Maithilisharan Gupt was a renowned Hindi poet, playwright, and novelist. He was born on August 3, 1886, in Chirgaon, Jhansi district, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to a family of zamindars (landlords) and received his early education in Hindi from his mother, while his father was a Sanskrit scholar.
Gupt started writing at a young age, and his first collection of poems, “Rang mein Bhang,” was published when he was only 17 years old. However, he gained wider recognition with his epic poem “Saket,” which he wrote in 1922. This poem is based on the life of Lord Rama and is considered a masterpiece of Hindi literature.
Gupt was a nationalist and wrote many poems that were inspired by the Indian freedom struggle. He was a contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi and supported the non-cooperation movement. He also wrote plays and novels that explored social issues such as caste discrimination, women’s rights, and poverty.
In addition to his literary work, Gupt was involved in politics and was a member of the Indian National Congress. He was also a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament, from 1952 to 1956.
Maithilisharan Gupt received many awards and honors during his lifetime, including the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honors, in 1954. He passed away on December 12, 1964, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, at the age of 78.
Maithilisharan Gupt’s epic poem “Saket” is a narrative that revolves around the life and teachings of Lord Rama. The poem is divided into seven chapters or “Sargas,” and it contains a total of 2413 verses.
The poem starts with an invocation to Lord Rama, followed by a description of the city of Ayodhya, which is the birthplace of Lord Rama. The first chapter also introduces the main characters of the poem, including Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman.
The second chapter of the poem describes Lord Rama’s exile to the forest along with Sita and Lakshmana. The chapter also introduces several sages and hermits who live in the forest and who become an integral part of Lord Rama’s journey.
The third chapter of the poem focuses on Lord Rama’s encounter with Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana. This chapter also describes the abduction of Sita by Ravana and Lord Rama’s quest to rescue her.
The fourth chapter of the poem describes the battle between Lord Rama and Ravana. This chapter is one of the most important chapters of the poem, as it describes the final victory of good over evil.
The fifth chapter of the poem focuses on Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana. This chapter also describes Lord Rama’s coronation as the king of Ayodhya.
The sixth chapter of the poem focuses on Lord Rama’s rule as the king of Ayodhya. This chapter describes the peaceful and prosperous reign of Lord Rama, who is considered to be an ideal king.
The seventh and final chapter of the poem describes Lord Rama’s departure from Ayodhya, as he returns to his heavenly abode. This chapter also describes the sadness and grief of Lord Rama’s family and followers after his departure.
Overall, “Saket” is a beautiful and inspiring poem that celebrates the life and teachings of Lord Rama. It is considered to be one of the greatest works of Maithilisharan Gupt and one of the most important literary works in the Hindi language.