Gajendra Thakur

Gajendra Thakur Biography

Gajendra Thakur is an author of Maithili language – a dialect of Hindi. He is also known as an educator, lexicographer, historian of Mithila and Maithili and palaeographer. He has deciphered ancient and medieval palm leaf inscriptions in Tirhuta script of Maithili Language which records the existence of Maithil Brahmin community of Mithila region. He has authored a seven volume work in Maithili Language titled - Kurukshetram Antarmanak which consists of 7 modules - Literary Criticism,  a novel- Sahasrabadhani, Verse collection- Sahasrabdik Chaupar Par, Short-Story Collection- Galp Guchh, Play- Sankarshan, two long epic-verses - Tvanchahanch and Asanjati Man and Children - grown-ups literature. He has also compiled an English-Maithili Computer Dictionary.

Thakur was born on 30 March 1971 in Bhagalpur of Bihar as the son of a civil engineer. His village Mehath belongs to world famous Madhubani district. Thakur got his primary education from his village school and later moved to town, as a part of his father’s transfer. He suffered a major accident in 2000 and remained on crutches for a long time. This incident proved to be the turning point of his life. As he was full time on crutches for about 18 months, he used this time to read ancient scripts inscribed on palm leaves.  Later he travelled distances and used to closely observe and decipher scripts inscribed on temples/ dilapidated buildings of Mithila. He also authored books including short stories and poems whose characters were picked up and portrayed based on the region around Mithula.  

He wrote Kurukshetram Antarmanak, a work in Maithili Language -in seven volumes. He is currently the editor of Videha- First Maithili Fortnightly e journal, which disseminates Maithili Language consciousness among the masses and initiated Maithili Language Movement. Before this journal, Maithili was regarded as the legacy of two castes of Mithila - Maithil Brahmins and Karna Kayasthas. Through his efforts, this language has been popularized among the masses very much.

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Updated: December 28, 2013