A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya
A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya
Classic BAANBHATT KI ATMAKATHA Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi Translated Abram by Glory and victory be to the dust particles at the feet of the Threeeyed 1 That adorn the forehead of Baanasur, Kiss the circle of the crest-jewels of the ten-headed Raavan; sleep upon the heads of gods and demons alike And above all, shred to smithereens mundane manacles. Although I am famous by the name of Baanbhatt, it is not really mine. Far better, if they knew no history of this name. I have sedulously tried to keep the public unaware of this genealogy; but owing to various reasons I am not now able to let it remain veiled. My shame bursts solely from the fact that this my story is a stigma on the fair fame of that illustrious Vatsyayan clan I was born into. Advanced scholars of the Vedas jostled in the homes of my father and grandfather and grand-uncles. Even the parrots and starlings of their household could pronounce the incantations perfectly well; and although people may treat it as hyperbolical, the stark truth is that my ancestors’ students were in regular awe of their birds and parrots. From verse to verse they improved upon their faulty recitations. The houses of my forefathers forever were in smoke coming from yagyas and votive offerings. But all this is the story I heard. I have myself seen my father, Chitrabhanu-Bhatt. If I say that Saraswati 2 herself making a descent used to soak up the strings of sweat produced at the time of his offering libation with her fresh leaf-like palms, then there may be no exaggeration. 28 :: January-March 2012
For, when father having been engaged in consigning oblations to the fire from dawn to a bit more than one hour and a half of the sunrise got up drenched with perspiration, he would straight make for the small mat made of sacrificial grass to sit on. This was his repose. At this very time while he was supervising the students’ study of initiation in the Vedas, the sweat of strain dried up. What whould I call it more than sponging of sweat strings with the hands of Saraswati? I was the son of such a father—learned, virtuous, and doing what was enjoined— myself a congenital gossip, vagabond, woolgathering fellow, and wanderer. When I had run away from home, I induced and enticed a good many striplings of my village to follow me. They did not stick to me till the end, still I had earned a bad name in the village. In the dialect of Magadh an ox shorn of tail is dubbed ‘Bund’. There this saying has gained currency that a ‘Bund’ has not only his own egress, but also an escape with tether and other accessories. Thus, they began nicknaming me ‘Bund’. Subsequently, with some ritualistic cultivation through the Sanskrit word ‘Baan’ (arrow) I retrieved this name. The ‘Bhatt’ was affixed much later. By the way, my real name was ‘Daksh’ (erudite). Lately, there has been a hightide of love and respect among the public towards me. If they so like. they may turn it to Dakshbhatt. Very skilfully have I preserved this name elsewhere. I shall tell its tale now. My father had eleven brothers. I did not see all of them. One of my cousins was called Urupati. In point of age he was much senior, but he dealt with me at par. He was a famous logician of the period. It was he that worsted the Buddhist mendicant, Vasubhuti in a scriptural debate. His erudition and character had no little spell on Maharaja Harshwardhan, who on a sudden leaned towards the Vedic faith. None in my family had for me the affection that they had for Urupati Bhatt. He has saved me from many a misdeed. I shall dwell on him in reference at a proper place. Here this will suffice that when at fourteen I lost my father—mother had predeceased him much earlier—this very Urupatibhatt soaked me with that hearty concern and affection which was my mother’s. But I must not start this story with sobs for my sad luck. I start it with the advent of my well-being. If at all tales of misfortune may intrude at times, the readers of this narrative are called upon not to think more of them. A vagrant was I, indeed. From town to town, from any habitation to any countryside I bootlessly roamed and loitered for years. During this aimless wayfaring what all did I do? I was an acrobat sometimes, sometimes I showed the dance of marionettes; at times I organized a dramatic concert, at times hoodwinked the habitats by playing a folksinger. In brief, I left no occupation January-March 2012 :: 29
- Page 1 and 2: A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarra
- Page 3 and 4: L A N G U A G E DISCOURSE W R I T I
- Page 5 and 6: Editor's Note ‘Hindi’ is primar
- Page 7 and 8: Heritage EK TOKRI BHAR MITTI Madhav
- Page 9 and 10: Discourse THE IMPORTANCE OF MADHAV
- Page 11 and 12: nationalism into literature; societ
- Page 13 and 14: 1. History of India, and other coun
- Page 15 and 16: anch of knowledge— natural and so
- Page 17 and 18: country, growing indignation at the
- Page 19 and 20: the consciousness of the colonized
- Page 21 and 22: and we rise above religious dogma,
- Page 23 and 24: forces of liberty and patriotism tr
- Page 25 and 26: his thoughts boldly, without fear.T
- Page 27: characteristics of the age in which
- Page 31 and 32: and panegyrists going and singing p
- Page 33 and 34: I burst forth, ‘‘Aha, Niuniya!
- Page 35 and 36: aid. The flower was punished forthw
- Page 37 and 38: years in this guileful world I roam
- Page 39 and 40: form. Now, once again there was a s
- Page 41 and 42: Discourse LIFE AND IDEALS OF PREMCH
- Page 43 and 44: and the train also arrived, but cou
- Page 45 and 46: Discourse THE CONCEPT OF INDIANNESS
- Page 47 and 48: of first novel goes to the Genji Mo
- Page 49 and 50: untouchable boy. The boy is from
- Page 51 and 52: eligious leaders. Premchand in his
- Page 53 and 54: · Partition of India and growth of
- Page 55 and 56: 2) Ghar ki Raah, Indra Basawada, Sa
- Page 57 and 58: Sahai, Nagendra, Bhagwat Sharan Upa
- Page 59 and 60: two women (Rekha and Gaura) simulta
- Page 61 and 62: significant. Since real aspects lik
- Page 63 and 64: Another very major challenge that e
- Page 65 and 66: students of Dacca University had ta
- Page 67 and 68: Culture THE BHARATNATYAM HERITAGE I
- Page 69 and 70: and her husband also migrated to Ho
- Page 71 and 72: for her has been the one at Chidamb
- Page 73 and 74: long years? Pallav—Did it reflect
- Page 75 and 76: publicising myself and my writing b
- Page 77 and 78: Short Story BUDHIA Ramvriksha Benip
For, when father having been engaged in<br />
consigning oblations to the fire from dawn<br />
to a bit more than one hour and a half<br />
<strong>of</strong> the sunrise got up drenched with<br />
perspiration, he would straight make for<br />
the small mat made <strong>of</strong> sacrificial grass<br />
to sit on. This was his repose.<br />
At this very time while he was<br />
supervising the students’ study <strong>of</strong> initiation<br />
in the Vedas, the sweat <strong>of</strong> strain dried<br />
up. What whould I call it more than sponging<br />
<strong>of</strong> sweat strings with the hands <strong>of</strong> Saraswati?<br />
I was the son <strong>of</strong> such a father—learned,<br />
virtuous, and doing what was enjoined—<br />
myself a congenital gossip, vagabond,<br />
woolgathering fellow, and wanderer. When<br />
I had run away from home, I induced<br />
and enticed a good many striplings <strong>of</strong><br />
my village to follow me. They did not<br />
stick to me till the end, still I had earned<br />
a bad name in the village. In the dialect<br />
<strong>of</strong> Magadh an ox shorn <strong>of</strong> tail is dubbed<br />
‘Bund’. There this saying has gained<br />
currency that a ‘Bund’ has not only his<br />
own egress, but also an escape with tether<br />
and other accessories. Thus, they began<br />
nicknaming me ‘Bund’. Subsequently, with<br />
some ritualistic cultivation through the<br />
Sanskrit word ‘Baan’ (arrow) I retrieved<br />
this name. The ‘Bhatt’ was affixed much<br />
later. By the way, my real name was ‘Daksh’<br />
(erudite). Lately, there has been a hightide<br />
<strong>of</strong> love and respect among the public<br />
towards me. If they so like. they may<br />
turn it to Dakshbhatt. Very skilfully have<br />
I preserved this name elsewhere. I shall<br />
tell its tale now.<br />
My father had eleven brothers. I did<br />
not see all <strong>of</strong> them. One <strong>of</strong> my cousins<br />
was called Urupati. In point <strong>of</strong> age he<br />
was much senior, but he dealt with me<br />
at par. He was a famous logician <strong>of</strong> the<br />
period. It was he that worsted the Buddhist<br />
mendicant, Vasubhuti in a scriptural debate.<br />
His erudition and character had no little<br />
spell on Maharaja Harshwardhan, who on<br />
a sudden leaned towards the Vedic faith.<br />
None in my family had for me the affection<br />
that they had for Urupati Bhatt. He has<br />
saved me from many a misdeed. I shall<br />
dwell on him in reference at a proper<br />
place. Here this will suffice that when at<br />
fourteen I lost my father—mother had<br />
predeceased him much earlier—this very<br />
Urupatibhatt soaked me with that hearty<br />
concern and affection which was my<br />
mother’s. But I must not start this story<br />
with sobs for my sad luck. I start it with<br />
the advent <strong>of</strong> my well-being. If at all tales<br />
<strong>of</strong> misfortune may intrude at times, the<br />
readers <strong>of</strong> this narrative are called upon<br />
not to think more <strong>of</strong> them.<br />
A vagrant was I, indeed. From town<br />
to town, from any habitation to any<br />
countryside I bootlessly roamed and<br />
loitered for years. During this aimless<br />
wayfaring what all did I do? I was an<br />
acrobat sometimes, sometimes I showed<br />
the dance <strong>of</strong> marionettes; at times I<br />
organized a dramatic concert, at times<br />
hoodwinked the habitats by playing a<br />
folksinger. In brief, I left no occupation<br />
January-March 2012 :: 29