Harishankar Parsai (22 August 1922 – 10 August 1995) was an Indian writer who wrote in

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 ...

. He was a noted satirist and humorist of modern

Hindi literature Hindi literature () includes literature in the various Central Indo-Aryan languages, also known as Hindi, some of which have different writing systems. Earliest forms of Hindi literature are attested in poetry of Apabhraṃśa such as Awad ...

and is known for his simple and direct style. He wrote vyangya (satire), which described human values and nature. They reflected his critical thinking and humorous way of describing simple things with huge meanings. Parsai won the

Sahitya Akademi Award The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honour in India, which the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the 22 languages of the ...

in 1982, for his satire, ''Viklaang Shraddha ka daur''.

Biography

He was born in Jamani village near

Itarsi Itarsi is a city and municipality in Narmadapuram in Madhya Pradesh, India. Itarsi is a key hub for agricultural goods and Itarsi Junction railway station is the biggest railway junction in Madhya Pradesh. Rail services from all 4 major metrop ...

Hoshangabad district Hoshangabad district (), officially Narmadapuram district (), is one of the districts of Madhya Pradesh States and territories of India, state of India, and Hoshangabad city is the district headquarters. Geography The district has an area of ...

, Madhya Pradesh. He completed his M.A. in Hindi from

Nagpur University Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), formerly Nagpur University, is a public state university located in Nagpur, Maharashtra. It is one of India's oldest universities, as well as the second-oldest in Maharashtra. It is named ...

. After pursuing writing along with his service for some time, he quit his job and took writing as a full-time career.He was born on 22 August 1922 He settled in

Jabalpur Jabalpur, formerly Jubbulpore, is a city situated on the banks of Narmada River in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the 3rd-largest urban agglomeration of the state and the 38th-largest of the country. Jabalpur is the administrative h ...

and started a literature magazine called ''Vasudha''. Despite it being highly praised, he had to stop the magazine after the publication suffered economic losses. Hari Shankar Parsai used to give answers of readers in a column "Poochhiye Parsai Se" in a Hindi newspaper ''Deshbandhu'' published from

Raipur Raipur ( ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Raipur is also the administrative headquarters of Raipur district and Raipur division, and the largest city of the state. It was a part of Madhya Pradesh before the state of Chh ...

and Jabalpur. He won

in 1982, for his satire, "Viklaang Shraddha Ka Daur" 'विकलांग श्रद्धा का दौर'.Awards 1955–2007

Sahitya Akademi The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of the Indian government. Its off ...

Official website. Parsai died on 10 August 1995 in Jabalpur. According to ''

The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was founded as a weekly publication in 1878 by the Triplicane Six, becoming a daily in 1889. It is one of the India ...

'', by the

Awards

(1982) *Sharad Joshi Award (1992)

Works

;Satires *Viklaang Shraddhaa ka daur (विकलांग श्रद्धा का दौर) *Do Naak Waale Log (दो नाक वाले लोग) *Aadhyaatmik Paagalon Ka Mishan (आध्यात्मिक पागलों का मिशन) *Kraantikaaree Kee Katha (क्रांतिकारी की कथा) *Pavitrata Ka Daura (पवित्रता का दौरा) *Pulis-Mantree Ka Putala (पुलिस-मंत्री का पुतला) *Vah Jo Aadamee Hai Na (वह जो आदमी है न) *Naya Saal (नया साल) *Ghaayal Basant (घायल बसंत) *Sanskrti (संस्कृति) *Baaraat Kee Vaapasee (बारात की वापसी) *Greeting Kaard Aur Raashan Kaard (ग्रीटिंग कार्ड और राशन कार्ड) *Ukhde Khambhe (उखड़े खंभे) *Sharm Kee Baat Par Taalee Peetana (शर्म की बात पर ताली पीटना) *Pitane-Pitane Mein Phark (पिटने-पिटने में फर्क) *Badachalan (बदचलन) *Ek Ashuddh Bevakooph (एक अशुद्ध बेवकूफ) *Bhaarat Ko Chaahie Jaadoogar Aur Saadhu (भारत को चाहिए जादूगर और साधु) *Bhagat Kee Gat (भगत की गत) *Mundan (मुंडन) *Inspektar Maataadeen Chaand Par (इंस्पेक्टर मातादीन चांद पर) *Khetee (खेती) *Ek Madhyamavargeey Kutta (एक मध्यमवर्गीय कुत्ता) *Sudaama Ka Chaaval (सुदामा का चावल) *Akaal Utsav (अकाल उत्सव) *Khatare Aise Bhee (खतरे ऐसे भी) *Kandhe Shravanakumaar Ke (कंधे श्रवणकुमार के) *Das Din Ka Anashan (दस दिन का अनशन) *Apeel Ka Jaadoo (अपील का जादू) *Bheden Aur Bhediye (भेड़ें और भेड़िये) *Bus ki Yatra (बस की यात्रा) *Torch Bechnewale (टार्च बेचनेवाले) ;Essays *Aavaara Bheed Ke Khatare (आवारा भीड़ के खतरे) *Aisa Bhee Socha Jaata Hai (ऐसा भी सोचा जाता है) *Apni apni Beemari (अपनी अपनी बीमारी) *Maatee Kahe Kumhaar Se (माटी कहे कुम्हार से) *Kaag Bhagoda (काग भगोड़ा) *Sadāchār Kā Taabij (सदाचार का तावीज़) *Premchand Ke Phaté Jootey (प्रेमचंद के फटे जूते) () *Vaishnav Ki Fislan (वैष्णव की फ़िसलन) *Thithurtā Huā Ganatantra (ठिठुरता हुआ गणतन्त्र) *Pagadandiyon Ka Zamaana (पगडंडियों का ज़माना) *Shikayat Mujhe bhi hai (शिकायत मुझे भी है) *Tulaseedaas Chandan Ghisain (तुलसीदास चन्दन घिसैं) *Ham Ek Umr Se Vaaqif Hain (हम एक उम्र से वाक़िफ़ हैं) *Tab Kee Baat Aur Thee (तब की बात और थी) *Bhoot Ke Paon Peeche (भूत के पाँव पीछे) *Beeemaanee Kee Parat (बेईमानी की परत) ;Short stories *Jaisé Unké Din Firé (जैसे उनके दिन फिरे) (Short Story Collection) *Bholārām kā Jeev (भोलाराम का जीव) *Hanste Hai Rote Hai (हँसते हैंं रोते हैंं) (Short Story Collection) ;Children's literature *Chuha Aur Mein (चूहा और मैं) ;Letters *Mayaram Surjan (मायाराम सुरजन) ;Novels *Jwala Aur Jal (ज्वाला और जल) *Tat Ki Khoj (तट की खोज) *Rani Naagphani Ki Kahani (रानी नागफनी की कहानी) ;Memoirs *Tirchchi Rekhayein (तिरछी रेखाएं) *Marna Koi Haar Nahi Hoti (मरना कोई हार नहीं होती) *Seedhe-Sade Aur Jatil Muktibodh (सीधे-सादे और जटिल मुक्तिबोध) ;Anecdotes *Chande Ka Dar (चंदे का डर) *Apna-Paraya (अपना-पराया) *Daanee (दानी) *Rasoi Ghar Aur Paikhana (रसोई घर और पैखाना) *Sudhaar (सुधार) *Samjhauta (समझौता) *Yas Sir (यस सर) *Ashleel (अश्लील)

Bibliography

* A collection of 21 selected stories translated into English by C. M. Naim was published in 1994: ''Inspector Matadeen on the Moon'' (Manas Books, Chennai). It was reprinted in 2003 by Katha Press, New Delhi. * Several stories and essays, like ‘Baarat Kee Waapsi’ and ‘Premchand Ke Phaté Jootey’, are also part of the school curriculum in Central Board of Secondary Education and available in NCERT books.

In popular culture

''Parsai Kehate Hain'' is an Indian television show which adapted several works of Harishankar Parsai into episodic stories aired on

DD National DD National (formerly DD1) is an Indian state-owned entertainment television channel, founded by the Government of India, owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It is the flagshi ...

in the early 2000s.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Parsai, Harishankar 1922 births 1995 deaths Hindi-language writers People from Hoshangabad district People from Jabalpur Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University alumni Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi Writers from Madhya Pradesh Indian satirists 20th-century Indian short story writers