Kaka Hathrasi
Encyclopedia
Kaka Hathrasi (September 18, 1906 - September 18, 1995) was a noted Hindi
satirist and humorist poet of India. His real name was Prabhu Dayal Garg, though he wrote under the pen name
Kaka Hathrasi, after his home town Hathras
, and published over 42 collections of humorous verse, in all. He established in 1932, Sangeet Karyalaya (initially Garg and Co.), a noted publishing company for books on Indian classical music and dance, and subsequently in 1935, also started publishing a monthly magazine Sangeet, both in Hathras.
He was awarded Padma Shri
by Government of India
in 1985. Today, each year, the Delhi-based "Hindi Academy" awards the annual Kaka Hathrasi Award for outstanding contribution in the literary field.
, a town in Hathras district (present Mahamaya Nagar district
) in Uttar Pradesh
. Kaka wrote very sharp satires on social, religious and political evils, greed and corruption engulfing India at that time. Kaka's unique style of humour and satire earned him rare popularity which inspired a whole crop of new humourists.
King of humorous poetry, Kaka Hathrasi was honored by the President of India with the Padma Shri award in 1985. He was a legendary poet – known as “जन-कवि ” or “the people's poet” who regaled Hindi-speaking audiences for over four decades with his humorous and satirical poems. The secret of his popularity lies in the simple, colloquial language of his verse, easily enjoyed by young and old. He had 42 books of humorous verse to his credit. Wherever he recited his poems, capacity audiences in auditoriums were consumed with laughter for hours. Kaka raised the popularity of humor and satire to unprecedented heights, both at home and abroad. Kaka was also a renowned musicologist and a fine painter.
A radio programme featuring Kaka Hathrasi, titled "Meethi Meethi Hasaiyan : सवाल आपके जवाब काका हाथरसी के was broadcasted for almost 11 years (total 786 programmes) creating a record of the longest-running programme in India. It was anchored by Romendra Sagar and Reeta Kapoor. Though not confirmed, it reportedly was mentioned in the Limca Book Of Records.
In the year 1932, Kaka established Sangeet Karyalaya, originally known as Garg and Co., at Hathras. Its main goal was to revive and breathe new life in Indian classical music which at that time was closeted in palaces and temples, with access limited only to the rich and affluent. Kaka decided to bring it to the common man by engaging himself in extensive research and detailed study on this great art form. He painstakingly gathered works of great artists and kings in various languages and analyzed and rewrote those classics in the language of the layman.
In 1935, Kaka started a monthly magazine Sangeet under the banner of Sangeet Karyalaya. "Sangeet" elaborated on the nuances and intricacies of various classical forms of music such as dhrupad, dhamaar, thumri, taraanaa etc., and popular forms such as geet, ghazal, quawwali, folk music and film music. After 75 years of its first publication, "Sangeet" still continues to spread the message of Indian music far and wide making it one of the longest-running monthly magazines of India. Sangeet Karyalaya today under Dr. Laxmi Narayan Garg, son of Kaka Hathrasi, is one of the largest publishing houses in India engaged in publishing literature on Indian classical music and dance. He published his autobiography, Mera Jeevan : A-One in 1993.
Kaka started "Kaka Hathrasi Puraskaar", a prestigious award that is given annually to the best humorous poet/writer of the year and "Kaka Hathrasi Sangeet Sammaan" given to a distinguished musician/musicologist. Ashok Chakradhar
, another renowned Hindi poet of India, is his relative, married to Kaka's niece.
Maybe it was a coincidence, or maybe it was Kaka’s last joke, that he died on his birthday, September 18 in year 1995 at the age of 89. September 18 was declared “Hasya Divas” (Humour Day) in his memory and a park in New Delhi was named “Kaka Hathrasi Udyaan.”
Kaka’s formula for good health:
भोजन आधा पेट कर, दुगुना पानी पी,
तिगुना श्रम, चौगुन हंसी, वर्ष सवासौ जी
(Eat until you are half full, drink twice as much water, work three times that much, and laugh four times as much. Then you will live to be a hundred and twenty-five.)
Poetry
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
satirist and humorist poet of India. His real name was Prabhu Dayal Garg, though he wrote under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Kaka Hathrasi, after his home town Hathras
Hathras
Hathras is a city and a municipal board in Mahamaya Nagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the headquarters of the district that was created on 3 May 1997 by incorporating parts of Aligarh, Mathura and Agra districts. It forms a part of Aligarh Division...
, and published over 42 collections of humorous verse, in all. He established in 1932, Sangeet Karyalaya (initially Garg and Co.), a noted publishing company for books on Indian classical music and dance, and subsequently in 1935, also started publishing a monthly magazine Sangeet, both in Hathras.
He was awarded Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
by Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
in 1985. Today, each year, the Delhi-based "Hindi Academy" awards the annual Kaka Hathrasi Award for outstanding contribution in the literary field.
Biography
He was born on 18 September 1906 in HathrasHathras
Hathras is a city and a municipal board in Mahamaya Nagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the headquarters of the district that was created on 3 May 1997 by incorporating parts of Aligarh, Mathura and Agra districts. It forms a part of Aligarh Division...
, a town in Hathras district (present Mahamaya Nagar district
Mahamaya Nagar District
Mahamaya Nagar district , earlier known as Hathras district, is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India. The town of Hathras is the district headquarters. Mahamaya Nagar district is a part of Aligarh Division. This district occupies an area of 1800.1 km²...
) in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. Kaka wrote very sharp satires on social, religious and political evils, greed and corruption engulfing India at that time. Kaka's unique style of humour and satire earned him rare popularity which inspired a whole crop of new humourists.
King of humorous poetry, Kaka Hathrasi was honored by the President of India with the Padma Shri award in 1985. He was a legendary poet – known as “जन-कवि ” or “the people's poet” who regaled Hindi-speaking audiences for over four decades with his humorous and satirical poems. The secret of his popularity lies in the simple, colloquial language of his verse, easily enjoyed by young and old. He had 42 books of humorous verse to his credit. Wherever he recited his poems, capacity audiences in auditoriums were consumed with laughter for hours. Kaka raised the popularity of humor and satire to unprecedented heights, both at home and abroad. Kaka was also a renowned musicologist and a fine painter.
A radio programme featuring Kaka Hathrasi, titled "Meethi Meethi Hasaiyan : सवाल आपके जवाब काका हाथरसी के was broadcasted for almost 11 years (total 786 programmes) creating a record of the longest-running programme in India. It was anchored by Romendra Sagar and Reeta Kapoor. Though not confirmed, it reportedly was mentioned in the Limca Book Of Records.
In the year 1932, Kaka established Sangeet Karyalaya, originally known as Garg and Co., at Hathras. Its main goal was to revive and breathe new life in Indian classical music which at that time was closeted in palaces and temples, with access limited only to the rich and affluent. Kaka decided to bring it to the common man by engaging himself in extensive research and detailed study on this great art form. He painstakingly gathered works of great artists and kings in various languages and analyzed and rewrote those classics in the language of the layman.
In 1935, Kaka started a monthly magazine Sangeet under the banner of Sangeet Karyalaya. "Sangeet" elaborated on the nuances and intricacies of various classical forms of music such as dhrupad, dhamaar, thumri, taraanaa etc., and popular forms such as geet, ghazal, quawwali, folk music and film music. After 75 years of its first publication, "Sangeet" still continues to spread the message of Indian music far and wide making it one of the longest-running monthly magazines of India. Sangeet Karyalaya today under Dr. Laxmi Narayan Garg, son of Kaka Hathrasi, is one of the largest publishing houses in India engaged in publishing literature on Indian classical music and dance. He published his autobiography, Mera Jeevan : A-One in 1993.
Kaka started "Kaka Hathrasi Puraskaar", a prestigious award that is given annually to the best humorous poet/writer of the year and "Kaka Hathrasi Sangeet Sammaan" given to a distinguished musician/musicologist. Ashok Chakradhar
Ashok Chakradhar
Ashok Chakradhar at Aheerpada Khurja, BulandshaharAshok Chakradhar is widely been regarded as the greatest of the latest of Indian poets, his writings and his recitations are like nonetheless of an devout like an Ameen Sayani on radio ceylon and Vividh Bharti he's a leading Hindi poet...
, another renowned Hindi poet of India, is his relative, married to Kaka's niece.
Maybe it was a coincidence, or maybe it was Kaka’s last joke, that he died on his birthday, September 18 in year 1995 at the age of 89. September 18 was declared “Hasya Divas” (Humour Day) in his memory and a park in New Delhi was named “Kaka Hathrasi Udyaan.”
Kaka’s formula for good health:
भोजन आधा पेट कर, दुगुना पानी पी,
तिगुना श्रम, चौगुन हंसी, वर्ष सवासौ जी
(Eat until you are half full, drink twice as much water, work three times that much, and laugh four times as much. Then you will live to be a hundred and twenty-five.)
Works
- Kaka Tarang. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd., 2005. ISBN 8171825133.
- Kaka Ki Chaupal. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd., 2006, ISBN 8171827543.
- Jai Bolo Baiman Ki, Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd., 2006. ISBN 8128806939.
- Mera Jeevan : A-One (Autobiography), Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd., 1993. ISBN 8128810154.
External links
- Sangeet Karyalaya, website,
- Short biography on Hathras Online
- Brief introduction and a large collection of poems at IndiaWorld on the Net
Poetry