Mitti ka tan, masti ka man, kshan-bhar jivan — mera parichay........
Born on on 27 November 1907 in a Srivastava Kayastha family in the district of Pratapgarh, U.P. near Allahabad Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a great poet of early 20th century Hindi literature, Chhayavaad literary movement. He is also father of Bollywood Star Amitabh Bachchan. He is best known for his early work Madhushala. He was the eldest son of his fatehr Pratap Narayan Shrivastav and mother Saraswati Devi. He was called bachchan in his young days and later on he adopted this as his surname.During his school days he came under the influence of the independence movement, then under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
In 1955, Harivanshrai shifted to Delhi to join the External Affairs Ministry as an officer on Special duty and during the period of 10 years that he served he was also associated with the evolution of Hindi as the official language. He also enriched Hindi through his translations of major writings.Harivanshrai was nominated to the Indian Rajya Sabha in 1966 and received the Sahitya Akademi award three years later. In 1976 he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for his immense contribution to Hindi literature.
Bachchan died on January 18, 2003, at the age of 95, as a result of various respiratory ailments.
He wrote around 100s of poems and stories in his lifetime.He also Honored of “Proud Past Alumni" in the list of 42 members, from "Allahabad University Alumni Association".
His contribution to Indian Literature includes:
Madhubala
Madhushala
Madhukalash
Bachpan ke saath kshan bhar
Kya bhooloon kya yaad karoon
Bachchan rachanavali ke nau khand
Omar Khaiyyam ki rubaaiyan
Markat dweep ka swar
Bachpan ke lokpriya geet
Chaar kheme Chaunsath khoonte
Ubharte pratimaano ke roop
Soot ki Maala
Do Chattane
W.B. Yeats and Occultism