Biography of Harivansh Rai Bachchan life story
On November 27, 1907, he was born. Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh is where he was born. On January 18, 2003, he passed away.
"A clay body, a playful mind, a fleeting life - that is me." Harivansh Rai Bachchan, one of the doyens of Hindi literature, said it this way. Indeed, reading his poems evokes a sense of liveliness and playfulness, two characteristics that would come to define his poetry. He was the torchbearer of the Chhayavaad or Romantic upsurge literary movement for about 60 years, albeit later in life he became better known for his famous son, Amitabh Bachchan, than for his poetry. But there was a period when tens of thousands would pack theatres and auditoriums only to hear him recite his poetry, with the epochal 'Madushala' being a particular favourite. His poetry is known for its lyrical beauty and rebellious attitude, with imagery that is unrestrained and sensuous, which set him apart from his Chhayavaad peers. Harivansh Rai Bachchan became the romantic rebel's embodiment. He focused on the average man's desire for independence and the sensuality behind this search in his poetry, which made him a popular literary figure.
Childhood
Harivansh Rai 'Bachchan' Srivastav was born in 1907 in the village of Babupatti near Allahabad to Pratap Narayan Shrivastav and Saraswati Devi in a Kayastha household. He was the oldest of their children. He was nicknamed 'Bachchan' as a child because of his childish behaviour. The label remained with him, and he became one of the most well-known figures.
Early Years
Harivansh Rai Bachchan attended a municipal school as a child. He began learning Urdu from Kayasth Paathshaalas around the same period. He went on to Allahabad University and Banaras Hindu University for his higher study. He became a faculty member of Allahabad University's English department in 1941 and served there till 1952. He then spent two years at Cambridge working on his dissertation thesis on W.B. Yeats and occultism, becoming just the second Indian to receive a Ph. D. in English Literature from the university. During this time, he also dropped the Srivastav from his name and adopted Bachchan as his surname. He returned to India and began teaching, while also volunteering at the All India Radio station in Allahabad for a spell.
Biography of Harivansh Rai Bachchan life story
Later Years
Harivansh Rai Bachchan later travelled to Delhi in 1955 to work as a Special Officer in the Hindi cell of the External Affairs Ministry, translating official documents into Hindi. He was in charge for ten years. During this time, he also strove to promote Hindi as India's official language, as well as translating some of the country's most important works into Hindi, including Macbeth, Othello, the Bhagavad Gita, W.B. Yeats' writings, and Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat.
Works
Harivansh Rai Bachchan is well known for his 1935 lyrical poetry "Madhushala" (The House of Wine), which was written in 142 verses. This work established him as a leading Hindi poet, and it was later translated into English and a variety of Indian languages. The poem created a sensation and was even staged. Madhushala was the third instalment of his poetry trilogy, which also included Madhubaala and Madhukalash. His reputation is built on this trilogy. 'Kya bhooloon kya yaad karoon,' the first in his four-part autobiography, was released in 1969. The second part, titled 'Need ka nirmaan fir,' was released in 1970, followed by the third, titled 'Basere se door,' in 1977, and the fourth, titled 'Dashdwaar se sopaan tak,' in 1985. The series was well-received, and in 1998, Rupert Snell produced a shortened English version, 'In the Afternoon of Time.' It is currently regarded as a classic work of Hindi literature. Bachchan authored over 30 poetry collections as well as other Hindi works such as essays, travelogues, and a few songs for the Hindi cinema industry during his teaching career and while working in the External Affairs ministry and thereafter. He frequently performed his poems in front of enormous crowds. In November 1984, he wrote his final poem, 'Ek November 1984,' which was inspired by Indira Gandhi's assassination.
Biography of Harivansh Rai Bachchan life story
Recognition And Awards
Harivansh Rai Bachchan was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1966 and was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1969. In acknowledgement of his contribution to Hindi literature, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan seven years later. He also received the Sovietland Nehru Award, the Afro-Asian Writers' Conference's Lotus Award, and the Saraswati Samman. In 1994, the Uttar Pradesh government honoured him with the "Yash Bharati" Samman. In 2003, a postage stamp was issued in his honour.
Personal Experiences
Bachchan married for the first time in 1926 when he was 19 years old and his wife, Shyama, was 14. She died of tuberculosis (TB) in 1936. Bachchan married Teji Suri five years later, and they had two children, Amitabh and Ajitabh.
Death
Harivansh Rai Bachchan passed away in 2003 at the age of 95. He was afflicted with breathing problems. His wife died four years later at the age of 93.
Biography of Harivansh Rai Bachchan life story
Timeline
Harivansh Rai Bachchan was born in Uttar Pradesh in 1907 to a Kayastha family.
He married his first wife in 1926.
Madhushala, his key work, is released in 1935.
1941: Joins the professor of Allahabad University's English department and marries for the second time.
1953: Moved to Cambridge to work on his doctoral dissertation.
1955: Joined the External Affairs Ministry's Hindi Cell.
In 1984, he published his final poem.
Nominated to the Rajya Sabha, India's upper chamber of parliament, in 1966.
In 1969, he was honoured with the Sahitya Academi Award.
Harivansh Rai Bachchan passed away in 2003.
Biography of Harivansh Rai Bachchan life story