Suryakant Tripathi is an Indian poet. He is a popular Hindi novelist, essayist and short story writer. He is a famous sketch artist. He is famous for his compositions Saroj Smriti and Raam Ki Shaktipuja. His pen name is Nirala (unique). Nirala is one of the four pioneers of the Chhayavaad era in Hindi literature along with three famous Indian poets Jaishankar Prasad, Sumitranandan Pant, and Mahadevi Varma.
Wiki/Biography
Suryakant Tripathi was born Surya Kumar on Sunday, 21 February 1897 (age 64 years; at death) in Midnapore, Bengal Presidency, British India. His zodiac sign is Pisces. His father came from a village called Gadhakola in Unnao, United Provinces; however, Suryakant was enrolled by his father in a Bengali preparatory school, the Mahishadal Raj High School in Mahishadal, Purba in Midnapore in the Bengal Presidency. During his school days, he developed a deep interest in Sanskrit and was inspired by the writings and teachings of Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, and Rabindranath Tagore. Soon after completing his matriculation, he first moved to Lucknow, and then to his family’s ancestral village, Gadhakola in Unnao district.
Physical appearance
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye Color: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is Pandit Ramsahaya Tripathi. Ramsahaya was a government constable in the state of king Mahishadal, and later, got promoted and became a Jamadar. Suryakant lost his mother in his childhood. He belongs to a very poor family and his father is the sole breadwinner of the family.
Wife & Children
When Nirala was twenty years old, he married Manohara Devi. After two years of marriage, his wife died. The couple had a daughter named Saroj Tripathi who died when she was 18 years old. He has a son named Ramkrishna Tripathi. Reportedly, his father, wife, brother, and sister-in-law died in the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918.
Career
Nirala began working as a proofreader and copy editor in the 1920s. After that, he served as editor of many famous publications including Samanvaya and Matwala, published in Calcutta. Reportedly, in 1916, he published a collection of poems titled ‘Juhi ki Kali’ when he was twenty years old. It is considered one of his invincible works. According to media sources, his collection ‘Juhi ki Kali’ is the eighteenth release of ‘Matwala.’ It is believed that in 1920, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala’s first article ‘The Pronunciation of Bangabhasha’ was published in ‘Saraswati,’ owned by Acharya Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi. Dwivedi gave Tripathi the task of editing a magazine titled Samanvay, which was based on the Shri Ramakrishna Mission. In 1923, Nirala moved to Calcutta and his poetry collection ‘Matwala’ was published by Seth Mahadev Prasad. This collection of poems became so popular that people called it Matwala. His health declined between 1926 and 1928; he spent two years in want. He later published his first poetry collection ‘Anamika.’
Anamika book cover
In 1929, Suryakan Tripathi ‘Nirala’ moved to Lucknow and joined the publishing office of ‘Ganga Pustak Mala.’ In addition, he started working as an editor at a publication called ‘Sudha.’
Literary Works
Suryakant Tripathi Nirala’s famous books include Novels like Prabhavati, Choti ki Pakad, and Nirupama; Poetry: Saroj Smriti, Parimal, Anamika and Geetika; Story: Lily, Devi and Sukul ki Biwi; Essays: Ravindra Kavita Kannan and Prabandha Pratima; and Translation: Devi Chaudharani, Chandrasekhar, Vish Vriksh, Sri Ramkrishna Vachnamrit, and Rajyog. Later, an American novelist and translator, David Rubin translated some of Nirala’s poems such as A Season on the Earth: Selected Poems of Nirala (Columbia University Press, 1977), The Return of Sarasvati: Four Hindi Poets (Oxford University Press, 1993), and Of Love and War: A Chayavad Anthology (Oxford University Press, 2005). Doodhnath Singh wrote a critical analysis of his work in ‘Nirala: Aatmhanta Astha.’
Book cover of ‘Nirala – Aatmhanta Astha’
Death
According to some media sources, Suryakant Tripathi spent most of his life in the bohemian tradition. Most of his essays are very supportive of social injustice and exploitation in society. His work received much ridicule and ridicule in later life, which made him a victim of schizophrenia. As a result, he was admitted to the Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi. On October 15, 1961, Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ died in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ (second from right) with his friends during the last days of his life
Facts/Trivia
- Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ is also popular with the names Mahapran Nirala, Aspirant Nirala, ‘Matwala,’ ‘Kabir,’ and ‘Mastmaula.’ Some call him a ‘candid’ cultural revival and a ‘rebel poet.’
- He was encouraged by a prominent scholar of Hindi literature, Acharya Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, who recognized his talent and inspired him to write poetry.
- Soon after his marriage, he was urged by his wife to learn Hindi. According to several media sources, Nirala learned Hindi towards the end of his life, but he made rapid progress in mastering the language and began writing poetry in Hindi, instead of Bengali. He is proficient in Hindi, Bengali, Sanskrit, and English.
- Indian poet Mahadevi Varma used to tie Rakhi with Nirala for over forty years; he is like a brother to her. Nirala gave her the title of Modern Mira and Saraswati of the Great Hindi Temple. Reportedly, he once visited Mahadevi’s house in a rickshaw to tie the rakhi. Mahadevi Varma once recounted the rakhi incident during a media talk, She said,
Once he came and said to me – “First lend me two rupees.” I asked after giving two rupees – “Why do you want this money?” “Laughing Nirala ji said – “To give one rupee to the rickshaw driver. And one rupee to tie you one Rakhi.”
Suryakant Tripathi’s ‘Nirala’ with Mahadevi Varma
- Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ dedicated one of his famous poems Saroj Smriti to his late daughter Saroj who died young. Saroj is married to Shivshekhar Dwivedi; however, after five years of marriage, he died in 1935. In one of his writings, he mentioned his grief and wrote that his nearest and dearest left him soon, and he suffered alone because of the karma of his previous life. He wrote,
I did not know what sins I had committed in my previous life until my dear mother went to heaven as soon as I was born. Then the father’s love could not be fully realized. My wife also left me alone during puberty. He left a son and a daughter. The daughter was also separated from me at puberty.”
- In 1942, Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ moved to Allahabad where he met the famous writer of Hindi literature Premchand and the poets Sumitranandan Pant and Jaishankar Prasad who became his good friends. At his residence in Allahabad, he used to organize literary gatherings, poet-sammelans, and poetry recitation meetings. In Allahabad, Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ wrote poems based on issues related to social inequality such as ‘Apara,’ ‘Naya Patta,’ ‘Bela,’ ‘Archana,’ ‘Aradhana,’ ‘Geetkunj,’ and ‘Kavi Shree.’
- Reportedly, David Rubin once said in a media talk that Nirala’s poetry was far superior to that of other 20th century Hindi poets.
Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ (L) and Girija Kumar Mathur, at Nirala’s residence in Bombay on 22 January 1961
- The Government of India dedicated a park named Nirala Uddyan, Nirala Prekshagrah auditorium, and Mahapran Nirala Degree College in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh in Nirala’s memory.
Mahapran Nirala Degree College in Unnao district
- In 1976, a postage stamp of twenty-five paise was issued by the Indian Postal department in his name to honor Suryakant Tripathi’s contribution to Hindi literature.
Photograph of Suryakant Tripathi on Indian Postage Stamps
- In 2017, a short documentary film titled Suryakant Tripathi Nirala was produced by the Film Division of India in his name, and the film was directed by Rajiv Kumar. This film covers Suryakan Tripathi’s major works and achievements.
Still from the picture ‘Suryakant Tripathi Nirala’
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
