Biography of Hazari Prasad Dwivedi

(August 19, 1907 - May 19, 1979)

A famous novelist, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was born in 1907 at Balian in Uttar Pradesh. His studies were completed at Balian and Varanasi. After that, he taught Hindi and Sanskrit at the Visvabharati University, Santiniketan.

In 1952, he was appointed as the head of the Hindi department in the prestigious Benaras Hindu University and also served in Punjab University till 1967. During this time Dwivedi emerged as a leading literary historian, essayist, critic and scholar. He also penned numerous novels, essays and historical literature. His principal works include 'Kabir and 'Banabhatta Ki Atmakatha', which are literary depictions of the life and times of the classical poet.

After 1967, he served at various posts like the member of Official Language Commission, Chairman of U.P. Grants Akademi (1973), Executive Vice-Chairman, U.P. Hindi Sansthan. For his contribution in the field of literature, he was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award.