Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
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RAMDHARI SINGH DINKAR
Born on 23 September 1908 in the Begusarai district of Bihar, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar was an eminent Indian poet who used the power of his words and emotions effectively during India’s fight for freedom. He was hailed as the greatest Hindi poet of the ‘Veer Rasa’ (poems on the theme of heroism and courage), earning him the title ‘Rashtra Kavi.’
He emerged as a nationalist poet through his patriotic compositions written before India gained independence from the British Raj. Known by his pen name Dinkar, he graduated from Patna University. While in college, he studied subjects like political science, history, and philosophy, which played a pivotal role in shaping his ideology. He later became the Head of the Department of Hindi at Muzaffarpur College and then the Vice-Chancellor of Bhagalpur University.
His poems reflected patriotism and nationalism. He participated in rallies against the British government during the Simon Commission protests alongside Mahatma Gandhi. The death of Lala Lajpat Rai and other atrocities committed by the British administration evoked his poetic thoughts.
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
To continue publishing his poetry without getting arrested or facing the fury of the British officials, Dinkar would get his literary work published under the name of ‘Amitabh.’ It is said that he used this pseudonym to write a poem about the martyrdom of the freedom fighter Jatin Das. He was greatly influenced by the writings of Iqbal, Rabindranath Tagore, Keats, and Milton, and even translated Tagore’s works from Bengali into Hindi.
A Portrait of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
His words, his thoughts, and his writings were in sync with the voice of the common man. One such example is his verse, “Sinhasan khali karo ke janta aati hai” (vacate the throne, the people are coming), which not only gained popularity amongst his readers and followers but also became a political slogan for the masses. He used the power of the pen to criticise the caste and class bias prevalent in society.
His first major poetic work, Vijay Sandesh, published in 1928, was based on the peasants’ satyagraha led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Though he usually wrote inspiring poems about bravery and freedom, his work, Urvashi, was an exception. This book, which focused on human relationships, won him the prestigious Jnanpith Award. A few of his other famous works include Dhoop Chhah, Saamdheni, Baapu, Mitti ki Or, and Krishna Ki Chaetavani. His work earned him numerous awards and accolades, including the Padma Bhushan (1959), the Sahitya Akademi Award (1959), and the Jnanpith (1972). In 1952, he became a member of the Rajya Sabha and was later appointed as the Hindi Adviser to the Government of India. Dinkar passed away on 24 April 1974, leaving behind a rich legacy of poetry, essays, and other literary works.
To honour his contribution to India’s fight for freedom, a commemorative postal stamp with his image was released in 1999. Additionally, several roads and public places have been named after him to perpetuate his memory.
Considered the National Poet (Rashtra Kavi), Dinkar continues to inspire his ardent admirers even to this date.
A Commemorative Stamp (1999)