Makhanlal Chaturvedi


Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi, also called Pandit ji, was an Indian poet, writer, essayist, playwright and a journalist who is particularly remembered for his participation in India's national struggle for independence and his contribution to Chhayavaad, the Neo-romanticism movement of Hindi literature. He was awarded the first Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi for his work Him Taringini in 1955. The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 1963.

Early life

Chaturvedi was born in a Babai village of Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh on 4 April 1889. He became a schoolteacher when he was aged 16. Later, he was the editor of the nationalist journals Prabha, Pratap and Karmaveer, and was repeatedly incarcerated during the British Raj. After the Indian independence, he refrained from seeking a position in the government, instead continuing to speak and write against social evils and in support of an exploitation-free, equitable society as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi.

Literary career

His noted works are Him Kirtini, Him Tarangini, Yug Charan, and Sahitya Devata, and his most noted poems are Venu Lo Gunje Dhara, Deep Se Deep Jale, Kaisa Chhand Banaa Deti hai and Pushp ki Abhilaashaa.

Legacy

In his memory, the Madhya Pradesh Sahitya Akademi organizes the annual 'Makhanlal Chaturvedi Samaroh', since 1987, besides awarding the annual 'Makhanlal Chaturvedi Puraskar' in poetry for excellence in poetry by an Indian poet
The Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalaya at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh has been named in his honor