2019-04-09 Tue

Rahul Sankrityayan is called the Father of Hindi Travelogue. He is the one who gave travelogue a 'literature form'. He was one of the most widely travelled scholars of India, spending forty-five years of his life on travels away from his home.

He was a person who knew more than thirty languages, who travelled more than tens of thousands of miles (at times on foot). He also taught at well-known universities without formal education and a freedom fighter who was jailed thrice.

He is referred to as the 'Greatest Scholar' or Mahapandit for his scholarship. He was both a polymath as well as a polyglot. He published more than 135 works that ranged from travelogues, sociology, history, religion, Tibetology, fiction, science, drama, essays and more. The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 1963.

Rahul Sankrityayan has been honoured on a 1 Rupee stamp postage stamp from India Post issued in 1993.

Image Courtesy: Mintage World