Jaishankar Prasad

Infobox Writer
name = Jaishankar Prasad


imagesize = 100px
birthdate = birth date|1889|1|30|mf=y
birthplace = Varanasi, IND
deathdate = death date and age|1937|1|14|1889|1|30|mf=y
deathplace = Varanasi, IND
occupation = Novelist, playwright, poet

Jaishankar Prasad (Hindi: जयशंकर प्रसाद) (January 30, 1889ndash January 14, 1937), one of the most famous figures in modern Hindi literature; a dramatist, novelist, poet and a story-writer, he was one of the pioneers of the "Chhayavaadi" school (Neo-romanticism) of Hindi poetry [ [http://www.mapsofindia.com/who-is-who/literature/jai-shankar-prasad.html Jai Shankar Prasad] www.mapsofindia.com.] .

His most famous work, the "magnum opus", "Kamayani" (कामायनी), an allegorical epic poem ("Mahakavya") came in 1936, and was preceded by another allegoric play, "Kamana" (कामना), which became a prelude to his "magnum opus", along with "Ansu" (Tears), an earlier long poem and "Lehar", his last collection of poems [ [http://www.seasonsindia.com/art_culture/lit_hindi_sea.htm#jai Hindi Literature-Jaishankar Prasad] www.seasonsindia.com.] . Among his over 40 published works [ [http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/New/hindmy98.html#pras Prasad, Jai Shankar, 1889-1937] www.lib.virginia.edu.] , his known works include, poems like "Jharna"; novels like, "Titli" (तितली)," Kankaal" (कंकाल), and "Iravati" (इरावती) and stories like, "Akashdeep" (आकाशदीप), Madhuva (मधुआ) and "Puruskaar" (पुरस्कार) [ [http://www.abhivyakti-hindi.org/lekhak/j/jaishanker_prasad.htm Jaishankar Prasad Profile and works] www.abhivyakti-hindi.org.] .

Biography

Rquote|right|"कामायनी"
"('लज्जा' परिच्छेद)"
कोमल किसलय के अंचल में नन्हीं कलिका ज्यों छिपती-सी,
गोधुली के धूमिल पट में दीपक के स्वर में दिपती-सी।
मंजुल स्वप्नओं की विस्मृति में मन का उन्माद निखरता ज्यों -
सुरभित लहरों की छाया में बुल्ले का विभव बिखरता ज्यों -
वैसी ही माया से लिपटी अधरों पर उँगली धरे हुए,
माधव के सरस कुतूहल का आँखों में पानी भरे हुए।
नीरव निशीथ में लतिका-सी तुम कौन आ रही हो बढ़ती?
कोमल-बाहें फैलाये-सी आलिंगन का जादू पढ़ती!
किन इंद्रजाल के फूलों से लेकर सुहाग-कण राग-भरे,
सिर नीचा कर हो गूँथ रही माला जिससे मधु धार ढरे?
पुलकित कदंब की माला-सी पहना देती हो अन्तर में,
झुक जाती है मन की डाली अपनी फलभरता के डर में।
वरदान सदृश हो डाल रही नीली किरनों से बुना हुआ,
यह अंचल कितना हल्का-सा कितना सौरभ से सना हुआ।
सब अंग मोम से बनते हैं कोमलता में बल खाती हूँ,
मैं सिमट रही-सी अपने में परिहास-गीत सुन पाती हूँ।
स्मित बन जाती है तरल हँसी नयनों में भर कर बाँकपना,
प्रत्यक्ष देखती हूँ सब जो वह बनता जाता है सपना।...
- जयशंकर प्रसाद, "कामायनी" (Kamayani) [ [http://manaskriti.com/kaavyaalaya/kaamaayani_lajja.stm Lajja Pariched] ]

Jaishankar Prasad was born on January 30, 1889, in an elite family in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. His father "Babu Devki Prasad", also known as "Sunghani Sahu" (सुंघनी साहू), was a tobacco dealer. After, he lost his father at an early age, he had to encounter some family problems at a relatively young age, and left school after class eight. However, he remained interested in literature, languages, and ancient history, and continued studying at home; thereafter he developed a special inclination towards the Vedas and these interests are innately reflected in the deep philosophical content of his works. He was also interested in study of ancient relics.

Apart from being a poet, he was also a philosopher, historian and a sculptor. In later years he made himself aloof from worldly matters, and adapted a nearly ascetic life. Though, some of his interests such as chess, gardening, shashtrarth and poetry recitation remained with him.

Jaishankar Prasad was a contemporary of some other literary greats of that time like Acharya Ram Chandra Shukla and Munshi Premchand.

Language and influence

His initial poetry ("Chitraadhar" collection) was done in the Braj dialect of Hindi, but later he switched to the "Khadi" dialect or Sanskritized Hindi.

In his earlier days, he was influenced by Sanskrit dramas, but later the influence of Bengali and Persian dramas is evident on his works. Prasad's most famous dramas include "Skandagupta", "Chandragupta" and "Dhruvaswamini".

Poetic style

He is considered one of the four pillars ("Stambh") of Chhayavad in Hindi Literature along with Sumitranandan Pant, Mahadevi Verma and Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala'. His style of poetry can at best be described as touching ("maarmic"). Art and philosophy has been exquisitely amalgamated in his writings. He used mainly Tatsam and Tatdbhav words - some of them made really exquisitely by himself.

The subject of his poetry spans the entire horizon of subjects of his era, from romantic to nationalistic. He in a way signifies the epitome of classical Hindi poetry. One of his patriotic poems, 'Himadri Tung Shring Se', won him many accolades in the era of Indian independence movement. However, Kamayani undoubtedly remains his best creation.

Kamayani

Kamayani is widely considered the best of his works. Majority of critics agree that it is the best work of poetry ("Mahakavya") in Hindi [ [http://hi.literature.wikia.com/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%80_/_%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6 Complete "Kamayani" at Kavita Kosh] ] . Though Kamayani has portrayals of divergent subjects, in entirety, it depicts the development of human culture in metaphoric style. Kamayani tells the story of the great flood and the central characters of the epic poem are Manu (a male) and Shradha (a female). Manu is representative of the human psyche and Shradha represents love. Another female character is Ida, who represents rationality. Some critics surmise that the three lead characters of Kamayani symbolizes a synthesis of knowledge, action and desires in human life.

Dramas and other writings

His dramas are considered to be most pioneering ones in Hindi. The majority of them revolve around historical stories of Ancient India. Some of them were also based on mythological plots.

He wrote short stories as well. The subjects were mixed - ranging from historical and mythological to contemporary and social. "Mamta" (motherly love) is a famous short-story based on an incident where a Mughal Badshah gets refuge in a Hindu widow's home whose father was killed by Badshah's army. Another one of his well-known short-stories called "chhota jadugar" (little magician) portrays the life of a child who learns to earns his own living by performing small skits with his dolls on streets.

He also wrote a small number of novels.

Major literary works

Poetry

* Kamayani (1935)
* Kanan Kusum
* Prem Pathik
* Jharna
* Aansoo
* Lehar
* Maharana ka Mahattva
* Arun yeh madhumay desh hamara
* Aatmakatha

hort story collections

* Chhaya
* Pratidhvani
* Akashdeep
* Aandhi
* Indrajaal
* Shivendra

ome famous short stories

* Mamta
* Chhota Jaadugar

Dramas

* Samudragupta
* Dhruvswamini
* Sajjan
* Parinaya
* Ek Ghoont
* Karunalaya
* Praayashchit
* Taskiyya
* Rajyashri
* Vishakh
* Ajaatshatru
* Kamana
* Janamejaye ka Naagyagya
* Skandagupta
* Chandragupta (Contains the famous patriotic poem - "Himadri Shring Tunga se")
* Dhruvaswamini

Novels

* Titali
* Kankaal
* Iravati

Works online

* [http://hi.literature.wikia.com/wiki/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6 Works of Jaishankar Prasad]
* [http://hi.literature.wikia.com/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%80_/_%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6 Complete "Kamayani" at Kavita Kosh]

References