Samiksha
Dr. Harivansh Rai
Bachchan
• Mitti ka tan, masti
ka man, kshan bhar
jeevan, mera
parichay
(1907-2003)
LIFE
• Born in a ‘Kayashta’ family in Allahabad on November 27,1907.
• Graduated from Allahabad University, soon after graduation he
joined the freedom fighting movement
• Also he had a short stint as a journalist, after which he joined a
local school as a teacher.
• Along with the teaching job he pursued his studies and obtained
M.A.
• Joined Allahabad University as a research scholar and later in
1941 as a lecturer in English literature
Contd…
• The second Indian to receive doctorate in English literature from
Cambridge University
• At the age of 19 , he married Shyama who died 10 years later.
• The death of his wife inspired him to write “Madhushala”
• Shortly after the death of his first wife he married Teji Suri who
gave birth to Amitabh Bachchan and Ajitabh Bachchan.
• After independence he joined Hindi cell in ministry of external
affairs under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru
• At the age of 95 he died on January 18,2003
Work
• Madhushala (1935)
• Madhubala(1936)
• Madhukalash(1937)
• Nisha Nimantran(1938)
• Satrangini(1945)
• Khaadi ke Phool (1948)
• Milan Yaamini (1950)
Contd…
• Pranaya Patrika(1955)
• Budh Aur Nachghar(1958)
• Tribhangima(1961)
• Char kheme Chausanth Khoonte(1962)
• Bahut Din Beete(1967)
• Katati Pratimaon ki Awaaz(1968)
• Ubharte Pratimano Ke Roop (1969)
• Jaal Sameta(1973)
Honors
• Sahitya Academy prize in 1969
• Padma Bhushan in 1976
• Received Soviet Land Nehru Award
• Lotus Award for Afro-Asian
writers conference .
• The first Sarswati Samman winner
• A postage stamp was released in 2003 in
his memory
STYLE
• His style of writing is influenced by Omar
Khayyam’s Rubaiyyat
• The underlying tone in the poem is sarcastic and
ironical in nature
• In a sad poetic irony Dr Bachchan boldly
challenged sickening conventionalism and
moralist and thus gave Hindi poetry an entirely
new dimension
Contd…
• Madhusahala is allegorical in nature where symbols have
been used to convey message which the poet intended.
There are basically four symbol used.
The four symbols used are
• Haala -It is the wine
• Pyaala- The glass which is used to serve the wine
• Saaki-The person who serves the wine
• Madhushala- The place where the wine is served.
• The poet has depicted every facet of life using these
symbols
Contd
धर्मग्रन्थ सब जला चुकी े
है , जजसक अंतर
की ज्वाला,
र्ंदिर, र्सजजि, गिररजे, सब को तोड़ चुका
जो र्तवाला,
पंदित, र्ोगर्न, पादिरयों े ं
क फिं को जो
काट चुका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वाित र्ेरी
र्धुशाला।
साकी बन र्ुरली आई साथ गलए कर र्ं
प्योाला,
जजनर्ं वह छलकाती लाई अधर-सुधा-रस
की हाला,
योोगिराज कर संित उसकी नटवर नािर
कहलाए,
ै ै
िे खो कसं-कसं को है नाच नचाती
र्धुशाला।
े
धीर सुतं क हृियो रक्त की आज बना रक्तक्तर्
हाला,
े
वीर सुतं क वर शीशं का हाथं र्ं लेकर
प्योाला,
अगत उिार िानी साकी है आज बनी
भारतर्ाता,
स्वतंत्रता है तृक्तित कागलका बगलवेिी है
र्धुशाला।
Things I like about the
book
• The theme- The underlying theme was the
meaningless of the sordid worldly ambitions,
greed acquisition, bigotry and intolerance in
religion, morality and behavior.
• The way author has touched upon every facet of
life using the four symbols whether it is religion
or love, death, patriotism, nature’s beauty nothing
is left untouched.
• The philosophical nature of poem
• The nostalgic effect of the poem
It Could Have Done
Without……..
• At times it seems that the poet is
advocating use of liquor .
• Repetitiveness
Thank You !