READING HARIVANSH BACHHAN
Just completed Harivanshrai Bachhan’s second part of Autobiography ‘Neede ka nirman phir’, ( Building Home, yet again ) and before the impressions and observations fade I broach to share them.
The reading process clarifies many myths which one gathers over numerous casual conversations with other fellow Allahabadis- their original roots, Teji’s role in his life, how A N Jha helped him and his own conflicts and sorrows.
The Bachhan family have been staying in Allahabad prior to the first war of Independence, the ancestors moved from a place near Pratapgarh called Babu patti and settled in the city prior to its urbanization. They can therefore boast of being the earliest inhabitants of Allahabad. The landmark Zero road of chowk demolished their original ancestral home during the development phase and then they had to build a new home in Mutthi ganj.The language which Amitabh Bachhan speaks in various roles depicting U P culture is a dialect of Awadhi typical to Allahabad; no wonder!
But what strikes one is both, the style and substance.. It is not only a story of one’s life but serious Hindi Literature ( though he was a lecturer in English Literature). The style is not simple , racy thriller but compels your attention to a distinctness typically Bachhan, it requires effort expected of a serious reader, but soon the sincerity and honesty of the person coaxes you to complete the journey; which is indeed cathartic. He created poetry from sweat and tears.
We all face crisis in life, so did Harivanshrai, but what is of note is the manner in which he copes with these critical situations. The common thread which runs in all major occurrences in his life is his deep dedication, hard physical and mental labour ( tapasya) .As a child student he learnt Urdu at home from a strict Moulvi, but later under the influence of his teacher Vishram Tewari shifted to Hindi. A casual advise from his teacher to read the books available in Hindi Sahitya Sammelan library made him embark on a mission and he read numerous books on varying subjects , even if he did not comprehend many.How he took tuitions to make ends meet and fought TB successfully by self treatment in an unconventional manner, it is an irony that he could not save his first wife Shyma ( he called her JOY and she fondly called him SORROW). His best work ‘ Madhushala’ was written when he was married to Shyma and her illness was in its initial phase, in fact his major poetic work is written prior to his meeting and marrying Teji.We must not judge him only from his Madhu series ( Madhushala, Madhubala, Madhukalash), but some of his work soon after the death of his wife- ‘ Nisha Nimantran’ , ‘Aikant Sangeet’ is also of equal importance .
Bachhan could be called the one and only ‘Star Hindi’ poet ( I am not taking into consideration the hasya kavis). The old timers will confirm that his rendition of ‘Madhushala’ swayed the audience, people invited him from far and wide and he held single shows successfully. He had an immense fan following, though he never brags of his in his book.
An interesting phase of his career has been the help which he received from a number of Brahmins ( who says that in Allahabad there is an on going one-upmanship between the Kayastha and Brahmins!!). The first being ‘Karkal’ who was his childhood friend and lived in his premises . Bachhan has shown rare truthfulness in writing of his physical intimacy with Karkal’s wife Champa after the sudden demise of his friend and her tragic end when she conceived . Vishram Tewari, the disciplinarian who left a deep mark on his early upbringing. Tewari would cane all and sundry but always had a soft corner for the quiet Bachhan. Then there was the famous A N Jha, the Head of the English Department, he gave him job as temporary lecturer kept tab on his progress, gifted a ‘blue sapphire’( which many including partially Bachhan believe that it changed his destiny) finally ensured that he was made permanent , invited him to stay with his newly wed wife at his cottage at Mussoorie. It is therefore a bit odd that Bachhan is not so forthcoming in his gratitude to Jha and more so is critical of his guiding abilities and inadequacies as host ( though he stayed for good 45 days at his cottage). He hints about a ‘third point’ in husband –wife relationship without naming anyone and says that he could write a book on the subject. Was it A N Jha he was referring to?
His life takes a turn on meeting and marrying Teji- a beautiful pragmatic sikh lady. Their meeting at common friend’s home at Bareli during NEW YEAR EVE in 1941 is dramatic and romantic . Contrary to our belief Teji had not heard of him and was not his fan as we were made to believe. They meet and while he is reading aloud his poetry tears commence flowing from Teji’s eyes, followed by Bachhan’s and soon both are uncontrollable ; the friends leave the room, the two while weeping embrace each other. Teji shifts from Lahore where she was teaching Psychology to Allahabad and they marry within a fortnight. In oct the same year a son is born to them, the famous poet Sumitra nandan Pant ( another Brahmin) is residing with them at that time and names the child Amitabh ( he names the second child too- Ajitabh).
The final building of Home with Teji at Allahabad commences with their first residence at Allenganj at Rs 75/- rent, followed by Bank road , Strachey road, Adelphi and settling for 7 years at 17 Clive road with five big rooms , garden. Here he finds stability and progress, names the home –Dussdwar ( ten doors). The story continues in his third book ‘Dussdwar se Soupan tak’.
Critics rate the first two books as great. I feel that excellent cinema can be made starring the two Bachhans based on Harivanshrai Bachhan’s Autobiography. Interestingly both Teji and Harivanshrai were offered work by the Shalimar studio Pune( Teji as heroine and Bachhan as song writer), but Harivansh withdrew, though Teji was keen and also disappointed. She later fulfilled her dreams abundantly through her Son!
The reading process clarifies many myths which one gathers over numerous casual conversations with other fellow Allahabadis- their original roots, Teji’s role in his life, how A N Jha helped him and his own conflicts and sorrows.
The Bachhan family have been staying in Allahabad prior to the first war of Independence, the ancestors moved from a place near Pratapgarh called Babu patti and settled in the city prior to its urbanization. They can therefore boast of being the earliest inhabitants of Allahabad. The landmark Zero road of chowk demolished their original ancestral home during the development phase and then they had to build a new home in Mutthi ganj.The language which Amitabh Bachhan speaks in various roles depicting U P culture is a dialect of Awadhi typical to Allahabad; no wonder!
But what strikes one is both, the style and substance.. It is not only a story of one’s life but serious Hindi Literature ( though he was a lecturer in English Literature). The style is not simple , racy thriller but compels your attention to a distinctness typically Bachhan, it requires effort expected of a serious reader, but soon the sincerity and honesty of the person coaxes you to complete the journey; which is indeed cathartic. He created poetry from sweat and tears.
We all face crisis in life, so did Harivanshrai, but what is of note is the manner in which he copes with these critical situations. The common thread which runs in all major occurrences in his life is his deep dedication, hard physical and mental labour ( tapasya) .As a child student he learnt Urdu at home from a strict Moulvi, but later under the influence of his teacher Vishram Tewari shifted to Hindi. A casual advise from his teacher to read the books available in Hindi Sahitya Sammelan library made him embark on a mission and he read numerous books on varying subjects , even if he did not comprehend many.How he took tuitions to make ends meet and fought TB successfully by self treatment in an unconventional manner, it is an irony that he could not save his first wife Shyma ( he called her JOY and she fondly called him SORROW). His best work ‘ Madhushala’ was written when he was married to Shyma and her illness was in its initial phase, in fact his major poetic work is written prior to his meeting and marrying Teji.We must not judge him only from his Madhu series ( Madhushala, Madhubala, Madhukalash), but some of his work soon after the death of his wife- ‘ Nisha Nimantran’ , ‘Aikant Sangeet’ is also of equal importance .
Bachhan could be called the one and only ‘Star Hindi’ poet ( I am not taking into consideration the hasya kavis). The old timers will confirm that his rendition of ‘Madhushala’ swayed the audience, people invited him from far and wide and he held single shows successfully. He had an immense fan following, though he never brags of his in his book.
An interesting phase of his career has been the help which he received from a number of Brahmins ( who says that in Allahabad there is an on going one-upmanship between the Kayastha and Brahmins!!). The first being ‘Karkal’ who was his childhood friend and lived in his premises . Bachhan has shown rare truthfulness in writing of his physical intimacy with Karkal’s wife Champa after the sudden demise of his friend and her tragic end when she conceived . Vishram Tewari, the disciplinarian who left a deep mark on his early upbringing. Tewari would cane all and sundry but always had a soft corner for the quiet Bachhan. Then there was the famous A N Jha, the Head of the English Department, he gave him job as temporary lecturer kept tab on his progress, gifted a ‘blue sapphire’( which many including partially Bachhan believe that it changed his destiny) finally ensured that he was made permanent , invited him to stay with his newly wed wife at his cottage at Mussoorie. It is therefore a bit odd that Bachhan is not so forthcoming in his gratitude to Jha and more so is critical of his guiding abilities and inadequacies as host ( though he stayed for good 45 days at his cottage). He hints about a ‘third point’ in husband –wife relationship without naming anyone and says that he could write a book on the subject. Was it A N Jha he was referring to?
His life takes a turn on meeting and marrying Teji- a beautiful pragmatic sikh lady. Their meeting at common friend’s home at Bareli during NEW YEAR EVE in 1941 is dramatic and romantic . Contrary to our belief Teji had not heard of him and was not his fan as we were made to believe. They meet and while he is reading aloud his poetry tears commence flowing from Teji’s eyes, followed by Bachhan’s and soon both are uncontrollable ; the friends leave the room, the two while weeping embrace each other. Teji shifts from Lahore where she was teaching Psychology to Allahabad and they marry within a fortnight. In oct the same year a son is born to them, the famous poet Sumitra nandan Pant ( another Brahmin) is residing with them at that time and names the child Amitabh ( he names the second child too- Ajitabh).
The final building of Home with Teji at Allahabad commences with their first residence at Allenganj at Rs 75/- rent, followed by Bank road , Strachey road, Adelphi and settling for 7 years at 17 Clive road with five big rooms , garden. Here he finds stability and progress, names the home –Dussdwar ( ten doors). The story continues in his third book ‘Dussdwar se Soupan tak’.
Critics rate the first two books as great. I feel that excellent cinema can be made starring the two Bachhans based on Harivanshrai Bachhan’s Autobiography. Interestingly both Teji and Harivanshrai were offered work by the Shalimar studio Pune( Teji as heroine and Bachhan as song writer), but Harivansh withdrew, though Teji was keen and also disappointed. She later fulfilled her dreams abundantly through her Son!
