Harivangshrai Bachchan and his Madhushala (হরিবংশরায় বচ্চন ও তাঁর মধুশালা)

Abstract

Harivangshrai Bachchan (Professor of English literature at Allahabad University), one of the famous literary icon of Indian Literature, who was regarded as a highly respected poet in Hindi literature. At the beginning of 20^th century, a literary revolution (Chhayavad movement) was started in Hindi literary world which was marked by use of romantic and sensible themes such as love, nature, individualism, humanitarianism and Harivangshrai Bachchan, was the pioneer of it. His extraordinary literary works added a new dimension in Hindi literature. Throughout his life, he wrote about 30 volumes of prose and poetry in Hindi, but he is mostly remembered for his famous Hindi poetry book ‘Madhushala’. ‘Madhushala’ drives inspiration from Khayyam’s Rubaiyat. At very young age, after reading Edward Fitz Gerald’s English translation of Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, he was highly influenced by Khayyam’s philosophy. Twice in his life, he reflected the philosophical thought and ideology of Khayyam in such an extraordinary way (Madhushala and Khayyam ki Madhushala, a Hindi translation of Khayyam’s Rubaiyat), that the sweetness and charm of which is eternal even after the passage of almost ninety years. His poetry is distinguished by a sense of life and playfulness that can be felt deeply by those who read it. This article is an attempt to know this famous renowned poet of modern Hindi Literature through his iconic work ‘Madhushala’.