Harishankar Parsai (22 August 1924 – 10 August 1995) was an Indian writer who wrote inHindi. He was a noted satirist and humorist of modernHindi literature and is known for his simple and direct style.[1] He wrotevyangya (satire), which described human values and nature. They reflected his critical thinking and humorous way of describing simple things with huge meanings. Parsai won theSahitya Akademi Award in 1982, for his satire,Viklaang Shraddha ka daur.[2]
He was born in Jamani village nearItarsi inHoshangabad district, Madhya Pradesh. He completed his M.A. in Hindi fromNagpur University. 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 1924
He settled inJabalpur and started a literature magazine calledVasudha. Despite it being highly praised, he had to stop the magazine after the publication suffered economic losses.[3] Hari Shankar Parsai used to give answers of readers in a column "Poochhiye Parsai Se" in a Hindi newspaperDeshbandhu published fromRaipur and Jabalpur. He wonSahitya Akademi Award in 1982, for his satire, "Viklaang Shraddha Ka Daur" 'विकलांग श्रद्धा का दौर'.[4]
Parsai died on 10 August 1995 in Jabalpur. According toThe Hindu, by the
A collection of 21 selected stories translated into English byC. M. Naim was published in 1994:Inspector Matadeen on the Moon (Manas Books, Chennai). It was reprinted in 2003 by Katha Press, New Delhi.[7]
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.
Parsai Kehate Hain is an Indian television show which adapted several works of Harishankar Parsai into episodic stories aired onDD National in the early 2000s.[8]
^PTI (21 August 2024). "Writer of readers, not of rulers: 100 years on, master of satire Harishankar Parsai lives on through his writings".Hindustan Times.
