Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a Hindi poet who played a significant role in the movement of Hindi literature towards neo-romanticism. His most famous work is “Madhushala”.
Born on 27 November 1907 as Harivansh Rai Shrivastav in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, he is famously the father of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan. He studied at Allahabad University, Banaras Hindu University and later at Cambridge. During his stint at the External Affairs Ministry of India, he was instrumental in Hindi becoming the official language of India.
Lines penned by him have been set to tune by the likes of Jaidev, Shiv-Hari and Raghunath Seth and sung by K.J. Yesudas, Ranu Mukherjee and Hemant Kumar. “Saanj Khile Bhor Jharey” from “Phir Bhi” (1972), “Koi Gaata Main So Jaata” from “Aalap” (1977) and “Rang Barse” from “Silsila” (1981) are all songs written by him.
He died on 18 January 2003 at the age of 95.
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