Pakistan is a paradigm example of a failed state that has undergone an extremely dangerous form of radical Islamisation.
Dharamvir Bharati
Dr. Dharamvir Bharati (December 25, 1926 - September 4, 1997), was an Indian
writer.
Dr Dharamvir Bharati made a deep impact on Hindi literature and is considered to
be one of the most renowned Hindi poet and writer of India. His novel "Gunahon
ka Devtaa" became an evergreen classic. Andha Yug, his drama set in the time
immediately after the Mahabharata war, is another classic that is enacted very
often in public by various drama groups. Dr. Bharati's "Suraj ka Satwan Ghoda"
is considered a unique experiment in story telling and was made into a national
award winning movie of the same name in 1992 by Shyam Benegal. "Kanupriya",
"Thanda Loha", "Saat Geet Varsh" and "Sapana Abhi Bhi" are amongst his most
popular works of poetry.
He was born in Allahabad to Shri. Chiranji Lal and Smt. Chanda devi . The only
other sibling he had was his younger sister, Dr. Veerbala. The family underwent
considerable financial hardships after the father died early. Bharati did his MA
in Hindi from Allahabad University in 1946 and won the "Chintamani Ghosh Award"
for securing highest marks in Hindi. He was the sub-editor for magazines
"Abhudaya" and Sangam" during this period. Later he completed his Ph.D. In 1954
under Dr. Dhirendra Verma on the topic of "Siddha Sahitya", and was appointed
lecturer in Hindi in Allahabad University. 1950s were the most creative period
in the life of Dr. Bharati and he wrote many novels, dramas, poetry, essays, and
criticisms during this phase.
In 1960 he was appointed as Chief-Editor of the popular Hindi weekly magazine
Dharmayug brought out by the Times of India Group, and moved to Bombay. He
remained the Editor of Dharmayug till 1987. During this long phase the magazine
became the most popular Hindi weekly of the country and established new heightes
in Hindi Journalism. As a field reporter, Dr. Bharati personally covered the
Indo-Pak war that resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh.
Honors: In 1972, Dr. Bharati was awarded Padm Shree by the Government of India.
He was also honored by "Rajendra Prasad Shikhar Samman", Bharat Bharati Samman",
"Maharashtra Gaurav", "Kaudiya Nyas" and "Vyasa Samman".
Dr. Bharati had one sister (Dr. Veerbala). He married (1954) and later divorced
Mrs. Kanta Bharati with whom he had a daughter Parmita. Few years later he
remarried and had a son Kinshuk Bharati and a daughter Pragya Bharati with Mrs.
Pushpa Bharati. Dr. Bharati developed heart ailment and died after a brief
illness.
Prominent works
Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda (The Seventh Steed of the Sun): A short novella, that may
also be viewed as a set of connected mini-narratives, it can also be considered
one of the foremost instances of metafiction in twentieth century Hindi
literature. The protagonist is a young man named Manik Mulla who recounts these
tales to his friends. The name of the work is an allusion to Hindu mythology
where in the chariot of the Sun-God Surya is said to be drawn by seven horses.
Andha Yug (The Age of Blindness): Structured on events in the Mahabharata, it is
a powerful metaphorical work.
