Isuri (1838—1909) is a
Bundeli
Bundeli ( Devanagari: बुन्देली or बुंदेली; or Bundelkhandi) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Bundelkhand region of central India. It belongs to the Central Indo-Ayran languages and is part of the Western ...
poet from
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand (, ) is a geographical and cultural region and a proposed state and also a mountain range in central & North India. The hilly region is now divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with the larger portion lyin ...
region. He is credited with having composed over a thousand Phaag, a form of folk songs.
The poetic works of Isuri have gained widespread acclaim among the people of the Bundelkhand region. His four-lined compositions, known as Chaukaria Phag, have become integral to the local folk musical tradition of the
Bundelkhand region and
Madhya Pradesh.
Life
Isuri was born in the village of Mendki in the present-day
Mauranipur
Mauranipur is a town and a municipal board in Jhansi district state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Jhansi District. It is the largest tehsils in India by land area. This town was known for textile production, known in anci ...
tehsil of
Jhansi district in the state of Uttar Pradesh. He was popularly known as Isuri Babba. His full name was Hartal Isuri or Isuri Prasad. He was a contemporary of Pandit Gangadhar Vyas during the
Bharatendu era.
Isuri's father was named Bholanath Arjariya. After losing his parents in childhood, he was raised in his maternal grandmother's house. His ancestors originated from the
Orchha State and later settled in Mendki village. The house where Isuri lived still stands in Mendki village of Mauranipur tehsil.
He chose to write about the ongoing situation, creating awareness among the people of Bundelkhand against
British rule. His romantic poetry was inspired by a girl named Rajjo or Rajau. Isuri also wrote about the culture and traditions of Bundelkhand.
His works are recognized for their authentic representation of rural culture and beauty.
[Lok Sahitya Evam Lok Sanskruti, Editor: Dr. Rajkumar Singh, Edition: First, 2012, Publisher: Ashish Publication, Kanpur, Page: 205, .]
Numerous books featuring collections of Isuri's poetry and phaag have been published by various government and literary organizations, including
Sahitya Akademi, Bundelkhand Sahitya Akademi,
Adivasi Lok Kala Academy, and Madhya Pradesh Sanskrit Parishad.
Legend
In 2013, the
Madhya Pradesh School of Drama
The Madhya Pradesh School of Drama or MPSD, is a theatre training institute situated at Bhopal, India. It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 2011 by the cabinet of Madhya Pradesh.
The d ...
(MPSD) students performed the play ''Hansa Ud Chal Des'', depicting the life of Isuri, at the Ravindra Bhavan Auditorium, Bhopal.
A research institute, Isuri Shodh Sansthan, was established in his village Mendki, but due to government neglect, it has since been closed.
Under the
Madhya Pradesh government, the Madhya Pradesh Sahitya Academy has established the Isuri Puraskar, an annual literary award recognizing writers or poets for their noteworthy contributions to Bundeli folk poetry and literature.
References
External links
बुन्देलखण्ड में ईसुरी का फागुन !बुन्देली बोली के कवि ईसुरी की याद
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isuri
1838 births
1909 deaths
Poets from British India
People from Jhansi district
Bundelkhand