Ramesh Chandra Jha (8 May 1928 – 7 April 1994) was an Indian
poet
A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...
,
novelist
A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...
and
freedom fighter. Son of a senior gandhian and freedom fighter Lakshmi Narayan Jha, who was offered to become the first chief minister of
Bihar
Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West Be ...
but refused as he called himself a freedom fighter then a politician. His grandson
Sanjeev K Jha
Sanjeev K Jha (born 1988) is an Indian screenwriter based in Mumbai. He started his career as a freelance journalist and worked with The Indian Express, Jansatta, Hindustan HT Media, Dainik Jagran and Outlook.
His first Hindi feature as Story ...
is well-known
Screenwriter
A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based.
...
who is working in Indian film industry. Ramesh Chandra Jha's poems,
ghazal
The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...
s and stories evoke patriotism and human values. Romanticism and struggle of life are also important aspects of his writing. His poetry expresses concerns of people's life struggle, their dreams and hopes.
His research published as ''Apne Aur Sapne : A Literary Journey Of Champaran'' in the 1960s traced the rich literary heritage of
Champaran in
Bihar
Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West Be ...
and noted the upcoming young poets such as Dinesh Bhramar and Pandey Ashutosh.
Life history
Ramesh Chandra Jha was born on 8 May 1928 in Fulwariya village of
Sugauli
Sugauli is a city and a notified area in East Champaran district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the setting for Rudyard Kipling's story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" (spelled as "Segowlee" in said story), and the place where a treaty was signed with N ...
in
East Champaran district
East Champaran is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India.The district headquarters are located at Motihari. Prior to 1st Dec 1977, there was a single district called "Champaran". On 1st Dec 1977, the district was divided into 2 ...
, known as
Motihari
Motihari is the headquarters of East Champaran district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Bihar. It is located District entry point and New City 40.09 kilometres Northeast Mehsi. north of the state capital Patna.
Geograp ...
,
Bihar
Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West Be ...
. His father, Laxmi Narayan Jha, was a well-known patriot and freedom fighter who fought against
British rule and was arrested many times, including on 15 April 1917 when
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...
visited Champaran for his
Satyagrah
Satyagraha ( sa, सत्याग्रह; ''satya'': "truth", ''āgraha'': "insistence" or "holding firmly to"), or "holding firmly to truth",' or "truth force", is a particular form of nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. Someone ...
movement. That incident inspired the son to become rebellious and he was convicted of robbery at the age of 14. Even Ramesh Jha created various chaos inside of the jail and become problematic for British officers.
Life as Freedom Fighter
Jha was not just a patriotic poet but went to jail many times during British rule because of his involvement in the
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Kranti Movement, was a movement launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8th August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British rule in ...
. He was student of Hazarimal High School,
Raxaul
Raxaul is a sub-divisional town in the East Champaran district of the Indian state of Bihar. It is situated at the India-Nepal border with Birgunj city (Nepal). Raxaul is a major railway junction.
The Indian border town of Raxaul has become one ...
that time and was entrapped into several cases of the robbery at police stations during freedom struggle. In his school days he led student protest and was later thrown out from the school.
S. R. Bakshi and Ritu Chaturvedi in his research based book have said that
Renowned litterateur
Kanhiyalal Prabhakar Mishra writes about Ramesh Chandra Jha in the preface to a book, "The history of Ramesh Chandra Jha and his family is like laughing aloud in the face of ruin during the freedom struggle. He is among those who themselves put handcuffs to break the shackles of slavery. He also enjoyed the life of a dreaded absconder and is among those who did not get freedom but earned it."
While serving his jail term, he was drawn to reading Indian and world literature. After coming out of prison, he became a poet and author instead of joining any political party.
Honours and awards
* 15 August 1972, on the 25th anniversary of Indian independence,
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (; Given name, ''née'' Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and a central figure of the Indian National Congress. She was elected as third prime minister of India in 1966 ...
awarded him with Tamra Patra for his participation in the Indian freedom struggle.
* Awarded by Dr Uday Narayan Tiwari Award on 2 October 1993 at the National Bhojpuri Language Summit in
Raniganj,
West Bengal
West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...
.
Ramesh Chandra Jha Memorial Award
On 04-5 March 2016 on the occasion of completing 200 years of
Treaty of Sugauli
The Treaty of Sugauli (also spelled Sugowlee, Sagauli and Segqulee), the treaty that established the boundary line of Nepal, was signed on 4 March 1816 between the East India Company and Guru Gajaraj Mishra following the Anglo-Nepalese War ...
BHOR Organization had conducted Sugauli Sandhi Samaroh 2016. In this festival an important historical book about Sugauli and its past, ''Swadheenta Samar Mein Sugauli'', had been launched and the ''Ramesh Chandra Jha Smriti Samman'' for writer and journalist had been awarded.
On 4 March 2016 the journalist Arvind Mohan, ex-DGP (
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
) and the former Vice-Chancellor of
Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya
Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya is a central university located in Wardha, Maharashtra, India.
History
The university began through an Act of Parliament which received the assent of the President on 8 January 1997. The ...
,
Vibhuti Narain Rai, along with many other special guests, launched Ramesh Chandra Jha's historical book titled ''Swadheenta Samar Mein Sugauli''.
Bhor Charitable Trust conducted 2nd Bhor Literature Festival 2017 on the occasion of 100 Years of famous Gandhi's Champaran Satyagrah. This event was held at historical Phulwaria village (Birth Place of Ramesh Chandra Jha) of Champaran on 15–16 April 2017, during the festival 2nd Ramesh Chandra Jha Smriti Samman was given to
Laxmi Shankar Bajpai. Bhor has Started ''Guruvar Dinesh Chandra Jha'' Bhor Rural olympiad. BRO for rural school children. In the year 2017 it has given to 12 students of Champaran region. ''Guruvar Dinesh Chandra Jha'' was the renowned teacher and younger brother of Ramesh Chandra Jha.
Major literary works
Poetry Collection (काव्य-संग्रह)
*Murlika, (मुरलिका)
*Priyamvada (प्रियंवदा-खण्ड काव्य),
*Swagatika, (स्वगातिका)
*Megh-geet, (मेघ-गीत)
*Aag-phool, (आग-फूल)
*Bharat Desh Humara, (भारत देश हमारा)
*Jawaan Jagte Raho, (जवान जागते रहो)
*Marichika, (मरीचिका)
*Jai Bharat Jai Gandhi, (जय भारत जय गांधी)
*Jai Bolo Hindustan Ki, (जय बोलो हिन्दुस्तान की)
*Priyadarshni (प्रियदर्शनी-श्रद्धा काव्य)
*Deep Jalta Raha, (दीप चलता रहा)
*Challo-Dilli, (चलो-दिल्ली)
*Neel Ke Daag (नील के दाग)
Historical Novel (ऐतिहासिक उपन्यास)
*Durg Ka Ghera (दुर्ग का घेरा)
्र० व०- 1958,सुभाष पुस्तक मंडल, बनारस*Majaar Ka Diya, (मजार का दीया)
्र० व०- 1962, चौधरी एंड संस, बनारस*Mitti Bol Uthi (मिट्टी बोल उठी)
्र० व०- 1962, चौधरी एंड संस, बनारस*Rao-Hammir, (राव हम्मीर)
्र० व०- 1963, सुभाष पुस्तक मंडल, बनारस*Vatsraj,
*Kunvar Singh, (कुंवर सिंह)
*Kaling Ka Lahu (कलिंग का लहू)
Patriotic Work (राष्ट्रीय साहित्य)
*Yah Desh Hai Veer Jawanon Ka (Poetry Collection)
(यह देश है वीर जवानों का)
*Swadheenta Samar Mein:Sugauli (Prose) (स्वाधीनता समर में:सुगौली)
Social-Political Novel (सामाजिक-राजनीतिक उपन्यास)
*Dharti Ki Dhool (धरती की धुल)
*Jeevan-Daan (जीवन-दान)
्र० व०- 1955, चौधरी एंड संस, कलकत्ता*Roop Ki Rakh (रूप की राख)
*Paas Ki Duri (पास की दूरी)
*Meera Nachi Re (मीरा नाची रे)
*Kaante Aur Kaliyan (काँटे और कलियाँ)
ुभाष पुस्तक मंडल, बनारस
Children's Literature (बाल साहित्य)
*Sone Ka Kangan (सोने का कंगन)
*Chanda Ka Doot (चंदा का दूत)
*Bandar Lala (बन्दर लाला)
*Kehte Chalo Sunte Chalo (कहते चलो सुनते चलो)
*Inse Sikho Inse Jano (इनसे सीखो इनसे जानो)
*Kavita Bhari Kahaani (कविता भरी कहानी)
*Naya Desh Nai Kahani (नया देश नई कहानी)
*Gata Chal Bajata Chal (गाता चल बजाता चल)
*Kaisi Rahi Kahaani (कैसी रही कहानी)
*Aao Suno Kahaani (आओ सुनो कहानी)
*Ek Samay Ki Baat(Novel) (एक समय की बात)
*Aage Kadam Badhao (आगे कदम बढाओ)
*Bachho Suno Kahaani (बच्चो सुनो कहानी)
*Aao Padhte Jao (आओ पढ़ते जाओ)
Autobiographical Novel (आत्मकथात्मक उपन्यास)
*Vidyapati (विद्यापति)
*Bharat Putri (भारत-पुत्री)
Research Work (शोध कार्य)
*Champaran Ki Sahitya Sadhana (चम्पारन की साहित्य साधना) (1958)
*Apne Aur Sapne:A Literary Journey Of Champaran (अपने और सपने: चम्पारन की साहित्य यात्रा) (1988)
*Champaran:Literature & Literary Writers (चम्पारन: साहित्य और साहित्यकार) (1967)
Bhojpuri Novel (भोजपुरी उपन्यास)
*Surma Sagun Bichare Na (भोजपुरी का पहला धारावाहिक उपन्यास)
See also
*
List of Indian poets
This list of Indian poets consists of poets of Indian ethnic, cultural or religious ancestry either born in India or emigrated to India from other regions of the world.
Assamese
* Amulya Barua (1922–1946), first published posthumously in 1 ...
*
List of Indian writers
*
Bihari literature
*
List of people from Bihar
References
External links
ALL INDIA RADIO OFFICIAL
उन्नीस सौ बयालीस का बाग़ी : Short DocumentaryRamesh Chandra Jha Bhojpuri Ghazal on Kavita KoshApne Aur Sapne : A Literery Journey Of ChamparanPoemHunter.comHumaraBiharsuggestmeone
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jha, Ramesh Chandra
1928 births
1994 deaths
Indian male poets
Poets from Bihar
20th-century Indian poets
Bhojpuri-language writers
Hindi-language writers
Hindi-language poets
Indian independence activists from Bihar
20th-century Indian novelists
Hindi novelists
Novelists from Bihar
People from East Champaran district
20th-century Indian male writers