Chhayavad ( hi, छायावाद) (approximated in English as "Romanticism", literally "Shaded") refers to the era of
Neo-romanticism in
Hindi literature, particularly Hindi poetry, 1922–1938,
[ and was marked by an increase of romantic and humanist content. ''Chhayavad'' was marked by a renewed sense of the self and personal expression, visible in the writings of the time. It is known for its leaning towards themes of love and nature, as well as an individualistic reappropriation of the Indian tradition in a new form of mysticism, expressed through a subjective voice.
]
Period
Chhayavad Yug dates from 1918 to 1937. It was preceded by '' Bharatendu Yug'' (1868–1900) and ''Dwivedi
Dwivedi or Duvedi or Diwedi or Dubay or Dubey or Dave or Dube or is an Indian surname meaning ''versed in two Vedas''. The surname is used by Brahmins in northern India.
Dubey Title Are also called Dwivedi
Origin of surname
Though the common ass ...
Yug'' (1900–1918) and was followed by the Contemporary Period from 1937 onward.[Hindi Language]
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Chhayavad continued until the latter half of the 1930s, when the golden era of modern Hindi poetry was gradually replaced by social didacticism inspired by rising nationalist fervour. Some of the later poets of this era, like Dinkar, Mahadevi and Bachchan took nationalist and social critiquing within their poetry.
Notable authors
Jaishankar Prasad, Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala', Sumitranandan Pant and Mahadevi VarmaPandit Narendra Sharma
Pandit Narendra Sharma (28 February 1913 – 12 February 1989) was an Indian writer, poet and lyricist in Hindi language. He also wrote some songs for Indian Hindi cinema, like the title song for ''Satyam Shivam Sundaram'' (1979), for which he ...
.
Harivansh Rai Bachchan became excessively critical of Chhayavad later in his career and was associated with other genres like Rahasyavaad, Pragativaad and Haalaavaad.
Notable works
Jaishankar Prasad's Kamayani (1936) is considered an important work of this school, followed by Mahadevi Varma's ''Nihar'' (Mist, 1930) and Harivansh Rai Bachchan's '' Madhushala'' (1935).
Criticism of Chhayavad
Initially, Chhayavad was very well received by readers and critics alike. However, subsequent scholars have criticized Chhayavad for excessive use of decorative language, romanticism aloof from contemporary social and economic malaise, and setting stricter rules on meter and rhyme.
Notes
References
Romantic Poetry in the Era of Convention
Chhayavad study in The Journal of the American Oriental Society, Jul 1, 2001
*1 Now available in Vani Prakashan, New Delhi
Hindi literary movements
Neo-romanticism
20th-century Indian literature
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