Vishnu Prabhakar


Vishnu Prabhakar was a Hindi writer. He had several short stories, novels, plays and travelogues to his credit. Prabhakar's works have elements of patriotism, nationalism and messages of social upliftment.
He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1993, Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan Award in 1995 and the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2004.

Life and career

Vishnu Prabhakar was born on 21 June 1912, in the Miranpur village of Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh. His father, Durga Prasad, was a religious person who kept himself untouched by modern times. His mother, Mahadevi, was the first well-educated lady of the family who dared to reject the 'Parda Pratha' of the traditional Hindu families. Prabhakar stayed in Mirapur until the age of twelve, completing his primary education. His mother sent him to his maternal uncle in Hisar, located in the Haryana state. There he completed his matriculation at the age of sixteen in 1929.
He wanted to pursue higher education but owing to financial situation in his family at Mirapur, he had to find a job. Through the efforts of his maternal uncle he joined the government service. It was a fourth-class job and his salary was eighteen Rupee per month. He kept his studies going along with his work, and obtained degrees of Prabhakar and Hindi Bhushana in Hindi, Pragya in Sanskrit and B.A. in English.
Along with his work he pursued an interest in literature. He also joined a Natak company in Hissar. His literary life started with the publication of his first story Diwali in the Hindi Milap in 1931. He wrote Hatya Ke Baad, his first play in 1939. Eventually he began writing as a full-time career. He stayed with the family of his maternal uncle until the age of twenty seven. He married Sushila Prabhakar in 1938 who stayed as an inspiration source for his literature until her death in 1980.
After Indian Independence he worked as a drama director, from September 1955 to March 1957, in Akashvani, All India Radio, New Delhi. He made news when in 2005 he threatened to return his Padma Bhushan award after he allegedly had to face misconduct at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Vishnu Prabhakar died at the age of 96, on 11 April 2009 after a brief illness in New Delhi. He was suffering from a heart problem and infection of the urinary tract. His wife, Sushila Prabhakar, had died in 1980. Prabhakar is survived by two sons and two daughters. His sons Atul Prabhakar and Amit Prabhakar decided to donate his body to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi as their father's last wishes.

How he became 'Prabhakar'

He became 'Vishnu Prabhakar' from 'Vishnu'; his name was listed as 'Vishnu Dayal' in the primary school of Mirapur. In the Arya Samaj school, on being asked the 'Varna', he answered – 'Vaishya'. The teacher put down his name as 'Vishnu Gupta'. When he joined government service, the officers changed his name to 'Vishnu Dharmadutt' because there were many 'Guptas' in the office and it confused the officers. He continued writing by the pen name of 'Vishnu'. Once an editor asked, "Why do you use such a short name? Have you passed any examination?" Vishnu answered that he had passed 'Prabhakar' examination in Hindi. Thus the editor appended Prabhakar to his name making it 'Vishnu Prabhakar'.

Writing style

Although mainly a story writer, Vishnu Prabhakar has written in almost all the genres of literature including poetry. Collection of his poems titled Chalta Chala Jaonga was published posthumously in the year 2010. He did not let himself limit to any special school of thought and it is reflected in his vast variety of works. Aawara Masiha, biography of Sharat Chandra Chatterjee and Ardhnarishwar, however remain the most awarded and widely acclaimed of his works. He was initially influenced by Munshi Premchand but later started following Sharatchandra. His works are said to be a mirror of modern Indian society.
Prabhakar's works concentrate on the problems of today's Indian society. In his drama, Tootate Parivesh, he writes about a modern family in which gaps between younger and older generation are increasing. His novel Koi To tells how corrupt politics has become in modern times.
Prabhakar was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non-violence. This can be seen in his writing very often. In some of his works, oppressed female characters talk like philosophers and even dacoits who usually are expected to have negative roles are full of humanitarian values. This is the reason why some critics labelled him as a Gandhian ideologist.
Prabhakar was also affected by many foreign authors. He had studied Leo Tolstoy, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, O. Henry and O'Neill in-depth. In an interview, he said that Tolstoy's War and Peace had influenced him very much.
Prabhakar was very fond of travelling. He travelled for fourteen years continuously to collect material for his book – Aawara Masiha which is a biography of famous Bengali author, Sharatchandra. For this he had to visit all the places linked to Sharatchandra, even to Myanmar. His love of travels also resulted in many travelogues.

Novels

  1. Dhalti Raat, 1951
  2. Nishikant, 1955
  3. Tat Ke Bandhan, 1955
  4. Swapnmayi, 1956
  5. Darpan Ka Vyakti, 1968
  6. Parchhai, 1968
  7. Koi To, 1980
  8. Ardhnarishwar, 1992

    Story Collections

  9. Ek Kahani Ka Janam , 2008
  10. Aadi Aur Ant, 1945
  11. Rehman Ka Beta, 1947
  12. Zindagi Ke Thapede, 1952
  13. Sangharsh Ke Baad, 1953
  14. Dharti Ab Bhi Ghoom Rahi Hai, 1959
  15. Safar Ke Saathi, 1960
  16. Khandit Pooja, 1960
  17. Sanche Aur Kala, 1962
  18. Meri Tentis Kahaniya, 1967
  19. Meri Priya Kahaniya, 1970
  20. Pul Tootne Se Pehle, 1977,
  21. Mera Watan, 1980,
  22. Meri Lokpriya Kahaniya, 1981
  23. Meri Badrinath Yatra
  24. Khilone, 1981
  25. Aapki Kripa, 1982
  26. Meri Kahaniya, 1984
  27. Meri Kathayatra, 1984
  28. Ek Aur Kunti, 1985
  29. Zindagi Ek Rehearsal, 1986
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Poetry

  1. Chalta Chala Jaonga, 2010

    Plays

  2. Naprabhat, 1951
  3. Samaadhi, 1952
  4. Doctor, 1961
  5. Yuge-Yuge Kranti, 1969
  6. Toot-te Parivesh, 1974
  7. Kuhaasa Aur Kiran, 1975
  8. Tagar, 1977
  9. Bandini, 1979
  10. Satta Ke Aar-Paar, 1981
  11. Ab Aur Nahin, 1981
  12. Shwet Kamal, 1984
  13. Keral Ka Krantikari, 1987
  14. Vishnu Prabhkar : Sampurna Natak, 1987
  15. Pustak Kit
  16. Seema rekha
  17. Sanskar aur Bhavna

    Biographies – Memories

  18. Jaane Anjaane, 1961
  19. Kuchh Shabd : Kuchh Rekhaayen, 1965
  20. Aawara Masiha, 1974
  21. Amar Shahid Bhagat Singh, 1976
  22. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, 1976
  23. Swami Dayananda Saraswati, 1978
  24. Yadaun Ki Teerthyatra, 1981
  25. Shuchi Smita, 1982
  26. Mere Agraj : Mere Meet, 1983
  27. Samantar Rekhaayen, 1984
  28. Hum Inke Rini Hain, 1984
  29. Mere Humsafar, 1985
  30. Rah Chalte-Chalte, 1985
  31. Kaka Kalelkar, 1985

    Essays

  32. Jan-Samaj Aur Sanskriti : Ek Samgra Drishti, 1981
  33. Kya Khoya Kya Paya, 1982

    Children's Literature

  34. Imandar Balak
  35. Mote Lal, 1955
  36. Kunti Ke Bete, 1958
  37. Ramu Ki Holi, 1959
  38. Dada Ki Kachehari, 1959
  39. Sharachandra, 1959
  40. Jab Didi Bhoot Bani, 1960
  41. Jeevan Parag, 1963
  42. Bankimchandra, 1968
  43. Abhinav Ekanki, 1968
  44. Abhinay Ekanki, 1969
  45. Swaraj Ki Kahani, 1971
  46. Hadtaal, 1972
  47. Jaadu Ki Gaay, 1972
  48. Ghamand Ka Phal, 1973
  49. Nutan Baal Ekanki, 1975
  50. Heere Ki Pehchaan, 1976
  51. Motiyon Ki Kheti, 1976
  52. Paap Ka Ghada, 1976
  53. Gudiya Kho Gayi, 1977
  54. Aise-Aise, 1978
  55. Tapovan Ki Kahaniyan
  56. Pahad Chade Gajanand Lal, 1981
  57. Balvarsha Zindabad, 1981
  58. Khoya Hua Ratan, 2008
  59. Pustak Keet

    Miscellaneous

  60. Baapu Ki Batein, 1954
  61. Hajrat Umar 1955
  62. Meri badrinath ki yatra, 1955
  63. Kasturba Gandhi, 1955
  64. Aise Thai Sardar, 1957
  65. Ha-Du-Al Rashid, 1957
  66. Hamare Padosi, 1957
  67. Man Ke Jeete Jeet, 1957
  68. Murabbi, 1957
  69. Kumhar Ki Beti, 1957
  70. Baajiprabhu Deshpande, 1957
  71. Shankracharya, 1959
  72. Yamuna Ki Kahani, 1960
  73. Ravindranath Thakur, 1961
  74. Pehla Sukh : Nirogi Kaya, 1963
  75. Main Achhoot Hoon, 1968
  76. Ek Desh : Ek Hridaya, 1973
  77. Manav Adhikar
  78. Nagarikta Ki Aur

    Others

  1. Sahitya Akademi Award, 1993
  2. Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan Award, 1995
  3. Padma Bhushan, 2004
  4. Soviet land nehru award, 1976 for awara masiha
Both Sahitya Akademi and Padma Bhushan awards were given for his novel Ardhanarishvara.