Phanishwar Nath Renu Biography: “Renu” by Phanishwar Nath Mandal. He was one of the most prominent and influential writers of modern Hindi literature in the post-Premchand era (4 March 1921 – 11 April 1977). He is the author of Maila Anchal, which is considered the most significant Hindi novel after Premchand’s Godaan.
The Bihar Mandal community to which Renu belonged is a disadvantaged social group in India. However, Renu’s family enjoyed the benefits of land, education, and social standing. Renu’s father, Shilanath Mandal, was a highly enlightened individual who took a keen interest in modern ideals, culture, and art and was active in the Indian National Movement.
Phanishwar Nath Renu Biography: Birthday and Death Anniversary
Name: | Phanishwar Nath Renu |
Nationality: | Indian |
Date of Birth: | March 4, 1921 |
Place of Birth: | Aurahi Hingna |
Died: | April 11, 1977 |
Notable Works: | Maila Anchal (The Soiled Linen 1954) |
Gender: | Male |
Phanishwar Early Years
Bihar’s Phanishwar Nath Renu was born on March 4, 1921, in the village of Aurahi Hingna, close to Forbesganj, in the Araria (then Purnia) district. He attended schools in India and Nepal. His elementary schooling took place in Araria and Forbesganj. While residing with the Koirala family, he attended Biratnagar Adarsh Vidyalaya (school) in Biratnagar, Nepal, where he received his Matriculation. In 1942, after graduating from Kashi Hindu Vishvavidalay (university), he participated in the Indian Freedom Struggle. Later, in 1950, he took part in the Nepalese revolutionary movement that led to the establishment of democracy in Nepal. He introduced the Anchalik-katha style of writing to Hindi. His contemporary poet Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayana Agyey was his closest companion. A biography of the author, titled Phanishwar Nath Renu in Unki Nazar Unka Shahar, has also been published.
Phanishwar Nath Renu’s Artwork
Maila Anchal (The Soiled Linen, 1954), his first and considered masterwork, was a social novel that depicted the life of rural Bihar and its people, particularly the primitive and the deprived. In 1970, he was awarded the Padma Sri, one of India’s highest civilian honours. In protest of the declaration of an internal emergency, he returned the Padma Sri. The following are some of his novels, short stories, and memoirs:
Novels: Maila Anchal Parti Parikatha Juloos Krishay ki Kahani Kitne Chaurahe Paltu Babu Road Is Jal Pralay Main
Memoirs: Rinjal Dhanjal Van Tulsi ki Gandh Nepali Kranti Katha Shrut Ashrut Purva Totapur
Story: Panchlight
Prime Ministers and Presidents of all Countries in the World 2023
Phanishwar Nath Renu’s famous for
Phanishwar Nath Renu is renowned for promoting the voice of contemporary rural India through the Aanchalik Upanyas (‘regional tale’) genre and is regarded as one of the pioneering Hindi authors who introduced regional voices into mainstream Hindi literature. Renu was a close friend of the Bengali author Satinath Bhaduri. In Bengali, he penned a memoir titled Bhaduriji (Mr Bhaduri).
Writings and Accomplishments by Phanishwar Nath Renu
Phanishwar Nath Renu is the author of the novels Maila Anchal, Parti Parikatha, Juloos, Deerghtapa, Kitne Chaurahe, and Paltu Babu Road. His magnum opus, Maila Anchal (1954), is considered the second-best work after Premchand’s Godaan. (1936). Moreover, awarded the Padma Shri for Maila Anchal. Phanishwar Nath Renu’s short stories include Maare Gaye Gulfam, Ek Adim Ratri Ki Mehak, and Lal Pan Ki Begum Panchlight, among others. The few collections of brief stories include Thumri Agnikhor and Acche Aadmi. The 1966 film Teesri Kasam was inspired by his short story “Maare Gaye Gulfam.” He also composed the dialogue for the film. The adaptation of his short story “Panchlight” into a television short film.
Personal life
His first wife was Rekha Renu (an unidentified woman), his second was Padma, and his third was Latika. As a patient at Patna Medical College and Hospital, he encountered his third wife, Latika, a nurse. The couple wed in 1951. She has inspired the works of Maila Anchal, Parti Parikatha, and Mare Gaye Gulfam. It was alleged that his eldest daughter Kavita Roy (Rekha Renu’s daughter) was living in poor conditions in Katihar, Bihar. Padma Renu’s eldest son, Padma Parag Renu, remained an MLA from Forbesganj, while Padma Renu’s youngest son, Dakhineshwar Renu, directed the Renu Samaj Seva Sansthan.