Mahadevi Verma: Modern Meera

by Anjali

Mahadevi Verma (1907- 11 September 1987) was one of the most famous Hindi poets. She is widely regarded as 'Modern Meera'. Her descriptions of pain and sadness are extremely moving. She won the Jnanpith Award in 1982.

Mahadevi Verma was born in Farukhabad, Uttar Pradesh in a enlighten family of lawyers. She received her higher education at the University of Allahabad and obtained her Masters degree in Sanskrit. Mahadevi was married at an early age and continued studies after marriage. She was not attracted to worldly pleasures and even tried to become a Buddhist bhikshuni, though unsuccessfully. She was widely influenced by the teachings of Buddhism. She was also a freedom fighter.

Mahadevi made a mark as a painter, and as a writer of exquisite pen-portraits in prose also. She was appointed the first Principal of Prayag Mahila Vidyapith which was started with a view to imparting cultural and literary education to girls through Hindi medium. Later, she became the chancellor of the institute.

She was considered one of the four major pillars of the Chhayavaadi School of Hindi literature along with Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Jaishankar Prasad and Sumitranandan Pant. She is renowned for her book of memoirs, Atita ke Chalchitra (The Moving Frames of the Past) and Smriti ki Rekhayen (The Flame of an Earthen Lamp) 1942, a book comprising 51 lyrics, all of which carry maturity of expression and intense mystical quality. Some of her other famous publications are Nihar (1930), Rashmi (1932), Neerja (1934), and Sandhya Geet (1936). Of her four prose works, Shrinkhala ki Kadiyan deals with the plight of Indian women. Her reflections on art and literature included in Sahityakaar ki Astha, evince a highly cultivated aesthetic sensibility, firmly rooted in the permanent values of life.

She was appointed Honorary Editor of the famous Hindi monthly Chand and was awarded Seksaria Prize in recognition of her poetic talent. She was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the President of India. She died on 11th September 1987. Tum mujhme priya, phir parichay kya!!!Tum mujhme priya, phir parichay kya tarak mein chhavi praanon mein smriti palakon mein neerav pad ki gati laghu ur mein pulakon ki sansriti bhar laayi hoon teri chanchal aur karoon jag mein sanchay kya! Tera mukh sahaas arunoday

parchhaayi rajani vishaadmay wah jaagrati, wah neend swapnamay khel-khel, thak-thak sone de main samjhoongi srishti pralay kya!! Chitrit tu, main hoon rekha-kram madhur raag tu, main swar-sangam tu aseem main seema ka bhram kaaya-chhaya mein rahasmay preyasi priyatam ka abhinay kya!! Tum mujhme priya, phir parichay kya!!!

Mahadevi Verma: Modern Meera by Anjali