Gopaldas Neeraj
Encyclopedia
Gopaldas Saxena 'Neeraj' (popularly known as Niraj or Neeraj) is among the best-known poet
s and author
s in Hindi literature
. He is also a famous poet of Hindi Kavi Sammelan
. He was born in the small village Puravali of Etawah
in Uttar Pradesh
, India
on 4 January 1924. He wrote under the pen name "Neeraj". His style is considered easy to understand, but has also been compared with high quality Hindi literature
. He was awarded Padma Bhushan
in 2007.
Besides writing, he earned his living teaching in a college and was a Professor of Hindi Literature in Aligarh. Several of his poems and songs have been used in Hindi movies and are considered famous. He wrote songs for several Hindi Movies and attained a unique position as a songwriter who wrote with equal facility in both pure Hindi
as well as Urdu
as opposed to Hindi
-Urdu
mix, which is increasingly becoming more common. But as per the needs and requirements of the Hindi
Film Industry, the majority of his songs are nonetheless, in mixed but chaste Hindi
-Urdu
languages.
In the television interview, Gopaldas Neeraj called himself an unlucky poet which led to his stopping himself from writing film songs and confining himself to just writing and getting his poems published. The reason for this mentioned by him was that at least two or three prominent Music Directors of the Hindi Film Industry for whom he wrote very successful and popular songs, had expired. He mentioned the death of Jaikishan of the Music Duo Shankar-Jaikishan as well as of S.D.Burman or Sachin Dev Burman, for both of whom he had written highly popular film songs. The deaths of these Music Directors when they as well as Gopaldas Neeraj were at the peak of their popularity, left him very depressed and he made a decision to quit the film industry.
-Hindi
languages.
A couple of verses from his writings, which were adopted in movies, are below with their English translation
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
s and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
s in Hindi literature
Hindi literature
Hindi literature , is broadly divided into four prominent forms or styles, being Bhakti ; Shringar ; Veer-Gatha ; and Adhunik...
. He is also a famous poet of Hindi Kavi Sammelan
Kavi sammelan
Kavi Sammelan is a formal or informal gathering of poets in Hindi-speaking belts of northern India. The participants recite their poetry to each other and have a general discussion of literary issues. This may take place in private homes or before an audience. In the era before economic...
. He was born in the small village Puravali of Etawah
Etawah
Etawah is a city on the Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Etawah District. The city was an important center for the Revolt of 1857 . Also is the place of sangam or confluence between Yamuna and Chambal...
in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on 4 January 1924. He wrote under the pen name "Neeraj". His style is considered easy to understand, but has also been compared with high quality Hindi literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. He was awarded Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
in 2007.
Besides writing, he earned his living teaching in a college and was a Professor of Hindi Literature in Aligarh. Several of his poems and songs have been used in Hindi movies and are considered famous. He wrote songs for several Hindi Movies and attained a unique position as a songwriter who wrote with equal facility in both pure Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
as well as Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
as opposed to Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
-Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
mix, which is increasingly becoming more common. But as per the needs and requirements of the Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
Film Industry, the majority of his songs are nonetheless, in mixed but chaste Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
-Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
languages.
In the television interview, Gopaldas Neeraj called himself an unlucky poet which led to his stopping himself from writing film songs and confining himself to just writing and getting his poems published. The reason for this mentioned by him was that at least two or three prominent Music Directors of the Hindi Film Industry for whom he wrote very successful and popular songs, had expired. He mentioned the death of Jaikishan of the Music Duo Shankar-Jaikishan as well as of S.D.Burman or Sachin Dev Burman, for both of whom he had written highly popular film songs. The deaths of these Music Directors when they as well as Gopaldas Neeraj were at the peak of their popularity, left him very depressed and he made a decision to quit the film industry.
Writings that appear in movies
Neeraj's poems which appeared in Hindi Movies as songs only added to their popularity. all these songs are in mixed but chaste UrduUrdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
-Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
languages.
| Song | Movie | Singer |
|---|---|---|
| Likhe jo khat tujhe | KANYADAAN | Mohammed Rafi |
| E bhai jara dekh ke chalo | MERA NAAM JOKER | Manna Day |
| Dhiire se jaanaa khaTiyan me.n o khaTamal | CHHUPA RUSTOM | Kishore Kumar |
| Dil aaj shaayar hai | GAMBLER | Kishore Kumar |
| Jiivan kii bagiyaa mahakegii | TERE MERE SAPNE | Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar |
| Maine kasam lii | TERE MERE SAPNE | Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar |
| Meghaa chhaae aadhii raat, bairan ban gai ni.ndiyaa | SHARMILI | Lata Mangeshkar |
| Mera man tera pyaasa..... | GAMBLER | Mohammed Rafi |
| O merii o merii o meri sharmiilii aao naa tarasao naa... | SHARMILI | Kishore Kumar |
| Phoolon ke rang se, dil kee kalam se... | PREM PUJARI | Kishore Kumar |
| Rangeela re, Rangeela re, mere man me yoon ranga hai tera mann... | PREM PUJARI | Lata Mangeshkar |
| Sho(w)khiyon mein ghola jaye phoolon ka shabaab, Usme phir milayee jaaye, thodee see sharaab, Hoga yoon nashaa joh taiyyar, woh pyaar hai... |
PREM PUJARI | Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar |
| Raadhaa ne maalaa japi shyaam kii | TERE MERE SAPNE | Lata Mangeshkar |
| Karawan gujar gaya, gubar dekhte rahe | NAI UMAR KI NAI FASAL | Mohammed Rafi |
| Subaha na aayee, shaam na aayee... | CHA CHA CHA | Mohammed Rafi |
| Aaj madhosh hua jae re mera man, mera man, mera man sharaarat karne ko lalchaye re mera man, mera man, mera man....... |
SHARMILI | Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar |
| Khilte hain gul yahaan, khile ke bikharne ko milte hain dil yahaan, milke bichharhne ko..... |
SHARMILI | Kishore Kumar |
A couple of verses from his writings, which were adopted in movies, are below with their English translation
External links
- Gopaldas Neeraj at Kavita Kosh
- C.M. announces Rs. 20 lakh assistance for Gopaldas Neeraj Foundation
- International Hindi association features Gopaldas Neeraj
- Life and work of Neeraj
- भारतीय साहित्य संग्रह में नीरज की कृतियाँ
- http://www.chowk.com/interacts/11242/2/0/ An account from the Atlanta appearance by the poet Neeraj which took place in October 2004