Noted freedom fighter, literary person, journalist and former editor of Panchjanya, Rashtradhrama and Tarun Bharat, Vachnesh Tripathi passed away in Lucknow on November 30. He was 92. He is survived by three sons-Pramod, Suryasen and Veersen who are also noted writers. His wife, Smt. Gayatri Devi, had passed away long back.
He was cremated at Baikuntha Dham crematorium (Bhainsa Kunda) in Lucknow the same day. A large number of Sangh workers, local journalists, writers, literary persons and leading personalities of Lucknow were present on the occasion.
Born on January 24, 1914 at Sandila in Hardoi, the original name of Vachnesh Tripathi was Pushkar Nath Tripathi. It was noted revolutionary leader Pt. Devnarayan Bharati of Shahjahanpur who named him as Vachnesh Tripathi. Despite having education till just 12th standard, Vachneshji had extraordinary talent. It is because of this talent, the then Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri K.M. Munshi honoured him with ?Sahityaratn? award of Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag. He came into contact of RSS in his young age and was also Tehsil Karyavah of Sandila. He had completed second Year OTC in 1945.
After 1949, he assisted Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee in editing Panchjanya and Swadesh for five years in Lucknow. Later he worked as editors of Tarun Bharat, Panchjanya and Rashtradharma. He was also a contributor of PTI and other newspapers. He was a member of All India Editor Conference. He wrote more than 10,000 articles, 200 brief biographies, 500 poems on revolutionaries and freedom fighters. He also authord more than 50 books.
Due to his extraordinary talent in writing, he was honoured with the title of ?Sahityendu? by leading Hindi literary persons like the late Pt Sohanlal Divvedi, Dr Vasudev Singh and Dr Kunwar Prakash Singh. He was also honoured with Manas Sangam Kanpur, Delhi Sahitya Academy, Navodit Sahityakar Parishad Lucknow, Shahid Pt. Ram Prasad Bismil Smriti Samman and Dr Hedgewar Prajna Samman. Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan also honouerd him with ?Sahityabhushan? and ?Avantibai Samman?. The Government of India also honoued with with ?Padmshri? on January 26, 2001.
