Hazari Prasad Dwivedi

Hazari Prasad Dwivedi Biography

Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was a Hindi novelist, literary historian, essayist, critic and scholar from Uttar Pradesh. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1957 for his contribution to Hindi literature. For his collection of essays, 'Alok Parva' he received Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973. He was a polyglot who knew several languages including Sanskrit, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Pali, Prakrit, and Apabhramsa.he has also worked as a Hindi lecturer at Santiniketan. Kabir, Banabhatta Ki Atmakatha, Sahitya Ki Bhumika, Nakhoon Kyon Barhte Hain, Kutaj and Alok Parva are his noted works.

Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was born in the year 1907 in a traditional family of astrologers. He was a native of Dubey-ka-Chhapra village in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. His father Pandit Anamol Dwivedi was a learned Sanskrit scholar. His schooling was done a local school of his village. After schooling he studied astrology and Sanskrit to qualify for 'Ach Arya' degree in astrology and 'Shastri' degree in Sanskrit. In 1930, he started his career as a teacher at prestigious Santiniketan of Tagore. He was a lecturer of Hindi language. During this time, he came close to Tagore and many prominent cultural figures of Bengal. In 1940 he was promoted to the office of the Director of Hindi Bhavan in Vishvabharati, which he held till 1950. In 1950, he joined Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi as Head of the Hindi Department. He held position of professor also and was associated with this university till 1960. Later he joined he joined Panjab University, Chandigarh and worked there till retirement.

His published novels are Banbhatta Ki Atmakatha, Anamdas Ka Potha, Punarnava and Charu-chandra-Lekha. His works based on his historical analysis of medieval religious life of India include - Madhyakalin Dharma Sadhana, Kabir and Natha Sampradaya. Sahitya ki Bhumika and Hindi Sahitya ka Adikala are included in his literary history and criticisms.  

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Updated: January 21, 2014