Ramdhari Singh `Dinkar` was born on September 23, 1908 in a poor Bhumihar Brahmin family in Simariya village of Begusarai district in Bihar. He studied Sanskrit, Maithili, Bengali, Urdu and English literature. Dinkar was immensely influenced by some great poets like, Iqbal, Rabindranath Tagore, Keats and Milton. Initially he was associated with the revolutionary movement in the Indian Freedom Movement. During this time he started writing his nationalist poetry as an exponent of revolution and extremism. But in his later part of life he followed Gandhian ideology though he thought sometimes revenge is necessary for self protection.
Works of Ramdhari Singh `Dinkar
This was the world view that Ramdhari Singh portrayed in `Kurukshetra`. He is the writer of a bouquet of poetry. The poem, Pranbhang in 1929 was the first publication of him. His collection of poems are Lokpriya(1964), Kavi Dinkar (1960), Dinkar ki Suktiyan (1964), Dinkar ke Geet (1973) Sanchayita (1973). His other major poems are Renuka (1935) ,Hunkar (1938), Rasavanti (1939), Dvandvageet (1940), Saamdheni (1947), Baapu (1947), Dhup-Chhanh (1947), Rashmirathi (1952), Dilli (1954), Neem ke Patte (1954), Suraj ka Byaah (1955), Neel Kusum (1955), Chakravaal (1956), Kavishri (1957), Urvashi (1961), Parashuram ki Pratiksha (1963), Haare ko Harinaam (1970). The major prose works of Dinakar`s are Mitti ki Or (1946) ,Chittaur ka Saakaa (1948) ,Ardhanaarishwar (1952), Sanskriti ke Chaar Adhyaay (1956) ,Kaavya ki Bhumikaa (1958) ,Pant, Prasad aur Maithilisharan (1958), Shuddh Kavitaa ki Khoj (1966), Saahityamukhi (1968), Dinkar ki Daayri (1973), Chetana ki Shilaa (1973), Vivah ki Musibaten (1973) and Aadhunik Bodh (1973). Urvashi is a work that is based on love, passion and relationship of man and woman on a spiritual plane. `Kurukshetra` is a narrative poem that is based on the Santi Parva of the Mahabharata. `Krishna Ki Chetavani` is another poem that has been composed on events that led to the war of Kurukshetra war. `Samdheni` is a collection of poems that reflect the poet`s social concern.
Most of his poems are in Veer Rasa mode though there are some exceptions. Some of his other works are Rashmirathi and Parashuram ki Prateeksha. He has also composed social and political satires that were aimed at socio-economic inequalities and exploitation of the deprived. He was a progressive and humanist poet.
Awards of Ramdhari Singh `Dinkar`
Ramdhari Singh received Jnanpith Award in 1972 for Urvashi, a small token for his merit. He was also awarded Padma Bhushan in 1959 and Sahitya Akademi Award also in 1959.He was given the title "Rashtrakavi" for his literary works. He passed away on April 24, 1974.