Agyeya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agyeya
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| Born | Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan 7 March 1911 Kasia, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India |
| Died | 4 April 1987 (aged 76) New Delhi, India |
| Pen name | Agyeya |
| Occupation | Writer, poet, novelist, literary critic, journalist, translator and revolutionary |
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| Literary movement | Nayi Kavita (New Poetry) |
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| Relatives | Hiranand Sastri (father) |
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Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan (born March 7, 1911 – died April 4, 1987) was a famous Indian writer. He was better known by his pen name, Agyeya. This name means 'the unknowable'. Agyeya was a poet, novelist, journalist, and translator. He wrote mostly in Hindi language.
He helped start new styles in Hindi poetry and writing. He is seen as a leader of the Prayogavaad (experimentalism) movement in modern Hindi literature. Agyeya was born in Kasia, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Hiranand Sastri, was a well-known archaeologist. Agyeya was also involved in India's fight for freedom. He spent time in prison for his actions against British rule.
He edited the Saptak series. This series helped create a new style of Hindi poetry called Nayi Kavita (New Poetry). Agyeya also edited many literary magazines. He started his own Hindi weekly newspaper, Dinaman. This newspaper set new standards for Hindi journalism.
Agyeya translated some of his own books into English. He also translated books by other Indian authors. He even translated some famous world literature into Hindi. For his amazing work, Agyeya received several top awards. These included the Sahitya Akademi Award (1964), the Jnanpith Award (1978), and the international Golden Wreath Award (1983).
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Early Life and Learning
Agyeya was born Sachchidananda Vatsyayan on March 7, 1911. His family was Punjabi Brahmin. He was born in an archaeological camp near Kasia, Kushinagar district. His father, Hiranand Sastri, was an archaeologist working there. Agyeya's mother was Vyantidevi, who passed away in 1924.
Agyeya was the fourth of ten children. He spent his early childhood in Lucknow (1911–1915). Because his father's job moved often, Agyeya lived in many different places. These included Srinagar, Jammu, Patna, Nalanda, and Ootacamund. Living in so many places helped Agyeya learn about different Indian languages and cultures.
His father, a Sanskrit scholar, taught him Hindi and some basic English. He also learned Sanskrit and Persian from teachers in Jammu.
In 1925, Agyeya finished his matriculation (high school) from the University of Punjab. He then moved to Madras and joined Madras Christian College. He studied science there from 1925 to 1927. In 1927, he went to Forman Christian College in Lahore. He studied math, physics, chemistry, and English. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1929, graduating at the top of his class.
After this, he started studying for a master's degree in English. However, he left college to join the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA). This was a group fighting for India's independence. He took part in actions against the British government. In November 1930, he was arrested. This was because he tried to help Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary leader, escape from jail. Agyeya was charged with sedition (rebellion) against British rule. He spent the next four years in jails in Lahore, Delhi, and Amritsar. During his time in prison, he began writing short stories, poems, and his first novel, Shekhar: Ek Jivani.
After his release in 1934, Agyeya joined the Progressive Writers Association. In 1942, he helped organize a big meeting against fascism. During World War II in 1942, he joined the Indian army. He served as an officer on the Kohima Front. He left the army in 1946. He lived in Meerut for a while and was active in local writing groups. During this time, he published some of his poems in English, called Prison Days and Other Poems.
Agyeya passed away on April 4, 1987, in New Delhi. He was 76 years old.
Agyeya's Career Journey
After being released from jail in 1934, Agyeya started working as a journalist in Calcutta. From 1939, he worked for All India Radio.
Agyeya was an editor for many different publications:
- Sainik (from Agra, 1936–37)
- Vishal Bharat (from Calcutta, 1937–39)
- Prateek (1947) and Naya Prateek (1973) from Allahabad and New Delhi
- Vak (an English magazine, 1951)
- Everyman's Weekly (for Jayprakash Narayan, 1973–74)
- Navbharat Times (a Hindi daily, 1977–80)
In 1957–58, he traveled to Japan. There, he learned about Zen Buddhism, which influenced his writing. From 1961 to 1964, he taught Indian Literature at the University of California, Berkeley.
In 1965, he returned to India. He became the first editor of the newsweekly Dinaman. This magazine was part of the Times of India Group. When young writers from the Hungry Generation movement were arrested, Agyeya supported them through Dinmaan. He continued to support them until they were cleared of charges. His reports on the Bihar famine are still remembered as important examples of journalism that helped people.
He stayed in India until 1968, then traveled to Europe. In 1969, he went back to Berkeley as a professor until 1970. In 1976, he taught for eight months at Heidelberg University. Later, he became a professor at the University of Jodhpur in Rajasthan.
Agyeya's Writings
While in prison, Agyeya began writing short stories. These were published in Hans, a magazine edited by Premchand. He also started writing his novel Shekhar: Ek Jivani. His first collection of poems, Bhagnadutta, came out in 1933.
After leaving jail, he published his first short story collection, Vipathga, in 1937. The first part of Shekhar: Ek Jivani was published in 1941, and the second part in 1944. A third part was planned but never published.
In 1943, Agyeya edited and published Tar Saptak. This was a collection of poems by seven new, young writers. It is considered the first collection of modern Hindi poetry. Tar Saptak was a big step in Hindi literature. It led to the Prayogvad (Experimentalism) movement in Hindi poetry. This movement started a new style of Hindi poetry called Nayi Kavita (New Poetry).
- Some of his important works include
- Poetry collections:
- Bhagndoot (1933)
- Angan Ke Par Dwar (1961)
- Kitni naavon mein kitni baar (1967)
- Novels:
- Shekhar: Ek Jeevani I (1941)
- Nadi ke dweep (1952)
- Apne-apne ajnabi (1961)
- Story collections:
- Vipathga (1937)
- Sharnaarthi (1948)
- Play:
- Uttar Priyadarshi
- Travelogues:
- Are Yayavar Rahega Yaad (1953)
- Ek Boond Sahsa Uchhli (1960)
- Criticism:
- Trishanku
- Atmanepad
- Edited works:
- Tar Saptak
- Doosra Saptak
- Teesra Saptak
- Chautha Saptak
Agyeya also translated many works. He translated books by famous authors like Sharat Chandra and Rabindranath Thakur into Hindi. He also translated some of his own works into English, such as Islands in the stream (from Nadi ke dweep).
Dramatic Productions
Agyeya wrote a play in verse called Uttar Priyadarshi. It tells the story of King Ashoka's change of heart. It was first performed in 1966 in Delhi. Later, in 1996, a theater director named Ratan Thiyam adapted it into Manipuri. His group has performed the play around the world.
Images for kids
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Agyeya
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Agyeya's signature
See Also
- Hindi literature
- List of Jnanpith Award winners
- List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Hindi
