Mohan Rakesh

Mohan Rakesh Biography

Mohan Rakesh was one of the pioneers of the ‘Nai Kahani’ literary movement in Hindi, started with early 1950’s. He wrote the first modern Hindi play, Ashadh Ka Ek Din in 1958. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1968. He has given significant contributions to Hindi literature through novels, travelogues, criticism, short stories, memoirs and drama. His published novels are Na Aane Wala Kal, Andhere Band Kamre, Bakalama khuda and Antral. He has also done the translation work of two Sanskrit plays – Mrichchkatikam and Shakuntalam.

Mohan was born as Madan Mohan Guglani on January 8, 1925 in Amritsar, Punjab. He did his M.A. in English and Hindi from Punjab University, Lahore and started his career as a teacher at school. Later he has worked as lecturer of two colleges. He edited a short story magazine before he started writing. His plays Ashadh Ka Ek Din played a significant role in reviving Hindi drama style during 1960’s. It was his first playwright. He has also published drama works like Aadhe Adhure, Leheron Ke Raj Hans, Mohan Rakesh ke Sampurn Natak and Rata bitane taka tatha anya dhvani nataka. His first drama was later performed by two great theatre groups - Anamika, under direction of Shyamanand Jalan in 1960 and Ebrahim Alkazi at National School of Drama Delhi in 1962. This work was later translated to English as ‘One Day in the Season of Rain’ by Aparna Dharwadker and Vinay Dharwadker.

Mohan has also published a few short stories as anthologies. Those collections include - 10 Pratinidhi Kahaniyan, Rat ki Bahon Mein and Mohan Rakesh ki Sampurn Kahaniyan. "Leheron Ke Raj Hans” – one of the noted plays of Mohan was an ancient Buddhist tale on the renunciation of the Buddha which later became a radio play for All India Radio Jalandhar and was broadcasted under the title "Sundri". He wrote different versions of this work, in a total period of 20 years.

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Updated: January 22, 2014