Apni Khabar

by Pandey Bechan Sharma 'Ugra'

अपनी खबर लेना और अपनी खबर देना-जीवनी साहित्य की दो बुनियादी विशेषताएँ हैं। और फिर उग्र जैसे लेखक की ‘अपनी खबर’। उनके जैसी बेबाकी, साफगोई और जीवन्त भाषा-शैली हिन्दी में आज भी दुर्लभ है। उग्र-पाण्डेय बेचन शर्मा ‘उग्र’- हिन्दी के प्रारम्भिक इतिहास के एक स्तम्भ रहे हैं और यह कृति उनके जीवन के प्रारम्भिक इक्कीस वर्षों के विविधता- भरे क्रिया-व्यापारों का उद्घाटन करती है। हिन्दी के आत्मकथा-साहित्य में ‘अपनी खबर’ को मील का पत्थर माना जाता है। अपने निजी जीवनानुभवों, उद्वेगों और घटनाओं को इन पृष्ठों में उग्र ने जिस खुलेपन से चित्रित किया है, उनसे हमारे सामने मानव-स्वभाव की अनेकानेक सच्चाइयाँ उजागर हो उठती हैं। यह स्वाभाविक भी है, क्योंकि मनुष्य का विकास उसकी निजी अच्छाइयों-बुराइयों के बावज़ूद अपने युग-परिवेश से भी प्रभावित होता है। यही कारण है कि आत्मकथा- साहित्य व्यक्तिगत होकर भी सार्वजनीन और सार्वकालिक महत्व रखता है।

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

जन्म: 1900 ई.। चुनार, जिला मिर्ज़ापुर। 14 वर्ष की आयु तक स्कूल की बजाय गलियों-सड़कों पर। 1915 से पढ़ाई की शुरुआत तो 1920 में जेल जाने से शिक्षावरोध। 1921 में रिहाई।

1921 से 1924 तक दैनिक ‘आज’ (बनारस) में कहानियाँ, कविताएँ, व्यंग्यादि का लेखन। तत्पश्चात कलकत्ता में ‘मतवाला’ के सम्पादकीय सहयोगी। 1926-27 में पुनः जेलयात्रा। 1930-38 में बम्बई जाकर फिल्म-लेखन। 1939-45 के दौरान मध्यप्रदेश से प्रकाशित स्वराज्य, वीणा, विक्रम आदि पत्रों में लेखन-सम्पादन। 1947 में मिर्ज़ापुर से ‘मतवाला’ का पुनर्प्रकाशन। लेकिन 1950-52 में पुनः कलकत्ता और फिर 1953 से मृत्युपर्यन्त - 23 मार्च 1967 तक - दिल्ली में।

प्रमुख प्रकाशित पुस्तकें: चाकलेट, चन्द हसीनों के ख़तूत, फागुन के दिन चार, सरकार तुम्हारी आँखों में, घण्टा, दिल्ली का दलाल, शराबी, यह कंचन-सी काया, पीली इमारत, चित्र-विचित्र, कालकोठरी, कंचनघट, सनकी अमीर, जब सारा आलम सोता है, कला का पुरस्कार, मुक्ता, ग़ालिब और उग्र तथा अपनी खबर।

Reviews

[Indra Vijay Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

रोचक वर्णन है।

जीवनी बहुत ही अच्छे तरीके से लिखी गयी है। मुझे यह कहानी बहुत ज्यादा पसंद आई। इसे जरूर पढ़ना चाहिए।

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apni Khabar – by Pandey Bechan Sharma “Ugra” (1900-1967) genre Memoir- Reminiscences about authors. In 17 chapters. In the Introduction, the author states that his writing a memoir may be construed by some as highlighting the evils, misdeeds of others while a few may construe as an act of self-praise. First is Mahadev Prasad Seth. He was the first to recognise the depth in poems of Suryakant Tripathi Nirala. Chapter 1- Apni Khabar- The author was the youngest of about 10 children born to his parents. Most of them expired due to illness during child birth or by the age of 2 years due of contagious seasonal diseases. Therefore, in order that he survive, an omen was performed. He was sold of one chadam (one sixth of an anna) His mother purchased jaggery from this money and ate it. He was born in Chunar, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. In his mohalla mostly brahman families resided. The main source of earning was yajmani vritti. A few of them were traditional medical practioners. Authors brothers were not educated. They got into bad company and lost all their valuables. They were good at performing various characters of Ramlila. His brothers shifted first to Varanasi and then to Ayodhya where they joined a Ramlila company. Author was barely educated still for Ramlila characters, he learnt Hanumanchalisa, Ramcharitmanas. Chapter 2- Dharti aur Dhan- Author's father was pujari in a temple for Rs 5/- per month. After the death of the owner, his sons contested for division of property in court. His father was a witness who narrated the truth and the case was decided in favour of the younger brother. His father expired to TB at the age of 42. His brother left to join ascetics and to participate in Ramlila. His mother was a simple lady. Chapter 3- Chunar- Author was born in Chunar, Uttar Pradesh. The city is on the banks of river Ganga. It has natural beauty plus gardens bearing fruits and flowers. Author compares Ajodhya to Chunar and finds Chunar better than Ajodhya because it is bestowed with river Ganga and natural beauty. In 1907, Chunar was a Cantonment. British lived in large bungalows and had two churches. Part of one hand of the Superintendent was cut. With one hand, he used a baton and inspected the area. Any person who was witnessed defecating on the road was beaten with a baton. 200 lamp posts were erected to lighten the town area. Chapter 3– 1910- Baba Bhagwat das- Babaji was a one-eyed Naga sadhu who was invited with Ramlila party to Montgomery. Earlier he had visited parts of Punjab with his Ramlila team. This time the author and his elder brother joined the team. HIs two elder brothers and he was invited to residences of various residents and were provided food and gifts. His elder brother was able to play the part of servants of King Videha then change dress and become Rishi Parashuram. He was able to translate and recite dialogues in Hindi and translate them in English, Bangla, Persian. Another of his brother was a dancer and was quite popular. with them, one sadhu was in-charge of food and other items. Next stop was at Bannu. They reached Bannu via Kohat. Return journey was via Dera Ghazi khan. On their return from NWRP to Ayodhya, middle brother remained in Ayodhya. Chapter 4- Ram Manohar Das- In the year 1911-12, author travelled with Naga Baba Bhagwatdas to NWFP and Punjab-Amritsar, Lahore, Sargodha Mandi, Chuhar Kana, Pind Dadan Khan, Montgomery, Kohat, Bannu. Next his middle brother informed them to Baba Ram Manohar das Ramlila Mandali Ayodhya has better pay and facilities. Thus, all three should visit Ayodhya and join them. In 1911-12, bomb was blasted on Lord Hardinge. This remained a hot topic of discussion between friends. Author play the role of Sita or Lakshman. They toured Ayodhya, Barabanki, Faizabad, Pratapgarh, Dalippur, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Delhi, Damoh, Garakota, Sagar, Katni and other cities. At Barabanki, one married woman was charmed and befriended the party. Later, her husband found out and killed her. Chapter 5- Bhanu Pratap Tiwari – His father was Nazir in Tehsil, thus as government administrative servant, he was respected. His head was hurt and he remained in his room. He read books and wrote comments, treatise on Sanskrit books and Hindu scriptures. He was well versed with Urdu, Persian, Brij bhasha, Hindi. He wrote books which were published and distributed as free pamphlets. One pamphlet was about the family of the author. His son did not do well and sold all his books and property. Chapter 6- Baccha Maharaj- was a Brahmin resident of Chunar. In his later years, he lived in Vaishya bazar- dancing girls. He was already in all Hindu puja vidhan which he performed for dancing girls. Chapter 7- Pandit Jagaannath Pandey- When Author was of 14-year age, his uncle adopted him. Thus, he was admitted to Class III in Church Mission School. When he was admitted to Class VI, a son was born to his adoptive parents. Soon he fell from grace. His uncle shifted to Banaras. He was admitted to VI in Hindu Collegiate School. Principal was Shri Kali Prasanna Chakravarty. He loved the author. Author’s uncle shifted his house. Thus, author had to live with another person and the Principal arranged for his food and lodgings expenses through Seth Shiv Prasad Gupta. Next year, new head master Gurusewak Upadhyaya came. He was Deputy Collector on leave. He was strict. Author read a poem about him. On being called, he did not ask for pardon. He had failed in the class also. He returned to Chunar and took a train to Calcutta in 1919. Here his neighbour Vishwanath Tripathi was working in Advertisement section of Hindi magazine Matwala. He reached the office of the magazine and met Moolchand Agrawal who informed that Vishwanath Tripathi has left for Chunar yesterday. Chapter 8- Lala Bhagwandin- While the author was in school in Banaras, on 2nd October, Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated. He wrote a poem on Gandhiji and about the atrocities of British. The poem was awarded 2nd prize. Kamalalpati Tripathi was classmate. He recognised his latent as a budding poet. When author returned from Calcutta, he stayed with Kamalapathi Tripathi’s house and composed poems on current subjects. He participated in a poem competition organised by Ganesh Shankar Vidhyarthi at Kanpur. His name was re-cognised as a poet. During this period, Munshi Premchand, Lala Bhagwan Din, Jaishankar Prasad, Ayodhya Prasad Upadhayaya, Vishwanath Prasad Mishra, Krishnadev Prasad Gour Bedhab, Krishnakant Malviya were active. During this period, learned men made efforts to find talented writers and poets and encouraged them. Authors poems started being published during this period. In 1920, while the author was in Calcutta, he attended Congress Annaul meeting. Lala Lajpat Rai opposed the plan of Gandhiji. But lalaji gave respect to Gandhiji. He took the hand fan and blew cold air on him. This was an act to respect Gandhiji. Chapter 9- Pandit Baburao Vishnu Paradkar- 1930-31- Author wrote poem about freedom struggle by Irish people. His teachers helped him to get the poem was published in newspaper Aaj. Next his article “Gandhi Ashram” Shri Prakash Barrister rejected this article. It was put up before Shri Paradkar. Nationalist poem competition was about to begin. He took the title of Ugra and wrote poems. Shri Paradkar correct his writings and got them published for 5 years. He was awarded a monthly stipend of Rs. 30/- per month. His popularity and acceptance as a writer increased. His writings brought him in touch with Shachinadra Nath Sanyal, famous revolutionary. He informed that he can help with pen only and not by active fighting. Chapter 10- Shiv Prasad Gupta- He resided in Seva Upvan. He was a great Indian philanthrophiost. He donated money to all needy at all times. Madan mohan Malviya was his philosopher and guide. He financed the Kashi Vidhyapeeth for him. He was jailed for 6 months period by the British. He fell ill and after release expired. Chapter 11- Pandit Kamlapati Tripathi- Author narrates an incident when Mahatma Gandhi visited Banaras in 1921 and stayed at Teacher’s Training college. He had visited to explain to teachers and others about his non-cooperation movement. Nation was charged with feeling of freedom struggle. When Mahatma Gandhi came out of the hall, both author and Kamalapati Tripathi touched his feet, informed him that they will participate in the movement. and planned who will go to jail first. Author was arrested first then Kamalapati Tripathi was arrested. All Congress stalwarts were already there with them to share jail experience. Chapter 12- Jeevan Sankshep- After being released from jail, from 1921 to 1924, author wrote for daily newspaper AAJ. In 1923, a jovial magazine named Bhoot was launched. In 1924, author attended Kakinada Congress annual meeting. He met Acharya Shivpujan Sahaoi and Nirala. In 1926, Congress declared full freedom from British rule as their aim. His magazine Swadesh printed the memorandum and other articles, all anti-British. Warrants were issued for Munshi Premchand’s family members and against the author. Author fled from Calcutta to Bombay and started working in a silent movie. He was arrested after 5 months and was taken to Gorakhpur jail.

[Mahender Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good autobiography

[Abhaga · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is considered a foremost example of autobiographical writing in Hindi alongside Harivansh Rai Bachchan's autobiography in several volumes.

Having spent his initial formative years among some of the stalwarts of Hindi literary circles, the author had been a witness to the seedy underbelly of the shining facade. But the book mostly talks about characters most of whom will not be known to people outside certain circles. It also doesn't attempt to observe or analyze, it mostly narrates. For someone who hasn't lived through similar situations, there is little in the way of identifying with the author also.

I felt that With time, the book has become more of a specimen of frank personal writing in Hindi rather than an enduring classic.

Having said that, there were parts that were lovely. For example when he compares his birthplace Chunar with Ayodhya. Or the idea that a stone is better than a sculpture in the sense that the stone still contains all the endless possibilities in it.