Mahendra Bhatnagar (26 June 1926 – 27 April 2020) was an Indian Hindi and English poet. He is seen as one of the significant post-independence voices in his field of poetry, who expressed lyricism and pathos, as well as aspirations and yearnings of the modern Indian intellect.
Early life and education Mahendra Bhatnagar was born in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh at his maternal grandfather's residence on 26 June 1926.
He received primary education in Jhansi, Morar, Gwalior, and Sabalgarh, Morena. He then graduated high school in Gwalior and intermediate at Madhav College in 1941 and 1943 respectively. He finally received his Bachelor of Arts degree at the Victoria College in 1945. After graduating, he pursued his Master's Degree and Doctorate at the Nagpur University in 1948 and 1957 respectively. He also received his teacher's license (L.T.1950) from the Madhya Bharat government.Sabharwal, R.K Bhushan, Concerns and Creation: A Critical Study of Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry (2012), Delhi, Indian Publishers and Distributors.
Career He was selected to become a professor of Hindi Language at Tashkent University in 1978 by the University Grants Commission and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. He was also the principal investigator of the University Grants Commission at the Jiwaji University from 1984 to 1987.Sabharwal, Dr R.K.B, Concerns and Creation. In 1992, he taught at the Indira Gandhi National Open University Teaching Centre. Afterwards, he worked as a chairman and a member of various committees in Indore University, Vikram University, and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University and others.
He also worked in the Light Music of All India Radio as one of the members in the Audition Committees of Drama, and was contracted as a songwriter. He also conducted and directed many literary societies.
Furthermore, he became one of the award-judges at the following places: Bihar Rashtra-Bhasha Parishad, (1981 & 1983), Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan (1983), Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi (1991,1993,1994), and Hindi Sahitya Parishad (2001).Title Pragativadi Kavi Mahendra Bhatnagar Anubhuti Aur Abhivyakti, Author:Madhuri Shukla, Language: Hindi, Year:2005, Binding:HB, Pages:344p,,9788174531995, Subject(s):CriticismINTERVIEW — DR. NEELANSHU AGARWAL – Wildviolet: USAINTERVIEW — Dr. S. C. Dwivedi
Literary Mahendra Bhatnagar is one of the many Indian poets whose literary careers were shaped by poetry in the post-independence of India in the 20th century. His poetic career over the years demonstrates his humanistic vision from beginning to end. His poems reflect not only the moods of a poet but of a complex age. In his works, the thread of his humanistic vision can be seen vividly and he wrote poems to bring about a change in the world. He analyses, interprets, evaluates and describes his emotions in the light of his humanistic vision. For example, his poem "Helplessness" reveals not only his own helplessness, but also of the common people of India: "Thrust upon, undesired life, I lived.Every instant, every step, shame I livedHistory, now you ask me whatFolly and dirtiness of the world, I lived."Mahendra Bhatnagar's Biography He also uses irony to expose the fraud of exploiters, particularly exposing the enemies of the labourers and the peasants of India. With his humanistic vision, he constantly compels the readers to distinguish between power and propriety.LITERARY LEGEND SPEAKS [INTERVIEW] — ANIL SHARMA (CV)
His poems were translated, published and broadcast in many foreign and Indian languages. However, he also edited Hindi literary magazines such as Sandhya and Pratikalpa magazines. He was also the adviser of Poetcrit magazine, and a member of the advisory board of Indian Journal of Postcolonial Literature.Mahendra Bhatnagar in authorsdenSamajik Chetna Ke Shilpi Kavi Mahendra Bhatnagar, Author:Haricharan Sharma, , Publisher:Bohra Publications
Bibliography Eleven volumes of poems in English :Centre for information on language Sciences
Forty Poems of Mahendra Bhatnagar [Selected Poems – 1]Dr._Mahendra_Bhatnagar's_Poetry After The Forty Poems [Selected Poets – 2]After the FortyPoems** : Mahendra Bhatnagar Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry. [Selection Poems – 3] "Exuberance" and other poems.Book Title:Exuberance and Other Poems, (2001). Mahendra Bhatnagar, "Death Perception : Life Perception"'Death-Perception: Life-Perception': A Dialectical Study, Mrs. Purnima Ray, Burdwan (W.B.) "Passion and Compassion"Mahendra Bhatnagar, Passion And Compassion (2005), "Poems : For A Better World"POEMS : FOR A BETTER WORLD (50 Poems) "Lyric-Lute"Lyric – Lute , Mahendra Bhatnagar, Vista International Publishing House (2007), xvii, 275 p, "A Handful of Light"Poetic-Verses "New Enlightened World"An Indian English Poet by Prof. Dr. Suresh Chandra Dwivedi "Dawn to Dusk"
Distinguished Anthologies : "Pomes: For Human Dignity"Multi-dimensional Props in the Poetry of Mahendra Bhatnagar Poems of social harmony & humanism: realistic & visionary aspects - "Life: As It Is"LIFE: AS IT IS [Vol.4], POEMS OF FAITH & OPTIMISM: DELIGHT & PAIN PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE;POET: Mahendra Bhatnagar Poems of faith & optimism : delight & pain/ Philosophy of life - "O, Moon, My Sweet-Hearet!" Love poems - "Sparrow" and other poems Nature poems - "Death and Life"Death-perception: Life Perception, Dr Mahendra Bhatnagar, , (2002), Poems on death-perception : life-perception & Critical Study One volume of translated poems in French - "A Modern Indian Poet : Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : Un Poèt Indien Et Moderne", Indian Publishers Distributors, Pages:292, (2004) Works published in seven volumes in Hindi – three poems (comprising sixteen earlier collections), two critical articles, one on Premchand (Research work) and one from miscellaneous writings.Samasyāmūlaka upanyāsakāra Premacanda Only poetry works published in three volumes in Hindi — "Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar Ki Kavitaa-Gangaa" (18 Collections)
Published research & critical studies : Living Through Challenges : A Study of Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry. [by Dr. B.C. Dwivedy]Title:Living Through Challenges: A Study of Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry, Bairagi Charan Dwivedy, Publisher:Sanjay Prakashan (2006), , 112 pages Poet Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : His Mind And Art. [Edited]Poet Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : his mind and art. Ed: Suresh Chandra Dwivedi, Shubha Dwivedi, Authors:Dwivedi, Suresh Chandra, 1950–, Dwivedi, Shubha. New Delhi : Vista International Pub. House, 2007, Edition:1st ed, Concerns and Creation. [Edited]Named Person:Mahendra Bhatnagar; Mahendra Bhatnagar, Purnima Ray, E-Book : Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry in the eyes of critics. [KedarNath Sharma]E-Book : Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry in the eyes of critics The Poetry of Mahendra Bhatnagar : Realistic & Visionary Aspects. [Edited / forthcoming]Mahendra Bhatnagar Ke Geet, Author: Harish Chander Verma, , , Publisher:Indian Publishers Distributors, Pub. Year:2001, Language: Hindi, Category: Fiction Work in Hindi Kaviśrī (Poems)google Book :Kaviśrī Jujhate hue (Poems)google Book :Jujhate hue
Awards Four times (1952, 1958, 1960, 1985) from the Madhya Pradesh Government Award
References
Further reading STRUGGLING FOR LIFE,199 Poems ENGRAVED ON THE CANVAS OF TIME – Vol. 1,121 Poems ENGRAVED ON THE CANVAS OF TIME – Vol. 2,94 Poems LOVE POEMS,102 Poems NATURE POEMS,63 Poems DEATH AND LIFE,50 Poems & Criticism POET MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR — HIS MIND AND ART, Criticism CONCERNS AND CREATION, Criticism LIVING THROUGH CHALLENGES : A STUDY OF DR. MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR’S POETRY Dr. MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR’S POETRY : IN THE EYES OF CRITICS IN FRENCH . 108 POEMS, Translations