Indian Poets

• The history of poetry in India can be traced back to the Vedic times. One thing that sets Indian poetry apart is the diversity that comes with the variety in languages.
• From Kalidas to Kabir, and Tulsidas to the great Tagore, every single poet in India has left his or her impression on the soil of Indian poetry. All have their own legacies, and together, they have brought Indian literature where it is today.

Here is a small insight into the life and works of some these great poets:

Poets	Description
Sarojini Naidu	1. Sarojini Naidu, known as the Nightingale of India, was an Indian freedom fighter and acclaimed poetess. 2. She was also the first woman to become the governor of an Indian state. 3. She was born in Hyderabad in 1879. Her poems are famous for the melodic style they are written in. 4. Some of her popular books are A Golden Threshold and The Feather of the Dawn.
Kabir	1. This 15th-century mystic poet Kabir penned poems in Hindi and wrote on various aspects of life and faith. 2. A respected saint, Kabir was known for being critical of religion as it existed at the time – primarily Hinduism and Islam, and the various rituals they came with. 3. His work echoed his criticism and philosophy on what constitutes true devotion.
Kalidasa	1. The greatest Sanskrit language poet in India, Kalidas is widely said to have been from the 5th-century. 2. His two-epic works of poetry, Kumārasambhava and Raghuvamsa are among the most revered in Indian literature to this day. 3. His work primarily revolved around themes and stories from the ancient religious texts of the Vedas and the Puranas.
Ghalib	1. The most influential poets in Urdu, Ghalib wrote during the last years of the Mughal Empire in India. 2. He started composing poetry at the age of 11, and was well versed in Urdu, Persian, Turkish and Arabic.
Mirabai	1. Born in 1498, Mirabai’s mystic poetry is remembered mostly for its devotion to the Hindu deity, Krishna. 2. Her poems explore topics of divinity, mysticism and love, and have been highly influential in setting the tone for literature for centuries to come.
Rabindranath Tagore	1. Rabindra Nath Tagore was one of the greatest writers in the history of Indian literature. 2. Tagore was the first Indian poet to gain a permanent place in the canon of world literature. 3. Gitanjali is considered as his masterpiece and his mostfamous collection is The Gardener, Fruit Gathering, Fugitive etc.
Harivansh Rai Bachchan	1. Harivansh Rai Bachchan is one of the most celebrated poets of the country. 2. He was a noted poet of the Nayi Kavita, which marked again in romantic poetry, in the early 20th century. 3. Manna Dey sang the musical version of “Madhushala”.
Shanta Shelke	1. Shantabai Shelke was a noted poetess and writer of the Marathi language. 2. Her works include song compositions, stories-especially for children-and translations. 3. During her career, she also worked for the Film Censor Board in Mumbai and the Theatre Examination Board.
Gulzar	1. Known by his pen name Gulzar, Sampooran Singh Kalra is perhaps the most famous living Indian poet. 2. Gulzar build grew as he wrote lyrics for some of the best-known Hindi songs. 3. He worked with some of the greatest Indian music directors producingtimeless classics which continue to be popular all over India. 4. In 2014, Gulzar received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Oscar and a Grammy. 5. Famous Songs: – Tujhse Naraz Nahin Zindagi Tere Bina Zindagi Se

Interesting Facts:

• When Munshi Premchand was 7 years old, he began his education at a madrasa in Lalpur where he learnt Urdu and Persian from a maulvi.
• Rabindranath Tagore opposed the Swadeshi movement and urged the masses to avoid victimology and instead seek self-help and education.
• Bollywood director Vishal Bhardwaj made a film based on Ruskin Bond’s popular novel for children, The Blue Umbrella. The movie won the National Award for Best Children’s film.
• Ruskin Bond made his maiden big screen appearance with a cameo in Vishal Bhardwaj’s film ‘7 Khoon Maaf’, based on his short story ‘Susanna’s Seven Husbands’.
• Khushwant Singh’s father Sobha Singh, also known as adhi dilli da Malik, was the sole contractor who built South Block, Indian gate, Connaught place and many other buildings in Lutyens’s Delhi.
• An aunt of Mulk raj Anand was excommunicated by the family for sharing a meal with a Muslim woman. She committed suicide and that prompted Mulk raj Anand to write his first prose essay.