Maithili Sharan Gupt, one of the most magnificent modern Hindi poets in India was born on August 3, 1988. In 1954, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.
Also known as ‘Dadda’ of the literary world, Mahatma Gandhi tagged him as the ‘National Poet of India’. He is widely known for introducing Khari Boli (plain dialect) in the poetry. Most poets of his time wrote in the Braj Bhasha dialect, whereas he took a different approach with the Khari Boli dialect.
Born in a wealthy zamindar family in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, as a child, Gupt studied Sanskrit, English, and Bengali. Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi was his mentor. He penned some of the greatest and the finest pieces of Hindi literature like Bharat-Bharati, Jayadrath Vadh, Vikat Bhat, Plassey ka Yuddha, Gurukul, Kisan, Panchavati, Nirjhar, Yashodhara, Saket, Rang Mein Bhang, Matrubhumi. Initially, he hated going to school so his parents arranged for his homeschooling.
Gupt entered the world of Hindi literature by writing poems in various magazines, including Saraswati. In 1910, his first major work, Rang Mein Bhang was published by Indian Press. With Bharat Bharati, his nationalist poems became popular among Indians, who were struggling for independence. Most of his poems revolve around plots from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Buddhist stories, and the lives of famous religious leaders. His famous work Saket revolves around Urmila, wife of Lakshmana, from Ramayana, while another of his works Yashodhara revolves revolves around Yashodhara, the wife of Gautama Buddha.
Unknown facts about Maithili Sharan Gupt:
- In the year 1947, when India became independent, Maithili Sharan Gupta became a member of Rajya Sabha where he used poetry to put his opinions in front of everyone.
- He was a recipient of the third-highest (then second-highest) Indian civilian honour of Padma Bhushan in the year 1954.
- His famous work Saket revolves around Urmila, wife of Lakshmana, from Ramayana, while some of his other works include: Yashodhara, which revolves around the wife of Gautama Buddha.
- Bharat Bharati (1912), his book of nationalist poems gained him immense popularity among Indians.
- For his book Bharat-Bharati (1912), widely quoted during India’s freedom struggle, he was given the title of ‘Rashtra Kavi’ by Mahatma Gandhi.
