BABU MAHESH NARAYAN WAS THE FIRST POET OF MUKTA-CHHAND AND THE PIONEER OF THE BIHAR MOVEMENT:Dr. SULABH

BABU MAHESH NARAYAN WAS THE FIRST POET OF MUKTA-CHHAND AND THE PIONEER OF THE BIHAR MOVEMENT:Dr. SULABH

7-AUG-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA---------------------------Babu Mahesh Narayan was the first poet of free verse in Hindi literature and the progenitor of the Bihar Movement. Mahesh Babu was also the patriarch of Hindi journalism in Bihar. The initial resolve to establish Bihar as a separate state originated in his mind. He strengthened this movement by launching the newspaper *Bihar Times*. After his passing, his associate Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha provided successful leadership to the movement, eventually leading to the creation of the state of Bihar. Dr. Anil Sulabh, President of the Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, made these remarks on Thursday evening while presiding over a birth anniversary celebration and *Kavi-Sammelan* (poets' gathering) organized by the institution. Paying tribute to the great poet Maithili Sharan Gupt—who was honored with the title of 'Rashtra-Kavi' (National Poet) by Mahatma Gandhi and the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India—Dr. Sulabh noted that Gupt advocated naming the newly developed *Khari Boli* dialect 'Bharti' instead of 'Hindi'. He believed that since it was the language of 'Bharat' (India), it should be named 'Bharti'. Throughout his life, Gupt sang the praises of Bharat and Bharti, praying: "May the people of this land perform *Aarti* (worship) to her within the temple of the soul; Oh God! May our 'Bharti' (language/voice) resonate across Bharatvarsh." He was a pre-eminent pioneer of *Khari Boli* and the first Hindi poet to narrate the story of Lord Rama in the form of the epic poem *Saket*.

Dr. Sulabh described the great poet Ramdayal Pandey as the embodiment of self-respect, idealism, and patriotism. He was a distinguished freedom fighter, a spirited orator, and an immortal poet of nationalistic fervor. He was among the most dedicated servants of the *Sahitya Sammelan*, having been elected its president four times. During the construction of the *Sammelan* building, he personally carried bricks and mortar on his head and inspired other litterateurs to contribute to the cause. He refused to accept the freedom fighter's pension, stating, "I served Mother India like a son, not like an employee expecting a service fee."

Dr. Sulabh also honored the poet-journalist Bindeshwar Prasad Gupta with a traditional shawl (*Angavastram*) and a floral garland on his 72nd birthday. Senior litterateurs Dr. Ratneshwar Singh, Dr. Shashi Bhushan Singh, Dr. Manoj Govardhanpuri, and Shambhunath Pandey also shared their views.

The *Kavi-Sammelan* held on this occasion commenced with a *Vani Vandana* (invocation to the Goddess of Speech) by Chanda Mishra. Senior poets Prof. Sunil Kumar Upadhyay, Siddheshwar, Dr. Poonam Anand, Shama Kausar 'Shama', Dr. Om Prakash Pandey, Sadanand Prasad, I. Ashok Kumar, Vibharani Srivastava, Rajneesh Kumar Gaurav, I. Indubhushan Sahay, Surya Prakash Upadhyay, and Ashwini Kaviraj recited their poetry.

Kumar Anupam welcomed the guests, poet Brahmanand Pandey conducted the proceedings, and Krishna Ranjan Singh proposed the vote of thanks.

Distinguished individuals such as senior satirist Banke Bihari Sao, Pravir Kumar Pankaj, Vijay Kumar Singh, Geeta Prasad, Sohini Priya, Mohini Priya, Prem Prakash, Saumya Kumari, and Abhiram were present.