Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan is no more
Guru
By: A Mid Day Correspondent
http://mid-day.com
January 18,2003
Well-known poet and intellectual Dr Harishavanshrai Bachchan died late
Saturday night at 11:40 pm.
Bachchan was kept under observation at the Intensive Care Unit set up at
Pratiksha, the residence of his son and megastar Amitabh Bachchan in
suburban Juhu.
He is survived by his wife Teji Bachchan and sons Amitabh, Ajitabh.
The 96-year-old Harivanshrai had been suffering from breathing trouble for
the last few days.
His son, Amitabh, was near him when he passed away, according to close
friend and Samajwadi Party MP Amar Singh.
Reliance Industries vice-chairman Anil Ambani was also present when the
noted poet passed away.
The funeral will be held at 3 pm on Sunday, January 19.
Harivansh Rai Bachchan was born in 1907 and was educated at Allahabad,
Banaras Hindu University and Cambridge Univeristy. He was the first Indian
ever to receive a PhD in English at the latter.
Returning in 1954, he taught and was also a radio broadcaster. He has
published 75 books, three for children, and has translated Shakespeare's
tragedies into Hindi.
He is best known for his book Madhushala (published in 1935), and had
written an autobiography In the Afternoon of Time.
He has also been awarded the Sahitya Akademi award and the Padmabhushan,
India's third highest civilian honour.
He was also well known as a lyricist in Hindi films even though he wrote for
only a couple of movies, and his popular song is considered to be Rang Barse
from the Yash Chopra film Silsila, which was, incidentally, picturised on
his son Amitabh and daughter-in-law Jaya.
----------------------------------
One of the brightest stars of Hindi poetry
By: PTI
http://mid-day.com
January 19,2003
Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan burst upon the horizon of Hindi poetry as a bright
star one evening in 1935 with his recitation of Madhushala to a huge
audience, unfolding to listeners an enchanting world with rings of Omar
Khayyam.
He was to carve out another niche for himself decades later with his
autobiography in four volumes, beginning with "Kya Bhoolun Kya Yaad Karoon"
(what to forget and what to remember), regarded till date as a literary
masterpiece.
In a literary career spanning over more than 50 years, he captured the
imagination of readers and continued to hold it with an unbroken series
achievements.
Born in Allahabad on 27 November 1907, Bachchan had early education there
and later studied at both Allahabad University and Banaras Hindu University.
He then taught at Allahabad University from 1941 to 1952 before moving to
Cambridge for research and obtained doctorate on "W B Yeats and Occultism".
On return, Harivanshrai Bachchan resumed teaching for a year and after a
short stint as a Producer in All India Radio, he joined the Ministry of
External Affairs in New Delhi as an Officer on Special Duty in 1955.
He remained there for about ten years and was intimately associated with the
evolution of Hindi as the official language.
In recognition to his contribution to the world of literature and Hindi
language, he was nominated to Rajya Sabha in 1966.
He was also awarded Padma Bhushan, K.K. Birla Foundation's first Saraswati
Samman, Sahitya Akademy award, Soviet Land Nehru Prize and Afro-Asian
Writers' Conference Lotus Prize.
For the last several years, he had been living with his film star son
Amitabh Bachchan in Mumbai.
His early writings consisted of the famous triology of Madhushala, Madhubala
and Madhukalash, noted for his profound sensitivity and simple diction.
This was followed by some of the finest lyrical poetry. He has about 30
collections of poems to his credit.
He translated the works of Omar Khayyam, Bhagwat Gita, W B Yeats and
Shakespeare among others.
His prose writing is equally important and his autobiography in four parts
was chosen for the Saraswati Samman.
--------------
Read Madhushala, Dr Harivanshrai Bachchan's greatest composition :
http://www.anubhuti-hindi.org/gauravgranth/madhushala/madhushala1.htm
-Guru
vsr...@hclinfinet.com
>
> Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan is no more
May his soul rest in peace.
> He was also well known as a lyricist in Hindi films even though he wrote for only a couple of movies, and his popular song is considered to be Rang Barse from the Yash Chopra film Silsila, which was, incidentally, picturised on
his son Amitabh and daughter-in-law Jaya.
And Rekha.
He also penned a song in Alaap, I guess, ko_ii gaataa aur
mai.n so jaataa.
Any more?
Some of Madhushalaa poems were released sung by Mahendra
Kapoor.
Madhushala still appears so fresh that it is impossible to
believe that it was written in 1935.
Thanks Guru for sharing it. No newspaper and no other net
newsbriefs had this news. btw, what is your id?
india.not.com bounced.
-Rawat
Guru
news:3E2A2C44...@HCLInfinet.com...
> Guru wrote:
> > Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan is no more
> May his soul rest in peace.
> mai.n so jaataa.
>
> Any more?
I am aware of only following 3 songs he wrote for hindi movies:
koii gaataa mai so jaataa - Alaap - 1977
rang barase bheege chunaravaali rang barase - Silsila - 1981
kyu pyaala chalaktaa hai, kyu deepak jaltaa hai - Phir bhee
> Some of Madhushalaa poems were released sung by Mahendra
> Kapoor.
I know your mention of Mahender Kapoor is deliberate :) It was infact sung
by Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Manna Dey. Jaidev composed music for this
album.
> Madhushala still appears so fresh that it is impossible to
> believe that it was written in 1935.
Madhushaalaa ( The Tavern ), when first published in 1935, Harivansh Rai
Bachchan found himself famous overnight. Since then the original Hindi
version has been translated into English, Marathi, Bengali and Malayalam. It
has been set to music and choreographed and performed by celebrated Indian
dancers. The full poem contains 135 verses. The poem shows traces of the
Persian Sufi style and is patterned, to some extent, on the Rubaiyat of Omar
Khayyam. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who has translated the Rubaiyat into Hindi,
has acknowledged the Persian influence in his work and indeed it is this
aspect of his poetry that sets it apart form the work of the major Hindi
poets of our time. The range of the 135 verses of Madhushala is wide: wine
and the tavern or wine-house serve as the basic metaphors in the poem and
symbolise the fillness and intoxication of life as well as its pain and
frustration. Love, Beauty, Pain, Sorrow, Death - all of these and more are
woven into the rich texture of the poem.
Some of his other widely read and appreciated Hindi poetry compilations are
Mujhe Pukaar Lo, Kahte Hain Taare Gaate Hain, Prateeksha, Andhere Kaa
Deepak, Jugnoo and Is Paar Us Paar. In all he wrote some 70 books.
> btw, what is your id?
I haven't 'burned' my email id as yet..
-Guru
Alok
<snip>
> Some of Madhushalaa poems were released sung by Mahendra
> Kapoor.
I had thought it was done by Manna Dey. I might be wrong though.
Someone please confirm.
-Alok
Deepaks
"Alok" <ganda...@rediffmail.com> wrote
news:slrnb2r4dh.a...@karma.astro.Virginia.EDU...
Yes, I have the cassette of Madhushala sung by Manna Dey.
Deepaks