Top 5 authors of Bihar: Spreading knowledge through the times

Penning prose, poems & plays

Since the times of the Gupta Empire, called the Golden Period of India, Bihar has been the forefront of literature, culture and knowledge. The tradition has continued over the eons and Bihar continues to produce some of the best-known authors and poets, adding to the wealth of knowledge accumulated over the centuries. Media India Group lists the five best known authors from Bihar.

Since ages, Indian literature, especially the Vedas and epics like Mahabharata or Ramayana, has attracted attention across the world. The trend has continued over the centuries with authors like Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore or V S Naipaul and Salman Rushdie, to name just a few, have become immensely popular all around the world. But not every author has found the deserved recognition. In the distant past, the eastern state of Bihar has produced numerous gems like Chanakya or Aryabhatta as well as Guru Gobind Singh, the 10^th Sikh Guru.

But even more recently, the state has continued to produce some of the greatest Indian writers who have made a great contribution in Indian literature, their way of writing, ideas and thoughts inspires awareness and changes in the society, not just in India, but overseas as well and in multiple languages, ranging from English, Hindi, Urdu and Bhojpuri to Maithili, Magahi, Anjika, and Bajji

Not many would be aware that the first-ever book written in English that was published in India was by a book authored by Dean Mahomed from Bihar in the year (1759). Mahesh Narayan, the author of the first book published in Khari Hindi or colloquial Hindi, was also from Bihar whose poem titled Swapn was published in 1881. The rise of regional literature is believed to have begun with novels like Dehati Duniya (1926) by Shivpujan Sahay Balchanma, (1948) by Nagarjuna and

Many of the most famous books written by freedom fighters have also been penned by leaders hailing from Bihar, notably Rajendra Prasad Singh, Anugrah Narayan Sinha and Jayprakash Narayan, whose writings created a sense of consciousness among the masses which led them to be a part of national movement enthusiastically, and made these movements successful like Satyagraha, Dandi Yatra, and Quit India Movement during the independence struggle.

In the contemporary Indian society, the five most famous authors from Bihar include:

1.Ramdhari Singh Dinkar.

Born in 1908, Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’ was Hindi and Maithili language poet, essayist, freedom fighter, patriot and academic. He was most popularly known by his pen-name Dinkar. His writings were heavily influenced by the independence struggle and they went on to motivate others to join the freedom movement. In recognition of his contribution to the freedom struggle, Dinkar was given the title of Rastrakavi (National Poet).

His compositions like Rashmirathi and Sinhasan Khali Karo ki Janta Aati Hai (vacate the throne as the people are coming) rang in every lane during the battle for independence”. Even today, these poems are recited at major national festivals or gatherings. Rashmirathi is an epic poem that narrates the story of Karna, one of main protagonist of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. When Lord Krishna undertook the role of messenger to Kaurav Prince Duryodhna and proposed peace, he was rebuffed. So, the Lord Krishna served him a warning and which is portrayed in RashmiRathi.One very well-known quote from the book reads

Jab naash manuj par Chaata hai

Pehle vivek marr jata hai

(When the end draws near

the first thing a man loses is his wisdom)

 

2.Bhikhari Thakur –

He is often called “ theShakespeare of Bhojpuri ” and “Rai Bahadur”, was born  December 1887. Thakur was a Bhojpuri poet, playwright, lyricist, actor, dancer and singer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in Bhojpuri language and the most popular folk writer in the region. His works consist of more than a dozen plays, monologues, poems and devotional songs which have appeared in print as nearly three dozen books. His noteworthy works are Bideshiya, Beti Bechva and Bhai Birodh and, Gabarghichor. His early works were dialogues and musical plays, later he wrote some philosophical works and devotional songs.

In the early part of the twentieth century, Bhikari Thakur returned to his village and started presenting Ramleela with a small troupe. But upper caste Hindus opposed the performance of such important religious texts by lower caste people like Thakur. Therefore, Thakur formed a theatrical company and started writing and directing plays on his own. Most of his plays used to revolve around the plight of women, village folks and confrontation between old values and modern values. The first play written by Thakur was Birha Bahar and his. The most famous play is Bideshiya.

The plays and songs of Bhikhari Thakur depict the evils that were corroding the society. Bideshiya depicts the pain of a woman whose husband leaves her and marries another woman, Beti Bechwa depicts the practice of unequal marriage, Bidhwa Bilaap depicts that a widow is treated and cheated by the society and her family. Besides social problems, Thakur has also talked about the separation of joint families in Bhai Birodh and Nanad-Bhaujai. In Kaljug Prem or Piyawa Nasaïl, he has shown the consequences of drinking and the impact on the family.

3.Vidyapati

Vidyapati, known as Maithil Kavi Kokil, the poet cuckoo of Maithil, was a Maithili and Sanskrit polymath-poet-saint, writer, courtier and royal priest. He also wrote love songs and devotional songs. Vidyapati’s influence was not just restricted to Maithili and Sanskrit literature, but also extended to other Eastern Indian literary traditions. Vidyapati has influenced other parts of India like West Bengal and Odisha. He was a disciple of Chaitnya Mahaprabhu. His songs and poems about Krishna- Radha, these compositions are still alive in the hearts of people in north India. His popular works like Jay Deva and Geeta Govindam have been adapted by many popular authors in various different languages and remain popular even today.

 4.Ram Briksh Benipuri

Ramavriksha Benipuri (is it Ramavriksha or Ram Briksh ) was born in December 1899. He was a freedom fighter, social activist and Hindi author. He also spent nine years in prison for fighting for India’s independence. He was the founder of Bihar Socialist Party in 1931 and Congress Socialist Party in 1934 and then he joined the Indian National Congress in 1935.

One of His most famous books is Lal Tara, he symbol of a new light of the morning.The writer wanted to portray that the darkness would disappear within a short time and a new rising light would come out.Benipuri tried to conceptualize a new society, a new way of living and a new culture. There is a delightful mixture of romanticism and idealism in his plays. Benipuri wrote mostly big stories and essays. His dramas covered mostly ancient events. For example, Ambipure depicts the life of the famous courtesan Ambipure who adopted and converted to Buddhism after meeting Buddha. Likewise, Netradaananother drama, is based on a historical legend involving Ashoka and his son Kunal.

5.Nagarjuna.

Born in June 1911, Vaidyanath Mishra, better known by Nagarjuna, was a Hindi and Maithili poet whopenned a number of novels, short stories, and travelogues. He was popularly known as Jankavi – the people’s poet. He is regarded as amongst the most prominent protagonist of modernity in Maithili.

The subjects of his poetry are varied. Effects of both his wandering tendencies and activism, is evident in his middle and later works. His famous poems like Bādal kō Ghiratē Dēkhā hai, is a travelogue in its own right. He often wrote on contemporary social and political issues. His famous poem Mantra Kavita, is widely considered the most accurate reflection of a whole generation’s mindset in India. Another such poem is Aao Rani Hum Dhoyenge Palaki, which sarcastically humiliates the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, for the extravagant welcome thrown by him for Queen Elizabeth in (1961).

Besides these accepted subjects of poetry, Nagarjun found poetic beauty in unconventional subjects. One of his most astonishing works is a poem based on a show called With Sharp Teeth. Another such creation is a series of poems on a full-grown jackfruit.

Because of the breadth of his poetry, Nagarjuna is considered the only Hindi poet after Tulsidas to have an audience ranging from the rural sections of society to the elite. He effectively freed poetry from the bounds of elitism.

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