Ramavriksha Benipuri

Ramavriksha Benipuri (1902-1968) was a prominent writer of Hindi literature. He was born, in a Bhumihar Brahmin family, in a small village named Benipur in the Indian state of Bihar. He had spent eight years in prison fighting for India's independence apart from being a prominent writer of Hindi literature.

Style and influence
Benipuri as he was known in the literary circles wrote mostly short stories, dramas and essays. His description of the subject was vivid and full of details. His dramas covered mostly historical events. For example, his drama named Ambapali vividly depicts life of the famous courtesan Ambapali who turned into a Buddhist after meeting Buddha. Likewise Netradaan (that is, Gift of Eyes), another drama, is based on a historical legend involving Ashoka and his son Kunal.

Ramvrikshha Benipuri is best known as one of a few topmost pen- portrait writers of Hindi. There is a difference between his and Mahadevi Verma’s pen portraits. If you read ‘Ateet Ke Chalchitra’ by Mahadevi Verma ,a bit more carefully, you will find ,in spite of her deep concern and sympathy for her characters , taken from most common people’s group, that she looks them from a bit height of her status, whereas Benipuri becomes a part of their life. You will find his legs full of mud, if he is writing about a daily wage worker working in his field in rainy season. He becomes a part of the family of his characters as ‘Bhaiyaa’ ‘chachi’ and so on. His ‘Maatee ki Moortein’ is the best example of it. You will find him emotionally involved in their life. He talks in their own language with the depth of his feeling and sentiments. He has no parallel in this field. He has made his characters ever unforgettable.

He is a spirited prose writer. His sentences are full of strength and charged with power of awakening spirit. I remember one of his essays, titled ‘Neev Ki Eant’. It is about the strongest bricks, which are placed at the deepest part of the foundation of a building, where neither breeze is available, or light. It is a hell like place. But they keep lying there without any complaint, in spite No body ever remembers them. Every body praises the dome, its beauty and artistry. Who knows, if a few bricks of foundation is taken out, the whole building may collapse on the ground in a second. He regrets that every body wants to become the dome but no one is ready to become a brick of the foundation. His writing is full of such powerful flashes.

He wrote twelve dramas also. Most of them are based on historical events. Among all ‘Ambpaali’ and ‘Netradaan’ are powerful plays.

He has taken care of needs of stage, but has not succeeded everywhere.

Rambriksha Benipuri was a highly reputed journalist of his time. Monthly ‘Nayee Dhaara’ gave many new writers to Hindi literature and many memorable special issues on different subjects.

He also edited two magazines for children- ‘Baalak’ and ‘Chunnumunnu’, very successfully. Apart from other magazines, he edited. ‘Himalay’ which stands high reputation in literary field.

Many of his books are still to be published.

Major literary works
Memoirs and essays
* Patiton Ke Desh Mein-1930-32
* Chita Ke Phool-1930-32
* Lal Taaraa-1937-39
* Kaidee Ki Patni-1940
* Maatee Ki Moortein-1941-45
* Gahoom Aur Gulaab- 1948-50

Dramas
* Ambpali-1941-45
* Sita Ki maan-1948-50
* Sanghamitra-1948-50
* Amar Jyoti-1951
* Tathaagat
* Singhal Vijay
* Shakuntala
* Ramrajya
* Netradaan-1948-50
* Gaao Ke Devata
* Nayaa samaaj
* Vijeta-1953.

Editing and critical
* Vidyapati Ki Padaavali
* satsai Ki Subodh Teekaa

Biography
* Jayaprakash Narayan only with the initials Jayaprakash

Lalit Gadya
* Vande Vaani Vinayakau -1953-54.

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