Jaishankar Prasad, Poet, Playwright
Poet, Playwright

Jaishankar Prasad

Born 30 January 1889 · Uttar Pradesh — Died 14 January 1937

Authored the Hindi play 'Skandagupta' which revived historical drama in modern Hindi literature.

Jaishankar Prasad was a prominent figure in modern Hindi literature as well as Hindi theatre. Prasad was his pen name. He was also known as Chhayavadi kavi.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

Prasad’s 1928 play 'Skandagupta' was revived in the 1960s with minimal changes by Shanta Gandhi at the National School of Drama, bridging early 20th-century and modern Hindi theatre.

The Story

1
Born on January 30, 1889, in Benares (now Varanasi), Jaishankar Prasad began his literary career writing poetry in the Braj dialect, capturing the cultural essence of early 20th-century Uttar Pradesh.
2
🌊 In 1936, he published 'Kāmāyanī,' an epic poem blending mythology and philosophy, which became a cornerstone of the Chhayavad movement, shaping Hindi Romanticism.
3Jaishankar Prasad's plays like 'Skandagupta' (1928) and 'Chandragupta' revived ancient Indian history on stage, with the National School of Drama's Shanta Gandhi reviving 'Skandagupta' in the 1960s, preserving its original script for modern audiences.
4✍️ His poetic language deliberately avoided Persian influences, favoring Sanskritized Hindi, a linguistic choice that distinguished his works in the evolving Hindi literary landscape of the 1920s and 30s.

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Jaishankar Prasad initially wrote poetry in the Braj dialect with his collection 'Chitradhar' but later shifted to Khadi dialect or Sanskritized Hindi to align with the Chhayavad movement’s ideals in the 1920s and 30s.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Jaishankar Prasad featured on an Indian postage stamp honoring his literary contributions (1991)
Jaishankar Prasad featured on an Indian postage stamp honoring his literary contributions (1991)
1991

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Benares, Uttar Pradesh
Jaishankar Prasad was born in Benares, a cultural hub of northern India, setting the stage for his future literary contributions.
1889
📖
Publication
Published 'Kānan kuwer'
One of Prasad's early poetry works, showcasing his evolving poetic style during the pre-Chhayavad period.
1913
📖
Publication
Released 'Aansū' (Tears)
A deeply personal and romantic elegy written after the death of his first wife, blending sorrow with hope.
1925
📖
Publication
Wrote drama 'Skandagupta'
This historical play on Emperor Skandagupta was later revived in the 1960s at the National School of Drama.
1928
📖
Publication
Published epic poem 'Kāmāyanī'
'Kāmāyanī' became a defining work of Hindi Romanticism, combining mythological themes with philosophical depth.
1936
🕊️
Death
Death in Benares
Jaishankar Prasad passed away at age 47, leaving behind a rich legacy in Hindi literature and theatre.
1937
🌟
Other
Revival of 'Skandagupta' by Shanta Gandhi
The National School of Drama staged Prasad's play with minimal script changes, bringing his historical drama to new audiences.
1960
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
💡SURPRISING

His epic poem 'Kāmāyanī' (1936) is based on the ancient story of Manu and the flood, blending mythology with philosophical reflections uncommon in Hindi literature of that time.

02 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Shanta Gandhi’s 1960s revival of Prasad’s play 'Skandagupta' remained remarkably faithful to the original 1928 script, allowing modern audiences to experience early 20th-century Hindi drama with minimal alteration.

03 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Prasad’s 1925 elegy 'Aansoo' was composed after the death of his first wife, capturing deep personal anguish and blending romantic lyricism with philosophical optimism.

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"Whenever I remember our poet, Prasad a particular image comes to my mind. A fir tree stands on the slope of the Himalaya, straight and tall as the mountain peaks themselves." - Mahadevi Verma

— Jaishankar Prasad

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Jaishankar Prasad | महाकवि | विचारात्मक, अनुसंधानात्मक, एवं भावात्मक
·YouTube
More from this archive
Jaishankar Prasad | महाकवि | विचारात्मक, अनुसंधानात्मक, एवं भावात्मक
01
Jaishankar Prasad | महाकवि | विचारात्मक, अनुसंधानात्मक, एवं भावात्मक
YouTube
Kamayani | Classic Work of Jaishankar Prasad
02
Kamayani | Classic Work of Jaishankar Prasad
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Jaishankar Prasad’s revival of historical and mythological themes in Sanskritized Hindi forged a new path for Hindi Romanticism, notably influencing the Chhayavad literary movement. His plays inspired theatrical revivals in institutions like the National School of Drama, ensuring continued engagement with ancient Indian history on modern stages. His linguistic choices helped establish a distinctly Sanskrit-rooted poetic diction that shaped Hindi literature’s evolution in the early 20th century.

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