Transcript of Great Writers of India
- 1. Munshi PremchandBorn: July 31, 1880, VaranasiDied: October
8, 1936, VaranasiMunshi Premchand ( ) was an Indian writer
famousfor his modern Hindi-Urdu literature.Born Dhanpat Rai, he
began writing under the pen name"Nawab Rai", but subsequently
switched to "Premchand",while he is also known as "Munshi
Premchand", Munshi beingan honorary prefix. A novel writer, story
writer and dramatist,he has been referred to as the "Upanyas
Samrat" ("Emperorof Novels") by some Hindi writers.Early
LifePremchand was born on 31 July 1880 in a village near Varanasi
in India to Munshi Ajaib Lal, aclerk in the post office. His
parents died when he was still very young. His mother died when
hewas no more than seven and his father passed away when Premchand
was fifteen or sixteen,and still a student.His parents named him
Dhanpat Rai ("the master of wealth"), while his uncle, Mahabir, a
richlandowner, nicknamed him "Nawab" ("Prince"). "Nawab Rai" was
the first pen name chosen byPremchand.After loosing his parents,
Premchand became responsible for his step mother and his
siblingsborn from her. Premchand was married to a girl in an
arranged child marriage-as then was thecustom- but the marriage
proved to be painful for him and he left her in 1899. After
thatPremchand married a child widow Shivrani Devi in 1906.After
leaving his village in 1899, Premchand took up a job of a
schoolmaster at a mission schoolin Chunar, another remote area. The
salary was minimal and he was the only earning memberin the family.
With that negligible amount he had to support his wife, step
mother, his siblingsand himself. The condition became even worse
when he was fired from the job and had toreturn to his village.
After some efforts, he succeeded in getting a job of assistant
master at agovernment school in Varanasi. He was transferred to a
town near Allahabad, where hebecame the headmaster of a school in
year 1902. After two years, he was sent to Kanpur as thedeputy
sub-inspector of schools.Emperor of Novels
- 2. Early CareerDhanpat Rai first wrote under the pseudonym
"Nawab Rai". His first short novel was Asrar eMaabid (Devasthan
Rahasya in Hindi, "The Mystery of Gods Abode"), which
explorescorruption among the temple priests and their sexual
exploitation of poor women. The novelwas published in a series in
the Benares-based Urdu weekly Awaz-e-Khalk from 8 October 1903to
February 1905.After his death, Shivarani Devi wrote a book on him,
titled Premchand Ghar Mein ("Premchandin House").In 1905, inspired
by the nationalist activism, Premchand published an article on the
IndianNational Congress leader Gopal Krishna Gokhale in
Zamana.Premchands first published story was Duniya Ka Sabse Anmol
Ratan ("The Most PreciousJewel in the World"), which appeared in
Zamana in 1907.Premchands second short novel Hamkhurma-o-Hamsavab
(Prema in Hindi), published in 1907,and was penned under the name
"Babu Nawab Rai Banarsi".In 1907, another of Premchands short
novels, Kishna was published by the Medical Hall Pressof
Benares.During AprilAugust 1907, Premchands story Roothi Rani was
published in serialform in Zamana. Also in 1907, the publishers of
Zamana published Premchands first shortstory collection, titled
Soz-e-Watan (Dirge of the Nation).Success as a WriterHis literary
work in Urdu gained him a reputation of a journalist with social
aim, rather than amere entertainer. Premchand was born in the
British India and the Indian Independencemovement was at its peak
when he started his writing career. His early writings were
largelyinfluenced by the nationwide movement in which he often
expressed his support to the fightfor freedom.In 1910, his
collection of Soz-e-Watan was labeled as rebellious on account of
its messagewhich provoked Indians to fight for the nation. An
agonized British government confiscated thebook and all copies of
Soz-e-Watan were burnt or destroyed. Premchand, who was
writingunder the name of Nawabrai at that time, began to use
Premchand as his pen name. Theprolific writer wrote more than 300
stories, novels and a number of plays.
- 3. The writer is credited with the introducing realism into the
Hindi literature when it onlyconsisted of the fantasy stories,
fairy tales and religious worpublished as Maansarovar.In 1921,
Premchand resigned from his job as his support to the Indian
independence movementand Gandhis Swadeshi movement. He took up a
job in a printing press and became theproprietor of the press.
During that time he also worked as the editor of Hindi and
Urdujournals to support himself. It was miserable to see that
though he had established himself as agreat writer and novelist, he
failed to earn money and led a life of struggle amid
povertyfinancial crisis.His first Hindi story Saut was published in
the magazinefirst short story collection Sapta SarojBy 1919,
Premchand had published fourPremchands first major novel Seva
Sadanwritten in Urdu under the title Bazaarbased publisher, who
offered Premchandof Lahorepublished the novel later in 1924, paying
PremchandAfter quitting his job, Premchand left Gorakhpur for
Benares on 18 March 1921, and decided tofocus on his literary
career. Till his death in 1936, he faced sechronic ill health.In
1923, he established a printing press and publishing house in
Benares, christenedPress". The year 1924 saw the publication of
Premchandsbeggar called Surdas as its tragic hero. Schulz mentions
that inacross as a "superb social chronicler", and although the
novel contains some "structural flaws"and "too many authorial
explanations", it shows a "marked progress" in Premchands
writistyle.According to Schulz, it was inhis way to "a balanced,
realistic level" that surpasses his earlier works and manages to
"hold hisreaders in tutelage". Nirmala, a novel dealing with
theserialized in the magazine Chandwith the subject of widow
remarriage.In 1928, Premchands novel Gabanpublished. In March 1930,
Premchand launched a literaryaimed at inspiring the Indians to
mobilize against the British rule.politically provocative views,
failed to make a profit. Premcanother magazine called JagaranThe
writer is credited with the introducing realism into the Hindi
literature when it onlyconsisted of the fantasy stories, fairy
tales and religious work. His creations are compileIn 1921,
Premchand resigned from his job as his support to the Indian
independence movementand Gandhis Swadeshi movement. He took up a
job in a printing press and became theess. During that time he also
worked as the editor of Hindi and Urdujournals to support himself.
It was miserable to see that though he had established himself as
agreat writer and novelist, he failed to earn money and led a life
of struggle amid povertywas published in the magazine Saraswati in
DecemberSapta Saroj was published in June 1917.By 1919, Premchand
had published four novellas, of about a hundred pages each. In
1919,Seva Sadan was published in Hindi. The novel was
originallyBazaar-e-Husn, but was published in Hindi first by abased
publisher, who offered Premchand 450 for his work. The Urdu
PublisherLahorepublished the novel later in 1924, paying Premchand
250.After quitting his job, Premchand left Gorakhpur for Benares on
18 March 1921, and decided tofocus on his literary career. Till his
death in 1936, he faced severe financial difficulties andIn 1923,
he established a printing press and publishing house in Benares,
christenedThe year 1924 saw the publication of Premchands
Rangabhumi, which has a blindas its tragic hero. Schulz mentions
that in Rangabhumi, Premchand comesacross as a "superb social
chronicler", and although the novel contains some "structural
flaws"and "too many authorial explanations", it shows a "marked
progress" in Premchands writiAccording to Schulz, it was in Nirmala
(1925) and Pratigya (1927) that Premchand foundhis way to "a
balanced, realistic level" that surpasses his earlier works and
manages to "hold his, a novel dealing with the dowry system in
India, was firstChand, before being published as a novel. Pratigya
("The Vow") dealtwith the subject of widow remarriage.Gaban
("Embezzlement"), focusing on the middle class greed, wpublished.
In March 1930, Premchand launched a literary-political weekly
magazine titledaimed at inspiring the Indians to mobilize against
the British rule. The magazine, noted for itspolitically
provocative views, failed to make a profit. Premchand then took
over and editedJagaran, which too ran at a loss.The writer is
credited with the introducing realism into the Hindi literature
when it onlyk. His creations are compiled andIn 1921, Premchand
resigned from his job as his support to the Indian independence
movementand Gandhis Swadeshi movement. He took up a job in a
printing press and became theess. During that time he also worked
as the editor of Hindi and Urdujournals to support himself. It was
miserable to see that though he had established himself as agreat
writer and novelist, he failed to earn money and led a life of
struggle amid poverty andin December 1915 and hispages each. In
1919,Hindi. The novel was originally, but was published in Hindi
first by a Calcutta-his work. The Urdu PublisherAfter quitting his
job, Premchand left Gorakhpur for Benares on 18 March 1921, and
decided tovere financial difficulties andIn 1923, he established a
printing press and publishing house in Benares, christened
"Saraswati, which has a blind, Premchand comesacross as a "superb
social chronicler", and although the novel contains some
"structural flaws"and "too many authorial explanations", it shows a
"marked progress" in Premchands writing(1927) that Premchand
foundhis way to "a balanced, realistic level" that surpasses his
earlier works and manages to "hold hisdowry system in India, was
first("The Vow") dealt("Embezzlement"), focusing on the middle
class greed, waspolitical weekly magazine titled Hans,The magazine,
noted for itshand then took over and edited
- 4. In 1931, Premchand moved to Kanpur as a teacher in the
Marwari College, but had to leavebecause of difference with the
college administration. He then returned to Benares, andbecame the
editor of the Maryada magazine. In 1932, he published another
noveltitled Karmabhumi. He briefly served as the headmaster of the
Kashi Vidyapeeth, a local school.After the schools closure, he
became the editor of the Madhuri magazine in Lucknow.Before
Premchand, Hindi literature consisted mainly of fantasy or
religious works. Premchandbrought realism to Hindi literature. He
wrote over 300 stories, a dozen novels and two plays.The stories
have been compiled and published as Maansarovar. His famous
creations are:Panch Parameshvar, Idgah, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Poos
Ki Raat, Bade Ghar Ki Beti, Kafan, Udhar KiGhadi, Namak Ka Daroga,
Gaban, Godaan, and Nirmala.Premchand was a great social reformer;
he married a child widow named Shivarani Devi. Shewrote a book on
him, Premchand Gharmein after his death. In 1921 he answered
Gandhijis calland resigned from his job. He worked to generate
patriotism and nationalistic sentiments in thegeneral populace.
When the editor of the journal _Maryaada_ was jailed in the
freedommovement, Premchand worked for a time as the editor of that
journal. Afterward, he worked asthe principal in a school in the
Kashi Vidyapeeth.The main characteristic of Premchands writings is
his interesting storytelling and use of simplelanguage. His novels
describe the problems of rural and urban India. He avoided the use
ofhighly Sanskritized Hindi and instead used the dialect of the
common people. Premchand wroteon the realistic issues of the
day-communalism, corruption, zamindari, debt, poverty,colonialism
etc.He stayed in Dadar, and wrote the script for the film Mazdoor
("The Labourer"). The film,directed by Mohan Bhawnani, depicted the
poor conditions on the labour class. Premchandhimself did a cameo
as the leader of laborers in the film.Premchand was elected as the
first President of the Progressive Writers Association inLucknow,
in 1936.Godaan (The Gift of a Cow, 1936), Premchands last completed
work, is generally accepted ashis best novel, and is considered as
one of the finest Hindi novels.In 1936, Premchand also published
Kafan ("Shroud"), in which a poor man collects money forthe funeral
rites of his dead wife, but spends it on food and drink. Premchands
last publishedstory was Cricket Match, which appeared in Zamana in
1937, after his death.
- 5. Later Life & DeathPremchand believed that literature is
a powerful medium to educate people and it showed inhis writings.
In his later life, he continued to write fictions with social
purpose and socialcriticism. Now a revered author and thinker, he
presided over conferences, literature seminarsand received huge
applause.He chaired the first All-India conference of the Indian
Progressive Writers Association in year1936. However, in his
personal life he was still struggling to make both ends meet. He
alsosuffered from health problem particularly abdominal problems.
Despite ever difficulty andchallenges, Premchand did not abandon
writing and embarked on completing his last novelMangalsootra. The
novel still remains incomplete as he died in the middle of it on 8
October1936.List of WorksNovelsTitle Publisher DateAsrar-e-Maabid
(Urdu)Devasthan Rahasya(Hindi)Awaz-e-Khalk (serial form) 1903 (8
October)-1905(February)Prema
(Hindi)Hamkhurma-o-HamSawab(Urdu)Indian Press/Hindustan
PublishingHouse1907Kishna Medical Hall Press, Benares 1907Roothi
Rani Zamana (serial form) 1907 (AprilAugust)Soz-e-Watan(collection)
Publishers of Zamana 1907Vardaan (Hindi)Jalwa-e-Isar(Urdu)Granth
Bhandar and Dhanju 1912Seva Sadan(Hindi)Bazaar-e-Husn(Urdu)Calcutta
Pustak Agency (Hindi) 1919 (Hindi); 1924
(Urdu)Premashram(Hindi)Gosha-e-Afiyat(Urdu)1922Rangbhoomi(Hindi)Chaugan-e-Hasti
(Urdu)Darul Ishaat (Urdu, 1935) 1924Nirmala Idaara-e-Furoogh-Urdu
1925Kaayakalp(Hindi)Parda-i-Majaz(Urdu)Lajpat Rai & Sons,
Lahore (Urdu) 1926 (Hindi), 1934 (Urdu)Pratigya (Hindi)Bewa
(Urdu)1927Gaban (also transliteratedas Ghaban)Saraswati Press,
Benares; Lajpatrai& Sons, Urdu Bazar1928Karmabhoomi(Hindi)
Maktaba Jamia, Delhi 1932
- 6. Maidan-e-Amal(Urdu)Godaan Saraswati Press
1936Mangalsootra(incomplete) Hindustan Publishing HouseShort
StoriesTitle Publisher DateDuniya ka Sabse Anmol Ratan Zamana
1907Bade Bhai Sahab Zamana 1910 (December)Beti ka Dhan Zamana 1915
(November)Saut Sarasvati(Vol. 16, Part 2, No. 6, 353-359) 1915
(December)Sajjanata ka dand Sarasvati 1916 (March)Panch Parameshvar
Sarasvati 1916 (June)Ishwariya Nyaya Sarasvati 1917 (July)Durga ka
Mandir Sarasvati 1917 (December)Balidan Sarasvati 1918 (May)Putra
Prem Sarasvati 1920 (July)Boodhi Kaki(The Old Aunt) Hans
1921Pariksha Chand 1923 (January)Shatranj ke khiladi(Hindi)Shatranj
ki bazi (Urdu)Madhuri October 1924Hinsa Parmo Dharma Madhuri 1926
(December)Ghasvali Madhuri 1929 (December)Idgah Chand 1933
(August)Nashaa Chand 1934 (February)Kafan Jamia 1936Cricket Match
Zamana 1937Gupt DhanMantraNamak Ka DarogaPoos ki raatLottery
ZamanaOther stories include:AbhushanAgni
SamadhiAlagyojhaAmritAtmaramChoriDaroga SahabDeviDhaai ser
gehunDikri Ke RupayeDo BahaneinDo Bailon ki
KathaFauzdaarGrihaneetiGurumantra (1927)Har Ki JeetJail
(1931)Juloos (1930)JurmanaKhudaiMahatirthaManushya Ka ParamDharma
(March 1920)Maryada ki Vedi
- 7. Mukti MargNairashyaNimantran (1926)Pashu se
ManushyaPrayaschitPrem PurnimaRamleelaSamar Yatra
(1930)SatiSatyagraha (1923)Sawa Ser GehuSewa MargSuhag ki Sari
(1923)Sujan BhagatSwatva RakshaThakur ka KuaanThriya CharitaUdhar
Ki GhadiVajrpaatVimataHajje AkbarSautele MaaIbratRoshniBhadde ka
TattuNijatTranslationsPremchand translated several non-Hindi works
into Hindi. These included the writings of RatanNath Dhar Sarshar,
Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens (The Story of Richard Doubledick),
OscarWilde (Canterville), John Galsworthy (Strife), Sadi, Guy de
Maupassant, MauriceMaeterlinck (Sightless) and Hendrik van Loon
(The Story of Mankind).Some of the translated titles
include:Premchands title OriginalAhankar Thais by Anatole France
(adaptation)Azad Katha Fasana-e Azad (1880) by Ratan Nath Dhar
SarsharParvat Yatra Sair-e-Kohsar (1890) by Ratan Nath Dhar
SarsharChandi Ki Dibiya Silver Box (1906) by John GalsworthyHartal
Strife (1909) by John GalsworthyNyaya Justice (1910) by John
GalsworthySukhdas Silas Marner by George Eliot (adaptation)Tolstoy
Ki Kahaniyan Stories of Leo TolstoyOtherFilm scriptMazdoor
(1934)PlaysKarbalaTazurbaPrem Ki VediRoohani
ShadiSangramEssaysKuchh Vichar (two parts) Qalam Tyag aur
Talwar
- 8. BiographiesDurgadas Mahatma Sheikhsadi (biographyof
Saadi)Childrens booksJangal ki KahaniyanKutte ki KahaniManmodakRam
CharchaAdaptations of Premchands WorksSatyajit Ray filmed two of
Premchands works Sadgati and Shatranj Ke Khiladi.Sevasadan (first
published in 1918) was made into a film with M.S. Subbulakshmi in
thelead role.Premchand also worked with the film director Himanshu
Rai of Bombay Talkies, one ofthe founders of Bollywood.The Actor
Factor Theatre Company, a young Delhi based theatre group, staged
Kafan in2010 in New Delhi.Oka Oori Katha (English title: The
Marginal Ones) is a 1977 Telugu film directedby Mrinal Sen.Munshi
Premchand Timeline:1880- Premchand was born on 31 July.1899-He left
his village.1902-He became the headmaster of a school.1906- He
married a child widow Shivrani Devi.1910- His collection of
Soz-e-Watan was confiscated by the British government.1921-
Premchand resigned from his job as his support to the Indian
independence movement.1936- He chaired the first All-India
conference of the Indian Progressive Writers Association.1936-
Premchand died on 8 October.
- 9. Anita Mazumdar DesaiBorn: June 24, 1937 (age 75),
MussoorieAnita Mazumdar Desai (born 24 June 1937) is an Indian
novelistand the Emeritus John E. Burchard Professor of Humanities
atthe Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As a writer she
hasbeen shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times.She received a
Sahitya Akademi Award in 1978 for her novel Fireon the Mountain,
from the Sahitya Akademi, Indias NationalAcademy of Letters; she
won the British Guardian Prize for TheVillage by the Sea.Early
LifeAnita Desai was born as Anita Mazumdar on June 24, 1937 in
Mussoorie. Her mother wasGerman and her father was Bengali. Anita
Desai completed her schooling from Queen MarysHigher Secondary
School in Delhi and graduated in English literature from the
University ofDelhi (Miranda House).CareerDesai published her first
novel, Cry The Peacock, in 1963. She considers Clear Light OfDay
(1980) her most autobiographical work as it is set during her
coming of age and also in thesame neighbourhood in which she grew
up. In 1984 she published In Custody aboutan Urdu poet in his
declining days which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. In 1993
shebecame a creative writing teacher atMassachusetts Institute of
Technology. Her novel, TheZigzag Way (2004), is set in 20th-century
Mexico and her latest novel The Artist ofDisappearance came in
2011.Awards1978 Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize- Fire on the
Mountain1978 Sahitya Akademi Award (National Academy of Letters
Award)- Fire on the Mountain1980 Shortlisted, Booker Prize for
Fiction Clear Light of Day1983 Guardian Childrens Fiction Prize The
Village by the Sea: an Indian family story1984 Shortlisted, Booker
Prize for Fiction In Custody
- 10. 1993 Neil Gunn Prize1999 Shortlisted, Booker Prize for
Fiction: Fasting, Feasting2000 Alberto Moravia Prize for Literature
(Italy)2003 Benson Medal of Royal Society of LiteratureAnita Desai
is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, the American
Academy of Arts andLetters, Girton College, Cambridge and Clare
Hall, Cambridge. Presently, Anita lives in theUnited States, where
she is the John E. Burchard Professor of Writing at Massachusetts
Instituteof Technology, Cambridge, MA.Selected WorksThe Artist Of
Disappearance (2011)The Zigzag Way (2004)Diamond Dust and Other
Stories (2000)Fasting, Feasting (1999)Journey to Ithaca
(1995)Baumgartners Bombay (1988)In Custody (1984)The Village By The
Sea (1982)Clear Light of Day (1980)Games at Twilight (1978)Fire on
the Mountain (1977)Cat on a Houseboat (1976)Where Shall We Go
ThisSummer? (1975)The Peacock Garden (1974)Bye-bye Blackbird
(1971)Voices in the City (1965)Cry, The Peacock (1963)India- A
Travellers Literary Companion
- 11. Arundhati RoyBorn: November 24, 1961 (age 51),
AssamArundhati Roy is a popular writer, activist and novelist of
theIndian subcontinent. She was born in the family of
KeraliteSyrian Christian mother and a Bengali Hindu father in
Shillongwhich forms a part of the Indian state of Meghalaya.Her
mother was a woman`s rights activist and her father was atea
planter by profession. She spent her childhood days inAymanam in
the Indian state of Kerala. She finished herschooling from Corpus
Christi School in Kottayam followed byThe Lawrence School, Lovedale
that is situated in the Nilgiris.After schooling she studied
architecture at the School ofPlanning and Architecture in
Delhi.Literary Life of Arundhati RoyAt age of sixteen Arundhati
left home, and eventually enrolled at the Delhi School
ofArchitecture. There she met her first husband, Gerard Da Cunha, a
fellow architecture student.Their marriage lasted four years. Both
of them did not have great love for architecture, so theyquit their
profession and went off to Goa. They used to make cake and sell it
on the beach tomake living. This continued for seven months after
which Arundhati returned back to Delhi.She took a job at the
National Institute of Urban Affairs, rented a barsati near the
dargah atNizamuddin and hired a bicycle. One day film director
Pradeep Krishen saw her cycling down astreet and offered her a
small role of tribal girl in the film "Massey Saab". Arundhati
Royaccepted the role after initial reservations. She later on
married Pradeep Krishen. Meanwhile,Arundhati got a scholarship to
go to Italy for eight months to study the restoration
ofmonuments.After returning from Italy Arundhati Roy linked with
her husband to planned a 26 episodetelevision serial for
Doordarshan called the Banyan Tree. The serial was later scrapped.
Shewrote screenplays for a couple of TV films - "In Which Annie
Gives It Those Ones" and "ElectricMoon". Arundhati Roy also wrote
screenplay for Shekhar Kapurs controversial film BanditQueen.
- 12. Arundhati Roy started writing her first novel, The God of
Small Things in the year and finishedthe work in 1996. This book is
regarded as a semi-autobiography in which she relates to
theaudience about her childhood experiences in Ayemenem. For this
book she also received theMan booker Prize for Fiction in 1997 and
it was also listed as one of the notable books of 1997in New York
Times.Arundhati Roy is also involved in many social activities. She
is the figurehead of theantiglobalization or alter-globalization
movement and also a vehement critic of neo-imperialismand of the
global policies of the United States of America. The lists of her
criticisms includeIndia`s nuclear weapon policies and the approach
to industrialization and rapid developmentas bring practiced in the
nation in the recent times. She was also personally involved
withactivist Medha Patkar in the campaign against the Narmada Dam
Project. According to thejudgment of Supreme Court of India she
also served one-day imprisonment and paid a fine ofRs.
2000.Arundhati Roy was awarded the Lannan Foundation`s Cultural
Freedom award for her workrelated to the civil societies that are
adversely affected by the world`s most powerfulgovernments and
corporations. She was also awarded the Sydney Peace Prize in the
year 2004for her significant contribution in social campaigns and
her advocacy of non-violence. In themonth of January of the year
2006 Arundhati Roy was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award forher
collection of essays on the contemporary issues.Personal Life of
Arundhati RoyWhile studying Architecture at School of Planning and
Architecture in Delhi, she met her firsthusband, Gerard Decunha who
is also a renowned architect. It was with her second husbandPradip
Krishen that Arundhati Roy ventured into filmmaking in the year
1984. The first cousin ofArundhati Roy, called Pranay Roy is also a
prominent media personality and is settled in NewDelhi.Books by
Arundhati Roy The God of Small Things. The End of Imagination. The
Cost of Living. Flamingo The Greater Common Good. The Algebra of
Infinite Justice. An Ordinary Person`s Guide To Empire.
Introduction to 13 December, a Reader: The Strange Case of the
Attack on the IndianParliament.
- 13. The Shape of the Beast: Conversations with Arundhati Roy.
Listening to Grasshoppers: Field Notes on Democracy Walking with
the ComradeAwards Won by Arundhati Roy Arundhati Roy was awarded
the 1997 Booker Prize for her novel The God of SmallThings. She won
the National Film Award for Best Screenplay in 1989, for the
screenplay of InWhich Annie Gives It Those Ones. In 2002, she won
the Lannan Foundation`s Cultural Freedom Award In 2003, she was
awarded `special recognition` as a Woman of Peace at the
GlobalExchange Human Rights Awards in San Francisco with Bianca
Jagger, Barbara Lee andKathy Kelly. Roy was awarded the Sydney
Peace Prize in May 2004 for her work in social campaignsand her
advocacy of non-violence. She was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award
in 2006. In November 2011, she was awarded the Norman Mailer Prize
for Distinguished Writing.
- 14. Jhumpa LahiriBorn: July 11, 1967 (age 45), LondonJhumpa
Lahiri is indeed the storyteller who weaves the lace of
love,identity, crisis, lies and faults in a matured way. Her works
areenriched with sensitive dilemmas in life. Characters in her
booksexperience the cultural as well as the generation gaps.
She,therefore, comments on the effects of Western colonialism
onIndians and Indians in Diaspora. Jhumpa Lahiri is not only a
writerbut the weaver of dreams, the fabricator of emotion and
thereforeher each and every novel becomes an outlet for her
emotions.She is the First Asian to win Pulitzer Prize. She won the
2000Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her book "Interpreter Of
Maladies"Early Life of Jhumpa LahiriJhumpa Lahiri, a Bengali
American author, was born in 1967 in London to a Bengali parent.
Shemoved to South Kingstown, Rhode Island when she was child.
Jhumpa Lahiri learned herBengali heritage from her mother from a
very early age. Jhumpa Lahiri is a daughter of alibrarian and
schoolteacher. She has always been inclined to creative
writing.Jhumpa Lahiri received her B.A in English literature from
Barnard College in 1989 and M.A inCreative Writing, Comparative
Literature from Boston University. She also received her Ph.D.
inRenaissance Studies from Boston University. She took up a
fellowship at Provincetown`s FineArts Work Centre in 1997.Carrer in
Writing for Jhumpa LahiriRight from a very young age she felt
strong ties for her parents` homeland India, as well as theUnited
States and England. A sense of homelessness and an inability to
feel accepted took placeas she grew up with ties to all three
countries. To her it is an inheritance of her parents` ties
toIndia.At a press conference in Kolkata this absence of
belongingness comes out of her word "Nocountry is my motherland. I
always find myself in exile in whichever country I travel to,
that`swhy I was tempted to write something about those living their
lives in exile". We find the ideaof exile through out her work
"Interpreter of Maladies". The collection of nine distinct
storiesrevolves around the first and second-generation Indian
immigrants and the idea of othernessamong the country. The story
theme also includes the marital difficulties. It won `Pulitzer
Prize`
- 15. in 2000 for fiction. In addition it received the
PEN/Hemingway Award, the New Yorker Debutof the Year award, an
American Academy of Arts and Letters Addison Metcalf Award,
TheTransatlantic Review award from Henfield Foundation, The
Louisiana Review award for shortfiction, the O.Henry Award for Best
American Short Stories, and a nomination for the LosAngeles Times
Book Prize. Guggenheim fellowship was awarded to her in the year
2002.Jhumpa Lahiri made her debut as novelist with "The Namesake"
in 2003. The story of the novelreveals the cultural and
generational gaps between the parents. The storyline revolves
aroundparents who have immigrated to the United States born in
Kolkata, West Bengal, and their sonAmerican-born Gogol, wants to
fit in among his fellow New Yorkers, despite his
family`sunwillingness to let go of their traditional ways. A film
was made based upon her novel.Jhumpa Lahiri also wrote "Indian Holy
Song" in 2000, "A temporary Prayer: What Happenswhen the Lights go
out" in 1998, "Sexy" in 1998 and "The Third and Final Continent" in
1999.Jhumpa Lahiri exploded onto the literary sense from 1999. In
her short career no sign ofslowing down appears till date. Reader`s
curiosity brings her audience together and they seemto be
mesmerized by her writings. It is difficult to compare Jhumpa
Lahiri`s work to many otherIndian or Indian-American authors.
Lahiri is also able to draw her readers into the story throughher
details and by making her readers feel the emotional, physical, and
mental needs of thecharacters.Personal Life of Jhumpa LahiriShe
married Alberto Vourvoulias Bush in 2001. They have two children
from their marriage.Books Written by Jhumpa LahiriShort Story
CollectionsInterpreter of Maladies (1999)Unaccustomed Earth
(2008)NovelsThe Namesake (2003)Uncollected Non-fictionCooking
Lessons: The Long Way Home" (6 September 2004, The New
Yorker)Improvisations: Rice" (23 November 2009, The New
Yorker)Reflections: Notes from a Literary Apprenticeship" (13 June
2011, The New Yorker)
- 16. Awards Received by Jhumpa Lahiri1993 - TransAtlantic Award
from the Henfield Foundation1999 - O. Henry Award for short story
"Interpreter of Maladies"1999 - PEN/Hemingway Award (Best Fiction
Debut of the Year) for "Interpreter ofMaladies"1999 - "Interpreter
of Maladies" selected as one of Best American Short Stories2000 -
Addison Metcalf Award from the American Academy of Arts and
Letters2000 - "The Third and Final Continent" selected as one of
Best American Short Stories2000 - The New Yorker`s Best Debut of
the Year for "Interpreter of Maladies"2000 - Pulitzer Prize for
Fiction for her debut "Interpreter of Maladies"2000 - James Beard
Foundation`s M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award for
"IndianTakeout" in Food & Wine Magazine2002 - Guggenheim
Fellowship2002 - "Nobody`s Business" selected as one of Best
American Short Stories2008 - Frank O`Connor International Short
Story Award for "Unaccustomed Earth"2009 - Asian American Literary
Award for "Unaccustomed Earth"
- 17. Mulk Raj AnandBorn: December 12, 1905, PeshawarDied:
September 28, 2004, PuneMulk Raj Anand was among the first writers
to incorporatePunjabi and Hindustani idioms into English.Mulk Raj
Anand was an Indian novelist, short-story writer. Hewas among the
first writers to incorporate Punjabi andHindustani idioms into
English. Mulk Raj Anands storiesdepicted a realistic and
sympathetic portrait of the poor inIndia.Mulk Raj Anand was born on
December 12, 1905 in Peshawar.He graduated with honors from Khalsa
College, Amritsar in1924. Mulk Raj Anand went to England and
studied at University College London andCambridge University. He
completed his PhD in 1929. Mulk Raj Anand also studied - and
laterlectured - at League of Nations School of Intellectual
Cooperation in Geneva. Between 1932 and1945 he lectured
intermittently at Workes Educational Association in London.Mulk Raj
Anand was initiated into the literary career by a family tragedy,
instigated by therigidity of the caste system. Anands first prose
essay was a response to the suicide of an aunt,who had been
excommunicated by his family for sharing a meal with a Muslim.Mulk
Raj Anands first novel, "Untouchable", (1935), was a stark
reflection of the day-to-daylife of a member of Indias untouchable
caste. The book was widely acclaimed and Mulk RajAnand was hailed
as Indias Charles Dickens. His second novel "Coolie" depicts the
plight ofIndias poor through the story of a 15-year-old boy,
trapped in servitude as a child labourer,who eventually dies of
tuberculosis.In the 1930s and 1940s Mulk Raj Anand divided his time
between London and India. He joinedthe struggle for independence,
but also fought with the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War.After
the war Anand returned permanently to India and settled in
Bombay.In 1946 he founded the fine-arts magazine Marg. He also
became a director of KutubPublishers. From 1948 to 1966 Anand
taught at Indian universities. Mulk Raj Anand was fine artchairman
at Lalit Kala Akademi (National Academy of Arts from 1965 to 1970.
In 1970, hebecame president of Lokayata Trust, for creating a
community and cultural center in the villageof Hauz Khas, New
Delhi. Mulk Raj Anand died on September 28, 2004.
- 18. R.K. NarayanBorn: October 10, 1906Died: May 13, 2001R.K.
Narayan is one of the most famous and widely read Indiannovelists.
His stories were grounded in a compassionatehumanism and celebrated
the humour and energy of ordinarylife.R.K. Narayan was born on
October 10, 1906 in Madras. Hisfather was a provincial head master.
R.K. Narayan spent hisearly childhood with his maternal
grandmother, Parvathi inMadras and used to spend only a few weeks
each summervisiting his parents and siblings. R.K. Narayan studied
for eightyears at Lutheran Mission School close to his
grandmothershouse in Madras, also for a short time at the CRC High
School. When his father was appointedheadmaster of the Maharajas
High School in Mysore, R.K. Narayan moved back in with hisparents.
He obtained his bachelors degree from the University of Mysore.R.K.
Narayan began his writing career with Swami and Friends in 1935.
Most of his workincluding Swami and friends is set in the fictional
town of Malgudi which captures everythingIndian while having a
unique identity of its own. R.K. Narayans writing style was marked
bysimplicity and subtle humour. He told stories of ordinary people
trying to live their simple livesin a changing world.R.K. Narayans
famous works include The Bachelor of Arts (1937), The Dark Room
(1938), TheEnglish Teacher (1945), The Financial Expert (1952), The
Guide (1958), The Man-Eater ofMalgudi (1961), The Vendor of Sweets
(1967), Malgudi Days (1982), and The GrandmothersTale (1993).R.K.
Narayan won numerous awards and honors for his works. These
include:Sahitya Akademi Award for The Guide in 1958;Padma Bhushan
in 1964; andAC Benson Medal by the Royal Society of Literature in
1980;R.K. Narayan was elected an honorary member of the American
Academy and Instituteof Arts and Letters in 1982.The Grand Old Man
ofMalgudi
- 19. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1989. Besides, he
was also conferred honorarydoctorates by the University of Mysore,
Delhi University and the University of Leeds.
- 20. Salman RushdieBorn: June 19, 1947, MumbaiAchievement:
Awarded the Booker of Bookers prize in 1993 for hisnovel "Midnights
Children"Salman Rushdie was born in Bombay on 19 June 1947. He went
toschool in Bombay and at Rugby in England, and read History at
King`sCollege, Cambridge, where he joined the Cambridge Footlights
theatrecompany. After graduating, he lived with his family who had
moved toPakistan in 1964, and worked briefly in television before
returning toEngland, beginning work as a copywriter for an
advertising agency.His first novel, Grimus, was published in
1975.His second novel, the acclaimed Midnight`s Children, was
published in 1981.It won the Booker Prize for Fiction, the James
Tait Black Memorial Prize (for fiction), an ArtsCouncil Writers`
Award and the English- Speaking Union Award, and in 1993 was judged
tohave been the `Booker of Bookers`, the best novel to have won the
Booker Prize for Fiction inthe award`s 25-year history. The novel
narrates key events in the history of India through thestory of
pickle-factory worker Saleem Sinai, one of 1001 children born as
India wonindependence from Britain in 1947.Rushdie`s third novel,
Shame (1983), which many critics saw as an allegory of the
politicalsituation in Pakistan, won the Prix du Meilleur Livre
Etranger and was shortlisted for the BookerPrize for Fiction. The
publication in 1988 of his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, leads
toaccusations of blasphemy against Islam and demonstrations by
Islamist groups in India andPakistan. The orthodox Iranian
leadership issued a fatwa against Rushdie on 14 February 1989
-effectively a sentence of death - and he was forced into hiding
under the protection of theBritish government and police. The book
itself centres on the adventures of two Indian actors,Gibreel and
Saladin, who fall to earth in Britain when their Air India jet
explodes. It won theWhitbread Novel Award in 1988.Salman Rushdie
continued to write and publish books, including a children`s book,
Haroun andthe Sea of Stories (1990), a warning about the dangers of
story-telling that won the Writers`Guild Award (Best Children`s
Book), and which he adapted for the stage (with Tim Supple andDavid
Tushingham. It was first staged at the Royal National Theatre,
London.) There followed abook of essays entitled Imaginary
Homelands: Essays and
- 21. Criticism 1981-1991 (1991); East, West (1994), a book of
short stories; and a novel, The Moor`sLast Sigh (1995), the history
of the wealthy Zogoiby family told through the story of
MoraesZogoiby, a young man from Bombay descended from Sultan
Muhammad XI, the last Muslimruler of Andaluc a.The Ground beneath
Her Feet, published in 1999, re-works the myth of Orpheus and
Eurydicein the context of modern popular music. His most recent
novel, Fury, set in New York at thebeginning of the third
millennium, was published in 2001. He is also the author of a
travelnarrative, The Jaguar Smile (1987), an account of a visit to
Nicaragua in 1986. Salman Rushdie is the Honorary Professor in the
Humanities at the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology (MIT), and
Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He was made
Distinguished Fellow in Literature at the University of East Anglia
in 1995. He was awarded the Austrian State Prize for European
Literature in 1993 and theAristeion Literary Prize in 1996, and has
received eight honorary doctorates. He was elected to the Board of
American PEN in 2002.The subjects in his new book Step Across This
Line: Collected Non-fiction 1992-2002 (2002),range from popular
culture and football to twentieth-century literature and politics.
SalmanRushdie is also co-author (with Tim Supple and Simon Reade)
of the stage adaptation ofMidnight`s Children, premiered by the
Royal Shakespeare Company in 2002. His other novel"Shalimar The
Clown" (2005), is the story of Max Ophuls, his killer and daughter,
and a fourthcharacter who links them all. It was shortlisted for
the 2005 Whitbread Novel Award.
- 22. Vikram SethBorn: June 20, 1952, KolkataAchievement: Won the
WH Smith Literary Award and theCommonwealth Writers Prize for his
novel, A Suitable Boy. Histravelogue "From Heaven Lake: Travels
Through Sinkiang andTibet" won the Thomas Cook Travel Book
Award.Vikram Seth is a famous Indian poet, novelist, travel
writer,librettist, childrens writer, biographer and
memoirist.Vikram Seth was born on June 20, 1952 at Kolkata. His
father,Prem, was an employee of the Bata India Limited shoe
companywho migrated to post-Partition India from West Punjab
inPakistan. Vikram Seths childhood was spent in the town of
Batanagar near Calcutta, Patna, andLondon. His mother Leila Seth
was the first woman judge of the Delhi High Court as well as
thefirst woman to become Chief Justice of a state High Court. She
was the Chief Justice of ShimlaHigh Court.Vikram Seth did his
schooling from The Doon School in Dehradun. He took his
undergraduatedegree in philosophy, politics and economics from
Oxford University. He was enrolled inpostgraduate economics courses
at Stanford University and was also attached to NanjingUniversity
for his intended doctoral dissertation on Chinese population
planning.Vikram Seths first novel, "The Golden Gate" (1986),
describes the experiences of a group offriends living in
California. His other novel, "A Suitable Boy" (1993) is an
acclaimed epic ofIndian life. The novel won the WH Smith Literary
Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize(Overall Winner, Best
Book). Set in India in the early 1950s, it is the story of a young
girl, Lata,and her search for a husband. "An Equal Music" (1999),
is the story of a violinist haunted by thememory of a former
lover.Vikram Seth has also written a travelogue "From Heaven Lake:
Travels Through Sinkiang andTibet" (1983). The book is an account
of a journey through Tibet, China and Nepal that won theThomas Cook
Travel Book Award. He also wrote a libretto, Arion and the Dolphin
(1994), whichwas performed at the English National Opera in June
1994, with music by Alec Roth. VikramSeth is also an accomplished
poet. His works in poetry include Mappings (1980), The
HumbleAdministrators Garden (1985), which was a winner of the
Commonwealth Poetry Prize (Asia),and All You Who Sleep Tonight
(1990). Vikram Seth has written a story book for children
Beastly
- 23. Tales from Here and There (1992), which consists of ten
stories about animals told in verse.Vikram Seths latest work is Two
Lives (2005). The book is a memoir of the marriage of his
greatuncle and aunt.
- 24. V.S. NaipaulBorn: August 17, 1932 (age 80),
ChaguanasAchievement: Won Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001; Won
theBooker Prize in 1971 and became the first person of Indian
origindo so.V.S. Naipaul is a noble laureate who won Nobel Prize in
Literaturein 2001. Though of Indian origin, V.S. Naipaul was born
in Trinidadand is currently a British citizen.V.S. Naipaul (Sir
Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul) was born onAugust 17, 1932, at
Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago. Hisforefathers came as indentured
labourers from India. Naipaulsupbringing familiarised him with
every sort of deprivation,material and cultural. He got a
scholarship to Oxford University and thus came to England. Itwas at
Oxford that V.S. Naipaul discovered the writer in him.V.S. Naipaul
traveled extensively in India and Africa. At that time
decolonisation was takingplace and Sir V.S. Naipaul observed from
close quarters the resulting turmoil of emotions.These observations
were reflected in his writings. V.S. Naipaul has written about
slavery,revolution, guerrillas, corrupt politicians, the poor and
the oppressed, interpreting the rages sodeeply rooted in our
societies.V.S. Naipauls fiction and especially his travel writing
have been criticised for their allegedlyunsympathetic portrayal of
the Third World. But his supporters argue that he is actually
anadvocate for a more realistic development of the Third World.
V.S. Naipauls contempt formany aspects of liberal orthodoxy is
uncompromising, but at the same time he has exhibited
anopen-mindedness toward some Third World leaders and cultures that
isnt found in westernwriters.V.S. Naipaul has discussed Islam in
several of his books and he has been criticised for harping
onnegative aspects of Islam. V.S. Naipauls support for Hindutva has
also been controversial. Hehas been quoted describing the
destruction of the Babri Mosque as a "creative passion", andthe
invasion of Babur in the 16th century as a "mortal wound."V.S.
Naipaul has won several awards and honors for his writings. In
1971, Naipaul won the Booker Prize for his book "In a Free State"
and became thefirst person of Indian origin do so. He won the
Jerusalem Prize in 1983 and Nobel Prize for Literature in
2001.
- 25. Jaishankar PrasadBorn: January 30, 1889, VaranasiDied:
January 14, 1937, VaranasiIf you are interested in Hindi
literature, then you surely must haveheard the name of Jaishankar
Prasad. If Dharamvir Bharati isreferred to as the Father of Hindi
Literature, Jaishankar Prasadcannot be too far behind for he too
needs to be credited formaking Hindi language popular amongst the
present generation.Jaishankar Prasad is truly one of the most
notable figures in theworld of modern Hindi literature. Although he
had to drop out ofschool at a very early age due to financial
problems that his familyfaced, his love for literature never died
down. Apart from Hindi, Jaishankar Prasad wasinterested in a number
of languages and their evolution. However, it was Hindi that he
chosewhile penning his thoughts in the form of poems and novels. He
was one of the greatest literaryfigures during his time and the
best modern Hindi writer.ChildhoodJaishankar Prasad was born in a
well-to-do madheshiya vaishya family of Varanasi. However,the
familys condition deteriorated over the years after the death of
Jaishankar Prasads father,when the future litterateur was still
young. His father Babu Devki Prasad earned a living bybuying and
selling tobacco in the markets of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Jaishankar Prasadsfamily was always known as one of the elite units
in Varanasi. His father passed away when hewas still in school and
thus, had to leave his studies after the eighth standard to help
the familywhich was then affected by financial problems. This,
however, did not mean that JaishankarPrasad gave up on his studies.
He thoroughly read books at home, mastering the grammar
andliterature and the evolution of many a language. It was language
that interested JaishankarPrasad, but he later shifted his
attention to the study of the Vedas, an aspect that reflected inhis
writings that were penned later. Apart from writing poetry from a
very early age, JaishankarPrasad also had an interest in reciting
poems. As a child and in his later life, he spent much ofhis time
playing chess and doing gardening work at home.Writing StyleHe is
considered one of the Four Pillars (Char Stambh) of Romanticism in
HindiLiterature (Chhayavad), along with Sumitranandan Pant,
Mahadevi Verma, and SuryakantTripathi Nirala.
- 26. Jaishankar Prasad was interested in the Vedas. The content
as well as the writing pattern of theVedas thus influenced him
deeply, while he penned his own poetry, plays and novels. The
firstcollection of poems that Jaishankar Prasad penned, named
Chitraadhar, was written in theBraj dialect of Hindi, a dialect
that is widely used in Uttar Pradesh. The entire collection ofpoems
written by Jaishankar Prasad can best be described as touching and
emotional. Not onlydid he pay attention to the language of his
poems, but also look at their philosophic content. Itis to be
remembered that this ace Hindi litterateur was a philosopher as
well, apart from beinga writer. Therefore, this aspect too
reflected in his poems. The content of Jaishankar Prasadspoetry
ranged from the romantic to the patriotic. Himadri Tung Shring Se
is the most famouspatriotic poem written by Jaishankar Prasad in
the length of his career. It was written beforeIndia won its
independence from the British, and was successful in popularizing
the name ofJaishankar Prasad among the common masses.During the
middle of his career as a novelist, playwright and poet, Jaishankar
Prasad was highlyinfluenced by Sanskrit and other languages which
originated from Sanskrit. According toreports, he read a lot of
Bengali and Persian works to seek inspiration before penning his
own.Jaishankar Prasads most famous dramas Chandragupta, Skandagupta
and Dhruvaswaminiare inspired from Persian and Bengali plays.
During the later stages of his career, JaishankarPrasad wrote in
the Khadi dialect of Hindi. The stories of the plays written by
Jaishankar Prasadwere most often based on true incidents taken from
the history of India. The writer lovedreading books on history and
therefore his writings were influenced by historical incidents
andalso mythology. Jaishankar Prasad wrote a couple of short
stories as well during the span of hisbrief career as a writer of
Hindi literature. Expectedly, the plots of his short stories were
alsobased either in Indian history or mythology. Mamta and Chhota
Jadugar are two of the mostpopular short stories written by
Jaishankar Prasad.KamayaniNo discussion on the collection of
writings by Jaishankar Prasad is complete without a
specialreference to Kamayani. Kamayani is, by far, not only the
most popular work of JaishankarPrasad; it is also one of the best
collections of poetry that the Hindi literary circuit has everseen.
Kamayani, which has received popular and critical appreciation ever
since it waspublished some decades ago, is still the most popular
and best mahakavya that the Hindilanguage has witnessed. The epic
poem may be described as an amalgamation of knowledge,desire and
action, the three basic elements in the life of a human being. The
central charactersof the mahakavya, Manu, Ida and Shradha describe
through their actions in the poem, theevolution of culture in
humans and the mythological story of the great flood. The
threecharacters Manu, Ida and Shradha represent human psyche,
rationality and love respectively inKamayani.
- 27. Death and BeyondJaishankar Prasad died at a very early age
of 47 on January 14 of 1937. The great Hindilitterateur is survived
by three wives and their children. After his death, Shanta Gandhi,
a 1960sprofessor of ancient Indian drama at the National School of
Drama in New Delhi, took theinitiative to stage several of
Jaishankar Prasads plays for the modern Indian theater.
ShantaGandhi took note of the fact that not many changes were made
in the original writing ofJaishankar Prasad so that the modern
generation gets a taste of the real Jaishankar Prasadwriting. The
first play staged by her was Skandagupta which was written by the
Hindilitterateur in 1928. Jaishankar Prasad is still fondly
remembered as one of the pillars of Hindiliterature, the other two
being Acharya Ram Chandra Shukla and Munshi Premchand.Jaishankar
Prasad was not only a great writer; he also made a mark as a
historian and aphilosopher.Timeline1889: Jaishankar Prasad is born
on January 30.1915: He wrote his first significant drama,
Rajyasri1928: Wrote his famous play Skandagupta.1935: The long poem
Kamayani was published1937: Died on January 14 aged only 47.1960s:
The National School of Drama staged plays written by Jaishankar
Prasad.
- 28. Sahir LudhianviBorn: March 8, 1921 Ludhiana, PunjabDied:
October 25, 1980Best remembered for penning the renowned "Kabhi
kabhi mere dilmein" song from the movie "Kabhie Kabhie", Sahir
Ludhianvi etched apermanent mark on songs and ghazals in the Hindi
film industry. Trueto his name, Sahir was a magician who fascinated
his listeners andreaders through his marvelous compositions. His
wordings havesuccessfully created a plethora of emotions with its
simple languageand distinguished feelings. Despite being unable to
praise God,beauty, and wine, he divulged his bitterness with
sensitive lyrics through his pen. For hisillustrious and
magnificent compositions, he was honored with two Filmfare Awards
and PadmaShri Award during his lifetime.Early LifeSahir Ludhianvi
was born as Abdul Hayee into a rich Muslim Gujjar family in
Ludhiana in Punjab.His father was a wealthy zamindar, while mother
was Sardar Begum. Since birth, his parentswere undergoing an
estranged relationship and chose to separate when Sahir was just 13
yearsold. His father married for the second time and chose to take
custody of Sahir, but lost due tohis second marriage. As such, he
threatened to snatch Sahir from his mother, no matter whatstep he
had to take. Due to this, Sahir spent his childhood surrounded by
fear and financialdeprivation. He attained his formal education
from Khalsa High School in Ludhiana. Thereafter,he graduated to
Satish Chander Dhawan Government College For Boys in Ludhiana to
pursuehis higher studies. But he was expelled just after one year
for being caught sitting with a femalein the lawns in 1943. He left
Ludhiana and traveled to Lahore in search of a better
careerprospect.Bollywood CareerIn Lahore, Sahir completed his first
work in Urdu "Talkhiyaan" but was unable to find apublisher for the
same. Finally, after two years of shuffling between Ludhiana and
Lahore, hefound a publisher in 1945. Thereafter, he started editing
four magazines, "Adab-e-Lateef","Shahkaar", "Prithlari", and
"Savera". These magazines achieved immense success. However,due to
his explosive writing in "Savera", the government of Pakistan
issued an arrest warrantagainst him. As such, he fled from Lahore
in 1949 and landed in Delhi. After spending a couple
- 29. months there, he traveled to Bombay where he settled for
the rest of his life and createdhistory through his illustrious
works.He made his debut into Bollywood by writing the lyrics for
"Aazadi Ki Raah Par" in 1949.Though he wrote four songs, both the
film and the songs sank unnoticed.Sahir was next seen in 1951
"Naujawaan" with S.D. Burman as the music director. This movieacted
as the stepping stone for him as the film worked decently. But his
major recognition camewith Guru Dutts directorial debut "Baazi" in
1951, again paired with Burman. Thereafter, hewas amongst the team
of Guru Dutt. The combination delivered some marvelous
musicalperformances that became legendary hits. Over his entire
Bollywood career, Sahir deliveredevergreen and immortal pieces of
Hindi film music. Some of the most prominent movies
include"Pyaasa", "Hum Dono", "Taj Mahal", "Phir Subah Hogi",
"Trishul", and "Waqt".His 1976 "Kabhie Kabhie" saw the best in
Sahir that went on to break all records, andbestowing him with
another Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist, second to "Taj
Mahal".Poetry CareerWhile writing lyrics for Bollywood films were
reaching skies at that time, his poetry was not leftbehind either.
His poetry revealed a "Faizian" quality of writing. His works had
that intellectualelement that caught the attention of people during
the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Though Sahirwas egoistic by nature,
probably due to his zamindari background, he was a compassionateman
and felt for others, often neglecting his own needs. This nature
reflected in his poetrywhich wrote as he aged. With different
periods progressing, Sahir narrated various ages, whichis not very
common in many writers style. Kahat-e-Bangal (The Famine of Bengal)
talked aboutearly maturity, while Subah-e-Navroz (Dawn of a New
Day) spoke about the conditions of thepoor. He was one amongst the
few Urdu poets who illustrated his views towards the Taj Mahalin an
entirely different manner.Personal LifeSahir Ludhianvi did not
marry in his life and chose to remain a bachelor throughout.
Afterexperiencing two failed relationships, one with journalist
Amrita Pritam and another withsinger-actress Sudha Malhotra, he
resolved to excessive drinking and became an alcoholic. Boththe
ladies fathers rejected Sahir due to his perceived religion and
atheism. Sahir and Amritawere so passionately in love with each
other that she wrote his name a hundred times in sheetsof paper
during one press conference. Though the couple met quite often,
they never spoke aword during their date. After Sahir was done with
smoking and left, Amrita would pick up thebutts and smoke them,
hoping that they would meet someday in the other world.
Another
- 30. reason for rejecting Sahir as a compatible partner for
Amritas father was Sahirs inability toafford a house. As a result,
Sahir built a taller house opposite Amritas residence in
Ludhiana.DeathSahir Ludhianvi was honored with Padma Shri Award in
1971. He suffered a major heart attackon October 25th, 1980 and
passed away in the arms of his friend Dr. R.P. Kapoor. He was
59years old then. He was later buried in Juhu Muslim cemetery, but
his tomb was destroyed in2010 to make space for other dead
bodies.Notable FilmsAazadi Ki Raah Par, 1949Naujawaan, 1951Baazi,
1951Shahenshah, 1953Humsafar, 1953Alif Laila, 1953Taxi Driver,
1954House No. 44, 1955Marine Drive, 1955Devad, 1955Pyaasa, 1957Naya
Daur, 1957Phir Subah Hogi, 1958Barsat Ki Raat, 1960Hum Dono,
1961Taj Mahal, 1963Gumraah, 1963Chitralekha, 1964Waqt, 1965Humraaz,
1967Naya Rasta, 1970Dastan, 1972Joshila, 1973Deewar, 1975Zameer,
1975Laila Majnu, 1976Kabhie Kabhie, 1976Trishul, 1978Kala Patthar,
1978The Burning Train, 1980Distinguished SongsAana hai to aa (Naya
Daur, 1957)Ye duniya agar mil bhi jaye to kya hai (Pyaasa, 1957)Wo
subah kabhi to aayegi (Phir Subah Hogi, 1958)Tu Hindu banega na
musalman banega (Dhool ka Phool, 1959)Allah tero naam, ishwar tero
naam (Hum Dono, 1961)Chalo ek baar phir se ajnabi ban jaye hum dono
(Gumraah, 1963)Aye meri zohrajabein (Waqt, 1965)Aagey bhi jane na
tu (Waqt, 1965)Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon (Kabhie Kabhie,
1976)Kabhie kabhie (Kabhi Kabhie, 1976)Timeline1921: Was born on
March 8th in Ludhiana, Punjab1934: Parents got divorced1942:
Admitted to Satish Chander Dhawan Government College For Boys,
Ludhiana
- 31. 1943: Expelled from college and went to Lahore1945: Got his
first Urdu poetry "Talkhiyaan" published1949: Ran away from Lahore
to Delhi and later to Bombay1949: Got a break in his first
Bollywood movie "Aazadi Ki Raah Par"1951: Gained recognition with
Guru Dutts "Baazi"1964: Won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist
for "Taj Mahal"1971: Honored with Padma Shri Award1977: Won the
Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for "Kabhie Kabhie"1980: Died in
Mumbai on 25th October, aged 59
- 32. Kazi NazrulBorn: 25th May 1899 Churulia, Burdwan District
of West BengalDied: 29th August 1976Nazrul said, "Even though I was
born in this country (Bengal), inthis society, I dont belong to
just this country, this society. Ibelong to the world."Also known
as the Vidrohi kobi or rebel poet in Bengaliliterature and bulbul
or nightingale of Bengali music, KaziNazrul Islam was one of the
most inspiring personalities ofundivided Bengal between 1920 and
1930. For a significant partof his life, he was considered as the
pioneer of post Tagore modernity in Bengali poetry. Theseveral ways
in which he expressed himself include poems, short stories, plays
and politicalactivities. Most of his works protested against the
slavery, communalism, feudalism andcolonialism forced upon India by
the British rule. To sum it all up, in the 1000 year history
ofBengali music, K. N. Islam was the most original and creative. He
brought traditional music tothe people by fusing different elements
of North Indian classical music.Early LifeKazi Nazrul was born on
May 24th 1899 in Churulia village in the district of Burdwan,
WestBengal. He lost his father, Kazi Fakir Ahmed at an early age
and was nicknamed Dukhu Mia orsorrow 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 localschool. It was at this point that he leaned
about the practices of Islam which led him to join hisuncle, Bazle
Karims folk group as a performer and composer. It is believed that
his motivationin literature came from this stint.At 11 years, he
resumed his studies only to discontinue them again due to financial
crisis andwork in a bakery and tea shop in Asansole. However, in
1914, he re-entered school inMymensingh district and managed to
complete class 10.In 1917, he joined the Indian Army and served it
for three years as Battalion Quarter MasterHavildar. Nazruls
engagement with a girl called Nargis ended in 1921 owing to her
fathersunreasonable conditions and he later married Pramila Devi in
1924.
- 33. CareerIn May 1919, while serving the army, Nazrul composed
and published his first piece TheAutobiography of a Delinquent or
"Saogat". He was already publishing literary periodicals
likeParbasi, Bharatbarsha and others from the Karachi
Cantonment.After leaving the army in 1920, he settled in Calcutta
and joined the Bangiya Mussalman SahiyaSamiti where he wrote his
first poem Bandhan-hara or Freedom from bondage. He keptadding
other poems viz., Bodhan, Shat-il-Arab, Kheya-parer Tarani and
Badal PraterSharab etc. to the same collection for several years
and was critically acclaimed all over thecountry for these.Nazrul
worked with great writers like Mohammas Mozammel Haq, Afzalul Haq,
Kazi etc andalso visited the Shantiniketan to meet Rabindranath
Tagore in 1921 with whom he maintainedclose association.In 1922, he
reached the peak with his work with Bidrohi which appealed to the
classes and themasses alike. It was published in Bijli (Thunder)
magazine and was co-incidentally inaccordance with the civil
disobedience movement of 1942.In 1922, a bi-weekly magazine,
Dhumketu (Comet), published his political poem which led toNazruls
arrest. On April 14th 1923, he was transferred to Hooghly in
Calcutta and was laterreleased in December 1923. While imprisoned,
he composed a large number of poems andsongs.Kazi Nazrul Islam
became a critic of the "Khilafat" struggle and the Indian National
Congress fornot embracing political independence from the British
Empire. He encouraged people to fightagainst the British and
organized the Sramik Praja Swaraj Dal. On 16th December 1925,
Nazrulstarted publishing the weekly Langal as the chief editor.In
1926, he settled in Krishnanagar and wrote poetry and songs for the
downtrodden and weakclasses of the society. His famous poem Daridro
(Pain or Poverty) was written during thistime. Nazrul also composed
ghazals in Bengali and became the first person to introduce
Islaminto traditional music. The first record was a huge success.
Shamasangeet, Bhajan and Kirtanthat combined Hindu devotional music
was also created by him.In 1928, he started working as a lyricist,
composer and music director for His Masters VoiceGramophone
Company. His songs, together called Nazrul geet, were broadcasted
overseveral radio stations and he was enlisted with the Indian
Broadcasting Company.After his mothers demise, Nazruls works
changed from topics of rebellion to religion. He gotinto mainstream
Bengali folk music and explored namaz (prayer), roza (fasting) and
hajj
- 34. (pilgrimage). He devoted works to Quran and the life of
Islams prophet Muhammad.In 1933, he published a collection of
essays - Modern World Literature - which had differentthemes and
styles of literature. He also published 800 songs based on
classical ragas, kirtansand patriotic songs in 10 volumes.Nazrul
slowly moved in Indian theatre in the year 1934 and the first
picture for which he actedwas based on Girish Chandras story called
Bhakta Dhruva. He also composed and sang for thismovie. A film
"Vidyapati", based on his play, was featured in 1936. One of his
biggest moves inthe 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
startedproducing music such as Haramoni and Navaraga-malika. He
sang predominantly in the ragaBhairay. In 1940, he started working
as a chief editor for Nabayug, founded by A.K. FazlulHuq.When
Rabindranath Tagore died on 8th August 1941, he composed two poems
dedicated tothe veteran.DeathNazruls health started deteriorating
as a result of Pramila Devis paralysis and he underwentseveral
mental treatments after 1941. He even stayed at a mental asylum for
four months in1942 and was re-admitted in Ranchi in 1952. A group
of admirers called "Nazrul TreatmentSociety" along with his
prominent supporters, sent Nazrul and Pramila to London and
Viennawhere Nazrul was diagnosed of Picks disease. His condition
was incurable and he returned toIndia in 1953. Later, his wifes
demise in 1962 followed by his youngest sons in 1974 took a tollon
Nazrul and he succumbed to his illness on the 29th of August 1976.
In accordance to his lastwishes, 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
Calcuttafor 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 ofBangladesh. He was also honoured with Honours in D.
Litt. by the University of Dhaka.
- 35. LegacyKazi Nazrul Islams works have been acclaimed as well
as criticized for egoism, but his admirerswho supported him
throughout his life, considered this as self-confidence more than
ego. Theysaid that he had the ability to defy God and yet be
devoted.As against Tagores sophisticated style, he was rugged and
unique. He used Persian in his worksbut compensated this with his
use of rich and imaginative language for childrens works.He is
still regarded for his secularism and was the first person to
include the rise of Christians inBengal in his books. He was
regarded for the cultural renaissance that he brought out
throughhis 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
anorganization that works on children education throughout
Bangladesh.Timeline1899: 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 Dhumketu1924: 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 Masters 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: Tagores death which led to writing of
Rabihara.1962: Nazruls wife died.1974: Nazruls son died.1976: Died
on 29th August of an unnatural cause.
- 36. Bibhutibhushan BandopadhyayBorn: 12 September 1894
Ghoshpara-Muratipur village, Bengal,British IndiaDied: 1 November
1950A renowned figure and a celebrated name amongst the
Bengaliliterary fraternity, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was a
criticallyacclaimed Bengali novelist and writer born on the 12th
ofSeptember 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
andhis ideologies were very visible in his writings. Realism was
oneof the main plots of his writings apart from the themes he
picked up from the happy and sadreal life experiences. He was a
writer who portrayed a beautiful combination of human beingsand
nature and showed the peaceful aspect of life. It was his ability
of putting across seriousthoughts and realms of life in simple
language to the people that gained him the popularity andrespect he
enjoys. In order to learn more on Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyays
profile,childhood, life, and timeline read
on.ChildhoodBibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was born on the 12th
September 1894, in Kalyani, Muratipurvillage in the Nadia of
Bengal, British India. He was born at his maternal uncles house in
aHindu 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 sameschool at the beginning of
his work life.Bibhutibhushans childhood and early life was shadowed
by the clouds of poverty, but henevertheless fought his way through
to complete his undergraduate degree in History from
theSurendranath College in Kolkata. However, since he was not
financially strong to enrol for thepostgraduate course at the
University of Calcutta, he had to discontinue his studies. After
this,the burden of his familys economic wellness came on to his
shoulders.
- 37. Early LifeThe career of a writer did not come easy to
Bandopadhyay. Due to the economic crisis of hisfamily, he had to
take up various odd jobs to make ends meet before taking up
writingseriously.He taught at the school from where he completed
his schooling, he also took up the job of asecretary and even
managed an estate until finally, in 1921 he got an opportunity to
publish hisfirst short story "Upekshita" in a leading literary
magazine of Bengal named Probashi. But, itwas not until 1928 that
Bandopadhyay published his first novel, "Pather Panchali", for
which hereceived critical attention and acclaim. It was with this
novel that he became a prominent namein Bengali literature.Career
And WorkBibhutibhushan took up writing novels and short stories at
a time when there was a lot ofresearch going on regarding the
social degradation and economic imbalance. However, hiswritings 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. Hewrote in simple language and in
a way that his ideas reached the common man. Realism isanother
major aspect that his writings portrayed. His writings picturised
the subtle relationshipshared 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 convertedinto a movie of the same name
as a part of the memorable Apu Trilogy. Some of the famousworks of
Bandopadhyay apart from Pather Panchali are Aparajito, Aranyak,
Chander Pahar,Heera Manik Jwale, Adarsha Hindu Hotel, Ichhamati,
Bipiner Sangsar, Anubartan, KosiPranganeyer Chitthi, Dristi
Pradeep, Debjan, Ashani Sanket, Kedar Raja, Dampati,Sundarbane Sat
Batsar (which he couldnt complete), Dui Bari, Kajol (Sequel of
Aparajito,completed by his son Taradas), Mismider Kabach,
Jatrabadol, MeghaMallar, Mauriphooland Tal Nabami etc.Marriage And
RelationshipsBibhutibhushan Bandopadhyays first wife, Gouri Devi,
died during childbirth one year aftertheir marriage. This tragic
occurrence and the loneliness that it brought about and shadowedhis
life became a prominent theme in his early writings. He remarried
at the age of 46 to hissecond wife, Rama Chattopadhyay, from whom
he had his only son, Taradas, in 1947.
- 38. DeathBibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay left for holy abode on the
1st of November 1950 after sufferinga coronary attack. He was 56
years old then and was staying in Ghatshila.Timeline And Literary
Works1894: Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was born on 12th
September1921: He published his first short story "Upekshita" in a
leading Bengali literary magazineEarly 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 Chattopadhyay1947: His only son Taradas was born.1950:
Bandopadhyay suffered a fatal heart attack and breathed his last on
1st November inGhatshila.
- 39. Dr. Pandurang Vaman KaneBorn: 1880 (date unknown)
Maharashtra, IndiaDied: 1972 (date unknown)Some of the greatest
writings on social reforms of India came fromthis man, Dr.
Pandurang Vaman Kane. He was conferred with anhonorary degree of
doctor of law at a special convocationceremony. He was an
indologist, i.e., a person who excels atlanguages and literature,
and could converse easily in both Sanskritand English. He authored
several books, especially on religious andcivil law. In these
books, he compiled the scriptures of ancient andmedieval India.
Being a scholar, this great person was revered allover the country.
The book History of Dharmasastra, penned byDr. Kane is, by far, one
of the most inspiring books written about the social reforms of
ancientIndia. The title Mahamahopadhyaya (the greatest teacher of
all teachers) was bestowed uponhim in his later days and in 1963,
he was given the highest civilian award of India, the
BharatRatna.Early LifeDr. Kane was born in the Ratnagiri district
of Maharashtra to a very conservative ChitpavanBrahmin family. Not
much is known about his background or his family history. Dr.
Kanegraduated 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.CareerIn 1930, Dr. Kanes
best known work, History of Dharmasastra - which was under the
subtitleAncient and Medieval Religions and Civil Law in India - was
published. This books launch wasannounced 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 ofinformation, such as several texts and manuscripts,
all compiled in one. It is also known tocontain certain information
on the Mahabharat, Puranas and Kautilya in Sanskrit. Dr. Kanesbasic
idea behind writing the book was to make the public aware of the
ancient social laws andcustoms in India and also to study the
social processes that were prevalent in ancient India. Thelast
publication was on November 17th 1962.
- 40. He was said to have used reliable resources like the
Asiatic Society of Bombay and theBhandarkar Oriental Research
Institute.His next work as an author was a book called
Vyavaharamayukha. An introductory paragraphon the history of
Dharmasastra was included in this book so that the reader got a
fair idea ofthe subject, apart from the contents of the book
itself. This became one of his major works andwas translated into
English and Marathi, apart from being written in Sanskrit. It was
made up ofnearly 15000 pages.An additional part of Dr. Kanes career
was spent in debating the Indian constitution. Hebelieved that
these set of rules and regulations were a break from traditional
ideas that werewidespread in India. He further implied that people
residing in this country have rights but noobligations.Several
issues were brought to light due to the nature of his work and
writings. During the reignof the Atal Bihari Vajpayee in India,
there was a discussion whether the ancient Indian ate beef.For
answers, they reverted to Dr. Kanes works to prove that Hindus
respected and worshippedthe Cow and eating beef was not allowed.
Another example was the issue of whether girls inIndia were allowed
to wear the sacred thread. But, it was found out, through his
books, that itwas restricted only to men.DeathThe exact date and
cause of Dr. Kanes death remain unknown. However, it is confirmed
that ithappened 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 isalways prefixed with an MM. He was
awarded the prestigious, Sahitya Akademi Award in 1956 for History
ofDharmasastra, Vol IV under the category of Sanskrit translation.
Dr. Kane was also an esteemed honorary member of the Bhartiya Vidya
Bhavan wherehe achieved new heights of greatness. Becoming a part
of the Rajya Sabha as a Member of Parliament (MP) was also under
hislist of achievements and he was there for having a distinguished
record in the field ofacademics. Last but not least, he was
conferred with the highest civilian accolade of India, theBharat
Ratna, in 1963.
- 41. LegacyIn 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 theiroutstanding contribution in the study of Vedic,
Dharmasastra or Alankara Literature.Timeline1880: Pandurang Kane
was born to a conservative family in the Ratnagiri district
ofMaharashtra.1930: First publication of History of Dharmasastra
was released.1956: Dr. Kane received the Sahitya Akademi Award for
History of Dharmasastra, Vol IV underthe 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 civilianaward 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.
- 42. Jiddu KrishnamurtiBorn: 12th May, 1895 Madanapalle, Andhra
PradeshDied: 17th Feb, 1986"I maintain that Truth is a pathless
land, and you cannot approachit by any path whatsoever, by any
religion, by any sect" - J.Krishnamurti.Jiddu Krishnamurti was
considered a revolutionary writer andspeaker on philosophical
meditation and was someone whobrought about a change in society.
Krishnamurti believed thatsocial reforms could only be possible if
the minds of theindividuals change. He also talked about spiritual
issues and urgedevery human being to think about religious,
political and socialrevolution. He was a guru who never wanted to
be one. It is said that Jiddu did not remembermuch of his
childhood. Some called him delusional and others said that this was
a sign that hewas a self-realized master.Early LifeJiddu
Krishnamurti was born in a Telugu speaking Brahmin family to
Narainiah andSanjeevamma. His father was employed with the British
administration and his mother diedwhen he was just ten years old.
In 1903, he shifted base to Cudappah where he attendedschool. Here,
he was considered vague and dreamy and mentally retarded. He
startedpenning childhood memoirs when he was eighteen years old and
claimed to have had a psychicvision of his dead sister. His father
retired in 1907 and then wrote to the then President of
theTheosophical Society, Annie Besant seeking employment. He was
hired as a clerk and he andhis sons moved to the Theosophical
Society headquarters in Chennai in 1909.In May 1909, Krishnamurti
met the influential theosophist called Charles Webster
Leadbeater.Despite Krishnamurtis unpleasant physical appearence,
Leadbeater saw a spark in him andsaid that he would become a
spiritual leader, a great orator and a vehicle for Lord Maitreya -
aspiritual entity who appears on earth as a World Teacher to look
into the evolution ofmankind. After this he was privately tutored
under the wing of the Theosophical Society. It washere that he
developed such a strong bond with Annie Besant that his father gave
Besant alegal guardianship over Krishnamurti.
- 43. CareerIn 1911, the Theosophical Society named Krishnamurti
the head of a new organization calledthe Order of the Star in the
East (OSE) which was to prepare the world for a new WorldTeacher.
This mission received publicity and worldwide press coverage. It is
said that he wasuncomfortable 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 ofOrder of the Star in
the East in London. At the same time, he started writing in
magazines andbooklets published by the Theosophical Society. After
World War I, Krishnamurti gave a seriesof lectures and held
meetings around the world regarding his role as the head of the
Order ofthe Star in the East. He continued writing, most of which
revolved around work of the Order inpreparation for the Coming.In
1922, he met Rosalind Williams and they discussed the World Teacher
Project at Ojai Valleyin California which later became his official
residence. During the month of September, he wentthrough a life
changing spiritual experience. He experienced a mystical union
followed byimmense peace. Slowly, the process began and
Krishnamurti felt this initially as bodily painand then
unconsciousness, but he always claimed to know his surroundings.
Over the next fewyears, 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 theDissolution Speech which
was heard over the radio.He kept denying the fact that he was a
World Leader and never clarified his position. Heeventually
dissociated himself from the Theosophical Society. He never had the
concept offollowers and a teacher. J. Krishnamurti spent the rest
of his life holding dialogues and givingpublic talks on nature,
beliefs, truth, sorrow, freedom and death. This wise man never
believedin dependency and exploitation and never accepted gifts
showered on him for his works. Heurged people to think
independently and gave lecture tours all over the world, published
booksand transcripts for half a century.In the years between 1930
and 1944, he engaged himself in speaking tours with a
publicationcompany trust called Star Publishing Trust. Rishi Valley
School was opened based on hiseducational ideas. It operated under
the Krishnamurti Foundations banner. Throughout the1930s, he spoke
in Europe, America and Australia and spoke about everything that he
acceptedwas true. He faced opposition for this.Krishnamurti talked
of meditation in every discussion and also brought in new terms
likechoiceless awareness and a single consciousness. In 1938, he
spoke of World War-II and forthis he came under the surveillance of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He stopped
- 44. giving lectures until 1944, after which when he again
became regular. All his lectures werepublished in Krishnamurti
Writings Inc.In 1953, he started writing prose and his first book
was published by a mainstream commercialpublisher. Majority of his
writings were in third person and he increased the number of
talksand dialogues. He met prominent personalities like the Dalai
Lama and Jawarhalal Nehru duringhis 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 ofthe Teaching, in which he
stressed on knowledge and man being built as a sense of his images
-religious, political and personal.ContributionsBooks 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 byKrishnamurti.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 JidduKrishnamurti.Education A Purpose of Education, The
Act of Learning, Discussion with the Teachers, On Order,
- 45. The Fundamental Meaning of Co-operation and A Different
Kind of Education weresome of his most influential works.DeathJiddu
Krishnamurti died on 17th February, 1986 at the age of 90 in
California, due to pancreaticcancer.LegacyKrishanmurtis works were
inspiring and many take interest in reading them even today.
Hisbooks have been brought out in the form of videos and audio
books. The KrishnamurtiFoundation still has archives of his
teachings and it continues to grow. The schools that werestarted
based on his teachings have reported huge growth. Unofficial
Krishnamurti committeesare operating in several countries and his
biographies and research papers are continuallyreferred to even to
this day.Timeline1895: 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 hisfirst 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 formed1953: 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.
- 46. Bharatendu HarishchandraBorn: September 9, 1850
VaranasiDied: January 6, 1885Bharatendu Harishchandra is one of the
most heard names in thehistory of modern Hindi literature. He was
an imminent poet ofthe 19th century who also wrote several novels
and plays. It wasthe subject and pattern of his writings which
caught the attentionof the critics and the masses and made
BharatenduHarishchandra such a popular name in Hindi
literature.Harishchandra possessed a revolutionary spirit and made
knownall his nationalistic feelings through his writings. Almost
everypiece of work from the hands of Bharatendu Harishchandra spoke
about the exploitation whichexisted in the Indian society during
his times, the inhuman conditions that the poor and needyhad to
live in and the subjugation that the lower and middle classes of
the society had to face inthe hands of the elite ruling class. Most
of his poems were an urge to the people of India to joinhands in an
effort to better the living conditions in the country.He is known
as the father of modern Hindi literature as well as Hindi
theatre.ChildhoodBharatendu Harishchandra was born on September 9,
1850 in Varanasi. His father GopalChandra was also a poet (by the
pseudonym of Girdhar Das) and it was from his father thatBharatendu
Harishchandra derived the inspiration to write in his later life.
The nationalmovement in India during the British rule moved
Bharatendu Harishchandra to a great degreeeven when he was young.
He and his family visited the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the
year1865 when Bharatendu Harishchandra was a mere 15 year old kid.
But even as a child, theBengal Renaissance deeply touched him and
he was influenced into being a part of themovement by introducing
the concept in Hindi literature. After returning to his native
Varanasifrom Puri, Bharatendu Harishchandra conducted an in-depth
study of the plays, novels andpoems that were being written to
bring about social and historical changes during the
BengalRenaissance. And it was this study of Bengali literature that
led Bharatendu Harishchandra totranslate an important Bengali play
Vidyasundar to Hindi in the year 1868. BharatenduHarishchandras
parents died when he was still very young, another incident which
touched himand inspired him to get more involved with poetry, prose
and drama writing.
- 47. Life & WorksAfter the death of his father, Bharatendu
Harishchandra got completely immersed in Hindiliterature and always
adopted ways to contribute better writings for the development of
Hindiliterature. He introduced new concepts and ideas in Hindi
prose and drama and is thusconsidered the pioneer of the modern age
Hindi writing. However, Bharatendu Harishchandrascontribution was
not just limited to the field of writing prose and poetry. He was
in fact alsoinvolved with the development of Hindi journalism. He
worked as an editor in magazines likeHarishchandra Patrika, Kavi
Vachan Sudha, Harishchandra Magazine and Bal Vodhini.It was in
recognizing his efforts towards the development of the Hindi
language that renownedscholars in Hindi during his age bestowed on
him the title of Bharatendu at a public eventorganized in the year
1880. It was their way of showing respect to the person who had
brokennew grounds and ushered in a new era of Hindi literature,
thus making him the rightful ownerof the title Father of Modern
Hindi Literature. Bharatendu Harishchandra was a notablemember of
the Chowdhury family residing in Varanasi. His forefathers, on the
other hand, weremembers of the Agrawal community who were rich
landlords in Bengal. BharatenduHarishchandra wrote extensively on
the life and times of his great grandfathers from theAgrawal
community. His family indeed had a flourishing history to boast of
and severalaccounts of it were highlighted in the prose and essays
written by Bharatendu Harishchandra.Notable Works of Bharatendu
HarishchandraPoetry Prem Madhuri Prem Pralap Raag Sangraha Krishna
Charitra Phoolo ka GuchchaDrama Vaidik Himsa Hitnda na Bhavati
Satya Harishchandra (a mythologicalclassic) Neel Devi Bharat
Durdasha Andher Nagari (City of Darkness, which is considered as
one of the most popular playsin 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. Infact,
it was acting that first brought Bharatendu Harishchandra to
theater. He later chose towrite and direct plays as well.
- 48. Essay Collection Bharatendu Grnthaaolly or Sahitya
HarishchandraTranslation Visakhadattas Mudra Rakshasa Vidya Sundar
Harshas Ratnavali Durlabh Bandhu (fromShakespeares Merchat of
Venice.This writing was left incomplete dueto Harishchandras
death.) Kapoor MnajariDeathBharatendu Harishchandra passed away on
January 6, 1885 at the age of 35, at his hometownVaranasi. His
writings are still held in high regard by Hindi literature lovers
all over the world.RecognitionBharatendu Harishchandra is such a
respected name in Hindi writing that the Ministry ofInformation and
Broadcasting in India still honors accomplished original writings
in Hindi bybestowing upon the writers the Bharatendu Harishchandra
Awards instituted in the year 1983.Popular Kannada scriptwriter and
director P