Sitaram Chaturvedi

Pt. Sitaram Chaturvedi (27 January 1907 – 17 February 2005), also known as Acharya Sita Ram Chaturvedi, was an eminent Indian educator, dramatist and scholar of Hindi and Sanskrit language and literature.

Biography

Chaturvedi was born in a renowned Brahmin family in Varanasi, India. His father Pandit Bhimsen Vedpathi Chaturvedi was a learned Sanskrit scholar of Vedic studies. He received his graduate and post-graduate education from Benaras Hindu University and later served as a professor at the university.

Contributions

Chaturvedi wrote more than 70 plays in Hindi, Sanskrit and English, and directed, staged and acted in many others. He was an active participant in Bombay's Prithvi Theatre and was conferred the title of Abhinav Bharat. He also wrote more than 250 books on language, grammar, literature, plays, theatre etc.; edited the collected works of Kalidasa; and wrote biographies of Madan Mohan Malviya, Tulsidas and Vallabhacharya.

Legacy

In 1968, Chaturvedi Ji founded the Bal Vishwavidyalaya (now known as the Bal Vidyalayay Madhyamik School) in Varanasi, with the aim of "multi-dimensional, progressive and character building personality within a child". The school was established to implement the educational precepts laid down by Chaturvedi, including introducing the child to crafts such as carpentry, pottery, spinning cotton yarn, doll making and weaving; and not having examinations till the fifth grades.

The 11-day theatre festival Natya Andolan, in Varanasi, is dedicated to the memory of Sitaram Chaturvedi.

Since Chaturvedi Ji has founded Akhil Bhartiya Vikram Parishad, Kashi under the guidance of Bharat Ratna Mahamana Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya Ji, it was pleasure that Mahamana Malviya had accepted to be first Chief of the said Parishad, involved in research activity of Hindi & Sanskrit literature. On the occasion of Sri Chaturvedi Ji Birth Centenory year 2008 Akhil Bhartiya Vikram Parishad, Kashi has started to honour one of any authority of literature, drama field, education, art & culture etc.with the honour of Srijan Manishi. Renowned poet Padmabhushan Dr. Gopal Dass Neeraj was the first recipient of Srijan Manishi in year 2008 and Mahant Yogi Sri 108 Chand Nath Ji of Abohar (Haryana) follower of Nath Samprdaya was the second recipient of Srijan Manishi in 2009. Poet Sri Kishan Saroj and Dr. Prakash Dwivedi are third and fourth recipient of Srijan Manishi for the year 2010 & 2011 respectively. In the year 2012 noted journalist and media person Sri Sharad Dutt was recipient of Srijan Manishi title. On 106th Birth Day of Acharya Ji a renowned Kathak Dancer Padma Bhushan Kum Uma Sharma was confirmed with Srijan Manishi as 6th recipient. A renowned Hindi & Maithil poet Dr Buddhi Nath Mishra is 7th recipient of Srijan Manishi on 27 Jan.'2014. On 27th Jan.'2015 renowned Hindi Poet Padmshree Ashok Charkradhar was confirmed with Srijan Manishi as 8th recipient.

Awards

• Hindi gaurav samman, Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, 2001.
• Honorary Doctor of Letters (Vidya Vachasapati), Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, 2003.

Selected bibliography

See also

• List of Indian writers

References

External links

• Bal Vidyalayay Madhyamik School^{[permanent dead link]}