80th Birth Anniv. of Suryakant Tripathi (Nirala) (1896-1961)

Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’, hailed as one of the greatest Hindi poets of all time, was born on February 16, 1896. His father, Ram Sahai Tripathi, served in dual roles under the king of Mahishadal in Bengal as a Police Officer and keeper of the State Treasury. Tragically, Nirala lost his mother when he was just three years old. Despite receiving only formal education up to the 10th standard, Nirala displayed a deep interest in Bengali, English, Sanskrit, and Hindi literatures, largely influenced by the rich Royal Library at Mahishadal. Additionally, he excelled in various fields such as singing, wrestling, shooting, and writing.

During his adolescence, Nirala encountered the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, which sparked his desire to become a poet. At the young age of 15, Nirala was married to Manorama Devi, who greatly admired Hindi literature and played a significant role in encouraging him to write poetry in Hindi. Nirala and Manorama Devi had a son and a daughter, whose untimely death at the age of 18 deeply moved Nirala, leading him to compose one of the most profound elegies in Hindi poetry, Saroj Smriti. Tragically, Nirala’s wife passed away in 1918.

Driven by a strong sense of self-respect and inspired by the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahansa, as well as the National Movement for independence and the plight of farmers and workers, Nirala resigned from his job in 1920 to pursue writing full-time. His literary journey began in 1916, and by 1922, his first collection of verse, “Anamika,” was published. In 1923, he became the editor of the “Mawala,” where he wrote under the pseudonym ‘Nirala.’

Nirala’s bold experimentation with “free verse” or blank verse in Hindi poetry was met with widespread opposition and criticism. Despite facing ridicule and condemnation, Nirala remained steadfast in championing free verse and eventually witnessed its acceptance and establishment in Hindi literature. However, it is essential to note that he also wrote poems adhering to traditional rhyme and meter.

Throughout his life, Nirala led a nomadic existence, moving from Kolkata to Varanasi, then to his ancestral village Garharkola, and later to Lucknow, Allahabad, and Varanasi again. Despite primarily being known as a poet, Nirala also excelled in prose, with notable works such as novels like “Billesurebakariha” and short stories like “Chaturi Chamar” and “Sukul ki Bibi.”

Nirala’s life was marked by tragedies, struggles, and chronic poverty. Despite his own hardships, he remained compassionate towards the less fortunate, often giving away whatever little he had to help others in need. He passed away in Allahabad on October 15, 1961. The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department pays tribute to this remarkable son of India by issuing a postage stamp in his honor.