Makhanlal Chaturvedi, Poet, Writer, Journalist
Poet, Writer, Journalist

Makhanlal Chaturvedi

Born 4 April 1889 · Madhya Pradesh — Died 30 January 1968

Received the first Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi for His Tarangini in 1955.

Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi, also called Pandit ji, was an Indian poet, writer, essayist, playwright and who is particularly remembered for his participation in India's national struggle for independence and his contribution to Chhayavaad, the Neo-romanticism movement of Hindi literature. He was awarded the first Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi for his work Him Tarangini in 1955. The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 1963. For his works reinforcing Indian nationalism during the British Raj, he is referred to as the Yug Charan.

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A detail that
surprised us

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The Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication in Bhopal, Asia's first journalism university, is named after him, underscoring his pioneering role in Indian journalism.

The Story

1
🏞️ In 1889, Makhanlal Chaturvedi was born in Babai village, Madhya Pradesh, a place later renamed Makhan Nagar to honor him, where he began his life immersed in rural India’s cultural landscape.
2
📚 At just 16 years old in 1905, he took up the role of a schoolteacher, setting the foundation for his lifelong commitment to education and Hindi literature.
3📰 By 1913, Chaturvedi became editor of the nationalist monthly magazine Prabha in Khandwa, marking his entry into fiery journalism that challenged British censorship and colonial rule.
4🔥 In 1920, he launched the weekly Karmaveer with its first issue on July 17, using it as a platform to ignite patriotic fervor during the height of India’s freedom struggle.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1955
Sahitya Akademi Award
1963
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1920, Chaturvedi launched the weekly Karmaveer from Madhya Pradesh, a bold move during British-imposed press restrictions that made such nationalist publications risky and often censored.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Makhanlal Chaturvedi featured on an Indian commemorative stamp (1977)
Makhanlal Chaturvedi featured on an Indian commemorative stamp (1977)
1977

🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Babai village, Madhya Pradesh
Makhanlal Chaturvedi was born in the Gaur Brahmin family in Babai (now Makhan Nagar), Narmadapuram district, laying roots in a region that would later honor him by renaming the village.
1889
⚡
Career
Became schoolteacher at age 16
At 16, Chaturvedi started teaching, marking the beginning of his formal engagement with education and literature.
1905
⚡
Career
Editor of nationalist journal Prabha
Chaturvedi took charge of the monthly Prabha in Khandwa, using it as a platform for Hindi prose and nationalist ideas under colonial censorship.
1913
⚡
Career
Launched weekly Karmaveer
On July 17, Chaturvedi published the first issue of Karmaveer, a nationalist weekly that stirred public sentiment against British rule.
1920
🌟
Other
Imprisoned during Non-Cooperation Movement
Chaturvedi was jailed multiple times for his active participation and writings in the Non-Cooperation Movement, reflecting his commitment to independence.
1921
🏅
Award
Won Sahitya Akademi Award for Him Tarangini
Received the inaugural Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi for his poetry collection Him Tarangini, highlighting his literary prominence post-independence.
1955
🏅
Award
Awarded honorary D.Litt. by Sagar University
Sagar University conferred the honorary Doctor of Literature degree on Chaturvedi, recognizing his literary and social contributions.
1959
🏅
Award
Received Padma Bhushan
The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan for Literature and Education, further acknowledging his role in Hindi literature and nationalism.
1963
🕊️
Death
Death in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Makhanlal Chaturvedi passed away at the age of 78 in Bhopal, leaving behind a legacy as a poet, nationalist, and journalist.
1968
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Despite multiple imprisonments under the British Raj for his anti-colonial writings and activism, Chaturvedi never sought government office after independence, dedicating himself instead to social reform.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

His poetry collection Him Tarangini won the first ever Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi in 1955, a prize established that same year to honor outstanding literary works in Indian languages.

03 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Born in a small village called Babai in Madhya Pradesh, the place was later renamed Makhan Nagar in his honor, reflecting his lasting local impact.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Makhanlal Chaturvedi | Sangrahalaya Ke Galiyaro Se
More from this archive
Makhanlal Chaturvedi | Sangrahalaya Ke Galiyaro Se
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Makhanlal Chaturvedi | Sangrahalaya Ke Galiyaro Se
Makhanlal Chaturvedi
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Makhanlal Chaturvedi
Makhanlal Chaturvedi | Sangrahalaya Ke Galiyaro Se
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Makhanlal Chaturvedi | Sangrahalaya Ke Galiyaro Se

🌱 What changed because of them

Makhanlal Chaturvedi's poetry and journalism energized the Indian nationalist movement by weaving patriotic zeal into accessible Hindi literature, inspiring generations to resist colonial rule. His editorial leadership in publications like Prabha and Karmaveer helped popularize Hindi prose and nationalist ideas in central India. Today, his legacy endures through the Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, which shapes India’s media professionals.

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