Litterateur Ajenya was similar to Tagore : Vice President Ansari

Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari today said that "Sachidananda Hiranand Vatsayan Ajneya’s creative output made him a literary figure similar to poet Rabindranath Tagore." 

 

“The range of his interests and the deep philosophical underpinnings of his literary output, which at a certain level resonates with Vedantic thought, have established him as a literary figure in the footsteps of Vishwa Kavi Rabindranath Tagore,” Ansari added while inaugurating the three day event to mark birth centenary of Ajneya in Kolkata, where Ajenya edited "Vishal Bharat" in 1936. 

 

Ajenya had deep connection with Tagore’s Shantiniketan also.West Bengal Governor Narayanan said, "It is apt that the celebrations are being held in Kolkata.” On his Kolkata connection, Vice President said, "He received his spiritual inspiration in Kolkata. There is something about Kolkata that makes it a cultural capital. 

 

Agyeya wrote his life's experiences with a revolutionary mindset. His writings relate to the intricate relationship between literature and politics. He believed that poetry has a link with politics. He showed the world that patriotic poetry can be different.

 

Ansari said,"I believed that poetry on politics was the best use of poetry. Yet, I was careful to draw the distinction and warn that patriotic poetry should not lead to an overemphasis on a religious-spiritual ethic or even religious nationalism. On the other hand, being completely anti-political too was not a solution.” 

 

West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan and Urban Development Minister, Firhad Hakim were also present in the function organised by the Prabha Khaitan Foundation, Sahitya Akademi and the Raza Foundation. Sahitya Akademi President Sunil Gangopadhyay and noted authors likeKedarnath Singh and Om Thanvi were also present there. The book Apne Apne Agyeya, edited by Thanvi, was released on the occasion by Ansari.

 

Born on Mar 7, 1911 in Uttar Pradesh`s Deoria district Ajneya went on to become one the most celebrated writers in Hindi winning the Jnanpith in 1978 followed by the Golden Wreath Award for poetry in 1983. He initiated new and experimental trends in several genres of literary writings including poetry, short stories, criticism, novels, travelogues, essays and drama. 

 

Apart from editing Vishal Bharat, Ajenya edited "Sainik" from Agra (1936), "Prateek" (1947) from Allahabad and "Naya Prateek" (1973) from New Delhi. In English he edited "Vak" (1951) also before he founder and edited the well-known newsweekly Dinman of The Times of India Group. 

 

When members of the Bhookhi Peerhi movement were arrested, Agyeya relentlessly supported the young literary group of Kolkata till they were exonerated.