Pt. JAGANNATH PRASAD CHATURVEDI WAS AN INSTITUTION UNTO HIMSELF

Pt. JAGANNATH PRASAD CHATURVEDI WAS AN INSTITUTION UNTO HIMSELF

12-OCT-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA---------------------------A pre-eminent scholar among the first generation of great poets and linguists of *Khari Boli* Hindi, Pt. Jagannath Prasad Chaturvedi was an institution unto himself—a veritable academy of Hindi. He was a master whose very presence refined the language of anyone who came into contact with him. He served as the first President of the Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. Although honored with the title *Hasya-Rasavatar* (an embodiment of the sentiment of humor), his works were entirely devoid of vulgarity; he set the standard for humor and satire.

These observations were made on Sunday by Dr. Anil Sulabh, President of the Sammelan, while presiding over the birth anniversary celebration and *Kavi Sammelan* (poets' gathering) held at the literary society's premises. He noted that Chaturvedi *ji* was widely revered for his exquisitely graceful humor and satire. The auditorium would resound with applause the moment he stepped onto the stage. While he placed great emphasis on poetic meter (*chhand*), he also championed charm and elegance in prose and was a staunch opponent of vulgarity and personal attacks in humor and satire.

Remembering Dr. Kumar Vimal on his birth anniversary, Dr. Sulabh remarked that Dr. Vimal held a distinguished place in the field of literary criticism. He was not only a great authority on the aesthetics of poetry but also a living encyclopedia of the literature of his time. His entire life was dedicated to literature and books; he was frequently seen surrounded by books, constantly reading or writing. His life was synonymous with literature.

Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Er. Ashok Kumar, Advocate Sanjay Kumar Shukla, and poet Mithilesh Kumar Sinha also paid tribute to these two literary luminaries.

The *Kavi Sammelan* organized on this occasion commenced with an invocation to the Goddess of Speech (*Vani-Vandana*) by Chanda Mishra. Prominent poets—including Prof. Sunil Kumar Upadhyay, Dr. Pushpa Jamuar, Jai Prakash Pujari, Siddheshwar, Er. Ashok Kumar, Rekha Mishra Bharati, Sadanand Prasad, Sunita Ranjan, Dr. R. Pravesh, Arjun Prasad Singh, and Indu Bhushan Sahay—paid poetic tributes to the celebrated figures through their compositions. Kumar Anupam conducted the proceedings, while Krishnaranjan Singh proposed the vote of thanks.

Discerning listeners such as poets Abhiram Buddhwaha, Nandan Kumar Meet, Pashupati Nath Singh, Pramod Pandit, and Manoj Ranjan were also present.