Biography of Harivansh Rai Bachchan

(1907-2003)

Harivansh Rai Bachchan was the most prolific writer, poet and songwriter of his times. The best-known book written by him is Madhushala'. He was the father of the great actor Amitabh Bachchan.

Harivansh Rai Bachchan was born in 1907 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. He was brilliant in his studies. He did his schooling and graduated from Allahabad. While he was pursuing post-graduation Mahatma Gandhi started the Non-Cooperation Movement. On Gandhi's call, Bachchan left his studies and joined the freedom struggle. During these times he also started teaching and later became an editor. In 1935, his most famous book "Madhushala” was published. Thereafter, he went to England to get a Ph.D. degree from the Cambridge University.

In 1966, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. He was a Halawadi poet. His other famous works are "Halahal', 'Nisha Nimantran, etc. He has been honoured with the Nehru Puraskar, Bharat Bharati, Padma Bhushan and K.K. Birla Foundation Award. He died in 2003.