Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh
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Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh (गजानन माधव मुक्तिबोध) (November 13, 1917 - September 11, 1964) was one of the most prominent Hindi poets, essayist, literary and political critic, and fiction writers of the 20th century [1]. He also remained assistant-editor of journals like, Naya Khoon and Vasudha etc [1].
He is widely considered one of the pioneers of modern poetry in India [2], and is best known for his long poems--Brahma-rakshasa, Chand ka Muh Teda hai (The Moon Wears a Crooked Smile) [3], Andhere Mein (In the Dark) and Bhuri Bhuri Khak Dhul (भूरी भूरी ख़ाक धूल); and Muktibodh Rachnavali (Complete Works) published in 6 volumes.
'Shankarachandra Madhav Muktibodh' (1921-1985) a poet, novelist, and Marxist critic, was the younger brother of Muktibodh [4]
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[edit] Works
| “ | The Moon Wears a Crooked Smile' (Excerpt) The wind’s sari border quivers |
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His first book was published in 1964, when he was on his death-bed: Chand Ka Muh Teda Hai (चाँद का मुहँ टेढ़ा है) [5]. Although Muktibodh could not manage to get his works published as a book in his lifetime, he was one of the contributing poets to the first three volumes of Taar Saptak, a series of path-breaking poetry anthologies edited by Ajneya. He is today considered a bridge between the progressive movement in Hindi poetry and the Nayi Kavita (Modern Poetry) movement [1] .
Muktibodh made a name for himself in the field of criticism as well, with his strong views on the upper caste influence on the disintegration of Bhakti movement in India, which he viewed a lower caste uprising against the hegemony upper caste [6]. In literary criticism, he wrote a critical work on Kamayani of literary doyen, Jaishankar Prasad titled: Kamayani, Ek Punarvichar [1].
[edit] In Media
A Hindi feature film, 'Satah Se Uthata Aadmi' (Arising from the Surface), with script and dialogues by him, was directed by veteran director, Mani Kaul, and shown at Cannes Film Festival in 1981 [7]. In 2004, “Brahmarakshas ka Shishya”, a dramatizaton of Muktibodh’s story, was presented in New Delhi by Soumyabrata Choudhury [8][9].
His novel, Vipatra has also been made into an audio book for the blind [10].
[edit] Legacy
His brilliance was recognized by the literary world after the posthumous publication of Chand Ka Munh Tedha Hai, the first collection of his poems, in the early 1960s. Ever since, the book has run into several editions, and is recognized as a modern classic. In his memory, Madhya Pradesh Sahitya Parishad, has instituted the annual MuktiBodh Puraskar.
In 2004, 'Muktibodh Smarak', a memorial was set up at the 'Triveni Sangrahalaya' in Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, along with fellow poets of Chhattisgarh, Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi and Baldeo Prasad Mishra. [11] [12]
[edit] Bibliography
- In the Dark: Andhere Mein, translated by Krishna Baldev Vaid. 2001, Rainbow Publishers. ISBN 8186962425. (ISBN 81-86962-42-5.).
- Muktibodh Ki Kavitayen(Anthology of Poems), 2004, Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8126006749.
- Chand ka Muh Teda Hai - (Anthology of Poems) (1964).
- Bhuri Bhuri Khak Dhul - (Anthology of Poems)
- Dabre Par Sooraj ka Bimb, 2002, National Book Trust. ISBN 8123738803.[13]
- Kath Ka Sapna (Anthology of Short stories), 1967, Bharatiya Jnanpith.
- Satah Se Uthta Admi (Anthology of Short stories)
- Vipatra (Novel) [5]
- Nayi Kavita ka Atmasangharsh tatha anya Nibandha. (Essays) (1964).
- Ek Sahityik ki Dairy. (Essays) (1964).
- Muktibodh Rachnavali, Edited by Nemichandra Jain, (Complete Works) 6 Vols., (1980), New Delhi, Rajkamal Publications.
[edit] Further reading
- Paya Patra Tumhara: Gajanan Madhava Muktibodh aur Nemichandra Jain ke bich Patra-vyavahar, (1942-1964), Edited by Nemichandra Jain. (1984)[14]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ a b c d Muktibodh Profile www.abhivyakti-hindi.org.
- ^ Muktibodh Sahitya Akademi Official website.
- ^ a b Literary Resurrections www.himalmag.com, October 2001.
- ^ NOTES 12 www.ciil-ebooks.net.
- ^ a b Indian Poets - Hindi
- ^ "According to Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh: the Bhakti movement began as a revolt of the lower castes/lower classes against the upper castes/upper classes; it drew people from all castes/classes but the egalitarian agenda was generally raised by the lower caste sants; and, when the movement was taken over by the upper castes, the entire movement disintegrated." Dalit
- ^ Films presented in Cannes 1981 Cannes Film Festival Official website.
- ^ Calender of Events - October 2004 India Habitat Centre website.
- ^ Brahmarakshas ka Shishya Text www.abhivyakti-hindi.org.
- ^ #194 Muktibodh - Viptara Blind Relief Association.
- ^ History Rajnandgaon Official website.
- ^ Muktibodh Smarak, Triveni Sangrahalaya
- ^ Muktibodh Books
- ^ Books by Muktibodh www.lib.virginia.edu.
[edit] Works online
- Naash Devta and Kal Aur Aaj, poems by Muktibodh (Hindi)
- A Single Shooting Star, a poem by Muktibodh (Translated to English)
