Chanda Jha also known as ''Kavi Chandra'' was the first poet to write

Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...

in Maithili language. The version of Ramayana written he wrote is known as ''Maithili Bhasha Ramayana''.

Early life

He was born at ''Pindaruckh'' village of

Darbhanga district Darbhanga district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar States and territories of India, state in eastern India, and Darbhanga city is the administrative headquarters of this district and 5th largest city of Bihar as well. Darbhanga d ...

in the

Mithila region Mithila (), also known as Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal, is a geographical and cultural region of the Indian subcontinent bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothil ...

of Bihar, India on 20 January 1831 AD. In his childhood he went to his maternal village ''Baragama'' at maternal grandfather ''Pandit Girivera Narayan Jha''. There he studied in traditional manner and become well versed in grammar and literature. Similarly in his earlier time, he became poetic genius. After that he went to ''Gandhavari'' village at the home of ''Vasudeva Singh'' a step brother of ''Maheshwar Singh'' of Darbhanga Raj. There he studied for nearly five years under the patron of Vasudeva Singh.

Influence

He was a great scholar of

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

, Maithili and

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

.His compilation, revision and encouragement remains relevant in many ways. He became popular for his text ''Maithili Bhasha Ramayana''. Six years ago the speakers at a memorial day celebration organised by ''Kavivar Chanda Jha Vichar Sah Seva Sansthan'', expressed the idea of naming streets, buildings, institutes, hospitals, libraries, railway stations, roads with his name along with his statue. Similarly every year on

Maghi Maghi is the regional name of Makar Sankranti, the Indian harvest festival celebrated on winter solstice. Maghi falls on the first day of the month of Magh and is celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Himachal Pradesh. It follows on the heel ...

Saptami Saptami () is the seventh day ( tithi) of the fortnight (paksha) in the Hindu lunar calendar. Occasions * Ratha Saptami: Surya is usually worshiped on this occasion. Usually, Rathasapthami begins in households with a purification bath by holding ...

, Chanda Jha memorial function is held by the ''Chanda Jha Memorial Conservation Committee'' at ''Chanda Jha Smarak Sthal'' in Andhrathadhi. The function starts with wreath laying ceremony on the statue of the poet Chanda Jha. In the function, the works and personality of the poet is discussed among audience there. It is said that after the poet

Vidyapati Vidyapati ( – 1448), also known by the sobriquet ''Maithil Kavi Kokil'' (the poet cuckoo of Maithili), was a Maithili and Sanskrit polymath-poet-saint, playwright, composer, biographer, philosopher, law-theorist, writer, courtier and ...

, Chanda Jha has been the brightest star in the sky of

Maithili literature Maithili literature is the entire collection of poetry, novels, short stories, documents and other writings in the Maithili language. The most famous literary figure in Maithili language, Maithili is the poet Vidyapati (1350–1450), who wrote ...

. He immortalized

Mithila Mithila may refer to: Places * Mithilā, a synonym for the ancient Videha state ** Mithilā (ancient city), the ancient capital city of Videha * Mithila (region), a cultural region (historical and contemporary), now divided between India and Nepa ...

, Maithili and

in the world with his outstanding work.

Works

He wrote many texts for the preservation and promotion of Maithili. He published 19 books. His major works are Maithili Bhasha Ramayana, Ahilya Charitra, Ras Kaumudi, Vidyapati Pad Sankalan, Chhandograntha, Rajavali, Geet Saptashati, Maheshvani and Geet Sudha, etc. He did many researches and creative works in areas of literature. He was appointed as the head of literature department at Darbhanga Raj.

References

{{Authority control 19th-century Indian poets Maithili-language writers 19th-century Indian scholars 1831 births Year of death missing