Phanishwar Nath 'Renu'
Encyclopedia
Phanishwar Nath 'Renu' (March 4, 1921 – April 11, 1977) was one of the most successful and influential writers of modern Hindi
literature in the post-Premchand era. He is the author of Maila Anchal
, which after Premchand's Godaan
, is regarded as the most significant Hindi novel.
Phanishwar Nath 'Renu' is best known for promoting the voice of the contemporary rural India through the genre of 'Aanchalik Upanyas' (Regional Story), and is placed amongst the pioneering Hindi writers who brought regional voices into the mainstream Hindi literature.
His short story Maare Gaye Gulfam was adapted into a film Teesri Kasam
(The Third Vow), by Basu Bhattacharya
(produced by the poet-lyricist Shailendra
) in 1966 for which he also wrote the dialogues. Later his short story Panchlight (Petromax) was made into a TV short film.
, in Araria
district (then Purnea district), Bihar
.
His primary education was held in Araria and Forbesganj
. He did his Matriculation from Viratnagar Adarsh Vidyalaya(school), Viratnagar, Nepal
while staying with Koirala Family. After Passing out IA from Kashi Hindu Vishvavidyalay (university) in 1942 he took part in the Indian Freedom Struggle. Later he participated in the Nepal
i revolutionary movement in 1950 which resulted in the establishment of democracy in Nepal. He ushered in 'Anchalik-katha' (Regional Story) of Hindi
writing. He had a very close friendship with Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayana
Agyey - his contemporary poet.
in contrast to Khari Boli Hindi
was entirely new literary experience.
His very first novel which is also considered his masterpiece, Maila Anchal
(The Soiled Linen, 1954), was a social novel that depicted the life of rural Bihar
and its people, especially the backward and the deprived. He was subsequently awarded one of India's highest civilian honours, the Padma Sri in 1970.
Later during Jayaprakash Narayan
Andolan, he gave up his award in solidarity. His short story Panchlight (Petromax) is beautiful in its depiction of human behavior. One can find many parallels between his and Premchand's writings.
Curiously, Katihar
railway station figures in many of his writings.
He wrote descriptive prose with rapid character building. He would then go about reflecting on his characters and backgrounds from every angle. Ek Aadim Ratri Ki Mehak which is straight forward story with touchy ending, is one example his unending need for exploring pristine emotions of his characters.
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...
literature in the post-Premchand era. He is the author of Maila Anchal
Maila Anchal
Maila Aanchal is a 1954 Hindi novel written by Phanishwar Nath Renu. After Premchand's Godan, 'Maila Anchal' is regarded as the most significant Hindi novel in the Hindi literary tradition...
, which after Premchand's Godaan
Godaan
Godaan The Gift of a Cow is a Hindi novel by Munshi Premchand.It was first published in 1936 and is considered one of the greatest Hindi-Urdu novels of modern Indian literature. Themed around the socio economic deprivation as well as the exploitation of the village poor, the novel was the last...
, is regarded as the most significant Hindi novel.
Phanishwar Nath 'Renu' is best known for promoting the voice of the contemporary rural India through the genre of 'Aanchalik Upanyas' (Regional Story), and is placed amongst the pioneering Hindi writers who brought regional voices into the mainstream Hindi literature.
His short story Maare Gaye Gulfam was adapted into a film Teesri Kasam
Teesri Kasam
-Awards:* 1967 National Film Award for Best Film* 1967 Moscow International Film Festival: Grand Prix - Nominated-External links:*http://www.upperstall.com/films/teesrikasam.html...
(The Third Vow), by Basu Bhattacharya
Basu Bhattacharya
Basu Bhattacharya was a Hindi film director , most famous for his 1966 film Teesri Kasam, starring Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman , which won the National Film Award for Best Film in 1967; he also produced Sparsh in 1985 starring Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, which won the Filmfare Best Movie...
(produced by the poet-lyricist Shailendra
Shailendra
Shankardas Kesarilal , popularly known by his pen name Shailendra, was a popular Indian Hindi lyricist.-Career as a lyricist:...
) in 1966 for which he also wrote the dialogues. Later his short story Panchlight (Petromax) was made into a TV short film.
Biography
Phanishwar Nath 'Renu' was born on 4 March 1921, at village Aurahi Hingna near ForbesganjForbesganj
Forbesganj is a city and a municipality in Araria district in the state of Bihar, India. Situated at the border of Nepal & India, the city is an important economic location in the region. One of the biggest business places among the neighboring cities. The infrastructure development here has...
, in Araria
Araria
Araria is a town and a municipality that is headquarters of Araria district in the state of Bihar, India.-Geography:Araria is located at . It has an average elevation of 47 metres . Araria is situated at the northern part of Purnia and Madhepura in Bihar...
district (then Purnea district), Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
.
His primary education was held in Araria and Forbesganj
Forbesganj
Forbesganj is a city and a municipality in Araria district in the state of Bihar, India. Situated at the border of Nepal & India, the city is an important economic location in the region. One of the biggest business places among the neighboring cities. The infrastructure development here has...
. He did his Matriculation from Viratnagar Adarsh Vidyalaya(school), Viratnagar, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
while staying with Koirala Family. After Passing out IA from Kashi Hindu Vishvavidyalay (university) in 1942 he took part in the Indian Freedom Struggle. Later he participated in the Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
i revolutionary movement in 1950 which resulted in the establishment of democracy in Nepal. He ushered in 'Anchalik-katha' (Regional Story) of 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...
writing. He had a very close friendship with Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayana
Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayana
Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayana 'Agyeya , popularly known by his pen-name Ajneya , was a pioneer of modern trends not only in the realm of Hindi poetry, but also fiction, criticism and journalism...
Agyey - his contemporary poet.
Writing style
The intimacy in writing brought to the reader with use of local flavor of HindiHindi
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...
in contrast to Khari Boli 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...
was entirely new literary experience.
His very first novel which is also considered his masterpiece, Maila Anchal
Maila Anchal
Maila Aanchal is a 1954 Hindi novel written by Phanishwar Nath Renu. After Premchand's Godan, 'Maila Anchal' is regarded as the most significant Hindi novel in the Hindi literary tradition...
(The Soiled Linen, 1954), was a social novel that depicted the life of rural Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and its people, especially the backward and the deprived. He was subsequently awarded one of India's highest civilian honours, the Padma Sri in 1970.
Later during Jayaprakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan , widely known as JP Narayan, Jayaprakash, or Loknayak, was an Indian independence activist and political leader, remembered especially for leading the opposition to Indira Gandhi in the 1970s and for giving a call for peaceful Total Revolution...
Andolan, he gave up his award in solidarity. His short story Panchlight (Petromax) is beautiful in its depiction of human behavior. One can find many parallels between his and Premchand's writings.
Curiously, Katihar
Katihar
Katihar is a town situated in the north eastern part of Bihar state in India. It is headquarters of Katihar district.- Geography :Katihar is located at...
railway station figures in many of his writings.
He wrote descriptive prose with rapid character building. He would then go about reflecting on his characters and backgrounds from every angle. Ek Aadim Ratri Ki Mehak which is straight forward story with touchy ending, is one example his unending need for exploring pristine emotions of his characters.
Novels
- Ujla Anchal
- Parti ParikathaParti ParikathaParti Parikatha , is a Hindi novel written by Phanishwar Nath Renu. The story revolves around a motley group of characters in a remote village of North Eastern Bihar in the backdrop of Zamindari Abolition movement...
- Juloos & Janaja
- Deerghtapa
- Kitne Chaurahe
- Paltu Babu Road
Stories
- Maare Gaye Gulfam (Teesri Kasam)
- Lal Pan Ki Begum
- Panchlight
- Thes
- Samvadiya
- Tabe Ekla Chalo Re
- Lakshmi
- Thumri pagal
- Agnikhor
- Acche Aadmi
- Ek Adim Ratri Ki Mehak
- Ek Shravani duphari
- Pari aur Minu ki kahaniya
Reportage
- HrinJal- DhanJal
- Nepali Kranti Katha
- Van tulsi ki gandh
- Shruth Asruth purve
- Pahli kranti katha
Further reading
- Dr. Renu Shah (Associate Professor, J.N.V. University Jodhpur). Phanishwar Nath Renu Ka Katha Shilp. Published under University Grants Commission (UGC)University Grants Commission (India)The University Grants Commission of India is a statutory organisation set up by Union government in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education. It provides recognition for universities in India, and provides funds for government-recognised...
Grant. 1990. - Maare Gaye Gulfaam by Phanishwar Nath 'Renu' (Hindi)
- The Third Vow and Other Stories: and other stories. Tr. by Kathryn G. Hansen. Chanakya Publications, 1986. ISBN 81-7001-013-6.