchi in 1952. A group of admirers called "Nazrul Treatment Society" along with his prominent supporters, sent Nazrul and Pramila to London and Vienna where Nazrul was diagnosed of Pick's disease. His condition was incurable and he returned to India in 1953. Later, his wife's demise in 1962 followed by his youngest son's in 1974 took a toll on Nazrul and he succumbed to his illness on the 29th of August 1976. In accordance to his last wishes, he was buried on the campus of University of Dhaka near the mosque.

Awards And Accolades
Nazrul was awarded the Jagattarini Gold Medal in 1945, by the University of Calcutta for his work in Bengali Literature.
He got the Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian honours, in 1960.
He was conferred the title of 'national poet' and 'Ekushey Padak' by the Government of Bangladesh.
He was also honoured with Honours in D. Litt. by the University of Dhaka.

Legacy
Kazi Nazrul Islam's works have been acclaimed as well as criticized for egoism, but his admirers who supported him throughout his life, considered this as self-confidence more than ego. They said that he had the ability to defy God and yet be devoted.

As against Tagore's sophisticated style, he was rugged and unique. He used Persian in his works but compensated this with his use of rich and imaginative language for children's works.

He is still regarded for his secularism and was the first person to include the rise of Christians in Bengal in his books. He was regarded for the cultural renaissance that he brought out through his literature.

Several learning centers were opened in his memory including the Nazrul Endowment. Here, large collections of his works are preserved till date. The Bangladesh Nazrul Sena is an organization that works on children education throughout Bangladesh.

Timeline
1899: Born on May 24th in Churulia of West Bengal.
1917: Joined the Indian Armed Forces.
1919: Wrote 'Autobiography of a Delinquent'.
1920: Left the forces and composed Bandhan-hara, his first poem.
1921: Visited Santhiniketan and met Rabindranath Tagore.
1922: Peaked with his work called 'Bidrohi', 'Agniveena' and so on.
1923: Was arrested for the content in his magazine called 'Dhumketu'
1924: Married Pramila Devi.
1925: Became the Chief Editor of 'Langal'.
1926: Started composing 'mass music' and was known for his poem called 'Daridro'.
1928: Lyricist, composer and music director with 'His Master's Voice Gramophone Company'.
1933: Published 'Modern World Literature'.
1934: Acted and composed music for 'Bhakta Dhruva'.
1936: A play based on his work 'Vidyapati' was released.
1939: Started working for Calcutta radio.
1940: Chief Editor of 'Nabayug'.
1941: Tagore's death which led to writing of 'Rabihara'.
1962: Nazrul's wife died.
1974: Nazrul's son died.
1976: Died on 29th August of an unnatural cause.

[MysteRy]

Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay Biography

Born On: 12 September 1894
Born In: Ghoshpara-Muratipur village, Bengal, British India
Died On: 1 November 1950
Career: Writer, novelist
Nationality: Indian

A renowned figure and a celebrated name amongst the Bengali literary fraternity, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was a critically acclaimed Bengali novelist and writer born on the 12th of September 1894. He is known for his autobiographical novel "Pather Panchali", which got incorporated into 'Apu Trilogy' films by Satyajit Ray. Bibhutibhushan was a man of simple living and simple words and his ideologies were very visible in his writings. Realism was one of the main plots of his writings apart from the themes he picked up from the happy and sad real life experiences. He was a writer who portrayed a beautiful combination of human beings and nature and showed the peaceful aspect of life. It was his ability of putting across serious thoughts and realms of life in simple language to the people that gained him the popularity and respect he enjoys. In order to learn more on Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's profile, childhood, life, and timeline read on.

Childhood
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was born on the 12th September 1894, in Kalyani, Muratipur village in the Nadia of Bengal, British India. He was born at his maternal uncle's house in a Hindu Brahmin family. His father Mahananda Bandopadhyay, was a 'Kathak' - a person who recites stories for a living - and also a Sanskrit scholar. Bibhutibhushan finished his schooling in Bongaon High School, which happened to be one of the oldest institutions in British India. He also taught in the same school at the beginning of his work life. Bibhutibhushan's childhood and early life was shadowed by the clouds of poverty, but he nevertheless fought his way through to complete his undergraduate degree in History from the Surendranath College in Kolkata. However, since he was not financially strong to enrol for the postgraduate course at the University of Calcutta, he had to discontinue his studies. After this, the burden of his family's economic wellness came on to his shoulders.

Early Life
The career of a writer did not come easy to Bandopadhyay. Due to the economic crisis of his family, he had to take up various odd jobs to make ends meet before taking up writing seriously. He taught at the school from where he completed his schooling, he also took up the job of a secretary and even managed an estate until finally, in 1921 he got an opportunity to publish his first short story "Upekshita" in a leading literary magazine of Bengal named 'Probashi'. But, it was not until 1928 that Bandopadhyay published his first novel, "Pather Panchali", for which he received critical attention and acclaim. It was with this novel that he became a prominent name in Bengali literature.

Career And Work
Bibhutibhushan took up writing novels and short stories at a time when there was a lot of research going on regarding the social degradation and economic imbalance. However, his writings did not emphasize on these aspects of research, rather they focused on simple life, human figures and the environmental pleasure of rural Bengal and the people of Bengal. He wrote in simple language and in a way that his ideas reached the common man. Realism is another major aspect that his writings portrayed. His writings picturised the subtle relationship shared by human beings and nature and put across a peaceful picture of human beings, animals, birds, rivers and other aspects of nature.

Bandopadhyay used to walk miles into the woods every day and carried a book along usually. He loved to put down his thoughts in writing amongst the peaceful environment of wilderness. His famous novel "Pather Panchali" was picked up by film-maker Satyajit Ray and converted into a movie of the same name as a part of the memorable 'Apu Trilogy'. Some of the famous works of Bandopadhyay apart from 'Pather Panchali' are 'Aparajito', 'Aranyak', 'Chander Pahar', 'Heera Manik Jwale', 'Adarsha Hindu Hotel', 'Ichhamati', 'Bipiner Sangsar', 'Anubartan', 'Kosi Pranganeyer Chitthi', 'Dristi Pradeep', 'Debjan', 'Ashani Sanket', 'Kedar Raja', 'Dampati', 'Sundarbane Sat Batsar' (which he couldn't complete), 'Dui Bari', 'Kajol' (Sequel of Aparajito, completed by his son Taradas), 'Mismider Kabach', 'Jatrabadol', 'MeghaMallar', 'Mauriphool' and 'Tal Nabami' etc.

Marriage And Relationships
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's first wife, Gouri Devi, died during childbirth one year after their marriage. This tragic occurrence and the loneliness that it brought about and shadowed his life became a prominent theme in his early writings. He remarried at the age of 46 to his second wife, Rama Chattopadhyay, from whom he had his only son, Taradas, in 1947.

Death
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay left for holy abode on the 1st of November 1950 after suffering a coronary attack. He was 56 years old then and was staying in Ghatshila.

Timeline And Literary Works
1894: Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was born on 12th September
1921: He published his first short story "Upekshita" in a leading Bengali literary magazine
Early 1920s: Married Gouri Devi who died in childbirth a year after the marriage.
1928: Bandopadhyay published his first novel, "Pather Panchali"
1940: Got married to Rama Chattopadhyay
1947: His only son Taradas was born.
1950: Bandopadhyay suffered a fatal heart attack and breathed his last on 1st November in Ghatshila.

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Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane Biography

Born On: 1880 (date unknown)
Born In: Maharashtra, India
Died On: 1972 (date unknown)
Career: Indologist and Scholar
Nationality: Indian

Some of the greatest writings on social reforms of India came from this man, Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane. He was conferred with an honorary degree of doctor of law at a special convocation ceremony. He was an indologist, i.e., a person who excels at languages and literature, and could converse easily in both Sanskrit and English. He authored several books, especially on religious and civil law. In these books, he compiled the scriptures of ancient and medieval India. Being a scholar, this great person was revered all over the country. The book 'History of Dharmasastra', penned by Dr. Kane is, by far, one of the most inspiring books written about the social reforms of ancient India. The title 'Mahamahopadhyaya' (the greatest teacher of all teachers) was bestowed upon him in his later days and in 1963, he was given the highest civilian award of India, the Bharat Ratna.

Early Life
Dr. Kane was born in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra to a very conservative Chitpavan Brahmin family. Not much is known about his background or his family history. Dr. Kane graduated from the University of Mumbai and worked there as a historian and Vice Chancellor. He also helped in establishing the Kurukshetra University in Indic studies.

Career
In 1930, Dr. Kane's best known work, 'History of Dharmasastra' - which was under the subtitle 'Ancient and Medieval Religions and Civil Law in India' - was published. This book's launch was announced by Dr. Radhakrishnan and it has been a significant landmark in the history of India. The book was a true combination of conception and execution and has nearly 6500 pages of information, such as several texts and manuscripts, all compiled in one. It is also known to contain certain information on the Mahabharat, Puranas and Kautilya in Sanskrit. Dr. Kane's basic idea behind writing the book was to make the public aware of the ancient social laws and customs in India and also to study the social processes that were prevalent in ancient India. The last publication was on November 17th 1962. He was said to have used reliable resources like the Asiatic Society of Bombay and the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.

His next work as an author was a book called 'Vyavaharamayukha'. An introductory paragraph on the history of Dharmasastra was included in this book so that the reader got a fair idea of the subject, apart from the contents of the book itself. This became one of his major works and was translated into English and Marathi, apart from being written in Sanskrit. It was made up of nearly 15000 pages.

An additional part of Dr. Kane's career was spent in debating the Indian constitution. He believed that these set of rules and regulations were a break from traditional ideas that were widespread in India. He further implied that people residing in this country have rights but no obligations.

Several issues were brought to light due to the nature of his work and writings. During the reign of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee in India, there was a discussion whether the ancient Indian ate beef. For answers, they reverted to Dr. Kane's works to prove that Hindus respected and worshipped the Cow and eating beef was not allowed. Another example was the issue of whether girls in India were allowed to wear the sacred thread. But, it was found out, through his books, that it was restricted only to men.

Death
The exact date and cause of Dr. Kane's death remain unknown. However, it is confirmed that it happened in the year 1972 when he was 92 years old.

Awards And Accolades
He was the Mahamahopadhyaya for his excellence in writings. Therefore, his name is always prefixed with an MM.
He was awarded the prestigious, Sahiya Akademi Award in 1956 for 'History of Dharmasastra, Vol IV' under the category of Sanskrit translation.
Dr. Kane was also an esteemed honorary member of the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan where he achieved new heights of greatness.
Becoming a part of the Rajya Sabha as a Member of Parliament (MP) was also under his list of achievements and he was there for having a distinguished record in the field of academics.

Last but not least, he was conferred with the highest civilian accolade of India, the Bharat Ratna, in 1963.

Legacy
In 1974, for his study on Religious and Civil Law, the town hall of the Asiatic Society of Bombay (where he conducted his research) commemorated him with an institute called the MM P. V. Kane Institute for Post Graduate Studies and Research.

His legacy is furthered by the fact that a P. V. Kane Gold Medal is given to scholars for their outstanding contribution in the study of Vedic, Dharmasastra or Alankara Literature.

Timeline
1880: Pandurang Kane was born to a conservative family in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.
1930: First publication of 'History of Dharmasastra' was released.
1956: Dr. Kane received the Sahitya Akademi Award for 'History of Dharmasastra, Vol IV' under the category of Sanskrit translation.
1962: Last publication of the 'History of Dharmasastra' was released.
1963: The Government of India bestowed Dr. Kane with the Bharat Ratna (highest civilian award in the Republic of India) for excellence in Literature.
1972: Died at the age of 92.
1974: The Asiatic Society dedicated an institute in his name for study in Religions and Civil Law.

[MysteRy]

Jiddu Krishnamurti Biography

Born On: 12th May, 1895
Born In: Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh
Died On: 17th Feb, 1986
Career: Public Speaker, Author, Philosopher
Nationality: Indian

"I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect" - J. Krishnamurti. Jiddu Krishnamurti was considered a revolutionary writer and speaker on philosophical meditation and was someone who brought about a change in society. Krishnamurti believed that social reforms could only be possible if the minds of the individuals change. He also talked about spiritual issues and urged every human being to think about religious, political and social revolution. He was a 'guru' who never wanted to be one. It is said that Jiddu did not remember much of his childhood. Some called him delusional and others said that this was a sign that he was a self-realized master.

Early Life
Jiddu Krishnamurti was born in a Telugu speaking Brahmin family to Narainiah and Sanjeevamma. His father was employed with the British administration and his mother died when he was just ten years old. In 1903, he shifted base to Cudappah where he attended school. Here, he was considered 'vague and dreamy' and 'mentally retarded'. He started penning childhood memoirs when he was eighteen years old and claimed to have had a psychic vision of his dead sister. His father retired in 1907 and then wrote to the then President of the 'Theosophical Society', Annie Besant seeking employment. He was hired as a clerk and he and his sons moved to the Theosophical Society headquarters in Chennai in 1909.

In May 1909, Krishnamurti met the influential theosophist called Charles Webster Leadbeater. Despite Krishnamurti's unpleasant physical appearence, Leadbeater saw a 'spark' in him and said that he would become a spiritual leader, a great orator and a vehicle for Lord Maitreya - a spiritual entity who appears on earth as a 'World Teacher' to look into the evolution of mankind. After this he was privately tutored under the wing of the Theosophical Society. It was here that he developed such a strong bond with Annie Besant that his father gave Besant a legal guardianship over Krishnamurti.

Career
In 1911, the Theosophical Society named Krishnamurti the head of a new organization called the 'Order of the Star in the East' (OSE) which was to prepare the world for a new 'World Teacher'. This mission received publicity and worldwide press coverage. It is said that he was uncomfortable with publicity surrounding him and his future being foretold.

He was taken to England in 1911 where he gave his first public speech to the members of 'Order of the Star in the East' in London. At the same time, he started writing in magazines and booklets published by the Theosophical Society. After World War I, Krishnamurti gave a series of lectures and held meetings around the world regarding his role as the head of the 'Order of the Star in the East'. He continued writing, most of which revolved around work of the 'Order in preparation for the Coming'.

In 1922, he met Rosalind Williams and they discussed the 'World Teacher Project' at Ojai Valley in California which later became his official residence. During the month of September, he went through a life changing spiritual experience. He experienced a mystical union followed by immense peace. Slowly, the 'process' began and Krishnamurti felt this initially as bodily pain and then unconsciousness, but he always claimed to know his surroundings. Over the next few years, he started talking about more abstract and flexible concepts. On 3rd August 1929, he dissolved the 'Order' in front of Besant in a speech known as the 'Dissolution Speech' which was heard over the radio.

He kept denying the fact that he was a 'World Leader' and never clarified his position. He eventually dissociated himself from the Theosophical Society. He never had the concept of followers and a teacher. J. Krishnamurti spent the rest of his life holding dialogues and giving public talks on nature, beliefs, truth, sorrow, freedom and death. This wise man never believed in dependency and exploitation and never accepted gifts showered on him for his works. He urged people to think independently and gave lecture tours all over the world, published books and transcripts for half a century.

In the years between 1930 and 1944, he engaged himself in speaking tours with a publication company trust called 'Star Publishing Trust'. Rishi Valley School was opened based on his educational ideas. It operated under the 'Krishnamurti Foundations' banner. Throughout the 1930s, he spoke in Europe, America and Australia and spoke about everything that he accepted was true. He faced opposition for this.

Krishnamurti talked of meditation in every discussion and also brought in new terms like 'choiceless awareness' and 'a single consciousness'. In 1938, he spoke of World War-II and for this he came under the surveillance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He stopped giving lectures until 1944, after which when he again became regular. All his lectures were published in 'Krishnamurti Writings Inc'.

In 1953, he started writing prose and his first book was published by a mainstream commercial publisher. Majority of his writings were in third person and he increased the number of talks and dialogues. He met prominent personalities like the Dalai Lama and Jawarhalal Nehru during his time. In 1961, he found a physicist called David Bohm, whose beliefs were parallel to his. They had several discussions together and even met a scientific community.

In the late 1980s Jiddu Krishnamurti wrote the basic elements of his teachings called 'Core of the Teaching', in which he stressed on knowledge and man being built as a sense of his images - religious, political and personal.

Contributions

Books
'Freedom from Known', 'Awakening of Intelligence', 'The Ending of Time', 'The Future of Humanity', 'Truth and Actuality', 'The First and Last Freedom', 'Wholeness of Life', 'Think on these Things' and some meditation books are major contributions by Krishnamurti.

Poems
'Hymn of the Innate Triumphant', 'My Beloved and I are One', 'Thou Art There' and 'From Darkness To Light: Poems of the Parable' were some of the poetic works of Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Education
'A Purpose of Education', 'The Act of Learning', 'Discussion with the Teachers', 'On Order', 'The Fundamental Meaning of Co-operation' and 'A Different Kind of Education' were some of his most influential works.

Death
Jiddu Krishnamurti died on 17th February, 1986 at the age of 90 in California, due to pancreatic cancer.

Legacy
Krishanmurti's works were inspiring and many take interest in reading them even today. His books have been brought out in the form of videos and audio books. The 'Krishnamurti Foundation' still has archives of his teachings and it continues to grow. The schools that were started based on his teachings have reported huge growth. Unofficial Krishnamurti committees are operating in several countries and his biographies and research papers are continually referred to even to this day.

Timeline
1895: Birth of Jiddu Krishnamurti in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh.
1907: His father consulted Annie Besant for employment in the Theosophical Society.
1909: He met Charles Leadbeater who said he would become a spiritual leader.
1911: Became the Head of the Order of the Star to prepare for the 'World Teacher' and gave his first speech to OSE, London.
1922: Experienced the 'process'.
1929: 'Dissolution Speech' that ended the Order.
1930-1944: He published under the 'Star Publishing Trust'.
1944: Publishing house called 'Krishnamurti Publishing Inc.' is formed
1953: Published his first book under a mainstream publisher.
1961: Giving speeches to the scientific community along with David Bohm.
1980s: Core of his teaching was released where his basic elements were documented.
1986: He died at the age of 90 in Ojai, California.

[MysteRy]

Kaka Hathrasii Biography

Born On: 18th September, 1906
Born In: Hatharas, Uttar Pradesh
Died On: 18th September, 1995
Career: Satirical Poet
Nationality: Indian

This renowned poet was known for his humorous and satirical poems. The basic intention of his literature was to make people aware of the social and religious evils that were prevalent during his time. Kaka Hathrasi also wrote sharp satires based on corruption and greed that engulfed India during his time. His unique style and sarcasm found its way into the hearts of people which gave him one of his biggest achievements of being named the 'Jan Kavi' or the 'people's poet'. He had inspired the rise of satire through his writing and poetry so much so that several other aspiring writers still do the same. One of his famous sayings included - "Eat until you are half full, drink twice the amount of water, work three times that much and laugh four times as much. Then you will live to be a hundred and twenty five".

Early Life
Not much is known about the early life of this prominent poet except that his actual name was Prabhulal Garg and he was born in the Hathras village of Uttar Pradesh in North India and he wrote under the pen name of 'Kaka Hathrasi'. The name of his parents and his background are not yet known, but Ashok Chakradhar, another renowned Hindi poet, is his relative by virtue of marriage to Kaka Hathrasi's niece. Kaka was also a musicologist and a fine painter in his days.

Career
As a poet, Kaka Hathrasi wrote in simple and fluent language that appealed to the masses and hence the title 'people's poet'. He had about 42 verses of humorous poetry under his belt.

In 1932, he established the 'Sangeet Karyalaya' at Hathras, his hometown, which was originally under the name of 'Garg & Co'. It was at this time that he decided to revive and bring Indian classical music back into the temples and palaces. He realized that the best way to do this was by analyzing old literature, translating and reworking on them to appeal to the layman. To achieve this objective, Kaka Hathrasi did extensive research on the same.

In 1935, he started a magazine called 'Sangeet' which showed people the various forms and nuances of classical music. This magazine showcased various forms of classical music such as taraana, thumri, dhamaar and dhrupad etc. along with folk music and other popular forms of music like geet, ghazal, qawwali and so on. He worked relentlessly to promote this magazine and it still continues to be one of the best and longest monthly magazines of India.

During his time, Kaka Hathrasi was also featured on the radio program called 'Meethi Meethi Hasaivan' that was on air for 11 years. A total of 786 shows were broadcast during those 11 years, which again created the record for longest running program in India. This was supposedly mentioned in the 'Limca Book Of Records' as well!
In the year 1985, he was honored with the prestigious Padmashri award by the President of India, for his contributions in the field of versatile poetry.

'The Kaka Hathrasi Puraskaar' is an award that is given to humourous poets every year and the 'Kaka Hathrasi Sangeet Sammaan' is awarded to the most distinguished musician/musicologist.

Contributions
'Stri-ling Pul-ling' or 'feminine-masculine' was a poem that depicted, in a very unique style, the differences between the two genders. He was one of the best known 'hasya kavi' or 'funny poet' of all times and 'Teli ka Byah' was an apt representation of his humour in the form of a story. In 'Naam Bada Aur Darshan Chota', he made fun at how people's personalities were not in tune with their names. Other poems include: 'Kuch Toh Standard Badao', 'Jalebee', 'Aiyi Mein Aaa Gayi', 'Murghi Aur Neta' and so on. Some of his famous works also include 'Kaka Ke Kartoos', 'Kakadoot', 'Kaka Ke Kehkahe' and 'Kake Ke Prehsan'. Other books are 'Kaka Tarang', 'Kaka Ki Pati', 'Kaka Ki Fuljhariya', 'Kaka Ke Cuthkule', 'Kaka Ke Vyangye Ban' etc.

Death
It is said that Kaka Hathrasi attained nirvana before death. He died on his birthday on the 18th of September, 1995 at the age of 89. In memory of this great poet, this day was declared as 'Hasya Divas' (Humor Day) and a park called 'Kaka Hathrasi Udyaan' was also opened in his name in New Delhi.

Legacy
Jaipur's 'Sangeet Sankalp' has highlighted Kaka Hathrasi's work and a number of publications about the theory and history of classical music are still remnant due to his legacy. There are inquisitive practitioners and followers of classical, semi-classical and rich folk music of India, who have been inspired by his contributions. Several blogs still discuss his poetry and their meanings.

Awards And Accolades
Entered Limca Book Of Records for his radio show "Meethi Meethi Hasivan" (not confirmed)
Padmashri Award in 1985

Timeline
1906: Born in Hatharas in UP as Prabhulal Garg.
1932: Established the Sangeet Karyalaya that was a centre for Indian classical music.
1935: Started a magazine called 'Sangeet' which promoted different forms of music.
1935 - 1985: A period of great accomplishments like featuring in a radio program and writing several works which are still treasured.
1985: Awarded the Padmashri Award by the President of India
1995: Died on his birthday on 18th September at the age of 89.

[MysteRy]

Makhanlal Chaturvedi Biography

Born On: April 4, 1889
Born In: Bavai Village, Hoshangabad District, Madhya Pradesh
Died On: January 30th, 1968
Career: Hindi Poet
Nationality: Indian

Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi was a prominent freedom fighter, an acclaimed poet and such a meticulous journalist that Asia's first University of its kind dedicated to journalism and communication is named after him. It is called the Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication and is situated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. He is particularly remembered for his contribution to the freedom movements like Non-Cooperation Movement and Quit India Movement during the British Raj. He was the first person to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award in the year 1955 for his exceptional contribution to the Neo Romanticism Movement in Hindi literature. His work 'Him Taringini' remains popular among the literary circles even today. He was also honoured by the Sagar University with a 'D.Lit.' (Doctorate of Literature) honorary in the year 1959. Makhanlal was the editor of nationalistic journals, "Prabha" and later "Karmaveer". He was also repeatedly imprisoned during the British raj and was one of those few freedom fighters who refrained from seeking a position in the government after the Indian independence. He continued to speak and write against social evils and supported an exploitation-free, equitable society as dreamt by Mahatma Gandhi. Even in his poems this unconditional love and respect towards his country can be clearly seen and that is why he was also referred to as "a true indian spirit".

Early Life
Panditji was born on 4th April, 1889 in a village located in Madhya Pradesh called Bavai. This was a time when the British reigned over India and the freedom struggle was gaining impetus. He pursued a career of a school teacher during the period 1906-1910 but soon found his real calling in the freedom fight for his motherland. He participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Quit India Movement among the many others during that time. He was even imprisoned countless number of times during the British rule but that did not bend his daunting spirits.

Career
After 1910, he became the editor of various nationalistic journals such as 'Prabha' and later, 'Karmaveer'. Possessing a great patriotic fervour, he had the spark to instigate the masses with his dynamic speeches and writings. He presided over the All India Hindi Sahitya Sammelan held at Hardar in 1943. Makhanlal Chaturvedi was a son of India whose 'true Indian spirit' infused hope and anticipation in the masses. His sensitive portrayal of the common man's plight in works such as 'Him Kirtini', 'Him Tarangini', 'Kaisa Chhand Banaa Deti hei', 'Amar Rashtra' and 'Pushp ki Abhilaasa' find an audience even till date. With notable contribution to the Hindi literature, he earned an honorary 'D.Lit.' from Sagar University and was the first individual to win the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in the year 1955.

Contribution To Literature
The collection of his poems include, 'Him Tarangini', 'Samarpan', 'Him Kirtini', 'Yug Charan', 'Sahitya Devta', 'Dip Se Dip Jale', 'Kaisa Chhand Banaa Deti hei' and 'Pushp ki Abhilaasa'.

Other noteworthy poems written by Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi are:
Amar Rashtra
Anjali Ke Fool Gire Jate Hai
Aaj Nayan Ke Bangle Mein
Is Tarah Dhakkan Lagaya Raat Ne
Uss Prabhat Tu Baat Na Mane
Kirno Ki Shaala Bandh Ho Gayi Chup-Chup
Kunj Kutire Yamuna Teere
Gaali Mein Garima Ghol-Ghol
Bhai, Chero Nahi, Mujhe
Madhur-Madhur Kuch Ga Do Malik
Sandhya Ke Bas Do Bol Suhane Lagte Hai

Death
The literary society of India lost one of its key visionary and crown jewels on 30th January, 1968 when Panditji passed away at the age of 79 years.

Legacy
Many universities have been built and awards created to commemorate this maestro's excellence and to honour his countless contributions. The Madhya Pradesh Sahitya Akademi, which is the Madhya Pradesh Cultural Council, organises the annual 'Makhanlal Chaturvedi Samaroh' that bestows the 'Makhanlal Chaturvedi Puraskar' to deserving Indians for excellence in poetry in any Indian language. This prestigious honour was created in 1987, nineteen years after Panditji's death.

The Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita University, situated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradeh, was the first of its kind in the whole of Asia. This university was established in the year 1991 and was named after Panditji to honour his exceptional involvement in the freedom struggle through his journalism and writings.

The Posts and the Telegraphs Department of India has also brought out a commemorative postage stamp of Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi to honour this brave son of India. This stamp was issued way back on the 4th of April, 1977 to mark Panditji's 88th birth anniversary.

Awards & Accolades
In 1954, Makhanlal Chaturvedi won the Sahitya Akademy Award for his work 'Him Tarangini', becoming the first recipient of this Award in Hindi literature.

He was also conferred the honorary degree of D.Litt. by Sagar University in 1959.

Timeline
1889: Born on April 4th in Bavai village, Madhya Pradesh
1906-1910: Pursued a career as a school teacher
1935: Inaugurated the Conference for the Raipur District Council in December of this year.
1943: President of All India Hindi Sahitya Sammelan held at Hardar
1955: Won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for his work 'Him Tarangini'
1959: Conferred the 'D.Lit.' honorary by Sagar University
1968: Passed away on 30th January at the age of 79 years.

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Manik Bandopadhyay Biography

Born On: May 19th, 1908
Born In: Dumka, Santal Paragona, Bihar
Died On: December 3rd, 1956
Career: Bengali Writer
Nationality: Indian

Producing forty two novels and more than two hundred short stories, Manik Bandopadhyay or Manki Banerjee, is rightly named 'Manik' which means a jewel in Bengali. He is also known as the father of modern Bengali fiction. His notable works like 'Divaratrir Kavya' (A Poem of the Day and the Night), 'Padma Nadir Majhi' (The Boatman of Padma River), Putul Nacher Etikatha (The Tale of Puppet Dance), Chatushkone (Quadrilateral), Janani (Mother), Atasi mami (Aunt Atasi), Pragaitihasik (Pre-historical), Mihi O Mota Kahini (Stories of thin and thick), etc. are fondly remembered even till date and the number of readers increases even as we speak.

Early Life
Born in a small town called Dumka, in Santal Paragona district of Bihar, Manik Bandopadhyay was the fifth of the fourteen children born to Harihar Bandopadhyay and Niroda Devi. He was named Prabodh Kumar Bandopadhyay at birth which he later gave up to write under the pen name of 'Manik'. Being born to a father who was a government official, young Manik had the chance to experience different lifestyles and meet different people of Bengal. These experiences were later reflected in his novels and short stories. On 28th May 1924, at a tender age of sixteen, he lost his mother and this unfortunate incident left a deep and permanent mark in the mind of Manik Bandopadhyay. It ultimately led him to become a recluse and he cut off ties with his immediate family. In 1926, Manik Bandopadhyay passed the entrance examination from Midnapore Zilla School with a first division and a distinction in optional and compulsory Mathematics. He then joined Welleslyvan Mission College at Bankura and came in contact with a professor named Jackson. This professor highly influenced Manik Bandhopadhyay to read the Bible and cultivate a broader outlook towards religion in general. In 1928, Bandopadhyay cleared the Indian School Certficate exam or the 12th board's exam with first division. It was not difficult for this illustrious student to gain admission in the prestigious Presidency College, Calcutta for a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. This degree, however, he couldn't complete on account of lack of funds. With degrees in the field of Mathematics, it was poverty that propelled Manik Bandopadhyay to write. He joined the Mymensingh Teacher's Training School as its headmaster. He married Kamala Devi in Dhaka, Bangladesh and had two sons and two daughters.

Career
Manik Bandopadhyay was one of the most important and influential novelists in Bengali literature. He had his own unique way of presenting the rich and culturally vibrant rural life on Bengal. Unlike his contemporary authors, who only wrote about the scenic beauty and the simplicity of village life, Manik Bandopadhyay delved deep into the complicated human psyche and the truth of existence in the villages of India. His works also dealt with complicated human psychology and even today, the simplest of his novels leave the readers spell bound as they find themselves into an identifiable position with the characters. He edited the famous magazine 'Nabarun' for a few months in 1934 and worked as an assistant editor for the same in 1937-1938. He established a printing and publishing house in 1939 and worked as a Publicity Assistant for the Government of India in 1943. Manik Bandopadhyay tried to enhance his earnings through these various involvements but writing was his main source of income. It is said that he languished in poverty throughout his life. 'Atasi Mami' or Aunt Atasi in 1935 was the first story that he wrote for a magazine called, 'Bichitra'. He became an active Marxist after joining the Communist Party of India in 1944. However, it is said that he regretted this decision and thought of the Communist Party as an increasingly hollow and tyrannical organization.

Contribution To Literature
With a collection of thirty-four novels and approximately two hundred short stories in a span of twenty seven years, Manik bandopadhyay was a prolific writer throughout his lifetime. Over the years, his works have been published in many different magazines and journals which include 'Bichitra', 'Bangasree', 'Purbasha', 'Ananda Bazaar Patrika', 'Jugantor', 'Satyajug' and Swaraj etc. The novels he wrote established him as the most notable novelist in Bengali literature since Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore and Saratchandra Chatterji. These novels include 'Diba-Ratrir Kabya' (A Poem of the Day and the Night), 'Padma Nadir Majhi' (The Boatman of Padma River) and 'Putul Nacher Itikotha' (The Tale of Puppet Dance). His treatment of human sexuality in 'Chatushkone' (Quadrilateral), 1948 was path-breaking in that time and age.

Death
Manik Bandopadhyay passed away in 1956, at the age of 48. He had struggled hard with poverty and epilepsy from an early age. On 3rd December 1956, this highly talented writer collapsed and fell into a coma. He was admitted to the Nilratan Government Hospital, Calcutta on 2nd December where he breathed his last the next day. Following his death, there was a gathering held on 7th December which was attended by a huge crowd of mourners.

Legacy
'Putul Nacher Itikotha' (The Tale of Puppet Dance) which was written by Manik Bandopadhyay in 1936 and was published in 'Bharatbarsha'. A movie was also produced based on this novel in 1949. Almost four decades after Manik's death, West Bengal Government published a book on his lifetime contribution to Bengali literature.

Timeline
1908: Born on 19th May
1924: Manik's mother passed away on the 28th of May
1934: Editor of 'Nabarun' for a few months
1935: Wrote his first short story, 'Atasi Mami'
1936: Wrote 'Putul Nacher Itikotha' (The Tale of Puppet Dance) which was later made into a movie.
1936-37: Co-edited 'Nabarun'.
1943: Publicity Assistant for the Government of India
1944: Joined the Communist party
1956: Passed away at an early age of 48

[MysteRy]

Manohar Shyam Joshi Biography

Born On: August 9, 1933
Born In: Ajmer, Rajasthan
Died On: March 30, 2006
Career: Hindi Writer, Journalist, Scriptwriter
Nationality: Indian

'The Father of Soap Operas' was the title bestowed on Manohar Shyam Joshi for his pioneering work in this field. Manohar enjoyed a reputation for creating works of value that managed to influence entire generations. His first creation was 'Humlog' that instantly became a huge success due to its ability to draw the attention of Indian households. Apart from television, he was also noted for his novels and political satires. His works were written in modern Hindi which made him one of the first authors of modern literature. If at all you said Manohar Shyam Joshi was versatile you would only be saying too less! He tried his hand at journalism, broadcasting and print media editing for local newspapers. The Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, once called him 'one of the most influential writers and commentators in Hindi''.

Early Life
Manohar Shyam Joshi led an extremely private life and not much is known of his early days. He was born in Rajasthan to a Kumaoni Brahmin family from the Almora district in Uttarkhand. His father was a noted educationist and musicologist.

Career
He started his career of writing dialogues for shows in 1982, with serials such as 'Humlog', that were targeted at middle-class Indians who could easily identify with the situations presented in the show. After tasting success, Joshi created the famous 'Buniyad' between 1987 and 1988 which was directed by veteran director, Ramesh Sippy. Again, this turned out to be a hugely popular show, mostly because it dealt with the Partition of India and the conditions prevalent in 1947. Following this, he scripted a few more shows such as 'Hamrahi' and 'Zameen Aasmaan'.

Next, Joshi turned to conceptualizing and penning down novels. His topics ranged from love to political issues in the form of sharp and funny satires. 'Kasap' written during this period was considered one of the greatest love stories of all times. Satires like 'Netaji Kahin' were inscribed on paper to garner the attention of the people and the problems in the politics. Manohar Joshi was also instrumental with his works in cult novels like 'Kuru Kuru Swaahaa'.

Films were Joshi's forte and he loved exploring various genres such as comedy, romance and satire. Not many people know this about him but he was a dubbing expert as well! His dubbings include mainstream movies like 'Hey Ram', 'Appu Raja', 'Papa Kehte Hain' and 'Brastachar'.

The last part of Joshi's career orbited around journalism where he did exceptionally well. Being a part of the All India Radio and the Films Division in Mumbai had given him immense exposure to both broadcast and print media. Here, he wrote scripts for many documentaries. Not long after this, he interviewed the masses and added the outcome into the 'Sarika' magazine. A Hindi news magazine 'Dinmaan' was released by the Times Group with Joshi as the assistant editor. Several projects came to him after this stint. He played another editing role in 'Saptahik Hindustan', 'English Weekend Review' and even the prestigious 'Morning Echo' which was brought out by the Hindustan Times. He wrote for Outlook India's column 'Outlook Saptahik'. In the field of journalism, Joshi was known to experiment with different subjects like politics, science and even travel journals.

Literary Contributions
'Kasap' was Joshi's biggest literary publication and made for one of the greatest love stories of all time. A political drama called 'Netaji Kahin' was so popular with other authors that it was converted into a TV series called 'Kakkaji Kahin'. He had also written short stories, namely 'Prabhu Tum Kaise Kissago' and 'Mandir Ghaat Ki Pauriyaan'. As part of his success, his story 'Hariya Hercules Ki Hairani' was translated into 'The Perplexity of Haria Hercules' by Robert Hueckstedt while 'Kuru Kuru Swaahaa' turned out to be a famous cult novel. Joshi also noted his memoirs from his college days into a book called 'Lucknow Mera Lucknow'. Before his death, he wrote 'Vadhasthal' and 'Kapeeshji' with the former being about the killings in Cambodia and the latter based on the evolution of a self-made God-man.

Television
'Humlog' in 1982 was the first and best impression that Joshi left on the small screen. In the year 1987, he helped in the making of 'Buniyaad' by crafting some beautiful dialogues. Other serials he contributed to include 'Kakaji Kahin', 'Mungeri Lal Ke Haseen Sapne', 'Hamrahi', 'Zameen Aasman' and 'Gatha'.

Films
Once Joshi stepped into the world of movies, there was no turning back for him. He started with a screenplay in 'Bhrastachar' in the late 1980's and then moved on to script writing. 'Hey Ram', 'Papa Kehte Hain' and 'Appu Raja' serve as examples for the kind of work Shyam Joshi produced.

Death
It is said that Manohar Shyam Joshi died a sudden death owing to acute respiratory failure at the age of 79. He breathed his last in New Delhi on 30th March 2006. His demise shocked the entire film fraternity and myriad Hindi authors who were inspired by him. He was cremated at the Nigambodh Ghat.

Awards And Accolades
Manohar Shyam Joshi, during his lifetime, was no stranger to awards. He was honoured with the MP Sahitya Parishad Samman Award, Shard Joshi Samman Award, Shikhar Award, Delhi Hindi Academy Award, Onida and Uptron Award for TV Writing and, just before his death, the Sahitya Akademi Award for 'Kyap' in 2005.

Timeline
1933: Born in Ajmer.
1982: Started his career with 'Humlog', India's first soap opera.
1987: Continued with 'Buniyaad', a television show about the Partition of India.
1997: 'Gatha', his last small screen attempt.
2000: Penned dialogues for the movie 'Hey Ram'.
2005: Won the prestigious Sahitya Award for his book, 'Kyap'
2006: Died on 30th March at the age of 73.

[MysteRy]

Michael Madhusudan Dutt Biography

Born On: 25 January, 1824
Born In: Sagardari, Jessore
Died On: 29 June, 1873
Career: Writer, Lecturer
Nationality: Indian

Michael Madhusudan Dutt, was a man most famous for being associated with the Bengali renaissance movement. He was born on the 25th of January, 1824 in Sagardari, Jessore district, now in Bangladesh. He was the pioneer of Bengali dramas and well known for his poems as well. 'Meghnadh Badh Kabya', his most famous work, was a tragic epic that comprised of nine cantos. Influenced by the English style of living and European literature, Madhusudan was a gifted linguist who mastered several oriental and occidental languages. He is credited for his poetic innovations that were created by merging Bengali language and stories with western styles and forms. This helped mark the beginning of modern Bengali literature, as we know it! Not many people may know this, but Madhusudan is known as 'the father of the Bangla sonnet'. He also pioneered 'amitrakshar chhanda' (blank verse), which is a unique style of composing or writing poems. Madhusudan was an intellectual rebel who, through his writings and compositions, challenged the value systems encoded in traditional literature.

Michael Madhusudan Dutt Profile, Childhood, Life, Timeline

Childhood
Michael Madhusudan Dutt was born into an aristocratic family on the 25th of January, 1824, in Jessore, Bangladesh. He was the only son of a wealthy 'Kayastha family' and his father was a law practitioner in Kolkata. Madhusudan received his early education at home under the guidance of his mother, Jahnabi Devi and he later joined the Sagardari Primary School. Madhusudan also learnt Persian in an old mosque in his neighbouring village. He was a gifted student with exceptional literary expression. Madhusudan's family moved to Kolkata when he was only 7 years old. There he attended the Hindu college of Kolkata in 1843 and studied Sanskrit and Persian along with Bengali.

Early Life
Madhusudan became a self proclaimed ambassador of English mannerisms and intellect, due to his early exposure to English education and European literature. Inspired by his thoughts and to escape a marriage arranged by his father, Madhusudan left home on the 9th of February 1843 and soon became a Christian. On the day of his baptism, Madhusudan adopted his first name 'Michael'. He was forced to leave the Hindu college on becoming a Christian, since Christians were not allowed to study in the college. He then got himself a seat at the Bishop's college in 1844 and studied there till 1847. Due to lack of funds, Madhusudan left for Madras (now Chennai) in 1848 and taught at the Madras Orphan Asylum School from 1848-1852 and then at the Madras University High School from 1852-1856.

Career And Work
Apart from teaching, Madhusudan also worked as a journalist and a translator, however, he was most noted for his drama compositions and poetry writing skills. Some of his early works in the field of literature helped him earn a reputation of a talented writer. In 1849, he wrote and published his first poem 'Captive Lady and Visions of the Past' in English. Madhusudan, after a brief stint in Madras, returned to Kolkata in 1856 and realized the dearth of good literary works in Bengali. He translated Ramnnarayan Tarkaratna's play 'Ratnavali' into English in 1858. Realizing his ability to fill up the vacuum in Bengali literature, he associated himself with the Belgachhiya theatre in Kolkata where he came up with his first play 'Sarmistha' in 1859. His play was followed by two farces and a drama namely, 'The Bristles of the Neck of the Aged Sparrow', 'Is This What You Call Civilization' and 'Padmavati' respectively, all of this in the year 1860. Madhusudan, for the first time, used 'blank verses' in 'Padmavati' in 1860 and became the first ever person to use such verses. The success of these compositions inspired him to pen down his first Bengali poem 'Tilottama Sambhava' in the same year.

Madhusudan was at the peak of his career from 1861-62, when he published "Meghnad-Badh", "Krishna-Kumari", "Vrajangana" and "Virangana-Kavya". He also worked for a brief period as an editor of the Hindu Patriot, before he left for England on 9th of June 1862 to study law. From England he travelled to Versailles in France in the year 1863 where he stayed for two years. It was here in France that Madhusudan overcame his craving for the English way of living that had inspired most of his works in the early stages and realised the importance of his mother tongue. He returned to England in 1865 and in 1866 became a barrister. On the 5th of January he returned to Kolkata to practice law, but he was not well accepted as a barrister and in 1870 he was obliged to give up the practice. Thankfully, Madhusudan never gave up writing and in 1871 he penned down 'Hectarbadh' and his last composition 'Mayakanan' came in the year 1873.

Marriage And Relationships
In his lifetime, Madhusudan lived with two different ladies. When in Madras, he married Rebecca Mactavys with whom he had four children. However this marriage didn't work out well and in 1856, Madhusudan started living with another woman named Henrietta Sophia White. From his second relationship he had one son and one daughter.

Death
Michael Madhusudan Dutt, the greatest poet of the Bengali renaissance movement, left for his heavenly abode on the 27th of June, 1873. He died at the Calcutta General Hospital.

Timeline
1824 - Madhusudan Dutt was born on January 25th.
1843 - He was admitted into the Hindu College, Kolkata
1843 - He left home, became a Christian.
1844 - Started attending the Bishop's College
1848 - Left for Madras
1848 - Married Rebecca Mactavys
1848-52 - Taught at the Madras Orphan Asylum School
1849 - Wrote and published his first poem 'Captive Lady and Visions of the Past' in English
1852-56 - Taught at the Madras University High School
1856 - Returned to Kolkata from Madras
1856 - Started living with Henrietta Sophia White
1858 - Translated Ramnnarayan Tarkaratna's play 'Ratnavali' into English
1859 - Wrote his first play 'Sarmistha'
1860 - Wrote two farces 'The Bristles of the Neck of the Aged Sparrow', 'Is This What You Call Civilization' and a drama 'Padmavati'
1862 - Published 'Meghnad-Badh', 'Krishna-Kumari', 'Vrajangana' and 'Virangana-Kavya'
1862 - Left for England on 9th June to study law
1863 - Left to Versailles, France
1865 - Returned to England
1866 - Became a barrister
1873 - His last composition Mayakanan was published
1873 - Passed away on 27th June at the Calcutta General Hospital.

[MysteRy]

Nirmal Verma Biography

Born On: April 3, 1929
Born In: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Died On: October 25, 2005
Career: Novelist, Writer, Activist, Translator
Nationality: Indian

Nirmal Verma, a famous name in Indian Literature, is popularly known for his famous fictional works that reflected both the sharpness of his thoughts and his expertise as a world renowned writer. He was a famous Hindi writer, novelist, activist and translator born in Shimla on the 3rd of April 1929. Call him a revolutionary writer, a guiding light of the Hindi prose, or a visionary, Nirmal Verma brought about a revolution with his contributions to 'Nayi Kahani' - the literary movement of Hindi literature, along with the likes of Mohan Rakesh, Bhisma Sahini, Kamleshwar and Amarkant. In his career of five decades, Verma set examples of the modern Indian tradition and thinking through his five novels, eight short story collections and nine non-fictionals and travelogues. Verma used to set his plot in cities, hill stations or even foreign lands in order to teach people the meaning and way of life through his themes of love, separation, alienation and nostalgia. In order to learn more about the profile, childhood, life and timeline of Nirmal Verma, scroll down.

Childhood
Nirmal Verma was born on the 3rd of April, 1929 in Shimla into an educated family. His father used to work in the defence department of the British Indian Government. He was the fifth child among the eight siblings and went to a prestigious school in Shimla followed by Master's in History from St. Stephen's College, Delhi. Nirmal Verma was introduced to the field of literature by his mother and sister who helped make him a voracious reader. Back then he was most interested in European literature.

Early Life
Nirmal took up teaching after completing his Master's in Delhi, but his love for literature kept him writing for various literary magazines. His first short story got published in a student's magazine in the early 1950's, bringing along some recognition. He then published his first book of stories called 'Parinde' in 1959 which was considered the first signature of the 'New Story' (or "Nayi Kahani")movement of Hindi Literature. This was the first step Nirmal Verma took towards the unmatched and glorious path he travelled. He was an activist from a very young age and a card holder in the Communist Party of India. He, however, resigned in 1956 after the Soviet invasion of Hungary. Nirmal was invited by the Oriental Institute in Prague to initiate a program of translation. There, he studied Czech which helped him translate nine of the world classics to Hindi. He returned to India in 1968 after staying in Prague for around ten years.

Career And Work
During the ten year stay at Prague, Nirmal Verma travelled extensively across Europe. It was an interest in learning about and penning down socio-cultural situations in European nations that initiated his need to travel. The outcome of this travel came in the form of seven travelogues which also included 'Cheeron Par Chandni' in 1962, 'Har Barish Mein' in 1970, 'Dhund Se Uthi Dhun' and also his first novel which was based on his days in Prague as a student, named 'Ve Din' in 1964. On his return from Prague Nirmal Verma's writings reflected his view on Indian traditions, which were modern. His activist nature made him stand strong against the emergency called by Indira Gandhi in 1975-1977 and also made him an advocate of the Tibetan independence movement. Verma also served as the chairperson of the "Nirala" creative writing chair in Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal from 1980-83. He was also the director of the Yashpal creative writing chair located in Shimla from 1988-90.

Nirmal Verma has to his name, five novels, eight short story collections and nine essays and travelogue books that were translated to several European languages like English, Russian, German, Italian and French. Some of his renowned pieces include Parinde (1959), Jalti Jhari (1965), Pichli Garmiyon Mein (1968), Beech Bahas Mein (1973), Meri Priya Kahanian (1973), Pratinidhi Kahaniyan (1988), Kavve aur Kala Pani (1983) and Sookha aur Anya Kahaniyan (1995).

Awards And Milestones
Kavve Aur Kala Pani, Nirmal Verma's short story, won him the Sahitya Academy award in 1985. He was also nominated for the Neustadt Award of the University of Oklahoma in the year 1996. 'Maya Darpan', a film based on the life of Nirmal Verma, directed by Kumar Shahani in 1972 won the Filmfare Critics Award for the Best Film. His book 'The World's Elsewhere' was published by the Readers International in London in 1988, also where BBC's Channel Four telecasted a film on his life. Due to the contributions of Verma to Indian Literature, he was awarded with the highest literary award of India, the 'Bharatiya Jnanpith Award' in 1999. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in the year 2002 and the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2005 which is a lifetime achievement award.

Death
The world of Indian literature lost one of its most celebrated and renowned fiction writers, Nirmal Verma, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi on 25th October, 2005 to natural causes.

Timeline
1929 - Nirmal Verma was born.
1950's - His first short story was published.
1956 - He resigned from the Communist Party of India as a protest against Hungary's invasion by Russia.
1959 - Parinde, his first book of stories was published.
1959 - He was invited by the Oriental Institute, Prague.
1959-1970 - Verma travelled extensively throughout Europe to study the continent's socio-cultural setup.
1962 - He wrote Cheeron Par Chandni.
1964 - Ve Din was written by Verma.
1970 - He wrote Har Barish Mein.
1968 - He returned to India from Prague.
1980-83 - Verma served as the Chairperson of the Nirala creative writing chair in Bhopal.
1988-90 - He was made the Director of the Yashpal creative writing chair located in Shimla.
1985 - He won the Sahitya Academy Award.
1996 - He was nominated for the Neustadt Award.
1999 - He was awarded the 'Bharatiya Jnanpith Award'.
2002 - He was awarded the Padma Bhushan.
2005 - He was given the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship.
2005 - Breathed his last in October at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences

[MysteRy]

Raghuvir Sahay Biography

Born On: December 9, 1929
Born In: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Died On: December 30th, 1990
Career: Hindi Poet
Nationality: Indian

Raghuvir Sahay was not only a famous poet of his time and age but also a notable journalist, short story writer, editor, translator and social commentator whose works and achievements capture his quintessential spirit and commitment to living life to its fullest. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in the year 1984 for his Hindi poetry collection, Log Bhool Gaye Hain (People Have Forgotten - 1982). His other noted works are Atmahatya Ke Viruddh, Hanso Hanso Jaldi Hanso and Seedhiyon Par Dhoop Mein. He was also the chief editor of the prominent weekly Hindi newsletter Dinaman.

Early Life
Born in 1929, Raghuvir Sahay grew up during the period when India was struggling to free herself from the reigns of the British Empire. The writers who inspired him in his formative years include Charles Dickens and other prominent Hindi writers like Munshi Premchand etc. His commitment to the society and his desire to bring about a change in the world around him instigated Sahay to pick up the pen as his weapon of choice.

Career
Sahay's commitment to reality and his loyalty to the literary world made him choose journalism as his profession. From being the sub-editor in the news division of the All India Radio to being a special correspondent for 'Navabharat' times and finally, as the chief editor of the Hindi newsweekly called 'Dinman' for four decades, he made invaluable contribution to journalism. Believing in ideals and concepts such as 'poetry should be rooted in reality' and 'be fully alert to the social reality' (Dusra Saptak, 1996), his political journalism, literary criticism, philosophical short stories, essays and poems carry a common thread that uncovers the magic of a common man's everyday life. His vast and priceless contribution as a freedom writer, during 1972-90, continues to be appreciated till date.

Contribution To Literature
Compassion and irony are the two words that describe Sahay's poems and their emotional spectrum overwhelms the readers. His verses are short but they encapsulate the oppression and the reality of the common man's world. The 'ugliness' of these hardships are not scented or shown to the reader through rose-tainted glasses, rather the desire to live and the faith in life as a whole, is the basic undercurrent flowing through all his works. His collection named 'Hanso hanso jaldi hanso' (Laugh, Laugh, Laugh quickly) is a social mimicry and falls under the genre of satire. We see the progress of Sahay from his lyrical couplets on love and nature to chronicles on pain and sufferings in his later works. A simple everyday vocabulary and straightforward communicative tone are unique to all his poems - they help the common man understand the poet's ideas. The colloquial and easy to understand language is chiselled to a perfection that only expert craftsmen like Raghuvir Sahay could have accomplished.

With over ten books of poetries, essays, short stories, journalistic articles and translational pieces written over a span of less than twenty years by the man, the compliment of an 'epoch making poet' or 'yugantarkari kavi' is certainly not a misplaced one.

Raghuvir Sahay was an active campaigner of the Hindustani language - a Hindi-Urdu synthesis - that preserved the heritage of the country. His 1982 poetry collection Log Bhool Gaye Hain (People Have Forgotten), which won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in the year 1984, focussed on the importance of this language.

During 1988-1990, he chaired a committee of the Press Council of India to analyze the role of the press in the context of Mr. Advani's rath yatra - this yatra was one of the first steps that led to the destruction of Babri Masjid and the ensuing anti-Muslim riots.

Legacy
Together with Mohan Rakesh, Bhisham Sahni, Kamleshwar, Amarkant and others, Raghavir Sahay was the co-founder of the Nayi Kahani (New short story) Movement in Hindi literature. He pioneered this movement and was thereby responsible for the revival of Hindi literature.

A List Of All His Works
Dusra Saptak (Collection Of Poems)
Siriyon Par Dhoop Mein (On The Sunlit Stairs)
Atmahatya ke virudh (Against Suicide)
Hanso Hanso Jaldi Hanso (Laugh, Laugh, Quickly Laugh)
Kuch Pattiyan Kuch chitthiyan (Some Letters)
Ek Samaye Tha (Once Upon A Time)
Hindi
Cycle Rickshaw
Mera Ghar My Home (My House My Home)
Aanewala Khatra (Upcoming Danger)
Pool Ka Itihaas (History Of The Bridge)
Mujhe Kuch Aur Karna Tha (I Ought To Do Much)
Bache Raho (Survive)
Buddhijivi ka Vaktavya (Intellectual’s Statement)
A Sitar Concert
Kaimare Mein Apahij (The Handicapped on Camera)
Yathanh (Reality)
Your Thoughts
Aaj Fir (Today Anew)
Paani ke Sansmaran (Memories of Water)
Vasanth (Spring)
Maidan Mein (In The Field)
Seb Bechna (Selling apples)
Akeli Aurat (Woman Alone)
Manushya-Machli Yudh (War between men and fish)
Vyabharik Log (Practical People)
Foot (Rift)
Collection Of Short Stories
Rasta Idhar Se Hai (The Road Begins Here)
Jo Admi Hum Bana Rahe Hai (The Man We Are Giving Birth To)
Collection Of Essays
Dilli Mera Pardes (Delhi Is My Foreign Land)
Likhne ka Karan (The Reason To Write)
Ube Hue Sukhi (Evaporated Happiness)
Ve Aur Nahin Honge Jo Mare Jayenge (Those Who Will Be Killed Will Be No More)
Bhavr Lehren Aur Tarang (Whirlpool, Currents And Waves)
Arthat (Meaning)
Translations
Raghuvir Sahay also translated various fictional stories, poetries and dramas from the local literatures of Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia and England.

Timeline
1929: Born On December 9th in Lucknow.
1950's: Co-founded the Nayi Kahani movement.
1982: Wrote award winning 'Log Bhool Gaye'.
1984: Received the Sahitya Akademi Award for 'Log Bhool gaye'.
1988: From September 28th he chaired the Press Council of India till the time he passed away.
1989: His works in Hindi were translated to English for a bigger audience.
1990: He died on 30th December in Delhi.

Ramswarup Chaturvedi (Renowned Hindi Author) rightly said back in 1990, 'If the ability to change ordinary events and ordinary language with new power has become Nayi Kavita's special mark, much credit for that is due to Raghavir Sahay.'

[MysteRy]

Tarashankar Bandopadhyay Biography

Born On: April 23, 1898
Born In: Labhpur, Birbhum district, West Bengal
Died On: September 14, 1968
Career: Bengali Novelist
Nationality: Indian

Tarashankar Bandopadhyay's name features in the famous trio of Bandopadhyay's along with Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay and Manik Bandopadhya. He is a universal favourite among Bengali readers. There is a famous television series called 'Byomkesh Bakshi' based on a sleuth's character created by Tarashankar Bandopadhyay and his murder mysteries are a favourite among the younger generation. Tarashankar was awarded the Rabindra Puraskar, Sahitya Akademi Award, Jnanpith Award and the Padma Bhushan for his celebrated novels like Arogyaniketan, Dhatridebta, Kalindi, Panchagram, Ganadebata, Kabi, Raskali and Hansulibaker Upakatha. One of the most important aspects of his writings was his experimentation of human relationships which brought out the truth restricted by the conservatism and hypocrisy of the then society.

Early Life
Tarashankar Bandopadhyay was born at Labpur, Birbhum district, West Bengal to Haridas Bandyopadhyay and Prabhabati Debi. He cleared the Matriculation examination in 1916 and took admission in the intermediate class at the prestigious St. Xavier's College, Calcutta. While studying there, he joined the non-cooperation movement. He was jailed for a year in 1930, and after his release in 1931, he devoted himself to literature and social work. He worked diligently among the people of his village during natural calamities and epidemics. His love for the poor and the helpless is reflected in his short stories and novels. He defied social norms of those times and mixed freely with the so-called lower classes of dom, bagdi, sadgop, and bauri. He married Uma Shashi Debi and they had two sons Sanat and Sarit and two daughters who were named Ganga and Bani.

Career
Like a whiff of fresh air, Tarashankar Bandopadhyay broke the poetic tradition in novels and wrote prose touching upon the lives of ordinary people and the relationships that they have. This shattered the indifference that surrounded the conservative society which believed in hypocrisy and covering up reality. The realism in Literature was substituted by indulging in romance and unbiased writing became the norm of the time only during the third decade of the twentieth century. Tarashankar Bandopadhyay's works are like whiffs of fresh air as they do not reject the reality but look at the world with a new angle. From the rich and powerful Zamindars to the lowest of them all, i.e. the pauper, Tarashanker Bandopadhyay's protagonists are as varied as his characterisations. Some of his works like 'Radha' were scandalous mainly because of that age and time during which it was written. His thoughts were progressive and he believed that the physical relationship between a man and a woman can dominate, to an extent, the existing law and order that a society follows. He produced an enormous amount of work which is popular even today and much loved by his ardent fans and followers. This talented soul ventured into all the walks of Bengali life and reflected the vast panorama of life in the backdrop of the socio-political milieu of that age. His works are remembered by his devoted readers because if his ability to portray a non-judgemental reflection of life, in general, with care and leaving the reader's to form their own impressions.

Contribution To Literature
Tarashankar was a versatile writer whose works include 'Ganadevata', 'Jalsaghar', 'Abhijan', 'Raj Kamal', 'Bicharak', 'Kavi', 'Byomkesh Bakshi' etc. His historical novel 'Ganna Begum' is an attempt worth mentioning for its traditional values. The Jnanpith Award that Tarashankar Bandopadhyay won in 1967 was because of his novel 'Ganadevata' which revolves around the role of a schoolmaster trying to remove the tyrannies from his village. His novel 'Jalsaghar', immortalized in celluloid by Satyajit Ray, experiments with the natural decay of the feudal system and values which surround a Zamindari family that has fallen on bad times. His masterpiece would be 'Abhijan' which chronicles the exploits of a cab driver in a society filled with hypocrites. 'Bicharak' portrays the dilemma of a judge in passing his verdict for a murder case and 'Kavi' talks about the life of a gypsy poet who wanders around with a group of dancers and prostitutes. Tarashanker Bandopadhyay also went onto lead the Indian delegation of writers at the Asian Writers' Conference in Tashkent in 1957. In 1970, he was elected the president of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. He was a member of the West Bengal Vidhan Parishad during the time 1952-60 and the Rajya Sabha for six years from 1960-66.

Death
Tarashanker Bandopadhyay passed away on 14th September, 1981 at Ghatsila, West Bengal.

Legacy
His detective story 'Byomkesh Bakshi' is a popular Hindi television series which has a fan following even till date. His book called 'Jalsaghar' has been immortalised by the eminent film maker Satyajit Ray into an exceptional movie.

Awards & Accolades
For his novel 'Arogya Niketan', Tarashankar received the Rabindra Puraskar in 1955 and the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1956. In 1966, he received the Jnanpith Award for his novel 'Ganadebata'. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1962 and the Padma Bhushan in 1969. He also received the Sharat Smriti Puraskar and the Jagattarini Gold Medal from the Calcutta University.

Timeline
1898: Born on April 23th
1916: Cleared Matriculation exam
1952-1960: Member of Vidhan Parishad, West Bengal
1955: Recieved the Rabindra Puraskar
1956: Recieved the Sahitya Akademi Award
1957: Led the delegation of Indian writers at Asian Writers' Conference in Tashkent
1960-1966: Member of the Rajya Sabha
1962: Honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India
1966: Recieved the Jnanpith Award
1969: Honoured with the Padma Bhushan
1970: Elected the president of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad
1981: Passed away on 14th September at Ghatsila, West Bengal.

[MysteRy]

Bharatendu Harishchandra Biography

Born On: September 9, 1850
Born In: Varanasi, India
Died On: January 6, 1885
Career: Poet, Novelist, Playwright
Nationality: Indian

Bharatendu Harishchandra is one of the most heard names in the history of modern Hindi literature. He was an imminent poet of the 19th century who also wrote several novels and plays. It was the subject and pattern of his writings which caught the attention of the critics and the masses and made Bharatendu Harishchandra such a popular name in Hindi literature. Harishchandra possessed a revolutionary spirit and made known all his nationalistic feelings through his writings. Almost every piece of work from the hands of Bharatendu Harishchandra spoke about the exploitation which existed in the Indian society during his times, the inhuman conditions that the poor and needy had to live in and the subjugation that the lower and middle classes of the society had to face in the hands of the elite ruling class. Most of his poems were an urge to the people of India to join hands in a n effort to better the living conditions in the country.

Childhood
Bharatendu Harishchandra was born on September 9, 1850 in Varanasi. His father Gopal Chandra was also a poet (by the pseudonym of Girdhar Das) and it was from his father that Bharatendu Harishchandra derived the inspiration to write in his later life. The national movement in India during the British rule moved Bharatendu Harishchandra to a great degree even when he was young. He and his family visited the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the year 1865 when Bharatendu Harishchandra was a mere 15 year old kid. But even as a child, the Bengal Renaissance deeply touched him and he was influenced into being a part of the movement by introducing the concept in Hindi literature. After returning to his native Varanasi from Puri, Bharatendu Harishchandra conducted an in-depth study of the plays, novels and poems that were being written to bring about social and historical changes during the Bengal Renaissance. And it was this study of Bengali literature that led Bharatendu Harishchandra to translate an important Bengali play 'Vidyasundar' to Hindi in the year 1868. Bharatendu Harishchandra's parents died when he was still very young, another incident which touched him and inspired him to get more involved with poetry, prose and drama writing.

Life & Works
After the death of his father, Bharatendu Harishchandra got completely immersed in Hindi literature and always adopted ways to contribute better writings for the development of Hindi literature. He introduced new concepts and ideas in Hindi prose and drama and is thus considered the pioneer of the modern age Hindi writing. However, Bharatendu Harishchandra's contribution was not just limited to the field of writing prose and poetry. He was in fact also involved with the development of Hindi journalism. He worked as an editor in magazines like Harishchandra Patrika, Kavi Vachan Sudha, Harishchandra Magazine and Bal Vodhini. It was in recognizing his efforts towards the development of the Hindi language that renowned scholars in Hindi during his age bestowed on him the title of 'Bharatendu' at a public event organized in the year 1880. It was their way of showing respect to the person who had broken new grounds and ushered in a new era of Hindi literature, thus making him the rightful owner of the title 'Father of Modern Hindi Literature'. Bharatendu Harishchandra was a notable member of the Chowdhury family residing in Varanasi. His forefathers, on the other hand, were members of the Agrawal community who were rich landlords in Bengal. Bharatendu Harishchandra wrote extensively on the life and times of his great grandfathers from the Agrawal community. His family indeed had a flourishing history to boast of and several accounts of it were highlighted in the prose and essays written by Bharatendu Harishchandra.

Notable Works of Bharatendu Harishchandra
Poetry
Prem Madhuri
Prem Pralap
Raag Sangraha
Krishna Charitra
Phoolo ka Guchcha
Drama
Vaidik Himsa Hitnda na Bhavati
Satya Harishchandra (a mythological classic)
Neel Devi
Bharat Durdasha
Andher Nagari ('City of Darkness’, which is considered as one of the most popular plays in India, being translated into a number of languages after Hindi.)
Bharatendu Harishchandra was not only a playwright but also a director and actor in plays. In fact, it was acting that first brought Bharatendu Harishchandra to theater. He later chose to write and direct plays as well.

Essay Collection
Bharatendu Grnthaaolly or Sahitya Harishchandra
Translation
Visakhadattas Mudra Rakshasa
Vidya Sundar
Harsha’s Ratnavali
Durlabh Bandhu (from Shakespeare’s Merchat of Venice. This writing was left incomplete due to Harishchandra’s death.)
Kapoor Mnajari

Death
Bharatendu Harishchandra passed away on January 6, 1885 at the age of 35, at his hometown Varanasi. His writings are still held in high regard by Hindi literature lovers all over the world.

Recognition
Bharatendu Harishchandra is such a respected name in Hindi writing that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India still honors accomplished original writings in Hindi by bestowing upon the writers the Bharatendu Harishchandra Awards instituted in the year 1983. Popular Kannada scriptwriter and director Prasanna paid tribute to his chief inspiration Bharatendu Harishchandra by preparing the play 'Seema Paar', which was staged at the National School of Drama in New Delhi. 'Seema Paar' focuses on Bharatendu Harishchandra's early life in the ghats of Varanasi and the highpoints of his career in Hindi writing. Hindi scholar and critic Ramvilas Sharma famously commented that Bharatendu Harishchandra ushered in an era of "great literary awakening" in Hindi literature. His unique approach to writing earned his the name of 'father of modern Hindi literature'.

Timeline
1850: Bharatendu Harishchandra is born on September 9.
1865: He visits Puri with family and gets inspired by Bengal Renaissance.
1868: Translates Bengali writing 'Vidyasundar' to Hindi.
1880: Conferred the title of 'Bharatendu'.
1885: Bharatendu Harishchandra dies on January 6.
1983: The Bharatendu Harishchandra Awards are instituted to celebrate original fresh talent in Hindi writing.

[MysteRy]

Devaki Nandan Khatri Biography

Born In: 1861
Born In: Samastipur, Bihar, India
Died In: 1913
Career: Novelist
Nationality: Indian

Devaki Nandan Khatri was one of the most popular authors of Hindi novels, best known to have introduced the concept of mystery in Hindi novel writing. Fondly referred to as Babu Devakinandan Khatri, he was the first writer of mystery novels in the Hindi language. Devaki Nandan Khatri's writings were so popular that even people who were not Hindi literate made it a point to learn the language to be able to read his mystery novels. Therefore, it may be aptly concluded that Devaki Nandan Khatri not only contributed to Hindi literature, he also played a major role in making people of his times learn Hindi. Devaki Nandan Khatri introduced several words in his novels which went on to become an integral part of mystery novel writing in Hindi by future authors.

Early Life
Devaki Nandan Khatri was born in the year 1861 in the city of Samastipur in Bihar. After completion of his primary schooling in Samastipur, Devaki Nandan Khatri moved to the city of Tekari in Gaya for further education. He later assumed office as an employee of the Raja of Varanasi. Since his initial years of professional life, Devaki Nandan Khatri was a resident of Varanasi.

Career
It was in the year 1898 that Devaki Nandan Khatri took up novel writing in Hindi seriously. By that time, he had already started a printing press at Varanasi by the name of 'Lahari'. It was from Lahari that his first writing was published in a Hindi monthly called 'Sudarshan', also started by Devaki Nandan Khatri. The Lahari Press inaugurated by Devaki Nandan Khatri at the Ram Katora Road in Varanasi stands till today at the Ram Katora Crossing. Devaki Nandan's son and grandson followed his footsteps to take the tradition of mystery novel writing in Hindi forward.

Babu Devakinandan Khatri, as he was fondly called after his works began to be distributed in places all over India, set up a book shop by the name of Lahrai Book Depot in Varanasi. During this time, he had already acquired fame as one of the chief writers of mystery novels in Hindi. The bookshop sold Hindi books written by Devaki Nandan Khatri and other eminent authors. A unique feature of Devaki Nandan Khatri's writings was that he never published one novel at one go. The author's novels were not published in the form of a book but as parts of the story in the monthly magazine 'Sudarshan'.

At the time when entire India was disturbed by the British rule in the country, Devaki Nandan Khatri participated in the freedom struggle, while also taking time out to write parts or chapters of his novels. The chapters, or 'bayaans' as Devaki Nandan Khatri referred to them, were eagerly awaited by one and all throughout the country. In fact, it became a ritual among those who were not educated in the Hindi language to visit friends or family members who were Hindi literate so that they may also hear the latest development in Devaki Nandan Khatri's mystery saga. His works gradually gained so much popularity that people who did not know Hindi decided to learn the language only to be able to read the novels written by him. In this way Babu Devakinandan Khatri contributed to the widespread dissemination of the Hindi language in India.

As mentioned earlier, Devaki Nandan Khatri specialized in the writing of Hindi mystery novels. 'Aiyyar' and 'Aiyarra' were two of his most famous terms used to describe spies, male and female respectively, who served rulers of different regions in his novels. Both these words were previously unknown in the Hindi literary world. However, it was because of the popularity of the Devaki Nandan Khatri novels that both the terms began to be widely used thereafter. Similarly, he also introduced the word 'Tilism' in the Hindi novel writing dictionary, a term which was used to mean a maze of hiding places, prisons and unknown passages.

Popular Works
Devaki Nandan Khatri contributed some of the most popular novels that not only helped to introduce a new genre in Hindi literature, but also led to the enrichment of the Hindi language as a whole. Some of the most important works of Devaki Nandan Khatri are:
Chandrakanta
Chandrakanta Santati
Virendra Veer
Bhootnath (completed by his son after his death as 'Rohtasmath’)
Narendra Mohini
Gupt Godna
Kajar Ki Kothari
Kusum Kumari
Katora Bhar Bhoon

Personal Life
Devaki Nandan Khatri lived in his home named by him as 'Khatri Haveli' in the Ramapura region of Varanasi. His sons Durga Prasad Khatri and Kamlapati Khatri were instrumental in taking the tradition of mystery novel writing in Hindi started by their father Devaki Nandan Khatri forward. While Durga Prasad Khatri completed the last part of his father's novel 'Bhootnath' after his death, Kamalpati Khatri looked after the proper functioning of the Lahari printing press after Devaki Nandan Khatri passed away. Devaki Nandan Khatri lived in different parts of Varanasi from the beginning to the end of his career as a mystery novel author in Hindi.

Death
Devaki Nandan Khatri died in the year 1913 leaving behind a collection of mystery novels in the Hindi language, which are read by children till today. Babu Devakinandan Khatri's novel 'Chandrakanta' was adapted as a television serial in the mid-90s, though with several changes made in its plot and characters for the television audience. 'Chandrakanta' was by far the most popular novel written by Devaki Nandan Khatri and word has it that the story will soon be adapted for the big screen in Bollywood. If all goes well, we may soon see Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and also Aishwarya Rai Bachchan portraying the chief characters in the Devaki Nandan Khatri novel for the onscreen adaptation of 'Chandrakanta' in a film made by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

[MysteRy]

Hazari Prasad Dwivedi Biography

Born On: August 19, 1907
Born In: Uttar Pradesh, India
Died On: May 19, 1979
Career: Writer, Critic, Historian, Scholar
Nationality: Indian

Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, later referred to as 'Acharya' Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, was a very popular writer and critic of Hindi literature. He is known for the numerous novels and essays that he has contributed to Hindi literature. An eminent scholar, he was also one of the best critics that Hindi literature has witnessed. Moreover, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi had an in-depth knowledge about the evolution and the history of the Hindi language, a factor which largely contributed to his rich collection of writings in Hindi. Go through the following lines to know more about his life and childhood.

Early Life
Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was born on August 19, 1907 in the small village of Arat-Dubeka Chhapra in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. It was here that he spent the maximum part of his childhood years. When Hazari Prasad Dwivedi took up the profession of teaching in his later life, he settled in a number of places from Santiniketan to Benaras and Chandigarh.

Education and Career
After completing his school studies from Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi passed the Shastri examination from the Sanskrit University. On November 18, 1930 Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was appointed a teacher of the Hindi department at Santiniketan. His association with the university town Santiniketan continued till the year 1950. After 1950, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was appointed as a teacher and subsequently, became the head of the department of Hindi at the Benaras Hindu University and the Punjab University located in Chandigarh. While he continued with his activities as a scholar in universities spread all over India, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi also spent a large part of his time composing novels and essays of his own. Besides writing, he was also one of the most important critics of Hindi works published during his time. In an attempt to reach out to the masses through his works, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi began to participate actively in programs arranged by the government of India.

'Banbhatta Ki Atmakatha' (which later became one of the most famous novels in Hindi literature), 'Punarnava', 'Charuchandra Lekh' and 'Anamdas Ka Potha' are some of the most popular works by Hazari Prasad Dwivedi in this genre. His writings 'Hindi Sahitya Ki Bhumika' and 'Hindi Sahitya Ka Aadial' are two books which reflect 'Acharya' Hazari Prasad Dwivedi's profound knowledge on the evolution and history of the Hindi language. He was also a brilliant essay writer and gave to the Hindi language some wonderful collection of essays. 'Kutaj', Nakhoon Kyon Barhte Hain' and 'Ashok Ke Phool' are a few unforgettable essays penned by Hazari Prasad Dwivedi. His books were so valuable to the enrichment of the Hindi language that a large number of copies of his writings derived from archives were donated to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts by Hazari Prasad Dwivedi's children.

Awards
The government of India conferred the civilian award Padma Bhushan to Hazari Prasad Dwivedi in the year 1957 to celebrate his contributions in the world of Hindi literature. In 1973, 'Acharya' Hazari Prasad Dwivedi received the Sahitya Akademi Award for the collection of essays 'Alok Parva'.

Death
'Acharya' Hazari Prasad Dwivedi died on May 19, 1979 leaving behind an enriching collection of writings in Hindi. He was staying in Delhi at the time of his death.

Timeline
1907: Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was born on August 19.
1930: Appointed Hindi teacher at Santiniketan.
1950: The end of his term in Santiniketan.
1957: Was awarded the Padma Bhushan.
1973: Won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his essays 'Alok Parva'.
1979: He died on May 19.