SETH GOVIND DAS SPURNED THE CM’S POST FOR THE SAKE OF HINDI:Dr. ANIL SULABH

SETH GOVIND DAS SPURNED THE CM’S POST FOR THE SAKE OF HINDI:Dr. ANIL SULABH

16-OCT-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------Among the great, self-sacrificing figures of India who renounced a life of luxury and comfort to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation, the name of Seth Govind Das stands out with profound reverence. During the freedom struggle and in the years that followed, the movement for the national language, Hindi, and for Hindi literature, received immense support from Seth Govind Das. He even locked horns with the then-Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, over the issue of ‘Hindi’—a stance that cost him the position of Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, which had otherwise been all but assured.

These remarks were made on Thursday by Dr. Anil Sulabh, President of the Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, while presiding over a birth anniversary celebration organized by the institution. He noted that Seth Govind Das possessed literary talent of the highest order; he was an accomplished playwright and novelist who authored over two dozen books. From India’s first general election until his passing in 1974, Seth Govind Das served as a Member of Parliament from Jabalpur. In recognition of his contributions to literature and education, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan.

During the event, a poetry collection titled *Kyon Chhatron Par Chali Goliyan* ("Why Were Bullets Fired at Students?"), authored by the late 20th-century poet Pandit Awadh Ratna Mishra, was unveiled. The book was published posthumously by the renowned social worker and Padma Shri recipient, Vimal Kumar Jain. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jain explained that the poet, deeply pained by the firing upon students by the administration during the 1974 student movement, had directed a barrage of questions at the government through his verses. This collection—which could not be published during the poet’s lifetime—remains highly relevant even today. Senior poets Prof. Sunil Kumar Upadhyay, Dr. Indu Pandey, Dr. Manoj Govardhanpuri, Dnyaneshwar Sharma, Kumar Anupam, Dr. Shalini Pandey and Shankar Sharan Madhukar also expressed their views.

In the short story seminar, Dr. Pushpa Jamuar recited 'Pain of Canvas', Dr. Renu Mishra 'Introduction', Sadanand Prasad 'Art-Creation', Dr. Nageshwar Prasad Yadav 'Mental Limits', Indu Pandey recited their short stories titled 'Where has the mind gone' and Indubhushan Sahay recited their respective short stories titled 'After death'. The stage was moderated by Brahmanand Pandey and the vote of thanks was given by Krishna Ranjan Singh.