Life of harishankar parsai

Born

August 22, 1922

Died

August 10, 1995

Genre

Humor and Comedy, Nonfiction, Fiction

Born in Jamani village near Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh, Parsai died in Jabalpur, the city he lived and worked in his entire life, on August 10, 1995. Three decades on, there remains little in the name of one of the greatest satirists in the Indian literary landscape except for his poetry and prose.

His writings are replete with wit, sarcasm and a sharp critique of politics, religious fanaticism, corruption and other moral maladies that ail the human race, especially Indians, say his admirers. And though the literary community celebrates Parsai’s legacy, the apathy of governments and institutions to pay a fitting tribute to the Hindi giant in the form of a memorial, a museum, or a library continues to pain readers and writers.

“Parsai is somebody who wrote, ‘lekhak ko adarniya hone se bachna chahiye, adarniya hua ki wo gaya’ . But should there be a place to honour his legacy? Definitely. It should have happened a long time ago,” Suraj Dixit, IT professional and voracious Parsai reader, told PTI.

With an MA in Hindi from Nagpur University and a diploma in teaching, Parsai hardly had a stable job till he began a full-time career in writing when he starting a magazine titled Vasudha. The short-lived magazine was closed after two years due to shortage of funding.

Parsai was known for revolutionising satire in Hindi by writing in simple yet biting language and adding nuance to his works from his understanding of issues of global urgency, including racism, consumerism, war and pervasive corruption.

If in “Bholaram ka Jeev” he makes a pointed attack on a corrupt bureaucracy, red tape and state machinery

Hindi language humorist and satirist

Harishankar Parsai (22 August 1922 – 10 August 1995) was an Indian writer who wrote in Hindi. He was a noted satirist and humorist of modern Hindi literature and is known for his simple and direct style. He wrote vyangya (satire), which described human values and nature. They reflected his critical thinking and humorous way of describing simple things with huge meanings. Parsai won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1982, for his satire, Viklaang Shraddha ka daur.

Biography

He was born in Jamani village near Itarsi in Hoshangabad district, Madhya Pradesh. He completed his M.A. in Hindi from Nagpur University. After pursuing writing along with his service for some time, he quit his job and took writing as a full-time career.

He settled in Jabalpur and started a literature magazine called Vasudha. Despite it being highly praised, he had to stop the magazine after the publication suffered economic losses. Hari Shankar Parsai used to give answers of readers in a column "Poochhiye Parsai Se" in a Hindi newspaper Deshbandhu published from Raipur and Jabalpur. He won Sahitya Akademi Award in 1982, for his satire, "Viklaang Shraddha Ka Daur" 'विकलांग श्रद्धा का दौर'.

Parsai died on 10 August 1995 in Jabalpur. According to The Hindu, by the time of his death, Parsai had revolutionized the art of satire writing in Hindi.

Awards

Works

Satires

• Viklaang Shraddhaa ka daur (विकलांग श्रद्धा का दौर)
• Do Naak Waale Log (दो नाक वाले लोग)
• Aadhyaatmik Paagalon Ka Mishan (आध्यात्मिक पागलों का मिशन)
• Kraantikaaree Kee Katha (क्रांतिकारी की कथा)
• Pavitrata Ka Daura (पवित्रता का दौरा)
• Pulis-Mantree Ka Putala (पुलिस-मंत्री का पुतला)
• Vah Jo Aadamee Hai Na (वह जो आदमी है न)
• Naya Saal (नया साल)
• Ghaayal Basant (घायल बसंत)
• Sanskrti (संस्कृति)
• Baaraat Kee Vaapasee (बारात की वापसी)
• Greeting Kaard Aur Raashan Kaard (ग्रीटिंग कार्ड और राशन कार्ड