Lucknow: The Hindi and Modern Indian Languages Department today celebrated the 122nd birth anniversary of renowned Hindi writer Yashpal. A special programme titled “Yashpal Jayanti evam Parisamvad” was organised, featuring distinguished academicians and scholars.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Yashwant Viroday, Head of the Hindi Department at Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University, said that Yashpal’s celebrated novel “Jhutha Sach” powerfully portrays the trauma of India’s Partition and the horrific face of communalism. He noted that Yashpal viewed Partition as a profound tragedy for women, and the novel is often compared to Tolstoy’s War and Peace for its vast historical sweep. He described Yashpal as a revolutionary writer who endured imprisonment in both colonial and independent India.
Speaking as the second guest speaker, Prof. Kalicharan Snehi, former Head of the Hindi Department at Lucknow University, emphasised that Yashpal’s literary contributions will gain even greater relevance with time. Citing Yashpal’s famous work “Ramrajya ki Pudiya,” he highlighted the effective use of satire to register dissent. He added that Yashpal was a true nurturer of humanity and believed that literature’s foremost duty is the refinement of human values.
In his welcome address, Prof. Pawan Agrawal, Head of the Hindi Department, Lucknow University, said that while Yashpal’s ideology was rooted in Marxism, he was not a communist in the strict sense. He observed that Yashpal’s writings echo both the sound of bullets and the power of the pen, reflecting his journey of struggle and expression.
A vote of thanks was presented by senior faculty member Prof. Y. P. Singh, while Prof. Suraj Bahadur Thapa efficiently conducted the programme, offering insightful remarks on significant aspects of literature.
Prior to the symposium, faculty members, guests and research scholars paid floral tribute at Yashpal’s statue located in the department’s “Sahitya Vatika.”
The event was attended by faculty members Prof. Hemanshu Sen, Prof. Shruti, Prof. Alka Pandey, Dr Rahul Pandey, Dr Senthil Kumar, Dr Mamta Tiwari, Dr Anupam Patel, along with research scholars and students of the department.
