Rashtra Kavi Maithili Sharan Gupt
New Delhi: On the birth anniversary of Rashtra Kavi Maithili Sharan Gupt, India remembers one of Hindi literature’s most influential poets, whose writings reflected a deep love for the nation, Indian culture, traditions and the Hindi language. Born on August 3, 1886, in Chirgaon in present-day Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Gupt emerged as a powerful literary voice who helped establish Khari Boli Hindi as a significant medium of poetic expression.
Born into the family of Seth Ramcharan Das Kankane, Gupt grew up in a prosperous household engaged in zamindari and the ghee trade. He was sent to MacDonald’s School in Jhansi, where children from affluent families often received English education. Yet, his strong attachment to Indian traditions and culture led him to leave the school and return to Chirgaon. Thereafter, he continued his education at home and developed proficiency in Sanskrit and Bengali.
Gupt’s literary abilities were nurtured under the guidance of Munshi Ajmeri. His association with Acharya Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, who was then working as a telegraph operator in Jhansi, proved particularly significant for his literary journey. Under Dwivedi’s influence, Gupt began writing poetry in Khari Boli. While he spoke Bundelkhandi in everyday life, his literary works were marked by refined and powerful Hindi. His writings carried a strong sense of national consciousness and celebrated India’s cultural heritage, traditions and linguistic identity.
Gupt remained deeply connected to his roots. He took pride in his language, dialect, region, traditional attire and customs. Despite achieving immense recognition and being honoured with the title of ‘Rashtra Kavi’, he remained humble and accessible. His large-hearted nature made his home open to literature lovers and ordinary visitors alike.
Among his extensive body of work, ‘Bharat-Bharati’ remains particularly celebrated. The work captured the poet’s profound love for the motherland and became an important expression of India’s national awakening.
Through his poetry, Gupt sought to awaken a sense of pride in India’s glorious heritage while encouraging people to work towards the nation’s progress. His literary contribution also played an important role in strengthening the position of Hindi in modern Indian literature. His works have continued to receive extensive scholarly attention, with universities and literary scholars across Hindi-speaking regions conducting research on his writings and legacy.
Maithili Sharan Gupt passed away on December 12, 1964, in his birthplace, Chirgaon. Decades after his death, his poetry continues to resonate with readers and his contribution to Hindi literature remains deeply cherished. On his birth anniversary, the nation remembers the Rashtra Kavi whose pen became a powerful voice of Bharat, its culture and its national consciousness.
