Harivanshrai 'Bachchan'
Encyclopedia
Harivansh Rai Bachchan (27 November 1907 – 18 January 2003), born Harivansh Rai Bachchan Shrivastav, was a noted Hindi poet
of Chhayavaad
literary movement (romantic upsurge) of early 20th century Hindi literature
. He was also a famous poet of Hindi Kavi Sammelan
. He is best known for his early work Madhushala
(मधुशाला). He is also the father of Bollywood
megastar, Amitabh Bachchan
.
family, in the village of Babupatti (Raniganj) in the district of Pratapgarh
, U.P. near Allahabad
in the United Provinces
(modern Uttar Pradesh
) he was the eldest son of Pratap Narayan Shrivastav and Saraswati Devi. He was called bachchan (meaning promise at home. He received his formal schooling in a municipal school and followed the family tradition of attending Kayastha Paathshaalas (कायस्थ पाठशाला) to learn Urdu
as the first step to a career in law. He later studied at the Allahabad University
and Banaras Hindu University
. In this period, he came under the influence of the independence movement
, then under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi
.
Realizing that this was not the path he wanted to follow, he went back to the university. However from 1941 to 1952 he taught in the English Department at the Allahabad University
and after that he spent the next two years at St Catharine's College, Cambridge
, Cambridge University doing his doctoral thesis on W.B. Yeats. It was then, that he used ‘Bachchan’ as his last name instead of Srivastava. Harivanshrai’s thesis got him his PhD at Cambridge. He is the second Indian to get his doctorate in English literature from Cambridge. After returning to India he again took to teaching and also served at All India Radio, Allahabad.
In 1926, at the age of 19, Bachchan married his first wife, Shyama, who was then 14 years old. However she died ten years later in 1936 after a long spell of TB
at just 24 years of age. Bachchan again married, Teji Bachchan, in 1941. They had two sons, Amitabh
and Ajitabh.
In 1955, Harivanshrai shifted to Delhi
to join the External Affairs Ministry as an officer on Special duty and during the period of 10 years that he served he was also associated with the evolution of Hindi as the official language. He also enriched Hindi through his translations of major writings. As a poet is famous for his poem Madhushala (a bar selling alcoholic drinks). Besides Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, he will also be remembered for his Hindi translations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Othello and also the Bhagvad Gita. However in Nov 1984 he wrote his last poem ‘Ek November1984’ on Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
Harivanshrai was nominated to the Indian Rajya Sabha in 1966 and received the Sahitya Akademi award three years later. In 1976 he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for his immense contribution to Hindi literature. He was also honoured with the Saraswati Samman, the Sovietland Nehru Award and the Lotus Award of the Afro-Asian writers’ conference, for his unique contribution to the world of letters. But if ever asked to introduce himself, he had a simple introduction: Mitti ka tan, masti ka man, kshan-bhar jivan — mera parichay. (A body of clay, a mind full of play, a moment’s life - that is me.).
Bachchan died on January 18, 2003, at the age of 95, as a result of various respiratory ailments. His wife Teji Bachchan died four years later in 2007, at the age of 93.
at Allahabad University
and then spent two years at Cambridge University
, at St Catharine's College
. There he studied with the famous English literature
don, Thomas Rice Henn
, and received a doctorate in English Literature
for his work on the Irish poet W.B. Yeats and Occultism. It was there that he used Bachchan as his last name instead of 'srivastava. He was the second Indian to get his doctorate in English literature
from Cambridge University
.
After returning to India, he taught briefly and then worked as a producer for All India Radio
,mumbai In 1955, he moved to Delhi
to join the Ministry of External Affairs
of the Government of India
and there he was closely involved with the evolution of Hindi
as the official language of India.
Bachchan used to introduce himself as (A body of clay, a mind full of play, a moment’s life - that's me).
, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament in 1966, and received the Sahitya Academy Award in 1969. In 1976, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan
and the Saraswati Samman
for his contribution to Hindi literature. In 1994, he was conferred with the "Yash Bharati" Samman by the Government of Uttar Pradesh
. http://news.webindia123.com/news/new/archives/ar_showdetails.asp?id=601160411&cat=India&n_date=2006.
He is a recipient of the Soviet Land Nehru Award and the Lotus Award of the Afro-Asian writers conference.
In 2003, an Indian postage stamp
was released in his memory.
Miscellaneous (विविध)
Autobiography / Rachanavali (आत्मकथा / रचनावली)
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
of Chhayavaad
Chhayavaad
Chhayavaad refers to the era of Neo-romanticism in Hindi literature particularly Hindi poetry, 1917–1938, and was marked by an upsurge of romantic and humanist content. Chhayavad was marked by a renewed sense of the self and personal expression, visible in the writings of time...
literary movement (romantic upsurge) of early 20th century Hindi literature
Hindi literature
Hindi literature , is broadly divided into four prominent forms or styles, being Bhakti ; Shringar ; Veer-Gatha ; and Adhunik...
. He was also a famous poet of Hindi Kavi Sammelan
Kavi sammelan
Kavi Sammelan is a formal or informal gathering of poets in Hindi-speaking belts of northern India. The participants recite their poetry to each other and have a general discussion of literary issues. This may take place in private homes or before an audience. In the era before economic...
. He is best known for his early work Madhushala
Madhushala
Madhushala , is a book of 135 "quatrains": verses of four lines by Hindi poet and writer Harivansh Rai Bachchan...
(मधुशाला). He is also the father of Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
megastar, Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
.
Personal life and education
Born in a Srivastava KayasthaKayastha
Kayastha or Kayasth or Kayeth is a caste or community of Hindus originating in India. Kayastha means "scribe" in Sanskrit, and has traditionally denoted members of the writer caste....
family, in the village of Babupatti (Raniganj) in the district of Pratapgarh
Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh
Pratapgarh also called Bela, Bela Pratapgarh, Partapgarh or Partabgarh, is a city and nagar panchayat of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Pratapgarh district, part of the Faizabad Division...
, U.P. near Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
in the United Provinces
United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
The United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was a province of India under the British Raj, which existed from 1902 to 1947; the official name was shortened by the Government of India Act 1935 to United Provinces, by which the province had been commonly known, and by which name it was also a province of...
(modern Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
) he was the eldest son of Pratap Narayan Shrivastav and Saraswati Devi. He was called bachchan (meaning promise at home. He received his formal schooling in a municipal school and followed the family tradition of attending Kayastha Paathshaalas (कायस्थ पाठशाला) to learn Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
as the first step to a career in law. He later studied at the Allahabad University
Allahabad University
Allahabad University , is a premier Central University located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt...
and Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
. In this period, he came under the influence of the independence movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
, then under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
.
Realizing that this was not the path he wanted to follow, he went back to the university. However from 1941 to 1952 he taught in the English Department at the Allahabad University
Allahabad University
Allahabad University , is a premier Central University located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt...
and after that he spent the next two years at St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
, Cambridge University doing his doctoral thesis on W.B. Yeats. It was then, that he used ‘Bachchan’ as his last name instead of Srivastava. Harivanshrai’s thesis got him his PhD at Cambridge. He is the second Indian to get his doctorate in English literature from Cambridge. After returning to India he again took to teaching and also served at All India Radio, Allahabad.
In 1926, at the age of 19, Bachchan married his first wife, Shyama, who was then 14 years old. However she died ten years later in 1936 after a long spell of TB
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
at just 24 years of age. Bachchan again married, Teji Bachchan, in 1941. They had two sons, Amitabh
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
and Ajitabh.
In 1955, Harivanshrai shifted to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
to join the External Affairs Ministry as an officer on Special duty and during the period of 10 years that he served he was also associated with the evolution of Hindi as the official language. He also enriched Hindi through his translations of major writings. As a poet is famous for his poem Madhushala (a bar selling alcoholic drinks). Besides Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, he will also be remembered for his Hindi translations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Othello and also the Bhagvad Gita. However in Nov 1984 he wrote his last poem ‘Ek November1984’ on Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
Harivanshrai was nominated to the Indian Rajya Sabha in 1966 and received the Sahitya Akademi award three years later. In 1976 he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for his immense contribution to Hindi literature. He was also honoured with the Saraswati Samman, the Sovietland Nehru Award and the Lotus Award of the Afro-Asian writers’ conference, for his unique contribution to the world of letters. But if ever asked to introduce himself, he had a simple introduction: Mitti ka tan, masti ka man, kshan-bhar jivan — mera parichay. (A body of clay, a mind full of play, a moment’s life - that is me.).
Bachchan died on January 18, 2003, at the age of 95, as a result of various respiratory ailments. His wife Teji Bachchan died four years later in 2007, at the age of 93.
Teaching career
From 1941 to 1952 he taught English LiteratureEnglish literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at Allahabad University
Allahabad University
Allahabad University , is a premier Central University located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt...
and then spent two years at Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, at St Catharine's College
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
. There he studied with the famous English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
don, Thomas Rice Henn
Thomas Rice Henn
Thomas Rice Henn was a literary critic. He became Professor of English at the University of Cambridge.He supervised the Ph. D thesis of Harivansh Rai Bachchan on W. B. Yeats...
, and received a doctorate in English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
for his work on the Irish poet W.B. Yeats and Occultism. It was there that he used Bachchan as his last name instead of 'srivastava. He was the second Indian to get his doctorate in English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
from Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
After returning to India, he taught briefly and then worked as a producer for All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
,mumbai In 1955, he moved to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
to join the Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs may refer to:* Ministry of External Affairs * Ministry of External Affairs * Ministry of External Affairs * Ministry of External Affairs and Defence...
of the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
and there he was closely involved with the evolution of Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
as the official language of India.
Bachchan used to introduce himself as (A body of clay, a mind full of play, a moment’s life - that's me).
Awards and honors
Bachchan was nominated to the Rajya SabhaRajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament in 1966, and received the Sahitya Academy Award in 1969. In 1976, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
and the Saraswati Samman
Saraswati Samman
The Saraswati Samman is an annual award for outstanding prose or poetry literary works in any Indian language listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India. It is named after an Indian goddess of learning and is considered to be among the highest literary awards in India.The award consists...
for his contribution to Hindi literature. In 1994, he was conferred with the "Yash Bharati" Samman by the Government of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. http://news.webindia123.com/news/new/archives/ar_showdetails.asp?id=601160411&cat=India&n_date=2006.
He is a recipient of the Soviet Land Nehru Award and the Lotus Award of the Afro-Asian writers conference.
In 2003, an Indian postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
was released in his memory.
List of works
Poems (काव्य)- (तेरा हार) (1932)
- MadhushalaMadhushalaMadhushala , is a book of 135 "quatrains": verses of four lines by Hindi poet and writer Harivansh Rai Bachchan...
(मधुशाला) (1935) - Madhubala (मधुबाला) (1936)
- Madhukalash (मधुकलश) (1937)
- Nisha Nimantran (निशा निमंत्रण) (1938)
- Ekaant Sangeet (एकांत संगीत) (1939)
- Aakul Antar (आकुल अंतर) (1943)
- Satarangini (सतरंगिनी) (1945)
- Halaahal (हलाहल) (1946)
- Bengal ka Kaavya (बंगाल का काव्य) (1946)
- Kaadi ke Phool (खादी के फूल) (1948)
- Soot ki Maala (सूत की माला) (1948)
- Milan Yamini (मिलन यामिनी) (1950)
- Pranay Patrika (प्रणय पत्रिका) (1955)
- Dhaar ke idhar udhar (धार के इधर उधर) (1957)
- Aarti aur Angaare (आरती और अंगारे) (1958)
- Buddha aur Naachghar (बुद्ध और नाचघर) (1958)
- Tribhangima (त्रिभंगिमा) (1961)
- Chaar kheme Chaunsath khoonte (चार खेमे चौंसठ खूंटे) (1962)
- Do Chattane (दो चट्टानें) (1965)
- Bahut din beete (बहुत दिन बीते) (1967)
- Kat-ti pratimaaon ki awaaz (कटती प्रतिमाओं की आवाज़) (1968)
- Ubharte pratimaano ke roop (उभरते प्रतिमानों के रूप) (1969)
- Jaal sameta (जाल समेटा) (1973)
- Nirman
Miscellaneous (विविध)
- Bachpan ke saath kshan bhar (बचपन के साथ क्षण भर) (1934)
- Khaiyyam ki madhushala (खय्याम की मधुशाला) (1938)
- Sopaan (सोपान) (1953)
- Mcbeth (1957)
- Jangeet (जनगीता) (1958)
- Othello (1959)
- Omar Khaiyyam ki rubaaiyan (उमर खय्याम की रुबाइयाँ) (1959)
- Kaviyon ke saumya sant: Pant (कवियों के सौम्य संत: पंत) (1960)
- Aaj ke lokpriya Hindi kavi: Sumitranandan Pant (आज के लोकप्रिय हिन्दी कवि: सुमित्रानंदन पंत) (1960)
- Aadhunik kavi: 7 (आधुनिक कवि: ७) (1961)
- Nehru: Raajnaitik jeevanchitra (नेहरू: राजनैतिक जीवनचित्र) (1961)
- Naye puraane jharokhe (नये पुराने झरोखे) (1962)
- Abhinav sopaan (अभिनव सोपान) (1964)
- Chausath roosi kavitaayein (चौसठ रूसी कवितायें) (1964)
- W.B. Yeats and Occultism (1968)
- Markat dweep ka swar (मरकट द्वीप का स्वर) (1968)
- Naagar geet (नागर गीत) (1966)
- Bachpan ke lokpriya geet (बचपन के लोकप्रिय गीत) (1967)
- Hamlet (1969)
- Bhaasha apni bhaav paraaye (भाषा अपनी भाव पराये) (1970)
- Pant ke sau patra (पंत के सौ पत्र) (1970)
- Pravaas ki diary (प्रवास की डायरी) (1971)
- King Lear (1972)
- Tooti Chooti kadiyan (टूटी छूटी कड़ियां) (1973)
- Meri kavitaayi ki aadhi sadi (मेरी कविताई की आधी सदी) (1981)
- So-ham hans (सोहं हंस) (1981)
- Aathve dashak ki pratinidhi shreshth kavitaayein (आठवें दशक की प्रतिनिधी श्रेष्ठ कवितायें) (1982)
- Meri shreshth kavitaayein (मेरी श्रेष्ठ कवितायें) (1984)
- Jo beet gai so Bat gai
Autobiography / Rachanavali (आत्मकथा / रचनावली)
- Kya bhooloon kya yaad karoon (क्या भूलूं क्या याद करूं) (1969)
- Need ka nirmaan fir (नीड़ का निर्माण फिर) (1970)
- Basere se door (बसेरे से दूर) (1977)
- Dashdwaar se sopaan tak (दशद्वार से सोपान तक) (1985), In the Afternoon of Time http://www.amazon.com/dp/0670881589
- Bachchan rachanavali ke nau khand (बच्चन रचनावली के नौ खण्ड) (1983)