Ramavriksha Benipuri.

Born: 1899
Benipur Village, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, British India

Died: 1968 (aged-68/69)

Occupation: Writer, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist

Nationality: Indian

Notable work(s): Ambpali, Patiton Ke Desh Mein, Shakuntala etc.

Style and influence

Benipuri wrote mostly short stories, dramas and essays. His dramas covered mostly historical events. For example, Ambapali depicts the life of the famous courtesan Ambapali who turned into a Buddhist after meeting Buddha. Likewise Netradaan (that is, Gift of Eyes), another drama, is based on a historical legend involving Ashoka and his son Kunal.
He was also a playwright.[citation needed]

Homage

In 1999, Benipuri was one of the Hindi writes used in a set of commemorative postal stamps released to celebrate the “Linguistic Harmony of India.” marking the 50th anniversary since the Indian Union adopted Hindi as its official language[4].

Centenary Celebrations

The chief guest on the occasion of the birth centenary of Benipuri held in zonal railway training centre at Muzaffarpur, held under the auspices of railway ministry, was the former Prime Minister of India Chandra Shekhar.[5] Main speakers included litterateur Namwar Singh and journalist Prabhash Joshi.[5] Namwar Singh described Benipuri as the only second litterateur who preferred to associate his name with that of his village.[5]
Prabhash Joshi ranked Benipuri with Makhanlal Chaturvedi and Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi who were both contemporary litterateurs and journalists as well.[5] He said Benipuri was not like today’s journalists who work only to earn. Benipuri had a desire to create a “samtawadi samaj” and fight against imperialism.[5]

Major literary works

Memoirs and essays
• Patiton Ke Desh Mein-1930-32
• Chita Ke Phool-1930-32
• Lal Taaraa-1937-39
• Kaidee Ki Patni-1940
• Maatee Ki Mooratein-1941-45
• Gehun Aur Gulaab- 1948-50
• Janjiren aur deewaren
• Zanjeeren Aur Deewaren
• Udate Chalo, Udate Chalo
Dramas
• Ambpali-1941-45
• Sita Ki maan-1948-50
• Sanghamitra-1948-50
• Amar Jyoti-1951
• Tathaagat
• Singhal Vijay
• Shakuntala
• Ramrajya
• Netradaan-1948-50
• Gaao Ke Devata
• Nayaa samaaj
• Vijeta-1953.
• Baiju Mama, National Book Trust, 1994