Alhad Bikaneri

Alhad Bikaneri (Late Shri.Alhar Bikaneri) (17 May 1937 – 17 June 2009) was a renowned Hindi and Urdu poet of Hasya Ras(Humor) of India. His original name was Shyamlal Sharma. He was born on 17 May 1937 in a small village named Bikaner, Rewari district, Haryana, India.

Awards and recognition

Honored with “Hasya Ratna” he is considered as one of the most famous Hindi humour poet who used to recite poems by singing. He was considered as expert of Chandd Kavita(Rydhym Poems). He was awarded & honoured with India’s some of the most prestigious Awards of Hindi humour poetry like Theetoli Award Delhi(1981), Kaka Hathrasi Award(1986), Akhil Bharteeya Nagrik Parishad(1993), Yatha-Sambhav Award Ujjain(1997), Kavya Gaurav Award Delhi(1998), Narendra- Mohan Award, Maanas Award(2000), Tepa Award Ujjain(2004), Vyangya- Shri Award(2004) & Athasaas -Shikar Award(2007). In 1996 his work was appreciated by Honorable President of India Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma. In 2000 Delhi State Government honoured him with Kaka Hathrasi Sammaan which is considered as one of the most prestigious award of Hindi Humor Poetry in India. In 2004, Haryana State Govt. awarded him with Haryana Gaurav Award. His popularity was not only limited in India but was also known outside India for his work. Haryana State Sathiya Academy had declared "Aditya-Alhad Hasya Samman", in order to honour contribution in literature. This award was declared under "Sahityakar Samman Yogna" . Since 2012 this award will be given every year to motivate for contribution in literature . This award carries a cash price of INR 100,000

Life

Alhad was born on 17 May 1937 in Bikaner, Haryana. He was only son in family. His Father name was Sh. Chuutanlal Sharma and Mother’s name was Smt. Parvati Devi.Since childhood he was fascinated for music, literature and stage shows. But his father always wanted him to become an Engineer. In class 10th he was passed in first division & got scholarship. He took admission in Science stream at Aheer College Rewari, Haryana. After second year of college, he dropped studies. In Dec 1955 he started his first job at Custodian office Gurgaon, Haryana. He worked there for three months until Mar 1956. In April 1956 he joined Telegraph training centre at Saharanpur . But soon he was seriously sick with malaria & typhoid. It was difficult time for him. His health was deteriorating day by day. Finally he was admitted to Irwin Hospital Delhi. After hard efforts of doctors, his life was saved . Jan 1958 to Jun 1961 was the toughest period of his life. Problems was coming one after another. He lost his most dearest & nearest members including his father during this time. At that time, it was only support of his poems who was giving him strength & motivation to keep going on & face all situations of life. But it was looking like there is no end of troubles .

Last Journey

Year 2009 was a year of big losses for Hindi Literature & poetry world. Alhad bikaneri's health was getting down day by day. In spite of health related issues, Poems & Kavi Sammelan used to energise him. For a poet the biggest medicine is stage, claps and appreciation of his fans. On 8 June 2009 a big accident happened in Bhopal, in which famous poet Om Prakash Aditya died along with three other poets while coming back after attending Kavi Sammelan. Om Prakash Aditya had a special position in Alhad's life. Both of them were sharing a close bond in between. Aditya was like his big brother Both of them belongs to Haryana and their village was nearby (5 km)away. When Alhad heard the news of the sudden death of Aaditya, it shocked him and this Shock finally converted into His deaparture after 7 days of Humour Poet Om Prakash Aaditya’s death.

Death and memory events

On 17 June 2009, at age 72, Alhad died. He had been suffering from respiratory health problems. He was admitted to a hospital in Noida, Uttar pradesh, In his memory every year on his birthday, various functions are being organised by his family & Friends . In 2010, Kavi sammelan was organised which was attended by various famous poets . On the occasion "Alhad ji" was remembered & poets expressed there feelings & respect for him by dedicating there poems for Alhadji. In 2011,on his 74th birthday, Haryana Chief Minister Honorable Mr. Bhoopendra Singh Hooda had released his last book " Man mast hua" at Haryana Bhawan, New delhi. In 2012,Kaka Hathrasi honouring Alhad Bikaneri with Kaka Hathrasi award(1986) On his 75th Birthday a large gathering was organised was Akhil Bharatiya Kavi Sammelan organised at LTG Auditorium by Haryana Sahitya Academy and Chetna India of Delhi. This program was attended by Delhi Assembly Speaker, many ministers & poets was also available on the occasion. From Bikaner to Delhi from Mahir to Alhad to Vyang Shri to Hasya Ratna a long journey lived by him. He is still alive in his poems. The energy, the enthusiasm, the attitude & the Alhad pan, which was shown while reciting poems on stage, is an Asset.

Poems

Alhad poems are for a general common man. A common man can see his owns reflection in them. He had written on various topics like tough situations of life, life of a common man, social problem and current issues like the degradation of literature, office environment, evils of society, environmental conditions, current politics and politicians. He always used simple language and effective words in poems to express his feelings. About this writing skills Dr. Devendra Arya said "Alhad ji humor is like a ray of glowing light in darkness. He is expert in expressing the pain, tears using his humor skills that the message goes to the heart of person directly with a great impact without causing any hurting". Current writers are not using Chandd style in their poems, as its very difficult and requires a complete knowledge of language. Alhad was an expert in this. His expertise was to write poems in chandd style. This separates him from other poets. He was renowned for this skill. He was very much particular in selection of proper words for his poems. Until he gets the perfect match of word with suitable meaning he never used to move forward. His perfection for using the proper word was admirable. In fact many of his colleagues and poets used to visit him for taking his suggestions. He was very helpful and supportive in nature. He was very much careful in selection of each and every word he uses for his conversation. 23 Jan 1971, he participated for the first time in Lal Qila Kavi sammelan and recited his poem. In one of his poems he highlighted Inflation and the suffering of a common man due to inflation. The beauty of words was selected as was the way its used for expressing the issue. The words were intended to make the reader laugh and think about the seriousness of this issue.

Influences

In 1962 he started his writing career as Ghazal writer with the pen name of "Mahir Bikaneri". During that time he was working as clerk in main post office, Kashmiri gate, Delhi. One day while working one thought clicked in his mind . He looked around in office & wrote his first humour poem "Afsar Ji ki Amar Kahani". When he narrated that poem in office, it had created a magic. Everyone liked & appreciated it very much. In 1967. Those days he was very much impressed & motivated with writing work of "Shri Kaka Hathrasi". In that motivation he wrote few humour poems also. One day he was sharing his poems to one of his friend "Shayar Razaa Amrohi". After listening those poems Amrohiji suggested him to write for Hindi Humor Poetry . This appreciation was the beginning . But final turning point in his poetic career was the book Kaka Ki Phuljhariya. After reading this book, he decided to stop writing serious songs & Ghazals & entered to the world of humorous poems. He changed his Pen name to "Alhar/Alhad Bikaneri" & start writing for Hindi Humour poetry . After this, his long journey of humorous poetry was started . He touched heights of successes & glory and gave special contribution to Hindi Poetry & literature. He did his first Kavi sammelan in 1967 at North Block, Delhi, in front of Dada Bhawani Prasad Mishr. There he narrated his poem titled Kamaal Dekte Hain . After listening poem Dada was very much impressed with Alhadji . He gave his blessing to him & motivated him to keep going on this journey of Humor Poems. In 1968 one evening, his one friend Krish Swarup, took him to house of Shri. Gopal Prasad Vyas. Those days Vyasji was residing at Bhagirath Palace Delhi. Alhad was excited to present his poems in front of Vyas ji. When he finished his poem, Vyas ji commented him to first study & get in-depth knowledge of literature. He asked him to study the complete Literature which was written by him & thoroughly analyse it. After complete learning then start & create something new of his own . If able to do that then only come back to him again. This conversation had strong impact on Alhad. Again life was giving him challenge. Either take the challenge or stop writing. He accepted this challenge. For next two complete years he studied literature & improved his skills. After 2yrs of strong hard work, finally in 1970 Vyasji had accepted Alhad as his student . In Nov 1970, Vyasji asked Alhad to travel with him to Kolkatta . There in traditional & ceremonial way he accepted him as his student. 23 Jan 1971, for the first time he participated in Lal Qila Kavi sammelan & recite his poem. In the background of his most poems we can see a devotional background. The reason for this is linked with his personal life. When he was only 22 years old his father died. As an asset to his son, he left one Musical Instrument, Some Hindu Religious Books Ramayana, Gita-Manthan, Ghandhi-Manthan, Ghandhi Vani, Bhuddha Vani, Tamil Ved. In Feb 1970, Alhad was reading one of the religious books and found a Line written by the famous Urdu Poet, Nazeer Akbarbaadi, “ Poore hain Wahi Mard , Jo Har Haal Mai Khush Hain”. After reading these line he felt as if some magic had happened and a chain of new thoughts originated in his mind. He felt he found a treasure which he was searching from years. Using these lines he wrote his own poem named “ Har Haal Mei Khush Hain” and later this poem was incorporated in his book Mun Mast Hua. All over India his popularity was at the peak. The poem " Har Haal Mei Khush Hain " poem gives a lesson to keep patience at any situation in life. Accept the challenges of life and face them boldly. A Person should be able to keep himself happy in all situations. Life is never the same, sometimes tough and other times tougher, but instead of crying about the situation the person who boldly face them, accept the things and remain happy is the man in real way. Value the things which have been offered to you and accept it as a best gift from god.

First poem

His first humour poem was published by one of India's most popular magazine Dharmyug on 23 June 1968. The title of the poem was Suniyojit Pariwaar(Organized Family).

Koi kothi hai, Na koi plot hai,

Dosthon Apna, Nirala thaat hai,

Ek biwi, Teen bachhe, Aur hum,

Paanch Prani, Ek tooti khaat hai......

Published

His work & poems was published by many magazines. In most popular weekly magazine "Saptahik Hindustan" the first poem which was published in this magazine was Har haal mei khush hain. Later many more poems were published by this magazine. It was in fact accepted by Alhadji the reason for his & his poems popularity goes to that time publisher of "Saptahik Hindustan" Mr. Manohar Shyam Joshi, who had given a platform through his magazine to make it possible to convey poems to a general man at National level. In just two years time, Alhad became a National Poet.

Golden period

The time around 1970’s was the golden period of his poetic life. He gained maximum popularity during that period. The poems written by him during that period can be distinguished from the other period’s poems. These poems gave him fame, recognition and popularity. In that period Alhad was living a life of a normal man and was realizing the problems faced by a normal man. Due to this again and again in his all poems life of a normal life and the issues related with normal man was highlighted by him.

Most famous poems

Some of the most famous poems are Hasya Kawaali-Moongphali, Vote Mangan Nikle Neta ji, Market Value, Har Haal Mai Khush Hai, Anphad Dhanno, Ghaat-Ghaat Ghoomei, Chunaav Ghosna-Patra.

Other work

Apart from writing ghazals and poems, he also worked for cinema. In 1986 he had written the story, script and songs for a regional Haryana Language movie named Choti Saali. He regularly used to recite poems from Akashvaani (India Radio service) & Doordarshan (India TV Service). His poems were regularly printed in newspapers & Hindi magazines. He wrote many books. The most popular of them were Bhaj Pyare Tu Sita Raam, Ghaat-Ghaat Ghoome, Abhi Hasta Hun, Ab Toh Aansso Paunch, Bhaisa Peewae Somras, Thaath Ghazal ke, Unchuae Haath, Jai Madam Ki Bol Re, Har Haal Mai Khush hai, Khol Na Dena Dwar and Mun Mast Hua.