Hazari Prasad Dwivedi

Born On: August 19, 1907
Born In: Uttar Pradesh, India
Died On: May 19, 1979
Career: Writer, Critic, Historian, Scholar
Nationality: Indian

Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, later referred to as 'Acharya' Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, was a very popular writer and critic of Hindi literature. He is known for the numerous novels and essays that he has contributed to Hindi literature. An eminent scholar, he was also one of the best critics that Hindi literature has witnessed. Moreover, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi had an in-depth knowledge about the evolution and the history of the Hindi language, a factor which largely contributed to his rich collection of writings in Hindi. Go through the following lines to know more about his life and childhood.

Early Life
Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was born on August 19, 1907 in the small village of Arat-Dubeka Chhapra in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. It was here that he spent the maximum part of his childhood years. When Hazari Prasad Dwivedi took up the profession of teaching in his later life, he settled in a number of places from Santiniketan to Benaras and Chandigarh.

Education and Career
After completing his school studies from Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi passed the Shastri examination from the Sanskrit University. On November 18, 1930 Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was appointed a teacher of the Hindi department at Santiniketan. His association with the university town Santiniketan continued till the year 1950. After 1950, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was appointed as a teacher and subsequently, became the head of the department of Hindi at the Benaras Hindu University and the Punjab University located in Chandigarh. While he continued with his activities as a scholar in universities spread all over India, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi also spent a large part of his time composing novels and essays of his own. Besides writing, he was also one of the most important critics of Hindi works published during his time. In an attempt to reach out to the masses through his works, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi began to participate actively in programs arranged by the government of India.

'Banbhatta Ki Atmakatha' (which later became one of the most famous novels in Hindi literature), 'Punarnava', 'Charuchandra Lekh' and 'Anamdas Ka Potha' are some of the most popular works by Hazari Prasad Dwivedi in this genre. His writings 'Hindi Sahitya Ki Bhumika' and 'Hindi Sahitya Ka Aadial' are two books which reflect 'Acharya' Hazari Prasad Dwivedi's profound knowledge on the evolution and history of the Hindi language. He was also a brilliant essay writer and gave to the Hindi language some wonderful collection of essays. 'Kutaj', Nakhoon Kyon Barhte Hain' and 'Ashok Ke Phool' are a few unforgettable essays penned by Hazari Prasad Dwivedi. His books were so valuable to the enrichment of the Hindi language that a large number of copies of his writings derived from archives were donated to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts by Hazari Prasad Dwivedi's children.

Awards
The government of India conferred the civilian award Padma Bhushan to Hazari Prasad Dwivedi in the year 1957 to celebrate his contributions in the world of Hindi literature. In 1973, 'Acharya' Hazari Prasad Dwivedi received the Sahitya Akademi Award for the collection of essays 'Alok Parva'.

Death
'Acharya' Hazari Prasad Dwivedi died on May 19, 1979 leaving behind an enriching collection of writings in Hindi. He was staying in Delhi at the time of his death.

Timeline
1907: Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was born on August 19.
1930: Appointed Hindi teacher at Santiniketan.
1950: The end of his term in Santiniketan.
1957: Was awarded the Padma Bhushan.
1973: Won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his essays 'Alok Parva'.
1979: He died on May 19.