2016-01-18 Mon

Harivansh Rai Bachchan; the most distinguished Indian Poet was born on 27 November 1907. He was the pioneer participant of the Chhayavaad or Romantic upsurge literary movement.

Born in a simple family of Uttar Pradesh, he received primary education in Urdu Pathshala. Later on he completed PhD from Cambridge University in English Literature. He was the second Indian who achieved this honour.

He also worked on promoting Hindi as the official language of India. As a part of his work he indulged in translating some of the major works into Hindi like Macbeth, Othello, Bhagvad Gita, the works of W.B Yeats and the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

Harivansh Rai Bachchan is best remembered for his 142 verse lyrical poem "Madhushala" (The House of Wine), which became the first step of his fame as the foremost Hindi poet of India. The poem became a craze and was even performed on stage.

In 1969 he received the Sahitya Akademi Award. Later on in 1976 the Government of India bestowed on him the Padma Bhushan in recognition for his contribution to Hindi literature.

Today is 13th death anniversary of Lt. Harivansh Rai Bachchan. India Post has honoured his contribution by issuing a postage stamp in 2003.

For more details please visit: Harivansh Rai Bachchan Stamp detail page