New Delhi, August 29: “Everyone kept asking, how did you come, where did you go. The spirit of joy accompanied us as we wandered through the dust.” This quote reflects the life of a remarkable individual who traversed the realms of literature, society, and cinema. We are talking about the renowned Hindi novelist, storyteller, screenwriter, and once-celebrated poet, Bhagwati Charan Verma.
Bhagwati Charan Verma described his life as a series of episodes. Therefore, it would not be incorrect to say that Bhagwati Charan Verma epitomized a life full of narratives. Among literary circles, he was affectionately known as Bhagwati Babu, while his family called him ‘Babuji.’
Born on August 30, 1903, in Shafipur village of Unnao district, Bhagwati Babu gained fame as a novelist, storyteller, and thinker. However, he was also a poet, with six collections published. His first poem appeared in ‘Dainik Pratap’ when he was a high school student.
With works like ‘Chitralekha,’ ‘Patan,’ and later ‘Chanakya,’ Bhagwati Babu continually sought to explore and revisit history. In an interview, he remarked, “‘Chitralekha’ contains romance and imagination, while ‘Chanakya’ is devoid of fantasy. It presents a harsh and undeniable truth that cannot be overlooked.”
In 1943, Devika Rani of Bombay Talkies invited Bhagwati Babu to join their team. He accepted the invitation and remained there until 1948. During this period, he wrote the screenplay and dialogues for four films. Notably, he also produced a film during that era.
A friend of Bhagwati Charan Verma secured him an invitation to Bombay Talkies, which guaranteed him a job upon arrival. The invitation also covered his travel expenses. However, due to an incident in Kolkata that disrupted the situation, Bhagwati Charan Verma chose to settle in Mumbai instead. He later mentioned this in an interview with Prasar Bharati.
While in Mumbai, he needed work and soon found a position where he achieved success. It is said that he was the one who gave Yusuf Khan the name Dilip Kumar. His first film, ‘Jwar Bhata,’ featured Dilip Kumar in the lead role, for which he wrote the screenplay.
Interestingly, despite writing films, he never had a keen interest in watching them.
By 1948, Bhagwati Babu had grown disillusioned with the film industry. He distanced himself from the glitz and glamour of the city and ventured into politics, aspiring to become a prominent leader and minister. Although he served as an honorary member of the Rajya Sabha, he did not pursue a ministerial position.
“My perspective on life has become one of ‘dedication.’ I have tried hard, but I cannot comprehend the essence of life’s activities and its significance. Everything around me feels unknown,” he reflected.
Reading Bhagwati Babu’s stories feels like delving into his own life narrative. His works, such as ‘Bhule Bisre Chitra,’ ‘Seedhi Sacchi Batein,’ and ‘Prashn aur Marichika,’ represent his writing and thought. They depict the eras before Mahatma Gandhi, during Gandhi’s time, the period from Gandhi to Nehru, and the subsequent times.
Leave a Comment