Baldev Upadhyaya

Pandit Baldev Upadhyaya (पण्डित बलदेव उपाध्याय, 1899–1999) was a renowned Hindi, Sanskrit scholar, literary historian, essayist and critic. He penned numerous books, collections of essays and a historical outline of Sanskrit literature. He is noted for discussing Sanskrit literature in the Hindi language. Earlier books related to Sanskrit literature were often written either in Sanskrit or in English.

Contents

Life sketch

Acharya Ji was born on 10 October 1899 into a pious Vaishnav Sanatan Dharma family of Brahmins in the village Sonbarsa in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. His father was Pt. Ram Suchit Upadhyaya, who was a great scholar of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. He had many students in Eastern India as well in Rangoon. His mother, Smt. Murti Devi, was also a pious lady. Upadhyaya's early education was in Govt. High School, Ballia, except for a session 1911-1912, when he was admitted to the 6th standard at Bengali Tola Inter College, Benares. He passed his M.A. from Banaras Hindu University (1922) and Sahityacharya from Govt. Sanskrit College, Benares.

Acharya Ji had two younger brothers Dr. Vasudev Upadhyaya, eminent historian specialiation on Gupta Period, who retired from Patna University as Prof. & Head Deptt. of History and Dr. Krishna Dev Upadhyaya, a Hindi Scholor with specialisation in Bhojpuri Literature, who retired from Govt. Degree College as Prof. & Head Deptt. of Hindi.

Achrya Ji was got married with Shivmuni Devi, Daughter of Pt. Dev Krishna Ojha, Grand Daughter of Pt. Yogesh Dutt Ojha, an eminent Sanskrit Scholor and author of Paribhashendu Shekhar, which was published from Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi.

Achrya Ji had blessed two worthy sons Pt. Gauri Shankar Upadhyaya, who retired as Asstt. Director Social Education, U.P. Govt. and Dr. Gopal Shankar Upadhyaya, a Metallurgical Scientist and Retired Professor & Head Deptt. of Metallurgy I.I.T., Kanpur.

He had taken last breath on 10 August in his centenary year 1999 at Varanasi.[1]

His Students

There is a long list of eminent scholars, literary historian, essayists and critics of Hindi, Sanskrit literature, who were his student.

Acharaya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Dr. Vidya Niwas Mishra, H.H. Kashi Naresh Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh Ji, Acharaya Sitaram Chaturvedi, Dr. Kalu Lal Shrimali, Dr. Karuna Pati Tripathi, Prof. Rewa Prasad Dwivedi, Shri J. N. Chaturvedi, Shri Triloki Nath Chaturvedi, Pt. Vishnu Kant Shastri Ex. U.P. Governor.

Major works

In 1922 he was appointed as a Lecturer, Department of Sanskrit, Banaras Hindu University. After serving the institution for 38 years he was retired as a Head of the Department in year 1960. In the year 1968 he was again appointed as Director and Professor Emeritus, Research Institute. Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. He also served as President, Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Academy, Lucknow.[2]

As a Director, Research Institute, he was the chief editor of book series Sarasvati Bhavana Granthamala and the famous Sanskrit Journal Sarasvati Sushama. He authored many books which are the outcome of original studies and are authoritative in the respected fields. He also edited about 25 books.[3]

Awards and honors

  1. Mangla Prasad Puraskar, 1942
  2. Dalmia Puraskar, 1946
  3. Shravan-Nath Puraskara
  4. Sahitya Varidhi, Prayag, 1972
  5. D.Litt, 1977
  6. Certificate of Honour, President of India, 1968.
  7. Kalidas Sahitya Ratna, Ujjain, 1982
  8. Vishva Sanskrit Bharati Award, U.P. Sanskrit Academy, 1983.
  9. Padma Bhushan, President of India, 1984.
  10. Umaswami Award, Kunda Kunda Bharati Ch. Trust, New Delhi, 1994.
  11. Mahamahopadhyaya, 1997.
  12. Rama Krishna Dalmiya Sri Vani Award, Ramkrishna Dalmiya Trust, New Delhi.

Book Authored

Professor Upadhyaya had chosen Hindi as his medium for writing books. There were no authoritative books on all branch of Sanskrit literature. He enriched it by writing scholarly work, undoubtedly with complete Indian background.

S.No. Name of Book Publisher Year
1. Rasika Govinda Aur Unki Kavita Hindi Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Ballia. 1926
2. Sukti Muktavali Haridas Company, Mathura 1932
3. Sanskrit Kavi Charchā Master Khedilal, Varanasi 1932
4. Bhartiya Darshana Sharda Mandir, Varanasi 1942
5. Sanskrit Sahitya Ka Itihas Sharda Mandir, Varanasi 1944
6. Dharma aur Darshana Sharda Mandir, Varanasi 1945
7. Sanskrit Vangmaya Sharda Mandir, Varanasi 1945
8. Vaidika Kahaniya Sharda Mandir, Varanasi 1946
9. Bauddha Darsana Mimansa Sharda Mandir, Varanasi 1946
10. Arya Sanskriti Ke Muladhara Sharda Mandir, Varanasi 1947
11. Bhartiya Sahitya Shastra Prasad Parisad, Varanasi 1948
12. Bhagvata Sampradaya Nagari Prachatini Sabha, Varanasi 1954
13. Vaidika Sahitya Aur Sanskriti Sharda Sansthan, Varanasi 1955
14. Sanskrit Alochana U.P. Sanskrit Sansthan, Lucknow 1956
15. Kavyanushilana Ramesh Book Deopt, Jaipur 1956
16. Bhartiya Vangmaya Mein Sri Radha Bihar Rastrabhasha Parishad, Patna 1963
17. Sanskrit Sukavi Samikchha Chaukamba Vidya Bhavan, Varanasi 1963
18. Purana Vimarsha Chaukamba Vidya Bhavan, Varanasi 1965
19. Sanskrit Shashtron Ka Itihas Chaukamba Vidya Bhavan, Varanasi 1969
20. Bhartiya Dharma Aur Darshana Chaukamba Vidya Bhavan, Varanasi 1977
21. Sanskrit Sahitya Ka Sanksipta Itihas Sharda Sansthan, Varanasi 1978
22. Kashi Ki Panditya Parampara Sharda Sansthan, Varanasi 1985
23. Bhartiya Dharma aur Darshana Ka Anushilan Sharda Sansthan, Varanasi 1985
24. Vimarshachintamanih Sharda Sansthan, Varanasi 1987

References

  1. ^ Sanskrit Sadhana, Vidya Niwas Mishra Ayas Bharati Publication, Saharanpur, 1990.
  2. ^ Baldev Upadhyaya Felicitation Volume, (Ed.) G.C. Tripathi, Journal of the Ganganath Jha, Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Allahabad, 1983.
  3. ^ Shemushi, (Ed) Vidya Niwas Mishra, Sharda Niketan, Varanasi, 2000.