Classic Poetry Series
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
- poems -
Publication Date:
2012
Publisher:
Poemhunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar(23 September 1908 – 24 April
1974)
Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' (??????? ???? '?????')was an Indian Hindi poet, essayist
and academic, who is considered as one of the most important modern Hindi
poets. He remerged as a poet of rebellion as a consequence of his nationalist
poetry written in the days before Indian independence. His poetry exuded veer
rasa, and he has been hailed as a Rashtrakavi ("National poet") on account of his
inspiring patriotic a mark of respect for him, his portrait was unveiled in the
Central Hall of Parliament of India by the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan
Singh on his centenary year, 2008.
Dinkar initially supported the revolutionary movement during the Indian
independence struggle, but later became a was close to prominent nationalists
of the time such as Rajendra Prasad, Anugrah Narayan Sinha and Braj Kishore
Prasad. However, he used to call himself a 'Bad Gandhian' because he supported
the feelings of indignation and revenge among the youth. In Kurukshetra, he
accepted that war is destructive but argued that it is necessary for the protection
of freedom.
Dinkar was three times elected to Rajya Sabha, and he was the member of this
house from April 3, 1952 CE to January 26, 1964 CE, and was awarded the
Padma Bhushan in 1959.
During The Emergency, Jayaprakash Narayan had attracted a gathering of one
lakh people at the Ramlila Grounds and recited Rashtrakavi Dinkar's poetry:
Singhasan Khaali Karo Ke Janata Aaati Hai.
<b> Biography </b>
He was born to a poor Bhumihar Brahmin family in Simariya village, in the
Begusarai district of Bihar. As a student, his favorite subjects were history,
politics and philosophy. He studied Hindi, Sanskrit, Maithili, Bengali, Urdu and
English literature. Dinkar was greatly influenced by Iqbal, Rabindranath Tagore,
Keats and Milton. He translated works of Rabindranath Tagore from Bengali to
Hindi.
<b> Work </b>
His works are mostly of 'Veer Rasa', or the 'brave mode', although Urvashi is an
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exception to this. Some of his greatest works are Rashmirathi and Parashuram ki
Prateeksha. He is hailed as the greatest Hindi poet of 'Veer Rasa' since Bhushan.
Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi wrote that he was very popular among people
whose mother-tongue was not Hindi and he was a symbol of love for one's own
mother-tongue. Harivansh Rai Bachchan wrote that for his proper respect he
should get four Gyanpith Awards - for poetry, prose, languages and for his
service to Hindi. Rambriksh Benipuri wrote that Dinkar is giving voice to the
revolutionary movement in the country. Namvar Singh wrote that he was really
the sun of his age.
Hindi writer Rajendra Yadav, whose novel 'Sara Akash' also carried a few lines of
Dinkar's poetry, has said of him He was always very inspiring to read. His poetry
was about reawakening. He often delved into Hindu mythology and referred to
heroes of epics such as Karna. He was a poet of anti-imperialism and
nationalism, says well-known Hindi writer Kashinath Singh.
He also wrote social and political satires aimed at socio-economic inequalities and
exploitation of the underprivileged.
A progressive and humanist poet, he chose to approach history and reality
directly and his verse combined oratorical vigour with a declamatory diction. The
theme of Urvashi revolves round love, passion, and relationship of man and
woman on a spiritual plane, distinct from their earthly relationship.
His Kurukshetra is a narrative poem based on the Santi Parva of the
Mahabharata. It was written at a time when the memories of the Second World
War were fresh in the mind of the poet. Krishna Ki Chaetavani is another poem
composed on events that led to the Kurukshetra war in the Mahabharata. His
Samdheni is a collection of poems reflecting the poet's social concern
transcending the boundaries of the nation.
In his Sanskiti ke Chaar Adhyay he said that despite various cultures, languages
and topography, India stands united, because "however different we may be, our
thoughts are one and the same".
<b> Awards and Honours </b>
He received awards from Kashi Nagri Pracharini Sabha, Uttar Pradesh
Government and also an award by the Government of India for his epic-poem
Kurukshetra. He got the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1959 for his work Sanskriti ke
Char Adhyay. He was also a recipient of Padma Bhushan in 1959 by the
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Government of India. He was awarded the LLD degree by Bhagalpur University.
He was felicitated as Vidyavachaspati by Gurukul Mahavidyalaya. He was
felicitated as Sahitya-Chudamaniby Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur on 8
November 1968. Dinkar was awarded the Jnanpith Award in 1972 for Urvashi. He
also became a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, in 1952. Dinkar's fans
widely believe that he truly deserved the honour of "RashtraKavi" (poet of the
nation).
<b> Posthumous Recognitions </b>
On September 30, 1987, to mark his 79th birth anniversary tributes were paid to
him by the then President of India, Shankar Dayal Sharma.
In 1999, Dinkar was one of the Hindi writers featured on a set of commemorative
postal stamps released by Government of India to celebrate the "Linguistic
Harmony of India." marking the 50th anniversary since the Indian Union adopted
Hindi as its official language.
The government released a book on Dinkar's birth centenary authored by
Khagendra Thakur.
At the same time a statue of him was unveiled in Patna at the Dinkar Chowk, and
a two-day national seminar was organised in Calicut University.
The Bihar government has declared that a Hindi University to come up at
Begusarai named after him. The New University will be named as Rashtra Kavi
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar Hindi University.
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Aag Ki Bheek
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
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Kalam Aaj Unki Jai Bol
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
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Kisko Naman Karu Mein Bharat?
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
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Parichay
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
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Raat Yo Kahne Laga Mujse Gagan Ka Chaand
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
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Vijayi Ke Sadrish Jiyo Re
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
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