Dr. Shambhunath Singh

December 26, 2017

A commemorative postage stamp on Hindi writer, Shambhu Nath Singh, Professor and Head of Hindi Department, Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi :

Issued by India

Issued on Dec 26, 2017

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Dr. Shambhunath Singh.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 5.0 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Shambhunath Singh

Born on 17 Jun, 1916 at Rawatpar, Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh, India

Died on 3 Sep, 1991 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

About :

Dr. Shambhunath Singh enriched the Post CHHAYAVAD Hindi literature through his multidimensional creative vision. His literary works reflect the struggle arising out of the conflicts among the social and cultural ethos, inherent in society. His prolonged fifty years literary career was solely aimed at Integral Humanism.
Born on 17 June 1916 at Rawatpar Amethian village in Deoria district of eastern Uttar Pradesh as the middle son of Thakur Ram Dev Singh, Late Dr. Shambhunath Singh started his poetic career at the tender age of 13 years in 1930. By the year 1940, his poetic abilities were noticed by all. In the meantime, on arrival of Mahatma Gandhi at Kashi in 1934, on an evening in Prarthana Sabha, he presented him the poem titled “Harijan” which was framed in glass. It got instantly auctioned by Bapu and a sum of Rs. 50 was received in Harijan fund. In 1938, as a student of Allahabad University, during the golden jubilee celebrations, he was invited to participate in a “Kavi Sammelan” where his poem “Krishak Bala” was widely appreciated. His genius and talents drew the attention of Late Smt. Mahadevi Verma and Dr. Ram Kumar Verma. He came in close contacts with them and got their blessings.
His poetic talents were further refined even after the year 1940. His poetry collections “Roop Rashmi” and “Chhaya lok” were published during the year 1940 to 1945. His famous poetry “Samay Ki Shila Par” was published in 1944. Dr. Shambhunath Singh wrote about grass root realities of Indian society which got published later on, as collection of poems like “Udayachal” and “Manvantar”. Depicting the social and economic conditions of Indian rural life, he published the collection of his poems in “Diva Lok”, “Maadhyam Main” and “Khandit Setu” after the year 1950.
“Maadhyam Main” and “Khandit Setu” are the collections of neo-Hindi poetry written by him, but due to his deep love and affection for Indian natural and cultural consciousness he did not like the imported modernity of neo Hindi poetry. Therefore, he invented a new cult in Hindi poetic traditions, namely, the “Nav Geet”.
During the 50 years of his literary career from 1940 to 1990, apart from the publications of his eleven collections of poetry he published many valuable research works and treatises too, such as “Hindi Mahakavya kaa Swaroop Vikas”, “Goswami Tulasi Das Jeevan aur Vyaktitwa”, “Chhayawaad Yug”, “Prayog Vaad aur Nai Kavita”, “Moolya aur Uplabdhi”, “Hindi Kavya kee Samajik Bhoomika”, “Hindi Alochana ke Jyoti Stambha”, “Vaidik Jaati Ka Nivas Sthan”, “Bhartiya Sanskriti ka Swaroop” and “Samkaleen Hindi Kavita ka Pariprekshya va Navgeet” etc. With publications of “Dharatee aur Aakash”, “Akela Shahar”, “Adrishya Champa” and “Deewar kee Wapasee” he successfully introduced the experiment of absurd drama in Hindi writing.
His invaluable works on review, research, drama, essay and stories have glorified and immensely enriched the contemporary Hindi literature. He continuously kept himself abreast of the changes that were taking place in the circles of Hindi poetry. After the decline of Chhaya Vaad, he associated himself with the developing streams of Hindi poetry like Yatharthvaad, Prayogvaad, Pragativaad, Neo Poetry and Nav Geet.
The renowned critic Dr. Prabhakar Machave has described him as “Prince of Songs”. Folk culture, society, nature, love and sensitivity are the central themes in the poetry of Dr. Shambhunath Singh and through its pursuance he established himself as the exponent of modernity and elevator of Indian cultural consciousness. Deeply engrossed in his relentless literary pursuits, he breathed his last on 3^rd September 1991 in Varanasi.
Text : Based on the material received from proponent.