2. Munshi Premchand
Born: July 31, 1880, Varanasi
Died: October 8, 1936, Varanasi
Munshi Premchand (मुंशी ेमचंद) was an Indian writer famous
for 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 being
an honorary prefix. A novel writer, story writer and dramatist,
he has been referred to as the "Upanyas Samrat" ("Emperor
of Novels") by some Hindi writers.
Early Life
Premchand was born on 31 July 1880 in a village near Varanasi in India to Munshi Ajaib Lal, a
clerk in the post office. His parents died when he was still very young. His mother died when he
was 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 rich
landowner, nicknamed him "Nawab" ("Prince"). "Nawab Rai" was the first pen name chosen by
Premchand.
After loosing his parents, Premchand became responsible for his step mother and his siblings
born from her. Premchand was married to a girl in an arranged child marriage-as then was the
custom- but the marriage proved to be painful for him and he left her in 1899. After that
Premchand 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 school
in Chunar, another remote area. The salary was minimal and he was the only earning member
in the family. With that negligible amount he had to support his wife, step mother, his siblings
and himself. The condition became even worse when he was fired from the job and had to
return to his village. After some efforts, he succeeded in getting a job of assistant master at a
government school in Varanasi. He was transferred to a town near Allahabad, where he
became the headmaster of a school in year 1902. After two years, he was sent to Kanpur as the
deputy sub-inspector of schools.
Emperor of Novels

3. Early Career
Dhanpat Rai first wrote under the pseudonym "Nawab Rai". His first short novel was Asrar e
Ma'abid (Devasthan Rahasya in Hindi, "The Mystery of God's Abode"), which explores
corruption among the temple priests and their sexual exploitation of poor women. The novel
was published in a series in the Benares-based Urdu weekly Awaz-e-Khalk from 8 October 1903
to February 1905.
After his death, Shivarani Devi wrote a book on him, titled Premchand Ghar Mein ("Premchand
in House").
In 1905, inspired by the nationalist activism, Premchand published an article on the Indian
National Congress leader Gopal Krishna Gokhale in Zamana.
Premchand's first published story was Duniya Ka Sabse Anmol Ratan ("The Most Precious
Jewel in the World"), which appeared in Zamana in 1907.
Premchand's 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 Premchand's short novels, Kishna was published by the Medical Hall Press
of Benares.
During April–August 1907, Premchand's story Roothi Rani was published in serial
form in Zamana. Also in 1907, the publisher’s of Zamana published Premchand's first short
story collection, titled Soz-e-Watan (Dirge of the Nation).
Success as a Writer
His literary work in Urdu gained him a reputation of a journalist with social aim, rather than a
mere entertainer. Premchand was born in the British India and the Indian Independence
movement was at its peak when he started his writing career. His early writings were largely
influenced by the nationwide movement in which he often expressed his support to the fight
for freedom.
In 1910, his collection of Soz-e-Watan was labeled as rebellious on account of its message
which provoked Indians to fight for the nation. An agonized British government confiscated the
book and all copies of Soz-e-Watan were burnt or destroyed. Premchand, who was writing
under the name of Nawabrai at that time, began to use Premchand as his pen name. The
prolific writer wrote more than 300 stories, novels and a number of plays.

4. The writer is credited with the introducing realism into the Hindi literature when it only
consisted of the fantasy stories, fairy tales and religious wor
published as Maansarovar.
In 1921, Premchand resigned from his job as his support to the Indian independence movement
and Gandhi’s Swadeshi movement. He took up a job in a printing press and became the
proprietor of the press. During that time he also worked as the editor of Hindi and Urdu
journals to support himself. It was miserable to see that though he had established himself as a
great writer and novelist, he failed to earn money and led a life of struggle amid poverty
financial crisis.
His first Hindi story Saut was published in the magazine
first short story collection Sapta Saroj
By 1919, Premchand had published four
Premchand's first major novel Seva Sadan
written in Urdu under the title Bazaar
based publisher, who offered Premchand
of Lahorepublished the novel later in 1924, paying Premchand
After quitting his job, Premchand left Gorakhpur for Benares on 18 March 1921, and decided to
focus on his literary career. Till his death in 1936, he faced se
chronic ill health.
In 1923, he established a printing press and publishing house in Benares, christened
Press". The year 1924 saw the publication of Premchand's
beggar called Surdas as its tragic hero. Schulz mentions that in
across as a "superb social chronicler", and although the novel contains some "structural flaws"
and "too many authorial explanations", it shows a "marked progress" in Premchand's writi
style.According to Schulz, it was in
his way to "a balanced, realistic level" that surpasses his earlier works and manages to "hold his
readers in tutelage". Nirmala, a novel dealing with the
serialized in the magazine Chand
with the subject of widow remarriage.
In 1928, Premchand's novel Gaban
published. In March 1930, Premchand launched a literary
aimed at inspiring the Indians to mobilize against the British rule.
politically provocative views, failed to make a profit. Premc
another magazine called Jagaran
The writer is credited with the introducing realism into the Hindi literature when it only
consisted of the fantasy stories, fairy tales and religious work. His creations are compile
In 1921, Premchand resigned from his job as his support to the Indian independence movement
and Gandhi’s Swadeshi movement. He took up a job in a printing press and became the
ess. During that time he also worked as the editor of Hindi and Urdu
journals to support himself. It was miserable to see that though he had established himself as a
great writer and novelist, he failed to earn money and led a life of struggle amid poverty
was published in the magazine Saraswati in December
Sapta 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 originally
Bazaar-e-Husn, but was published in Hindi first by a
based publisher, who offered Premchand 450 for his work. The Urdu Publisher
Lahorepublished the novel later in 1924, paying Premchand 250.
After quitting his job, Premchand left Gorakhpur for Benares on 18 March 1921, and decided to
focus on his literary career. Till his death in 1936, he faced severe financial difficulties and
In 1923, he established a printing press and publishing house in Benares, christened
The year 1924 saw the publication of Premchand's Rangabhumi, which has a blind
as its tragic hero. Schulz mentions that in Rangabhumi, Premchand comes
across as a "superb social chronicler", and although the novel contains some "structural flaws"
and "too many authorial explanations", it shows a "marked progress" in Premchand's writi
According to Schulz, it was in Nirmala (1925) and Pratigya (1927) that Premchand found
his 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 first
Chand, before being published as a novel. Pratigya ("The Vow") dealt
with the subject of widow remarriage.
Gaban ("Embezzlement"), focusing on the middle class' greed, w
published. In March 1930, Premchand launched a literary-political weekly magazine titled
aimed at inspiring the Indians to mobilize against the British rule. The magazine, noted for its
politically provocative views, failed to make a profit. Premchand then took over and edited
Jagaran, which too ran at a loss.
The writer is credited with the introducing realism into the Hindi literature when it only
k. His creations are compiled and
In 1921, Premchand resigned from his job as his support to the Indian independence movement
and Gandhi’s Swadeshi movement. He took up a job in a printing press and became the
ess. During that time he also worked as the editor of Hindi and Urdu
journals to support himself. It was miserable to see that though he had established himself as a
great writer and novelist, he failed to earn money and led a life of struggle amid poverty and
in December 1915 and his
pages each. In 1919,
Hindi. The novel was originally
, but was published in Hindi first by a Calcutta-
his work. The Urdu Publisher
After quitting his job, Premchand left Gorakhpur for Benares on 18 March 1921, and decided to
vere financial difficulties and
In 1923, he established a printing press and publishing house in Benares, christened "Saraswati
, which has a blind
, Premchand comes
across as a "superb social chronicler", and although the novel contains some "structural flaws"
and "too many authorial explanations", it shows a "marked progress" in Premchand's writing
(1927) that Premchand found
his way to "a balanced, realistic level" that surpasses his earlier works and manages to "hold his
dowry system in India, was first
("The Vow") dealt
("Embezzlement"), focusing on the middle class' greed, was
political weekly magazine titled Hans,
The magazine, noted for its
hand then took over and edited

5. In 1931, Premchand moved to Kanpur as a teacher in the Marwari College, but had to leave
because of difference with the college administration. He then returned to Benares, and
became the editor of the Maryada magazine. In 1932, he published another novel
titled Karmabhumi. He briefly served as the headmaster of the Kashi Vidyapeeth, a local school.
After the school's closure, he became the editor of the Madhuri magazine in Lucknow.
Before Premchand, Hindi literature consisted mainly of fantasy or religious works. Premchand
brought 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 Ki
Ghadi, Namak Ka Daroga, Gaban, Godaan, and Nirmala.
Premchand was a great social reformer; he married a child widow named Shivarani Devi. She
wrote a book on him, Premchand Gharmein after his death. In 1921 he answered Gandhiji's call
and resigned from his job. He worked to generate patriotism and nationalistic sentiments in the
general populace. When the editor of the journal _Maryaada_ was jailed in the freedom
movement, Premchand worked for a time as the editor of that journal. Afterward, he worked as
the principal in a school in the Kashi Vidyapeeth.
The main characteristic of Premchand's writings is his interesting storytelling and use of simple
language. His novels describe the problems of rural and urban India. He avoided the use of
highly Sanskritized Hindi and instead used the dialect of the common people. Premchand wrote
on 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. Premchand
himself did a cameo as the leader of laborers in the film.
Premchand was elected as the first President of the Progressive Writers' Association in
Lucknow, in 1936.
Godaan (The Gift of a Cow, 1936), Premchand's last completed work, is generally accepted as
his 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 for
the funeral rites of his dead wife, but spends it on food and drink. Premchand's last published
story was Cricket Match, which appeared in Zamana in 1937, after his death.

6. Later Life & Death
Premchand believed that literature is a powerful medium to educate people and it showed in
his writings. In his later life, he continued to write fictions with social purpose and social
criticism. Now a revered author and thinker, he presided over conferences, literature seminars
and received huge applause.
He chaired the first All-India conference of the Indian Progressive Writer’s Association in year
1936. However, in his personal life he was still struggling to make both ends meet. He also
suffered from health problem particularly ‘abdominal problems’. Despite ever difficulty and
challenges, Premchand did not abandon writing and embarked on completing his last novel
Mangalsootra. The novel still remains incomplete as he died in the middle of it on 8 October
1936.
List of Works
Novels
Title Publisher Date
Asrar-e-Ma'abid (Urdu)
Devasthan Rahasya(Hindi)
Awaz-e-Khalk (serial form) 1903 (8 October)-1905
(February)
Prema (Hindi)
Hamkhurma-o-Ham
Sawab(Urdu)
Indian Press/Hindustan Publishing
House
1907
Kishna Medical Hall Press, Benares 1907
Roothi Rani Zamana (serial form) 1907 (April–August)
Soz-e-Watan(collection) Publishers of Zamana 1907
Vardaan (Hindi)
Jalwa-e-Isar(Urdu)
Granth Bhandar and Dhanju 1912
Seva Sadan(Hindi)
Bazaar-e-Husn(Urdu)
Calcutta Pustak Agency (Hindi) 1919 (Hindi); 1924 (Urdu)
Premashram(Hindi)
Gosha-e-Afiyat(Urdu)
1922
Rangbhoomi(Hindi)
Chaugan-e-Hasti (Urdu)
Darul Ishaat (Urdu, 1935) 1924
Nirmala Idaara-e-Furoogh-Urdu 1925
Kaayakalp(Hindi)
Parda-i-Majaz(Urdu)
Lajpat Rai & Sons, Lahore (Urdu) 1926 (Hindi), 1934 (Urdu)
Pratigya (Hindi)
Bewa (Urdu)
1927
Gaban (also transliterated
as Ghaban)
Saraswati Press, Benares; Lajpatrai
& Sons, Urdu Bazar
1928
Karmabhoomi(Hindi) Maktaba Jamia, Delhi 1932

7. Maidan-e-Amal(Urdu)
Godaan Saraswati Press 1936
Mangalsootra(incomplete) Hindustan Publishing House
Short Stories
Title Publisher Date
Duniya ka Sabse Anmol Ratan Zamana 1907
Bade 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 1921
Pariksha Chand 1923 (January)
Shatranj ke khiladi(Hindi)
Shatranj ki bazi (Urdu)
Madhuri October 1924
Hinsa Parmo Dharma Madhuri 1926 (December)
Ghasvali Madhuri 1929 (December)
Idgah Chand 1933 (August)
Nashaa Chand 1934 (February)
Kafan Jamia 1936
Cricket Match Zamana 1937
Gupt Dhan
Mantra
Namak Ka Daroga
Poos ki raat
Lottery Zamana
Other stories include:
Abhushan
Agni Samadhi
Alagyojha
Amrit
Atmaram
Chori
Daroga Sahab
Devi
Dhaai ser gehun
Dikri Ke Rupaye
Do Bahanein
Do Bailon ki Katha
Fauzdaar
Grihaneeti
Gurumantra (1927)
Har Ki Jeet
Jail (1931)
Juloos (1930)
Jurmana
Khudai
Mahatirtha
Manushya Ka Param
Dharma (March 1920)
Maryada ki Vedi

8. Mukti Marg
Nairashya
Nimantran (1926)
Pashu se Manushya
Prayaschit
Prem Purnima
Ramleela
Samar Yatra (1930)
Sati
Satyagraha (1923)
Sawa Ser Gehu
Sewa Marg
Suhag ki Sari (1923)
Sujan Bhagat
Swatva Raksha
Thakur ka Kuaan
Thriya Charita
Udhar Ki Ghadi
Vajrpaat
Vimata
Hajje Akbar
Sautele Maa
Ibrat
Roshni
Bhadde ka Tattu
Nijat
Translations
Premchand translated several non-Hindi works into Hindi. These included the writings of Ratan
Nath Dhar Sarshar, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens (The Story of Richard Doubledick), Oscar
Wilde (Canterville), John Galsworthy (Strife), Sadi, Guy de Maupassant, Maurice
Maeterlinck (Sightless) and Hendrik van Loon (The Story of Mankind).
Some of the translated titles include:
Premchand's title Original
Ahankar Thais by Anatole France (adaptation)
Azad Katha Fasana-e Azad (1880) by Ratan Nath Dhar Sarshar
Parvat Yatra Sair-e-Kohsar (1890) by Ratan Nath Dhar Sarshar
Chandi Ki Dibiya Silver Box (1906) by John Galsworthy
Hartal Strife (1909) by John Galsworthy
Nyaya Justice (1910) by John Galsworthy
Sukhdas Silas Marner by George Eliot (adaptation)
Tolstoy Ki Kahaniyan Stories of Leo Tolstoy
Other
Film script
Mazdoor (1934)
Plays
Karbala
Tazurba
Prem Ki Vedi
Roohani Shadi
Sangram
Essays
Kuchh Vichar (two parts) Qalam Tyag aur Talwar

9. Biographies
Durgadas Mahatma Sheikhsadi (biography
of Saadi)
Children's books
Jangal ki Kahaniyan
Kutte ki Kahani
Manmodak
Ram Charcha
Adaptations of Premchand’s Works
Satyajit Ray filmed two of Premchand's works– Sadgati and Shatranj Ke Khiladi.
Sevasadan (first published in 1918) was made into a film with M.S. Subbulakshmi in the
lead role.
Premchand also worked with the film director Himanshu Rai of Bombay Talkies, one of
the founders of Bollywood.
The Actor Factor Theatre Company, a young Delhi based theatre group, staged Kafan in
2010 in New Delhi.
Oka Oori Katha (English title: The Marginal Ones) is a 1977 Telugu film directed
by 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 Writer’s Association.
1936- Premchand died on 8 October.

10. Anita Mazumdar Desai
Born: June 24, 1937 (age 75), Mussoorie
Anita Mazumdar Desai (born 24 June 1937) is an Indian novelist
and the Emeritus John E. Burchard Professor of Humanities at
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As a writer she has
been shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times.
She received a Sahitya Akademi Award in 1978 for her novel Fire
on the Mountain, from the Sahitya Akademi, India's National
Academy of Letters; she won the British Guardian Prize for The
Village by the Sea.
Early Life
Anita Desai was born as Anita Mazumdar on June 24, 1937 in Mussoorie. Her mother was
German and her father was Bengali. Anita Desai completed her schooling from Queen Mary's
Higher Secondary School in Delhi and graduated in English literature from the University of
Delhi (Miranda House).
Career
Desai published her first novel, Cry The Peacock, in 1963. She considers Clear Light Of
Day (1980) her most autobiographical work as it is set during her coming of age and also in the
same neighbourhood in which she grew up. In 1984 she published In Custody – about
an Urdu poet in his declining days – which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. In 1993 she
became a creative writing teacher atMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Her novel, The
Zigzag Way (2004), is set in 20th-century Mexico and her latest novel The Artist of
Disappearance came in 2011.
Awards
1978 – Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize- Fire on the Mountain
1978 – Sahitya Akademi Award (National Academy of Letters Award)- Fire on the Mountain
1980 – Shortlisted, Booker Prize for Fiction – Clear Light of Day
1983 – Guardian Children's Fiction Prize – The Village by the Sea: an Indian family story
1984 – Shortlisted, Booker Prize for Fiction – In Custody

11. 1993 – Neil Gunn Prize
1999 – Shortlisted, Booker Prize for Fiction: Fasting, Feasting
2000 – Alberto Moravia Prize for Literature (Italy)
2003 – Benson Medal of Royal Society of Literature
Anita Desai is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, the American Academy of Arts and
Letters, Girton College, Cambridge and Clare Hall, Cambridge. Presently, Anita lives in the
United States, where she is the John E. Burchard Professor of Writing at Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Selected Works
The Artist Of Disappearance (2011)
The Zigzag Way (2004)
Diamond Dust and Other Stories (2000)
Fasting, Feasting (1999)
Journey to Ithaca (1995)
Baumgartner's 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 This
Summer? (1975)
The Peacock Garden (1974)
Bye-bye Blackbird (1971)
Voices in the City (1965)
Cry, The Peacock (1963)
India- A Travellers Literary Companion

12. Arundhati Roy
Born: November 24, 1961 (age 51), Assam
Arundhati Roy is a popular writer, activist and novelist of the
Indian subcontinent. She was born in the family of Keralite
Syrian Christian mother and a Bengali Hindu father in Shillong
which forms a part of the Indian state of Meghalaya.
Her mother was a woman`s rights activist and her father was a
tea planter by profession. She spent her childhood days in
Aymanam in the Indian state of Kerala. She finished her
schooling from Corpus Christi School in Kottayam followed by
The Lawrence School, Lovedale that is situated in the Nilgiris.
After schooling she studied architecture at the School of
Planning and Architecture in Delhi.
Literary Life of Arundhati Roy
At age of sixteen Arundhati left home, and eventually enrolled at the Delhi School of
Architecture. 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 they
quit their profession and went off to Goa. They used to make cake and sell it on the beach to
make 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 at
Nizamuddin and hired a bicycle. One day film director Pradeep Krishen saw her cycling down a
street and offered her a small role of tribal girl in the film "Massey Saab". Arundhati Roy
accepted 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 of
monuments.
After returning from Italy Arundhati Roy linked with her husband to planned a 26 episode
television serial for Doordarshan called the Banyan Tree. The serial was later scrapped. She
wrote screenplays for a couple of TV films - "In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones" and "Electric
Moon". Arundhati Roy also wrote screenplay for Shekhar Kapur's controversial film 'Bandit
Queen'.

13. Arundhati Roy started writing her first novel, The God of Small Things in the year and finished
the work in 1996. This book is regarded as a semi-autobiography in which she relates to the
audience about her childhood experiences in Ayemenem. For this book she also received the
Man booker Prize for Fiction in 1997 and it was also listed as one of the notable books of 1997
in New York Times.
Arundhati Roy is also involved in many social activities. She is the figurehead of the
antiglobalization or alter-globalization movement and also a vehement critic of neo-imperialism
and of the global policies of the United States of America. The lists of her criticisms include
India`s nuclear weapon policies and the approach to industrialization and rapid development
as bring practiced in the nation in the recent times. She was also personally involved with
activist Medha Patkar in the campaign against the Narmada Dam Project. According to the
judgment of Supreme Court of India she also served one-day imprisonment and paid a fine of
Rs. 2000.
Arundhati Roy was awarded the Lannan Foundation`s Cultural Freedom award for her work
related to the civil societies that are adversely affected by the world`s most powerful
governments and corporations. She was also awarded the Sydney Peace Prize in the year 2004
for her significant contribution in social campaigns and her advocacy of non-violence. In the
month of January of the year 2006 Arundhati Roy was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award for
her collection of essays on the contemporary issues.
Personal Life of Arundhati Roy
While studying Architecture at School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi, she met her first
husband, Gerard Decunha who is also a renowned architect. It was with her second husband
Pradip Krishen that Arundhati Roy ventured into filmmaking in the year 1984. The first cousin of
Arundhati Roy, called Pranay Roy is also a prominent media personality and is settled in New
Delhi.
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 Indian
Parliament.

14. • The Shape of the Beast: Conversations with Arundhati Roy.
• Listening to Grasshoppers: Field Notes on Democracy
• Walking with the Comrade
Awards Won by Arundhati Roy
• Arundhati Roy was awarded the 1997 Booker Prize for her novel The God of Small
Things.
• She won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay in 1989, for the screenplay of In
Which 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 Global
Exchange Human Rights Awards in San Francisco with Bianca Jagger, Barbara Lee and
Kathy Kelly.
• Roy was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize in May 2004 for her work in social campaigns
and 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.

15. Jhumpa Lahiri
Born: July 11, 1967 (age 45), London
Jhumpa Lahiri is indeed the storyteller who weaves the lace of love,
identity, crisis, lies and faults in a matured way. Her works are
enriched with sensitive dilemmas in life. Characters in her books
experience the cultural as well as the generation gaps. She,
therefore, comments on the effects of Western colonialism on
Indians and Indians in Diaspora. Jhumpa Lahiri is not only a writer
but the weaver of dreams, the fabricator of emotion and therefore
her each and every novel becomes an outlet for her emotions.
She is the First Asian to win Pulitzer Prize. She won the 2000
Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her book "Interpreter Of Maladies"
Early Life of Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa Lahiri, a Bengali American author, was born in 1967 in London to a Bengali parent. She
moved to South Kingstown, Rhode Island when she was child. Jhumpa Lahiri learned her
Bengali heritage from her mother from a very early age. Jhumpa Lahiri is a daughter of a
librarian 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 in
Creative Writing, Comparative Literature from Boston University. She also received her Ph.D. in
Renaissance Studies from Boston University. She took up a fellowship at Provincetown`s Fine
Arts Work Centre in 1997.
Carrer in Writing for Jhumpa Lahiri
Right from a very young age she felt strong ties for her parents` homeland India, as well as the
United States and England. A sense of homelessness and an inability to feel accepted took place
as she grew up with ties to all three countries. To her it is an inheritance of her parents` ties to
India.
At a press conference in Kolkata this absence of belongingness comes out of her word "No
country is my motherland. I always find myself in exile in whichever country I travel to, that`s
why I was tempted to write something about those living their lives in exile". We find the idea
of exile through out her work "Interpreter of Maladies". The collection of nine distinct stories
revolves around the first and second-generation Indian immigrants and the idea of otherness
among the country. The story theme also includes the marital difficulties. It won `Pulitzer Prize`

16. in 2000 for fiction. In addition it received the PEN/Hemingway Award, the New Yorker Debut
of the Year award, an American Academy of Arts and Letters Addison Metcalf Award, The
Transatlantic Review award from Henfield Foundation, The Louisiana Review award for short
fiction, the O.Henry Award for Best American Short Stories, and a nomination for the Los
Angeles 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 novel
reveals the cultural and generational gaps between the parents. The storyline revolves around
parents who have immigrated to the United States born in Kolkata, West Bengal, and their son
American-born Gogol, wants to fit in among his fellow New Yorkers, despite his family`s
unwillingness 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 Happens
when 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 of
slowing down appears till date. Reader`s curiosity brings her audience together and they seem
to be mesmerized by her writings. It is difficult to compare Jhumpa Lahiri`s work to many other
Indian or Indian-American authors. Lahiri is also able to draw her readers into the story through
her details and by making her readers feel the emotional, physical, and mental needs of the
characters.
Personal Life of Jhumpa Lahiri
She married Alberto Vourvoulias Bush in 2001. They have two children from their marriage.
Books Written by Jhumpa Lahiri
Short Story Collections
Interpreter of Maladies (1999)
Unaccustomed Earth (2008)
Novels
The Namesake (2003)
Uncollected Non-fiction
Cooking 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)

17. Awards Received by Jhumpa Lahiri
1993 - TransAtlantic Award from the Henfield Foundation
1999 - O. Henry Award for short story "Interpreter of Maladies"
1999 - PEN/Hemingway Award (Best Fiction Debut of the Year) for "Interpreter of
Maladies"
1999 - "Interpreter of Maladies" selected as one of Best American Short Stories
2000 - Addison Metcalf Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters
2000 - "The Third and Final Continent" selected as one of Best American Short Stories
2000 - 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 "Indian
Takeout" in Food & Wine Magazine
2002 - Guggenheim Fellowship
2002 - "Nobody`s Business" selected as one of Best American Short Stories
2008 - Frank O`Connor International Short Story Award for "Unaccustomed Earth"
2009 - Asian American Literary Award for "Unaccustomed Earth"

18. Mulk Raj Anand
Born: December 12, 1905, Peshawar
Died: September 28, 2004, Pune
Mulk Raj Anand was among the first writers to incorporate
Punjabi and Hindustani idioms into English.
Mulk Raj Anand was an Indian novelist, short-story writer. He
was among the first writers to incorporate Punjabi and
Hindustani idioms into English. Mulk Raj Anand's stories
depicted a realistic and sympathetic portrait of the poor in
India.
Mulk Raj Anand was born on December 12, 1905 in Peshawar.
He graduated with honors from Khalsa College, Amritsar in
1924. Mulk Raj Anand went to England and studied at University College London and
Cambridge University. He completed his PhD in 1929. Mulk Raj Anand also studied - and later
lectured - at League of Nations School of Intellectual Cooperation in Geneva. Between 1932 and
1945 he lectured intermittently at Workes Educational Association in London.
Mulk Raj Anand was initiated into the literary career by a family tragedy, instigated by the
rigidity of the caste system. Anand's 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 Anand's first novel, "Untouchable", (1935), was a stark reflection of the day-to-day
life of a member of India's untouchable caste. The book was widely acclaimed and Mulk Raj
Anand was hailed as India's Charles Dickens. His second novel "Coolie" depicts the plight of
India's 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 joined
the 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 Kutub
Publishers. From 1948 to 1966 Anand taught at Indian universities. Mulk Raj Anand was fine art
chairman at Lalit Kala Akademi (National Academy of Arts from 1965 to 1970. In 1970, he
became president of Lokayata Trust, for creating a community and cultural center in the village
of Hauz Khas, New Delhi. Mulk Raj Anand died on September 28, 2004.

19. R.K. Narayan
Born: October 10, 1906
Died: May 13, 2001
R.K. Narayan is one of the most famous and widely read Indian
novelists. His stories were grounded in a compassionate
humanism and celebrated the humour and energy of ordinary
life.
R.K. Narayan was born on October 10, 1906 in Madras. His
father was a provincial head master. R.K. Narayan spent his
early childhood with his maternal grandmother, Parvathi in
Madras and used to spend only a few weeks each summer
visiting his parents and siblings. R.K. Narayan studied for eight
years at Lutheran Mission School close to his grandmother's
house in Madras, also for a short time at the CRC High School. When his father was appointed
headmaster of the Maharaja's High School in Mysore, R.K. Narayan moved back in with his
parents. He obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Mysore.
R.K. Narayan began his writing career with Swami and Friends in 1935. Most of his work
including Swami and friends is set in the fictional town of Malgudi which captures everything
Indian while having a unique identity of its own. R.K. Narayan's writing style was marked by
simplicity and subtle humour. He told stories of ordinary people trying to live their simple lives
in a changing world.
R.K. Narayan's famous works include The Bachelor of Arts (1937), The Dark Room (1938), The
English Teacher (1945), The Financial Expert (1952), The Guide (1958), The Man-Eater of
Malgudi (1961), The Vendor of Sweets (1967), Malgudi Days (1982), and The Grandmother's
Tale (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; and
AC Benson Medal by the Royal Society of Literature in 1980;
R.K. Narayan was elected an honorary member of the American Academy and Institute
of Arts and Letters in 1982.
The Grand Old Man of
Malgudi

20. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1989. Besides, he was also conferred honorary
doctorates by the University of Mysore, Delhi University and the University of Leeds.

21. Salman Rushdie
Born: June 19, 1947, Mumbai
Achievement: Awarded the 'Booker of Bookers' prize in 1993 for his
novel "Midnight's Children"
Salman Rushdie was born in Bombay on 19 June 1947. He went to
school in Bombay and at Rugby in England, and read History at King`s
College, Cambridge, where he joined the Cambridge Footlights theatre
company. After graduating, he lived with his family who had moved to
Pakistan in 1964, and worked briefly in television before returning to
England, 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 Arts
Council Writers` Award and the English- Speaking Union Award, and in 1993 was judged to
have been the `Booker of Bookers`, the best novel to have won the Booker Prize for Fiction in
the award`s 25-year history. The novel narrates key events in the history of India through the
story of pickle-factory worker Saleem Sinai, one of 1001 children born as India won
independence from Britain in 1947.
Rushdie`s third novel, Shame (1983), which many critics saw as an allegory of the political
situation in Pakistan, won the Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger and was shortlisted for the Booker
Prize for Fiction. The publication in 1988 of his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, leads to
accusations of blasphemy against Islam and demonstrations by Islamist groups in India and
Pakistan. 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 the
British 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 the
Whitbread Novel Award in 1988.
Salman Rushdie continued to write and publish books, including a children`s book, Haroun and
the 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 and
David Tushingham. It was first staged at the Royal National Theatre, London.) There followed a
book of essays entitled Imaginary Homelands: Essays and

22. Criticism 1981-1991 (1991); East, West (1994), a book of short stories; and a novel, The Moor`s
Last Sigh (1995), the history of the wealthy Zogoiby family told through the story of Moraes
Zogoiby, a young man from Bombay descended from Sultan Muhammad XI, the last Muslim
ruler of Andalucà a.
The Ground beneath Her Feet, published in 1999, re-works the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice
in the context of modern popular music. His most recent novel, Fury, set in New York at the
beginning of the third millennium, was published in 2001. He is also the author of a travel
narrative, The Jaguar Smile (1987), an account of a visit to Nicaragua in 1986.
• Salman Rushdie is the Honorary Professor in the Humanities at the Massachusetts
Institute 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 the
Aristeion 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. Salman
Rushdie is also co-author (with Tim Supple and Simon Reade) of the stage adaptation of
Midnight`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 fourth
character who links them all. It was shortlisted for the 2005 Whitbread Novel Award.

23. Vikram Seth
Born: June 20, 1952, Kolkata
Achievement: Won the WH Smith Literary Award and the
Commonwealth Writers Prize for his novel, A Suitable Boy. His
travelogue "From Heaven Lake: Travels Through Sinkiang and
Tibet" won the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award.
Vikram Seth is a famous Indian poet, novelist, travel writer,
librettist, children's 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 company
who migrated to post-Partition India from West Punjab in
Pakistan. Vikram Seth's childhood was spent in the town of Batanagar near Calcutta, Patna, and
London. His mother Leila Seth was the first woman judge of the Delhi High Court as well as the
first woman to become Chief Justice of a state High Court. She was the Chief Justice of Shimla
High Court.
Vikram Seth did his schooling from The Doon School in Dehradun. He took his undergraduate
degree in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University. He was enrolled in
postgraduate economics courses at Stanford University and was also attached to Nanjing
University for his intended doctoral dissertation on Chinese population planning.
Vikram Seth's first novel, "The Golden Gate" (1986), describes the experiences of a group of
friends living in California. His other novel, "A Suitable Boy" (1993) is an acclaimed epic of
Indian 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 the
memory of a former lover.
Vikram Seth has also written a travelogue "From Heaven Lake: Travels Through Sinkiang and
Tibet" (1983). The book is an account of a journey through Tibet, China and Nepal that won the
Thomas Cook Travel Book Award. He also wrote a libretto, Arion and the Dolphin (1994), which
was performed at the English National Opera in June 1994, with music by Alec Roth. Vikram
Seth is also an accomplished poet. His works in poetry include Mappings (1980), The Humble
Administrator's 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

24. Tales from Here and There (1992), which consists of ten stories about animals told in verse.
Vikram Seth's latest work is Two Lives (2005). The book is a memoir of the marriage of his great
uncle and aunt.

25. V.S. Naipaul
Born: August 17, 1932 (age 80), Chaguanas
Achievement: Won Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001; Won the
Booker Prize in 1971 and became the first person of Indian origin
do so.
V.S. Naipaul is a noble laureate who won Nobel Prize in Literature
in 2001. Though of Indian origin, V.S. Naipaul was born in Trinidad
and is currently a British citizen.
V.S. Naipaul (Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul) was born on
August 17, 1932, at Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago. His
forefathers came as indentured labourers from India. Naipaul's
upbringing familiarised him with every sort of deprivation,
material and cultural. He got a scholarship to Oxford University and thus came to England. It
was 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 taking
place 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 so
deeply rooted in our societies.
V.S. Naipaul's fiction and especially his travel writing have been criticised for their allegedly
unsympathetic portrayal of the Third World. But his supporters argue that he is actually an
advocate for a more realistic development of the Third World. V.S. Naipaul's contempt for
many aspects of liberal orthodoxy is uncompromising, but at the same time he has exhibited an
open-mindedness toward some Third World leaders and cultures that isn't found in western
writers.
V.S. Naipaul has discussed Islam in several of his books and he has been criticised for harping on
negative aspects of Islam. V.S. Naipaul's support for Hindutva has also been controversial. He
has been quoted describing the destruction of the Babri Mosque as a "creative passion", and
the 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 the
first person of Indian origin do so.
• He won the Jerusalem Prize in 1983 and Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001.

26. Jaishankar Prasad
Born: January 30, 1889, Varanasi
Died: January 14, 1937, Varanasi
If you are interested in Hindi literature, then you surely must have
heard the name of Jaishankar Prasad. If Dharamvir Bharati is
referred to as the Father of Hindi Literature, Jaishankar Prasad
cannot be too far behind for he too needs to be credited for
making Hindi language popular amongst the present generation.
Jaishankar Prasad is truly one of the most notable figures in the
world of modern Hindi literature. Although he had to drop out of
school at a very early age due to financial problems that his family
faced, his love for literature never died down. Apart from Hindi, Jaishankar Prasad was
interested in a number of languages and their evolution. However, it was Hindi that he chose
while penning his thoughts in the form of poems and novels. He was one of the greatest literary
figures during his time and the best modern Hindi writer.
Childhood
Jaishankar Prasad was born in a well-to-do madheshiya vaishya family of Varanasi. However,
the family's condition deteriorated over the years after the death of Jaishankar Prasad's father,
when the future litterateur was still young. His father Babu Devki Prasad earned a living by
buying and selling tobacco in the markets of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Jaishankar Prasad's
family was always known as one of the elite units in Varanasi. His father passed away when he
was still in school and thus, had to leave his studies after the eighth standard to help the family
which was then affected by financial problems. This, however, did not mean that Jaishankar
Prasad gave up on his studies. He thoroughly read books at home, mastering the grammar and
literature and the evolution of many a language. It was language that interested Jaishankar
Prasad, but he later shifted his attention to the study of the Vedas, an aspect that reflected in
his writings that were penned later. Apart from writing poetry from a very early age, Jaishankar
Prasad also had an interest in reciting poems. As a child and in his later life, he spent much of
his time playing chess and doing gardening work at home.
Writing Style
He is considered one of the Four Pillars (Char Stambh) of Romanticism in Hindi
Literature (Chhayavad), along with Sumitranandan Pant, Mahadevi Verma, and Suryakant
Tripathi 'Nirala'.

27. Jaishankar Prasad was interested in the Vedas. The content as well as the writing pattern of the
Vedas thus influenced him deeply, while he penned his own poetry, plays and novels. The first
collection of poems that Jaishankar Prasad penned, named 'Chitraadhar', was written in the
Braj dialect of Hindi, a dialect that is widely used in Uttar Pradesh. The entire collection of
poems written by Jaishankar Prasad can best be described as touching and emotional. Not only
did he pay attention to the language of his poems, but also look at their philosophic content. It
is to be remembered that this ace Hindi litterateur was a philosopher as well, apart from being
a writer. Therefore, this aspect too reflected in his poems. The content of Jaishankar Prasad's
poetry ranged from the romantic to the patriotic. 'Himadri Tung Shring Se' is the most famous
patriotic poem written by Jaishankar Prasad in the length of his career. It was written before
India won its independence from the British, and was successful in popularizing the name of
Jaishankar Prasad among the common masses.
During the middle of his career as a novelist, playwright and poet, Jaishankar Prasad was highly
influenced by Sanskrit and other languages which originated from Sanskrit. According to
reports, he read a lot of Bengali and Persian works to seek inspiration before penning his own.
Jaishankar Prasad's most famous dramas 'Chandragupta', 'Skandagupta' and 'Dhruvaswamini'
are inspired from Persian and Bengali plays. During the later stages of his career, Jaishankar
Prasad wrote in the Khadi dialect of Hindi. The stories of the plays written by Jaishankar Prasad
were most often based on true incidents taken from the history of India. The writer loved
reading books on history and therefore his writings were influenced by historical incidents and
also mythology. Jaishankar Prasad wrote a couple of short stories as well during the span of his
brief career as a writer of Hindi literature. Expectedly, the plots of his short stories were also
based either in Indian history or mythology. 'Mamta' and 'Chhota Jadugar' are two of the most
popular short stories written by Jaishankar Prasad.
Kamayani
No discussion on the collection of writings by Jaishankar Prasad is complete without a special
reference to 'Kamayani'. 'Kamayani' is, by far, not only the most popular work of Jaishankar
Prasad; it is also one of the best collections of poetry that the Hindi literary circuit has ever
seen. 'Kamayani', which has received popular and critical appreciation ever since it was
published some decades ago, is still the most popular and best mahakavya that the Hindi
language 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 characters
of the mahakavya, Manu, Ida and Shradha describe through their actions in the poem, the
evolution of culture in humans and the mythological story of the great flood. The three
characters Manu, Ida and Shradha represent human psyche, rationality and love respectively in
'Kamayani'.

28. Death and Beyond
Jaishankar Prasad died at a very early age of 47 on January 14 of 1937. The great Hindi
litterateur is survived by three wives and their children. After his death, Shanta Gandhi, a 1960s
professor of ancient Indian drama at the National School of Drama in New Delhi, took the
initiative to stage several of Jaishankar Prasad's plays for the modern Indian theater. Shanta
Gandhi took note of the fact that not many changes were made in the original writing of
Jaishankar Prasad so that the modern generation gets a taste of the real Jaishankar Prasad
writing. The first play staged by her was 'Skandagupta' which was written by the Hindi
litterateur in 1928. Jaishankar Prasad is still fondly remembered as one of the pillars of Hindi
literature, 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 a
philosopher.
Timeline
1889: Jaishankar Prasad is born on January 30.
1915: He wrote his first significant drama, 'Rajyasri'
1928: Wrote his famous play 'Skandagupta'.
1935: The long poem 'Kamayani' was published
1937: Died on January 14 aged only 47.
1960s: The National School of Drama staged plays written by Jaishankar Prasad.

29. Sahir Ludhianvi
Born: March 8, 1921 Ludhiana, Punjab
Died: October 25, 1980
Best remembered for penning the renowned "Kabhi kabhi mere dil
mein" song from the movie "Kabhie Kabhie", Sahir Ludhianvi etched a
permanent mark on songs and ghazals in the Hindi film industry. True
to his name, Sahir was a magician who fascinated his listeners and
readers through his marvelous compositions. His wordings have
successfully created a plethora of emotions with its simple language
and distinguished feelings. Despite being unable to praise God,
beauty, and wine, he divulged his bitterness with sensitive lyrics through his pen. For his
illustrious and magnificent compositions, he was honored with two Filmfare Awards and Padma
Shri Award during his lifetime.
Early Life
Sahir 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 parents
were undergoing an estranged relationship and chose to separate when Sahir was just 13 years
old. His father married for the second time and chose to take custody of Sahir, but lost due to
his second marriage. As such, he threatened to snatch Sahir from his mother, no matter what
step he had to take. Due to this, Sahir spent his childhood surrounded by fear and financial
deprivation. 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 pursue
his higher studies. But he was expelled just after one year for being caught sitting with a female
in the lawns in 1943. He left Ludhiana and traveled to Lahore in search of a better career
prospect.
Bollywood Career
In Lahore, Sahir completed his first work in Urdu "Talkhiyaan" but was unable to find a
publisher for the same. Finally, after two years of shuffling between Ludhiana and Lahore, he
found 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 warrant
against him. As such, he fled from Lahore in 1949 and landed in Delhi. After spending a couple

30. months there, he traveled to Bombay where he settled for the rest of his life and created
history 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 movie
acted as the stepping stone for him as the film worked decently. But his major recognition came
with Guru Dutt's directorial debut "Baazi" in 1951, again paired with Burman. Thereafter, he
was amongst the team of Guru Dutt. The combination delivered some marvelous musical
performances that became legendary hits. Over his entire Bollywood career, Sahir delivered
evergreen 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, and
bestowing him with another Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist, second to "Taj Mahal".
Poetry Career
While writing lyrics for Bollywood films were reaching skies at that time, his poetry was not left
behind either. His poetry revealed a "Faizian" quality of writing. His works had that intellectual
element that caught the attention of people during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Though Sahir
was egoistic by nature, probably due to his zamindari background, he was a compassionate
man and felt for others, often neglecting his own needs. This nature reflected in his poetry
which wrote as he aged. With different periods progressing, Sahir narrated various ages, which
is not very common in many writers' style. Kahat-e-Bangal (The Famine of Bengal) talked about
early maturity, while Subah-e-Navroz (Dawn of a New Day) spoke about the conditions of the
poor. He was one amongst the few Urdu poets who illustrated his views towards the Taj Mahal
in an entirely different manner.
Personal Life
Sahir Ludhianvi did not marry in his life and chose to remain a bachelor throughout. After
experiencing two failed relationships, one with journalist Amrita Pritam and another with
singer-actress Sudha Malhotra, he resolved to excessive drinking and became an alcoholic. Both
the ladies' fathers rejected Sahir due to his perceived religion and atheism. Sahir and Amrita
were so passionately in love with each other that she wrote his name a hundred times in sheets
of paper during one press conference. Though the couple met quite often, they never spoke a
word during their date. After Sahir was done with smoking and left, Amrita would pick up the
butts and smoke them, hoping that they would meet someday in the other world. Another

31. reason for rejecting Sahir as a compatible partner for Amrita's father was Sahir's inability to
afford a house. As a result, Sahir built a taller house opposite Amrita's residence in Ludhiana.
Death
Sahir Ludhianvi was honored with Padma Shri Award in 1971. He suffered a major heart attack
on October 25th, 1980 and passed away in the arms of his friend Dr. R.P. Kapoor. He was 59
years old then. He was later buried in Juhu Muslim cemetery, but his tomb was destroyed in
2010 to make space for other dead bodies.
Notable Films
Aazadi Ki Raah Par, 1949
Naujawaan, 1951
Baazi, 1951
Shahenshah, 1953
Humsafar, 1953
Alif Laila, 1953
Taxi Driver, 1954
House No. 44, 1955
Marine Drive, 1955
Devad, 1955
Pyaasa, 1957
Naya Daur, 1957
Phir Subah Hogi, 1958
Barsat Ki Raat, 1960
Hum Dono, 1961
Taj Mahal, 1963
Gumraah, 1963
Chitralekha, 1964
Waqt, 1965
Humraaz, 1967
Naya Rasta, 1970
Dastan, 1972
Joshila, 1973
Deewar, 1975
Zameer, 1975
Laila Majnu, 1976
Kabhie Kabhie, 1976
Trishul, 1978
Kala Patthar, 1978
The Burning Train, 1980
Distinguished Songs
Aana 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)
Timeline
1921: Was born on March 8th in Ludhiana, Punjab
1934: Parents got divorced
1942: Admitted to Satish Chander Dhawan Government College For Boys, Ludhiana

32. 1943: Expelled from college and went to Lahore
1945: Got his first Urdu poetry "Talkhiyaan" published
1949: Ran away from Lahore to Delhi and later to Bombay
1949: Got a break in his first Bollywood movie "Aazadi Ki Raah Par"
1951: Gained recognition with Guru Dutt's "Baazi"
1964: Won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for "Taj Mahal"
1971: Honored with Padma Shri Award
1977: Won the Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for "Kabhie Kabhie"
1980: Died in Mumbai on 25th October, aged 59

33. Kazi Nazrul
Born: 25th May 1899 Churulia, Burdwan District of West Bengal
Died: 29th August 1976
Nazrul said, "Even though I was born in this country (Bengal), in
this society, I don't belong to just this country, this society. I
belong to the world."
Also known as the 'Vidrohi kobi' or 'rebel' poet' in Bengali
literature and 'bulbul' or 'nightingale' of Bengali music, Kazi
Nazrul Islam was one of the most inspiring personalities of
undivided Bengal between 1920 and 1930. For a significant part
of his life, he was considered as the pioneer of post Tagore modernity in Bengali poetry. The
several ways in which he expressed himself include poems, short stories, plays and political
activities. Most of his works protested against the slavery, communalism, feudalism and
colonialism forced upon India by the British rule. To sum it all up, in the 1000 year history of
Bengali music, K. N. Islam was the most original and creative. He brought traditional music to
the people by fusing different elements of North Indian classical music.
Early Life
Kazi Nazrul was born on May 24th 1899 in Churulia village in the district of Burdwan, West
Bengal. He lost his father, Kazi Fakir Ahmed at an early age and was nicknamed 'Dukhu Mia' or
'sorrow' 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 local
school. It was at this point that he leaned about the practices of Islam which led him to join his
uncle, Bazle Karim's folk group as a performer and composer. It is believed that his motivation
in literature came from this stint.
At 11 years, he resumed his studies only to discontinue them again due to financial crisis and
work in a bakery and tea shop in Asansole. However, in 1914, he re-entered school in
Mymensingh district and managed to complete class 10.
In 1917, he joined the Indian Army and served it for three years as Battalion Quarter Master
Havildar. Nazrul's engagement with a girl called Nargis ended in 1921 owing to her father's
unreasonable conditions and he later married Pramila Devi in 1924.

34. Career
In May 1919, while serving the army, Nazrul composed and published his first piece 'The
Autobiography of a Delinquent' or "Saogat". He was already publishing literary periodicals like
Parbasi, Bharatbarsha and others from the Karachi Cantonment.
After leaving the army in 1920, he settled in Calcutta and joined the 'Bangiya Mussalman Sahiya
Samiti' where he wrote his first poem 'Bandhan-hara' or 'Freedom from bondage'. He kept
adding other poems viz., 'Bodhan', Shat-il-Arab', 'Kheya-parer Tarani' and 'Badal Prater
Sharab' etc. to the same collection for several years and was critically acclaimed all over the
country for these.
Nazrul worked with great writers like Mohammas Mozammel Haq, Afzalul Haq, Kazi etc and
also visited the Shantiniketan to meet Rabindranath Tagore in 1921 with whom he maintained
close association.
In 1922, he reached the peak with his work with 'Bidrohi' which appealed to the classes and the
masses alike. It was published in 'Bijli' (Thunder) magazine and was co-incidentally in
accordance with the civil disobedience movement of 1942.
In 1922, a bi-weekly magazine, 'Dhumketu' ('Comet'), published his political poem which led to
Nazrul's arrest. On April 14th 1923, he was transferred to Hooghly in Calcutta and was later
released in December 1923. While imprisoned, he composed a large number of poems and
songs.
Kazi Nazrul Islam became a critic of the "Khilafat" struggle and the Indian National Congress for
not embracing political independence from the British Empire. He encouraged people to fight
against the British and organized the 'Sramik Praja Swaraj Dal'. On 16th December 1925, Nazrul
started publishing the weekly 'Langal' as the chief editor.
In 1926, he settled in Krishnanagar and wrote poetry and songs for the downtrodden and weak
classes of the society. His famous poem 'Daridro' ('Pain or Poverty') was written during this
time. Nazrul also composed ghazals in Bengali and became the first person to introduce Islam
into traditional music. The first record was a huge success. Shamasangeet, Bhajan and Kirtan
that combined Hindu devotional music was also created by him.
In 1928, he started working as a lyricist, composer and music director for 'His Master's Voice
Gramophone Company'. His songs, together called 'Nazrul geet', were broadcasted over
several radio stations and he was enlisted with the Indian Broadcasting Company.
After his mother's demise, Nazrul's works changed from topics of rebellion to religion. He got
into mainstream Bengali folk music and explored 'namaz' (prayer), 'roza' (fasting) and 'hajj'

35. (pilgrimage). He devoted works to 'Qu'ran' and the life of Islam's prophet 'Muhammad'.
In 1933, he published a collection of essays - 'Modern World Literature' - which had different
themes and styles of literature. He also published 800 songs based on classical ragas, kirtans
and patriotic songs in 10 volumes.
Nazrul slowly moved in Indian theatre in the year 1934 and the first picture for which he acted
was based on Girish Chandra's story called 'Bhakta Dhruva'. He also composed and sang for this
movie. A film "Vidyapati", based on his play, was featured in 1936. One of his biggest moves in
the 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 started
producing music such as 'Haramoni' and 'Navaraga-malika'. He sang predominantly in the raga
'Bhairay'. In 1940, he started working as a chief editor for 'Nabayug', founded by A.K. Fazlul
Huq.
When Rabindranath Tagore died on 8th August 1941, he composed two poems dedicated to
the veteran.
Death
Nazrul's health started deteriorating as a result of Pramila Devi's paralysis and he underwent
several mental treatments after 1941. He even stayed at a mental asylum for four months in
1942 and was re-admitted in Ranchi in 1952. A group of admirers called "Nazrul Treatment
Society" along with his prominent supporters, sent Nazrul and Pramila to London and Vienna
where Nazrul was diagnosed of Pick's disease. His condition was incurable and he returned to
India in 1953. Later, his wife's demise in 1962 followed by his youngest son's in 1974 took a toll
on Nazrul and he succumbed to his illness on the 29th of August 1976. In accordance to his last
wishes, 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 Calcutta
for 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 of
Bangladesh.
• He was also honoured with Honours in D. Litt. by the University of Dhaka.

36. Legacy
Kazi Nazrul Islam's works have been acclaimed as well as criticized for egoism, but his admirers
who supported him throughout his life, considered this as self-confidence more than ego. They
said that he had the ability to defy God and yet be devoted.
As against Tagore's sophisticated style, he was rugged and unique. He used Persian in his works
but compensated this with his use of rich and imaginative language for children's works.
He is still regarded for his secularism and was the first person to include the rise of Christians in
Bengal in his books. He was regarded for the cultural renaissance that he brought out through
his 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 an
organization that works on children education throughout Bangladesh.
Timeline
1899: 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 'Dhumketu'
1924: 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 Master's 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: Tagore's death which led to writing of 'Rabihara'.
1962: Nazrul's wife died.
1974: Nazrul's son died.
1976: Died on 29th August of an unnatural cause.

37. Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay
Born: 12 September 1894 Ghoshpara-Muratipur village, Bengal,
British India
Died: 1 November 1950
A renowned figure and a celebrated name amongst the Bengali
literary fraternity, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was a critically
acclaimed Bengali novelist and writer born on the 12th of
September 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 and
his ideologies were very visible in his writings. Realism was one
of the main plots of his writings apart from the themes he picked up from the happy and sad
real life experiences. He was a writer who portrayed a beautiful combination of human beings
and nature and showed the peaceful aspect of life. It was his ability of putting across serious
thoughts and realms of life in simple language to the people that gained him the popularity and
respect he enjoys. In order to learn more on Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's profile,
childhood, life, and timeline read on.
Childhood
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was born on the 12th September 1894, in Kalyani, Muratipur
village in the Nadia of Bengal, British India. He was born at his maternal uncle's house in a
Hindu 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 same
school at the beginning of his work life.
Bibhutibhushan's childhood and early life was shadowed by the clouds of poverty, but he
nevertheless fought his way through to complete his undergraduate degree in History from the
Surendranath College in Kolkata. However, since he was not financially strong to enrol for the
postgraduate course at the University of Calcutta, he had to discontinue his studies. After this,
the burden of his family's economic wellness came on to his shoulders.

38. Early Life
The career of a writer did not come easy to Bandopadhyay. Due to the economic crisis of his
family, he had to take up various odd jobs to make ends meet before taking up writing
seriously.
He taught at the school from where he completed his schooling, he also took up the job of a
secretary and even managed an estate until finally, in 1921 he got an opportunity to publish his
first short story "Upekshita" in a leading literary magazine of Bengal named 'Probashi'. But, it
was not until 1928 that Bandopadhyay published his first novel, "Pather Panchali", for which he
received critical attention and acclaim. It was with this novel that he became a prominent name
in Bengali literature.
Career And Work
Bibhutibhushan took up writing novels and short stories at a time when there was a lot of
research going on regarding the social degradation and economic imbalance. However, his
writings 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. He
wrote in simple language and in a way that his ideas reached the common man. Realism is
another major aspect that his writings portrayed. His writings picturised the subtle relationship
shared 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 converted
into a movie of the same name as a part of the memorable 'Apu Trilogy'. Some of the famous
works of Bandopadhyay apart from 'Pather Panchali' are 'Aparajito', 'Aranyak', 'Chander Pahar',
'Heera Manik Jwale', 'Adarsha Hindu Hotel', 'Ichhamati', 'Bipiner Sangsar', 'Anubartan', 'Kosi
Pranganeyer Chitthi', 'Dristi Pradeep', 'Debjan', 'Ashani Sanket', 'Kedar Raja', 'Dampati',
'Sundarbane Sat Batsar' (which he couldn't complete), 'Dui Bari', 'Kajol' (Sequel of Aparajito,
completed by his son Taradas), 'Mismider Kabach', 'Jatrabadol', 'MeghaMallar', 'Mauriphool'
and 'Tal Nabami' etc.
Marriage And Relationships
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's first wife, Gouri Devi, died during childbirth one year after
their marriage. This tragic occurrence and the loneliness that it brought about and shadowed
his life became a prominent theme in his early writings. He remarried at the age of 46 to his
second wife, Rama Chattopadhyay, from whom he had his only son, Taradas, in 1947.

39. Death
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay left for holy abode on the 1st of November 1950 after suffering
a coronary attack. He was 56 years old then and was staying in Ghatshila.
Timeline And Literary Works
1894: Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay was born on 12th September
1921: He published his first short story "Upekshita" in a leading Bengali literary magazine
Early 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 Chattopadhyay
1947: His only son Taradas was born.
1950: Bandopadhyay suffered a fatal heart attack and breathed his last on 1st November in
Ghatshila.

40. Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane
Born: 1880 (date unknown) Maharashtra, India
Died: 1972 (date unknown)
Some of the greatest writings on social reforms of India came from
this man, Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane. He was conferred with an
honorary degree of doctor of law at a special convocation
ceremony. He was an indologist, i.e., a person who excels at
languages and literature, and could converse easily in both Sanskrit
and English. He authored several books, especially on religious and
civil law. In these books, he compiled the scriptures of ancient and
medieval India. Being a scholar, this great person was revered all
over the country. The book 'History of Dharmasastra', penned by
Dr. Kane is, by far, one of the most inspiring books written about the social reforms of ancient
India. The title 'Mahamahopadhyaya' (the greatest teacher of all teachers) was bestowed upon
him in his later days and in 1963, he was given the highest civilian award of India, the Bharat
Ratna.
Early Life
Dr. Kane was born in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra to a very conservative Chitpavan
Brahmin family. Not much is known about his background or his family history. Dr. Kane
graduated 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.
Career
In 1930, Dr. Kane's best known work, 'History of Dharmasastra' - which was under the subtitle
'Ancient and Medieval Religions and Civil Law in India' - was published. This book's launch was
announced 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 of
information, such as several texts and manuscripts, all compiled in one. It is also known to
contain certain information on the Mahabharat, Puranas and Kautilya in Sanskrit. Dr. Kane's
basic idea behind writing the book was to make the public aware of the ancient social laws and
customs in India and also to study the social processes that were prevalent in ancient India. The
last publication was on November 17th 1962.

41. He was said to have used reliable resources like the Asiatic Society of Bombay and the
Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.
His next work as an author was a book called 'Vyavaharamayukha'. An introductory paragraph
on the history of Dharmasastra was included in this book so that the reader got a fair idea of
the subject, apart from the contents of the book itself. This became one of his major works and
was translated into English and Marathi, apart from being written in Sanskrit. It was made up of
nearly 15000 pages.
An additional part of Dr. Kane's career was spent in debating the Indian constitution. He
believed that these set of rules and regulations were a break from traditional ideas that were
widespread in India. He further implied that people residing in this country have rights but no
obligations.
Several issues were brought to light due to the nature of his work and writings. During the reign
of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee in India, there was a discussion whether the ancient Indian ate beef.
For answers, they reverted to Dr. Kane's works to prove that Hindus respected and worshipped
the Cow and eating beef was not allowed. Another example was the issue of whether girls in
India were allowed to wear the sacred thread. But, it was found out, through his books, that it
was restricted only to men.
Death
The exact date and cause of Dr. Kane's death remain unknown. However, it is confirmed that it
happened 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 is
always prefixed with an MM.
• He was awarded the prestigious, Sahitya Akademi Award in 1956 for 'History of
Dharmasastra, Vol IV' under the category of Sanskrit translation.
• Dr. Kane was also an esteemed honorary member of the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan where
he achieved new heights of greatness.
• Becoming a part of the Rajya Sabha as a Member of Parliament (MP) was also under his
list of achievements and he was there for having a distinguished record in the field of
academics.
• Last but not least, he was conferred with the highest civilian accolade of India, the
Bharat Ratna, in 1963.

42. Legacy
In 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 their
outstanding contribution in the study of Vedic, Dharmasastra or Alankara Literature.
Timeline
1880: Pandurang Kane was born to a conservative family in the Ratnagiri district of
Maharashtra.
1930: First publication of 'History of Dharmasastra' was released.
1956: Dr. Kane received the Sahitya Akademi Award for 'History of Dharmasastra, Vol IV' under
the 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 civilian
award 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.

43. Jiddu Krishnamurti
Born: 12th May, 1895 Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh
Died: 17th Feb, 1986
"I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach
it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect" - J.
Krishnamurti.
Jiddu Krishnamurti was considered a revolutionary writer and
speaker on philosophical meditation and was someone who
brought about a change in society. Krishnamurti believed that
social reforms could only be possible if the minds of the
individuals change. He also talked about spiritual issues and urged
every human being to think about religious, political and social
revolution. He was a 'guru' who never wanted to be one. It is said that Jiddu did not remember
much of his childhood. Some called him delusional and others said that this was a sign that he
was a self-realized master.
Early Life
Jiddu Krishnamurti was born in a Telugu speaking Brahmin family to Narainiah and
Sanjeevamma. His father was employed with the British administration and his mother died
when he was just ten years old. In 1903, he shifted base to Cudappah where he attended
school. Here, he was considered 'vague and dreamy' and 'mentally retarded'. He started
penning childhood memoirs when he was eighteen years old and claimed to have had a psychic
vision of his dead sister. His father retired in 1907 and then wrote to the then President of the
'Theosophical Society', Annie Besant seeking employment. He was hired as a clerk and he and
his sons moved to the Theosophical Society headquarters in Chennai in 1909.
In May 1909, Krishnamurti met the influential theosophist called Charles Webster Leadbeater.
Despite Krishnamurti's unpleasant physical appearence, Leadbeater saw a 'spark' in him and
said that he would become a spiritual leader, a great orator and a vehicle for Lord Maitreya - a
spiritual entity who appears on earth as a 'World Teacher' to look into the evolution of
mankind. After this he was privately tutored under the wing of the Theosophical Society. It was
here that he developed such a strong bond with Annie Besant that his father gave Besant a
legal guardianship over Krishnamurti.

44. Career
In 1911, the Theosophical Society named Krishnamurti the head of a new organization called
the 'Order of the Star in the East' (OSE) which was to prepare the world for a new 'World
Teacher'. This mission received publicity and worldwide press coverage. It is said that he was
uncomfortable 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 of
'Order of the Star in the East' in London. At the same time, he started writing in magazines and
booklets published by the Theosophical Society. After World War I, Krishnamurti gave a series
of lectures and held meetings around the world regarding his role as the head of the 'Order of
the Star in the East'. He continued writing, most of which revolved around work of the 'Order in
preparation for the Coming'.
In 1922, he met Rosalind Williams and they discussed the 'World Teacher Project' at Ojai Valley
in California which later became his official residence. During the month of September, he went
through a life changing spiritual experience. He experienced a mystical union followed by
immense peace. Slowly, the 'process' began and Krishnamurti felt this initially as bodily pain
and then unconsciousness, but he always claimed to know his surroundings. Over the next few
years, 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 the
'Dissolution Speech' which was heard over the radio.
He kept denying the fact that he was a 'World Leader' and never clarified his position. He
eventually dissociated himself from the Theosophical Society. He never had the concept of
followers and a teacher. J. Krishnamurti spent the rest of his life holding dialogues and giving
public talks on nature, beliefs, truth, sorrow, freedom and death. This wise man never believed
in dependency and exploitation and never accepted gifts showered on him for his works. He
urged people to think independently and gave lecture tours all over the world, published books
and transcripts for half a century.
In the years between 1930 and 1944, he engaged himself in speaking tours with a publication
company trust called 'Star Publishing Trust'. Rishi Valley School was opened based on his
educational ideas. It operated under the 'Krishnamurti Foundations' banner. Throughout the
1930s, he spoke in Europe, America and Australia and spoke about everything that he accepted
was true. He faced opposition for this.
Krishnamurti talked of meditation in every discussion and also brought in new terms like
'choiceless awareness' and 'a single consciousness'. In 1938, he spoke of World War-II and for
this he came under the surveillance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He stopped

45. giving lectures until 1944, after which when he again became regular. All his lectures were
published in 'Krishnamurti Writings Inc'.
In 1953, he started writing prose and his first book was published by a mainstream commercial
publisher. Majority of his writings were in third person and he increased the number of talks
and dialogues. He met prominent personalities like the Dalai Lama and Jawarhalal Nehru during
his 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 of
the Teaching', in which he stressed on knowledge and man being built as a sense of his images -
religious, political and personal.
Contributions
Books
• '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 by
Krishnamurti.
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 Jiddu
Krishnamurti.
Education
• 'A Purpose of Education',
• 'The Act of Learning',
• 'Discussion with the Teachers',
• 'On Order',

46. • 'The Fundamental Meaning of Co-operation' and 'A Different Kind of Education' were
some of his most influential works.
Death
Jiddu Krishnamurti died on 17th February, 1986 at the age of 90 in California, due to pancreatic
cancer.
Legacy
Krishanmurti's works were inspiring and many take interest in reading them even today. His
books have been brought out in the form of videos and audio books. The 'Krishnamurti
Foundation' still has archives of his teachings and it continues to grow. The schools that were
started based on his teachings have reported huge growth. Unofficial Krishnamurti committees
are operating in several countries and his biographies and research papers are continually
referred to even to this day.
Timeline
1895: 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 his
first 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 formed
1953: 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.

47. Bharatendu Harishchandra
Born: September 9, 1850 Varanasi
Died: January 6, 1885
Bharatendu Harishchandra is one of the most heard names in the
history of modern Hindi literature. He was an imminent poet of
the 19th century who also wrote several novels and plays. It was
the subject and pattern of his writings which caught the attention
of the critics and the masses and made Bharatendu
Harishchandra such a popular name in Hindi literature.
Harishchandra possessed a revolutionary spirit and made known
all his nationalistic feelings through his writings. Almost every
piece of work from the hands of Bharatendu Harishchandra spoke about the exploitation which
existed in the Indian society during his times, the inhuman conditions that the poor and needy
had to live in and the subjugation that the lower and middle classes of the society had to face in
the hands of the elite ruling class. Most of his poems were an urge to the people of India to join
hands 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.
Childhood
Bharatendu Harishchandra was born on September 9, 1850 in Varanasi. His father Gopal
Chandra was also a poet (by the pseudonym of Girdhar Das) and it was from his father that
Bharatendu Harishchandra derived the inspiration to write in his later life. The national
movement in India during the British rule moved Bharatendu Harishchandra to a great degree
even when he was young. He and his family visited the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the year
1865 when Bharatendu Harishchandra was a mere 15 year old kid. But even as a child, the
Bengal Renaissance deeply touched him and he was influenced into being a part of the
movement by introducing the concept in Hindi literature. After returning to his native Varanasi
from Puri, Bharatendu Harishchandra conducted an in-depth study of the plays, novels and
poems that were being written to bring about social and historical changes during the Bengal
Renaissance. And it was this study of Bengali literature that led Bharatendu Harishchandra to
translate an important Bengali play 'Vidyasundar' to Hindi in the year 1868. Bharatendu
Harishchandra's parents died when he was still very young, another incident which touched him
and inspired him to get more involved with poetry, prose and drama writing.

48. Life & Works
After the death of his father, Bharatendu Harishchandra got completely immersed in Hindi
literature and always adopted ways to contribute better writings for the development of Hindi
literature. He introduced new concepts and ideas in Hindi prose and drama and is thus
considered the pioneer of the modern age Hindi writing. However, Bharatendu Harishchandra's
contribution was not just limited to the field of writing prose and poetry. He was in fact also
involved with the development of Hindi journalism. He worked as an editor in magazines like
Harishchandra Patrika, Kavi Vachan Sudha, Harishchandra Magazine and Bal Vodhini.
It was in recognizing his efforts towards the development of the Hindi language that renowned
scholars in Hindi during his age bestowed on him the title of 'Bharatendu' at a public event
organized in the year 1880. It was their way of showing respect to the person who had broken
new grounds and ushered in a new era of Hindi literature, thus making him the rightful owner
of the title 'Father of Modern Hindi Literature'. Bharatendu Harishchandra was a notable
member of the Chowdhury family residing in Varanasi. His forefathers, on the other hand, were
members of the Agrawal community who were rich landlords in Bengal. Bharatendu
Harishchandra wrote extensively on the life and times of his great grandfathers from the
Agrawal community. His family indeed had a flourishing history to boast of and several
accounts of it were highlighted in the prose and essays written by Bharatendu Harishchandra.
Notable Works of Bharatendu Harishchandra
Poetry
• Prem Madhuri
• Prem Pralap
• Raag Sangraha
• Krishna Charitra
• Phoolo ka Guchcha
Drama
• Vaidik Himsa Hitnda na Bhavati
• Satya Harishchandra (a mythological
classic)
• Neel Devi
• Bharat Durdasha
• Andher Nagari ('City of Darkness’, which is considered as one of the most popular plays
in 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. In
fact, it was acting that first brought Bharatendu Harishchandra to theater. He later chose to
write and direct plays as well.

49. Essay Collection
• Bharatendu Grnthaaolly or Sahitya Harishchandra
Translation
• Visakhadattas Mudra Rakshasa
• Vidya Sundar
• Harsha’s Ratnavali
• Durlabh Bandhu (from
Shakespeare’s Merchat of Venice.
This writing was left incomplete due
to Harishchandra’s death.)
• Kapoor Mnajari
Death
Bharatendu Harishchandra passed away on January 6, 1885 at the age of 35, at his hometown
Varanasi. His writings are still held in high regard by Hindi literature lovers all over the world.
Recognition
Bharatendu Harishchandra is such a respected name in Hindi writing that the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting in India still honors accomplished original writings in Hindi by
bestowing upon the writers the Bharatendu Harishchandra Awards instituted in the year 1983.
Popular Kannada scriptwriter and director Prasanna paid tribute to his chief inspiration
Bharatendu Harishchandra by preparing the play 'Seema Paar', which was staged at the
National School of Drama in New Delhi. 'Seema Paar' focuses on Bharatendu Harishchandra's
early life in the ghats of Varanasi and the highpoints of his career in Hindi writing. Hindi scholar
and critic Ramvilas Sharma famously commented that Bharatendu Harishchandra ushered in an
era of "great literary awakening" in Hindi literature. His unique approach to writing earned his
the name of 'father of modern Hindi literature'.
Timeline
1850: Bharatendu Harishchandra is born on September 9.
1865: He visits Puri with family and gets inspired by Bengal Renaissance.
1868: Translates Bengali writing 'Vidyasundar' to Hindi.
1880: Conferred the title of 'Bharatendu'.
1885: Bharatendu Harishchandra dies on January 6.
1983: The Bharatendu Harishchandra Awards are instituted to celebrate original fresh talent in
Hindi writing.

50. Devaki Nandan Khatri
Born: 1861 Samastipur, Bihar
Died: 1913
Devaki Nandan Khatri was one of the most popular authors of Hindi
novels, best known to have introduced the concept of mystery in
Hindi novel writing. Fondly referred to as Babu Devakinandan
Khatri, he was the first writer of mystery novels in the Hindi
language. Devaki Nandan Khatri's writings were so popular that
even people who were not Hindi literate made it a point to learn the
language to be able to read his mystery novels. Therefore, it may be
aptly concluded that Devaki Nandan Khatri not only contributed to
Hindi literature, he also played a major role in making people of his times learn Hindi. Devaki
Nandan Khatri introduced several words in his novels which went on to become an integral part
of mystery novel writing in Hindi by future authors.
Early Life
Devaki Nandan Khatri was born in the year 1861 in the city of Samastipur in Bihar. After
completion of his primary schooling in Samastipur, Devaki Nandan Khatri moved to the city of
Tekari in Gaya for further education. He later assumed office as an employee of the Raja of
Varanasi. Since his initial years of professional life, Devaki Nandan Khatri was a resident of
Varanasi.
Career
It was in the year 1898 that Devaki Nandan Khatri took up novel writing in Hindi seriously. By
that time, he had already started a printing press at Varanasi by the name of 'Lahari'. It was
from Lahari that his first writing was published in a Hindi monthly called 'Sudarshan', also
started by Devaki Nandan Khatri. The Lahari Press inaugurated by Devaki Nandan Khatri at the
Ram Katora Road in Varanasi stands till today at the Ram Katora Crossing. Devaki Nandan's son
and grandson followed his footsteps to take the tradition of mystery novel writing in Hindi
forward.
Babu Devakinandan Khatri, as he was fondly called after his works began to be distributed in
places all over India, set up a book shop by the name of Lahrai Book Depot in Varanasi. During
this time, he had already acquired fame as one of the chief writers of mystery novels in Hindi.

51. The bookshop sold Hindi books written by Devaki Nandan Khatri and other eminent authors. A
unique feature of Devaki Nandan Khatri's writings was that he never published one novel at one
go. The author's novels were not published in the form of a book but as parts of the story in the
monthly magazine 'Sudarshan'.
At the time when entire India was disturbed by the British rule in the country, Devaki Nandan
Khatri participated in the freedom struggle, while also taking time out to write parts or chapters
of his novels. The chapters, or 'bayaans' as Devaki Nandan Khatri referred to them, were
eagerly awaited by one and all throughout the country. In fact, it became a ritual among those
who were not educated in the Hindi language to visit friends or family members who were
Hindi literate so that they may also hear the latest development in Devaki Nandan Khatri's
mystery saga. His works gradually gained so much popularity that people who did not know
Hindi decided to learn the language only to be able to read the novels written by him. In this
way Babu Devakinandan Khatri contributed to the widespread dissemination of the Hindi
language in India.
As mentioned earlier, Devaki Nandan Khatri specialized in the writing of Hindi mystery novels.
'Aiyyar' and 'Aiyarra' were two of his most famous terms used to describe spies, male and
female respectively, who served rulers of different regions in his novels. Both these words were
previously unknown in the Hindi literary world. However, it was because of the popularity of
the Devaki Nandan Khatri novels that both the terms began to be widely used thereafter.
Similarly, he also introduced the word 'Tilism' in the Hindi novel writing dictionary, a term
which was used to mean a maze of hiding places, prisons and unknown passages.
Popular Works
Devaki Nandan Khatri contributed some of the most popular novels that not only helped to
introduce a new genre in Hindi literature, but also led to the enrichment of the Hindi language
as a whole. Some of the most important works of Devaki Nandan Khatri are:
• Chandrakanta
• Chandrakanta Santati
• Virendra Veer
• Bhootnath (completed by his son after his death as 'Rohtasmath’)
• Narendra Mohini
• Gupt Godna

52. • Kajar Ki Kothari
• Kusum Kumari
• Katora Bhar Bhoon
Personal Life
Devaki Nandan Khatri lived in his home named by him as 'Khatri Haveli' in the Ramapura region
of Varanasi. His sons Durga Prasad Khatri and Kamlapati Khatri were instrumental in taking the
tradition of mystery novel writing in Hindi started by their father Devaki Nandan Khatri forward.
While Durga Prasad Khatri completed the last part of his father's novel 'Bhootnath' after his
death, Kamalpati Khatri looked after the proper functioning of the Lahari printing press after
Devaki Nandan Khatri passed away. Devaki Nandan Khatri lived in different parts of Varanasi
from the beginning to the end of his career as a mystery novel author in Hindi.
Death
Devaki Nandan Khatri died in the year 1913 leaving behind a collection of mystery novels in the
Hindi language, which are read by children till today. Babu Devakinandan Khatri's novel
'Chandrakanta' was adapted as a television serial in the mid-90s, though with several changes
made in its plot and characters for the television audience. 'Chandrakanta' was by far the most
popular novel written by Devaki Nandan Khatri and word has it that the story will soon be
adapted for the big screen in Bollywood. If all goes well, we may soon see Amitabh Bachchan,
Abhishek Bachchan and also Aishwarya Rai Bachchan portraying the chief characters in the
Devaki Nandan Khatri novel for the onscreen adaptation of 'Chandrakanta' in a film made by
Vidhu Vinod Chopra.