Bharatendu Harishchandra

Novelist, Poet, Playwright

British Indian Benares, Benares State, British India Virgo

Quick Info

ProfessionNovelist, Poet, Playwright
NationalityBritish Indian
Date of Birth09/09/1850
Age34 years (died on 06, Jan, 1885)
BirthplaceBenares, Benares State, British India
Date of Death06/01/1885
Zodiac SignVirgo

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Bio/Wiki

Pen names
  • Rasa
  • Girdhar Das
Names Earned
  • Bhartendu
  • Vir Vaishnava
  • Yug Charan
Full NameBharatendu Harishchandra

Physical Stats & More

Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorBlack

Educational Qualification(s)

College/UniversityThe Queen’s College, Varanasi
Educational Qualifications
  • Persian, Urdu, and Sanskrit languages (early education)
  • English at the Queen’s College, Varanasi (1862 to 1865)

Personal Life

ReligionHinduism
CasteAgarwal
Marital Status (at the time of death)Married
Marriage Date1863
Parents
FatherGopal Chandra (poet)
MotherParvati Devi (died in 1855)
SiblingsGokulchandra

Family

SpouseName not recorded in public sources
ChildrenOne daughter
FatherBabu Gopal Chandra
MotherParvati Devi
SiblingsGokulchandra

Career

Notable Works
Plays
  • Vaidika Himsa Na Bhavati, 1873
  • Satya Harishchandra, 1876
  • Bharat Durdasha, 1875
  • Niladevi, 1881
  • Andher Nagari (अन्धेर नगरी, City of Darkness), 1881
Poetry
  • Bhakta Sarvagya
  • Prem Malika (प्रेम मालिका), 1872
  • Prem Madhuri (प्रेम माधुरी), 1875
  • Prem Tarang (प्रेम तरंग),1877
  • Prem Prakalpa (प्रेम प्रकल्प), Prem Phulwari (प्रेम फुलवारी) and Prem Sarowar (प्रेम सरोवर), 1883
  • Holi (होली), (1874)
  • Madhumukul (मधुमुकुल), 1881
  • Raga Sangrah (राग संग्रह), 1880
  • Varsha Vinod (वर्षा विनोद), 1880
  • Vinay Prem Pachasa (विनय प्रेम पचासा), 1881
  • Phulon Ka Guchchha (फूलों का गुच्छा), 1882
  • Chandravali (चन्द्रावली), 1876 and Krishnacharitra (कृष्णचरित्र), 1883
  • Uttarardha Bhaktamal (उत्तरार्द्ध भक्तमाल), 1876–77
EssayBharatendu Granthavali (भारतेन्दु ग्रन्थावली), 1885
Translations
  • Harsha's Ratnavali (रत्नावली)
  • Vishakhadatta's Mudrarakshasa (मुद्राराक्षस)
  • Ramprasad Sen's Vidyasundar (विद्यासुन्दर) from Bengali
  • Karpuramanjari (कर्पूरमञ्जरी) from Prakrit
  • Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice as Durlabh Bandhu (दुर्लभ बन्धु) or Invaluable Friend
Achievement1880: He was bestowed with the title 'Bharatendu' by the Government of India; Known as the 'Father of Modern Hindi Literature' and 'Father of Hindi Theatre'
Magazines Edited
  • Kavi Vachan Sudha
  • Harishchandra Magazine
  • Bala Bodhini
Institutions FoundedHarishchandra Intermediate College, Varanasi (1866)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Bharatendu Harishchandra was a famous Indian poet, author, and playwright.
2. He is often referred to as the father of Hindi literature and Hindi theatre.
3. He wrote plays, biographies, travel memoirs, and used various forms of media to shape public opinion.
4. He earned the title 'Yug Charan' for his writings that criticized the British Raj's exploitative practices.
5. His family originally served as landlords in Bengal.
6. His father, Gopal Chandra, was a poet recognized for creating the first modern Hindi drama, 'Nahushnatak'.
7. He faced conflicts with British officials and was prohibited in 1880, likely due to critical editorials.
8. Harishchandra supported the Swadeshi movement, opposing the adoption of English customs to protect India's morals and economy.
9. In 1866, he founded the 'Harishchandra Intermediate College' in Varanasi.
10. In 1880, scholars in Kashi honored him with the title 'Bharatendu' for his achievements.
11. The 'Bharatendu Harishchandra Award' is given annually by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to encourage Hindi language development.
12. In 1976, the Government of India issued a postal stamp as a tribute to his contributions to Hindi literature.
13. He was a polyglot.
14. He was a polyglot fluent in Persian, Urdu, Sanskrit, English, and Bengali.
15. He died at the young age of 34 due to health complications following financial distress and anxiety.

Also born on 9 September

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