Nathuram Sharma ( hi, नाथूराम शर्मा; 1859–1932), better known by his pen-name Mahakavi Shankar ( hi, शंकर), was a Hindi and Urdu poet from Harduaganj, Aligarh, North-Western Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), British India. He worked with the Irrigation Department at

Kanpur Kanpur or Cawnpore ( /kɑːnˈpʊər/ pronunciation (help·info)) is an industrial city in the central-western part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Founded in 1207, Kanpur became one of the most important commercial and military stations o ...

and subsequently as an Ayurvedic physician. His poetic works are primarily in the dialects of

Braj Bhasha The Braj language, ''Braj Bhasha'', also known as Vraj Bhasha or Vrij Bhasha or Braj Bhāṣā or Braji or Brij Bhasha or Braj Boli, is a Western Hindi language. Along with Awadhi (a variety of Eastern Hindi), it was one of the two predominant ...

and Khariboli. He was a writer of Modern Period.

Early life

Shankar was born in 1859 in Harduaganj, Aligarh, North-Western Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), British India, and received his early education at the local primary school. In 1874, when he was a student of the Middle Class, English Educational Inspector E. T. Constable inspected the school. Constable was impressed with his talent and knowledge and commented in the inspection book: "Nathuram is an intelligent student, full of promise." Shankar knew Sanskrit and Persian as well as Hindi and Urdu. He was a contributor to ''Saraswati'', the literary journal of Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi.

Poetic works

Shankar's poetic works include: ''Anurag ratna'', ''Shankar saroj'', ''Garbhranda rahasya'', ''Gitavali'', ''Kavita kunj'', ''Doha'', ''Samasyapurtiyan'', ''Vividh rachnayen'', ''Kalit kalewar'' and ''Shankar Satsai''. Influenced by the

Arya Samaj Arya Samaj ( hi, आर्य समाज, lit=Noble Society, ) is a monotheistic Indian Hindu reform movement that promotes values and practices based on the belief in the infallible authority of the Vedas. The samaj was founded by the sanny ...

movement, he was a social reformer who used his mastery of language effectively to this purpose. He was referred to as Mahakavi meaning Great Poet.

Death

Shankar died on 21 August 1932 at Harduaganj, Aligarh, North-Western Provinces, British India.

Lineage

Shankar was the father of Hindi poet

Hari Shankar Sharma Hari Shankar Sharma (1891–1968) was a Hindi and Urdu poet from Harduaganj, Aligarh, India. He was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India, in 1966. Biography Hari Shanka Sharma was born in Harduaganj, Aligarh, North-Western Provinc ...

, grandfather of Hindi poet and writer

Kripa Shankar Sharma Kripa Shankar Sharma was a Hindi poet from Morena, Madhya Pradesh. Biography Kripa Shanka Sharma was born in Harduaganj, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. He spent 6 months in jail for 1942's non-cooperation movement headed by Mahatma Gandhi. He wrote ...

and great-grandfather of Hindi poet

Indira Indu Indira Indu was a Hindi poet from Morena, Madhya Pradesh, India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most pop ...

References

''History of Indian Literature: 1911–1956, Struggle for freedom: triumph and tragedy''
Sisir Kumar Das (ed.), Sahitya Akademi: New Delhi (1995), p. 199, *''Mahakavi shankara Smratiai Grantha'' which -Published by Mahakavi Sankar Smarka Samiti, Harduaganj (Aligarh), in 1986.Mahākavi Śaṅkara-smr̥ti-grantha (1986): Commemoration volume for Nāthūrāmaśaṅkara Śarmā, 1859–1932, Hindi poet; comprises articles on his life and works. https://books.google.com/books?id=d4VjAAAAMAAJ *''Nathurama Sharma Shankar ki kavya-sadhana'' by Vasanti Salavekara & Published by-Vinaya Prakashan in 1994Nāthūrāma Śarmā Śaṅkara kī kāvya-sādhanā (1994): Study of the works of Nāthūrāmaśaṅkara Śarmā, 1859–1932, Hindi poet. https://books.google.com/books?id=M1R0AAAAIAAJ *''Vaidik Geetanjali'' by Deshraj Singh & Published by- Mahakavi Sankar Smarka Samiti, Harduaganj (Aligarh)in 2013

External links