Remembering Harivansh Rai Bachchan: A Legacy in Poetry

"Jo beet gayi so beet gayi," "Agnipath," and "Madhushala" are timeless works created by the great poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Today, we celebrate his birth anniversary, remembering his incredible contributions to Hindi literature.

“Jo beet gayi so beet gayi, Jeevan mein ek sitaara tha, Maanaa woh behad pyaara tha, Yeh doob gaya toh doob gaya.”

These iconic lines by Mahakavi Harivansh Rai Bachchan still resonate in the hearts of people today. The father of Bollywood’s superstar Amitabh Bachchan, the legendary Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was born on November 27, 1907, in Babupatti, a small village near Allahabad (now Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh. Known as one of the leading poets of the "Uttar Chhayavaad" (Northern School of Romanticism) in Hindi literature, his influence on Indian poetry remains immeasurable.

Harivansh Rai Bachchan's popular works include Madhubala, Madhukalash, Milan Yamini, Pranay Patrika, Nisha Nimantran, Tera Haar, Halahal, Do Chattanen, Ekaank-Sangeet, and Soot Ki Maala among many others. His contribution to Hindi literature earned him the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 1976. His poems continue to be beloved and widely read, cherished by generations of readers.

Today, on his birth anniversary, let’s revisit two of his most celebrated poems: Agnipath and Madhushala.

Agnipath 

Vriksh hon bhale khade,

Hon ghane hon bade,

Ek patra chhaon bhi,

Maang mat, maang mat, maang mat,

Agnipath, agnipath, agnipath.

Tu na thakega kabhi,

Tu na rukega kabhi,

Tu na mudega kabhi,

Kar shapath, kar shapath, kar shapath,

Agnipath, agnipath, agnipath.

Yeh mahaan drishya hai,

Chal raha manushya hai,

Ashru swed rakt se,

Lathpath, lathpath, lathpath,

Agnipath, agnipath, agnipath.

Madhushala

Madiralay jaane ko ghar se chalta hai peene wala,

‘Kis path se jaun?’ asmanjas mein hai woh bhola bhala,

Alag alag path batlate sab, par main yeh batlata hoon –

Raah pakad tu ek chala chal, paa jayega madhushala.

Laal sura ki dhaar lapat-si keh na isse dena jwala,

Phenil madira hai, mat isko keh dena ur ka chaala,

Dard nasha hai is madira ka, vigat smritiyan saaki hai,

Peeda mein anand jise ho, aaye meri madhushala.

Bani rahe angur lataen, jinse milti hai haala,

Bani rahe woh mitti, jisse banta hai madhu ka pyala,

Bani rahe woh madir pipaasa, tript na jo hona jaane,

Bane rahe ye peene wale, bani rahe yeh madhushala!

Muslim aur Hindu hai do, ek magar unka pyala,

Ek magar unka madiralay, ek magar unki haala,

Donon rehte ek na jab tak masjid mandir mein jaate,

Bair badhaate masjid mandir mel karati madhushala.

Yagya agni-ki dhadak rahi hai madhu ki bhatti ki jwala,

Rishi-sa dhyaan laga baitha hai har madira peene wala,

Muni kanyayon-si madhughat le phirti saakibalaayein,

Kisi tapovan se kya kam hai meri paavan madhushala?

Dhyaan maan ka, apmaanon ka chhod diya jab pee haala,

Gaurav bhoola, aaya kar mein jab se mitti ka pyala,

Saaki ki andaaz bhari jhidi ki mein kya apmaan dhara,

Duniya bhar ki thokar khaakar paayi maine madhushala.

Yadi in adhron se do baatein prem bhari karti haala,

Yadi in khaali haathon ka jeevan pal bhar bahlata pyala,

Hani bata jhag tere kya hai, vyarth mujhe badnaam na kar,

Mere toote dil ka hai bas ek khilona madhushala.

Kuchh hasratein kitni apni, haay bana paaya haala,

Kitne armaanon ko karke khaak bana paaya pyala!

Pee peene wale chal denge, haay na koi jaane ga,

Kitne man ke mahal dhaye tab khadi hui yeh madhushala.

Yeh madiralay ke aansu hain, nahi-nahi maadak haala,

Yeh madiralay ki aankhein hain, nahi-nahi madhu ka pyala,

Kisi samay ki sukhad smriti hai saaki bankar naach rahi,

Nahi-nahi kavi ka hridayangan, yeh virahaakul madhushala.

Meri haala mein sabne paayi apni-apni haala,

Mere pyale mein sabne paaya apna-apna pyala,

Mere saaki mein sabne apna pyaara saaki dekha,

Jiski jaisi ruchi thi usne waisi dekhi madhushala.

Bade-bade naazon se maine paali hai saakibala,

Kalit kalpana ka hi isne sada uthaya hai pyala,

Maan-dulaaron se hi rakhna is meri sukumari ko,

Vishw, tumhare haathon mein ab saup raha hoon madhushala.

Pitripaksh mein putr uthana ardhya na kar mein, par pyala

Baith kahin par jaana, Ganga Sagar mein bharkar haala,

Kisi jagah ki mitti bheege, tripti mujhe mil jayegi,

Tarpan arpan karna mujhko, padh padh kar ke madhushala.

Apart from these poems, Harivansh Rai Bachchan has many other poems that leave a lasting impression on your heart.

by Priyanka Yadav

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