Mahadevi Varma

Mahadevi Varma
Born(1907-03-26)26 March 1907
Farrukhabad, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India
Died11 September 1987(1987-09-11) (aged 80)
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
OccupationPoet, essayist and sketch story writer
Alma materAllahabad University
Literary movementChhayavaad
Notable works
  • Yama
  • Mera Parivaar
Notable awards1956  Padma Bhushan
1982  Jnanpith Award
1988  Padma Vibhushan
SpouseVikas Narayan Singh
Signature
Best wishes message in Hindi with signature beneath
Literature portal

Mahadevi Verma born (26 March 1906 – 11 September 1987) was an Indian Hindi-language poet, essayist, sketch story writer and an eminent personality of Hindi literature. She is considered one of the four major pillars[a] of the Chhayawadi era in Hindi literature.[1] She has been also addressed as the Modern Meera.[2] Poet Nirala had once called her "Saraswati in the vast temple of Hindi Literature".[b] Verma had witnessed India both before and after independence. She was one of those poets who worked for the wider society of India.[3] Not only her poetry but also her social upliftment work and welfare development among women were also depicted deeply in her writings. These largely influenced not only the readers but also the critics, especially through her novel Deepshikha.[4]

She developed a soft vocabulary in the Hindi poetry of Khadi Boli, which before her was considered possible only in Braj bhasha. She was well-versed in music. The beauty of her songs lies in the tone that captures the euphemistic style of sharp expressions.[5] She started her career with teaching. She was the Principal of Prayag Mahila Vidyapeeth. She was married, but she chose to live an ascetic life.[6][7] She was also a skilled painter and creative translator. She had the distinction of receiving all the important awards in Hindi literature. As the most popular female litterateur of the last century, she remained revered throughout her life.[8] The year 2007 was celebrated as her birth centenary. Later, Google also celebrated the day through its Google Doodle.[9]


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  1. ^ Varma 1985, p. 38-40.
  2. ^ Ranu, Anjali. "Mahadevi Verma: Modern Meera". Literary India. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2020. Archived from the original Archived 21 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine on 21 September 2007
  3. ^ Mishra, Satya Prakash. "महादेवी का सर्जन: प्रतिरोध और करुणा" (in Hindi). Tadbhav.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2020. Archived from the original Archived 22 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine on 22 September 2007
  4. ^ Varma, Mahadevi. Deepshikha (in Hindi). Varanasi: Lokbharti Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-8031-119-2.
  5. ^ Varmā, Mahādevī; Pāṇḍeya, Gaṅgāprasāda (2012). महादेवी के स्रेष्ठ गीत (in Hindi) (2nd ed.). Kitābaghara. ISBN 9788170161868.
  6. ^ Jha, Fiza (11 September 2019). "Poet Mahadevi Verma and her undiscovered feminist legacy". ThePrint.
  7. ^ Teotia, Bimlesh. "साहित्य विचार - गद्यकार महादेवी वर्मा". Taptilok Publication. Archived from the original on 17 May 2006. Retrieved 7 December 2020. Archived from the original Archived 17 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine on 17 May 2006
  8. ^ Vasistha, R.K. (2002). Uttar Pradesh (Monthly Magazine) Issue 7. Lucknow, India: Information and Public Relations Department, U.P. Page 24.
  9. ^ Taneja, Richa (27 April 2018). "Mahadevi Varma Is Today's Google Doodle: Know All About The Celebrated Hindi Poet". NDTV.com.