Mannu Bhandari 92nd Birth Anniversary: Mannu Bhandari is a prominent Indian author whose work from 1950 to 1960 is particularly well-known. Her two novels are the source of her fame. The first is “Aapka Bunty (Your Bunty)” and the second is “Mahabhoj (Feast).” During the New Story Campaign and Hindi literature Campaign, writers Nirmal Verma, Rajendra Yadav, Bhisham Sahni, Kamleswar, etc. described her as the most famous writer of the campaign.
Only a few years had passed since India’s independence in 1950, and the country was already struggling with issues such as social change. Therefore, at this time, individuals began voicing their opinions to promote new stories, including that of Mannu Bhandari. Her articles always focused on discrimination based on gender, class, and economic status.
Mannu Bhandari Bio:
| Name | Mannu Bhandari |
| Full Name | Mahendra Kumari |
| Date of Birth | April 3, 1931 |
| Place of Birth | Bhanpura, Madhya Pradesh |
| Father’s Name | Sukhsampat Rai Bhandari |
| Spouse | Rajendra Yadav |
Childhood and Education
Mannu Bhandari, a modern storyteller and novelist of Hindi literature, was born in Bhanpura, Madhya Pradesh, on April 3, 1931, and grew up primarily in Ajmer, Rajasthan, where her father Sukhsampat Rai Bhandari was a freedom fighter, social reformer, and the creator of the first English to Hindi and English to Marathi dictionaries. She was the youngest child of five.
Mannu Bhandari is the author of both short stories and novels. Her novel ‘Ek Inch Muskan,’ co-authored with Rajendra Yadav, is a sad tale of educated and contemporary lovers. Bhandari received his early education in Ajmer before graduating from West Bengal’s Calcutta University. She went to earn a Master of Arts degree. Banaras Hindu University’s degree in the Hindi language and literature. As a student, she was politically active, and in 1946 she helped organise a strike in response to the dismissal of two of her colleagues for their involvement with Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army.
Life Marital for Mannu Bhandari
Mannu Bhandari’s husband’s name was Rajendra Yadav. Rajendra Yadav was a prominent Hindi author. They were married on November 22, 1959 in Kolkata. Mannuji and Rajendraji met in Calcutta; when they first met, they discussed books, authors, and literary topics, which later morphed into personal conversations, and they became closer.
Bhandari and Yadav resided in Kolkata’s Tollygunge until 1964, when they relocated to Delhi. They subsequently resided in Delhi and had a daughter named Rachana. In the 1980s, Bhandari and Yadav separated but never divorced; they remained friends until Yadav’s death in 2013.
Career progression of Mannu Bhandari
She began his career as a professor of the Hindi language. She taught Hindi in Calcutta from 1961 to 1965, first at Ballygunge Shiksha Sadan, a primary and secondary school, and then at Kolkata’s Rani Birla College. After moving to Delhi with her husband, she began teaching Hindi literature at the University of Delhi’s Miranda House College. From 1992 to 1994, she held an honorary directorship at Vikram University’s Ujjain Premchand Srijanpith.
Career in literature of Mannu Bhandari
Mannu Bhandari is one of India’s foremost authors. Her first story was titled “Mein Har Gayi.” (I Have Been Defeated) in 1957, in the Hindi Kahaani magazine. This story was later adapted into a nationally performed, wildly popular and successful play. In 1961, she co-authored a novel titled Ek Inch Muskan (One Inch Smile) with her husband, the Hindi author Rajendra Yadav. Ek Inch Muskan was an experimental novel that told the story of a man and woman’s marriage, with Yadav and Bhandari writing alternate chapters for each character. The plot was conceived by Bhandari, while Yadav conceived the title. The book was serialised in the Hindi magazine Gyanoday before being republished as a book in 1991. Bhandari continued to write short stories during this time, and she published four collections of short stories between 1961 and 1970, following the success of Ek Inch Muskaan.
She was India’s foremost author after independence. From 1950 to 1960, she was recognised for her work. She is best known for her novels Apka Bunty and Mahbhoj.
Only a few years had passed since India’s independence in 1950, and the country was already struggling with issues such as social change. Thus, at this time, individuals, including Bhandari, began voicing their opinions in order to spread new stories. Her articles always focused on discrimination based on gender, class, and economic status.
Novels:
Her 1971 novel “Aapka Bunty” is regarded as one of the most successful in Hindi. Mannu Bhandari is one of the most well-known Hindi storytellers. The play, based on her 1979 novel “Mahabhoj,” which highlighted the suffering and pain of the common man in the context of widespread bureaucratic corruption, was quite popular.
Bhandari continued to publish short stories in Hindi magazines, Indian Literature, and the Journal of South Asian Literature throughout her career. Bhandari published a number of additional collections of these stories in Hindi, including Ek Plate Sailab (1962), Teen Nigahon Ki Ek Tasvir, Yehi Sach Hai, Trishanku, and Sampooshanku Kahaniyan. The 1974 Best Film Award went to the film titled “Yehi Sach Hai,” which became a huge hit and also won the award.
In 2007, she published Ek Kahaani Yeh Bhi, an autobiography that details her life, political activism, writing, and marriage.
Writing Functions
Through her stories, novels, etc., Mannuji, who took the environment as her subject, has depicted not only the problems associated with women, but also the social problems and family problems prevalent in the society. Mannuji, who has penned more than 50 short stories and novels, has introduced arrogance, selfishness, etc. by depicting the conflicts and stresses of the middle class.
In the world of Hindi fiction, there are authors like Mannu Bhandariji who not only limit the issue of female sympathy, but also depict political issues and children’s issues in their writing.
Works of author Mannu Bhandari
Fiction
‘Ek Inch Muska (1962)’, ‘Aapka Bunty (1971)’, ‘Mahabhoj (1979).’
Narrative Collection
‘Mai Haar Gayi (1957)’, ‘Ek Plaite Sailab (1962)’, ‘Yahi Sach Hai (1966)’, ‘Tin Nigahonki Ek Tasvir (1959)’, ‘Trishanku (1978)’, ‘Meri Priya Kahaniya (1973)’, ‘Pratidhi Kahaniya (1986)’, ‘Srestha Kahaniya (1979)’, ‘Sampurna Kahaniya (2008).’
Plays
Mahabhoj: Dramatisations (1981), ‘Bina Divaron Ka Ghar (1965)’, ‘Pratishodh tatha Anya Ekanki (1987).’
Screenplay
Katha-Patkatha (2003)
Autobiography
Ek Kahaani Yeh Bhi (2007)
The study of children’s literature
‘Ankhon Dekha Jhooth’, ‘Assmata’, ‘Kala.,
The passing of Mannu Bhandari
Mannu Bhandari passed away in Gurgaon, Haryana on November 15, 2021 at the age of 90.
