Bharatendu Harishchandra

Bharatendu Harishchandra
Born(1850-09-09)9 September 1850
Benares, Benares State, British India
Died6 January 1885(1885-01-06) (aged 34)
Benares, Benares State, British India
Pen nameRasa
OccupationNovelist, poet, playwright
LanguageHindi
Notable worksAndher Nagari

Bharatendu Harishchandra (9 September 1850 – 6 January 1885) was an Indian poet, writer and playwright. He authored several dramas, life sketches and travel accounts, using new media such as reports, publications, letters to editors of publications, translations, and literary works to shape public opinion.[1][2] 'Bharatendu Harishchandra' is often considered as the father of Hindi literature and Hindi theatre.[3][4] He has been hailed as a Yug Charan for his writings depicting the exploitative nature of the British Raj.[5]

Writing under the pen name "Rasa", Harishchandra picked themes that demonstrated the agonies of the people. For instance, the country's poverty, dependency, inhuman exploitation, the unrest of the middle class and the urgent need for progression of the country. Referred as a fearless journalist, Harishchandra refuted the prevailing orthodoxy of the time and revealed the machination of the mahants, pandas and priests.[5] He was an influential Hindu "traditionalist", using Vaishnava devotionalism to define a coherent Hindu religion.[2]

  1. ^ Vasudha Dalmia, Poetics, Plays and Performances: The Politics of Modern Indian Theatre, New Delhi, Oxford University Press (2006) ISBN 0-19-567473-1
  2. ^ a b Barbara D. Metcalf; Thomas R. Metcalf (2002). A Concise History of India. Cambridge University Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-521-63974-3.
  3. ^ Diana Dimitrova (2004). Western tradition and naturalistic Hindi theatre. Peter Lang. p. 14. ISBN 0-8204-6822-3.
  4. ^ Sandria B. Freitag (1989). "Chapter 2: The Birth of Hindi Drama in Banaras: 1868–1885, by Kathryn Hansen". Culture and power in Banaras: community, performance, and environment, 1800–1980. University of California Press. p. 78. ISBN 0-520-06367-8.
  5. ^ a b Lāla, Vaṃśīdhara (1989). Bhāratīya svatantratā aura Hindī patrakāritā (in Hindi). Bihāra Grantha Kuṭīra. भारतेन्दु युग चारण थे । उनकी पत्रिकाओं में भारतीयों के हृदय की धड़कन सुनायी पड़ती है । अंग्रेजी - राज्य में जनता की गुलामी के बन्धन और उनके शोषण की उन्होंने सच्ची तस्वीर खींची । उन्होंने अंग्रेजों के तथाकथित न्याय, जनतंत्र और उनकी सभ्यता का पर्दाफाश किया । उनके इस कार्य की सराहना करते हुए डा ० रामविलास शर्मा ने लिखा- ' देश के रूढ़िवाद का खंडन करना और महंतों, पंडे - पुरोहितों की लीला की लीला प्रकट करना निर्भीक पत्रकार हरिश्चन्द्र का ही काम था ।