Laxminarayan Payodhi

Laxminarayan Payodhi (born 1957) is a distinguished Indian poet, storywriter, novelist, playwright, critic, editor, and researcher known for his multifaceted contributions to Hindi literature.

Personal life and education
Laxminarayan Payodhi was born on March 23, 1957, in the village of Ankisa, Maharashtra, and spent his formative years in Bhopalpatnam, Chhattisgarh. Hailing from a Telugu-speaking family, Payodhi, despite being a Hindi student, developed a profound interest in various Vedas and epics, becoming an authority in both Telugu and Hindi. His educational journey, marked by a focus on Hindi literature and sociology, led him from Bhopalpattnam to Jagdalpur and Raipur. Throughout his upbringing, he drew inspiration from luminaries such as Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala', Swami Vivekananda, and Adi shankaracharya. Currently residing in Bhopal for the past 35 years, he has been actively involved in contributing to the welfare of tribes in Madhya Pradesh.

Career
Payodhi is a poet of modern Hindi. He started publishing his books of poems in Hindi and is best known for his early work Somaru, which was a bestseller and has been published three times (1992, 1997, 2005). His work spanned other fields of Hindi literature as a storywriter, novelist, playwright, critic, and editor. He was editor of the magazine Samajh Jharokha for tribal children. He has done research on tribal languages, lifestyle and culture,  promoting preferment for the tribes of Madhya Pradesh.

Poetry

 * 1) Somaru (1992, 1997, 2005)
 * 2) Aakhetakhon ke Viruddh (1997)
 * 3) Ant mein bachi Kavita (2000)
 * 4) Gamak (Ghazals, 2002)
 * 5) Harshit hai Brahmand (Lyrics, 2003–2004)
 * 6) Kandeel mein Suraj (Ghazals, 2005)
 * 7) Punarapi (selected poems, 2005)
 * 8) Chuppiyon ka Bayaan (Ghazals, 2008)
 * 9) Andhere ke paar (Ghazals, 2011)
 * 10) Chintalnaar se Chintalnaar tak (Poems, 2012)
 * 11) Sugandhon Ka Safar (Ghazals, 2015)
 * 12) Ujaalon ki Talaash (Ghazals & lyrics, 2017)
 * 13) Lamjhana (Poems, 2018)
 * 14) Samay ka Naad (Poems, 2018)
 * 15) Khayalon ki Dhoop (Ghazals, 2018)

Stories

 * 1) Sambandhon ke Avaj Mein (1992)

Drama

 * 1) Gundadhoor (Poetic Drama, 2018)

Research books

 * 1) Gondi-Hindi shabd kosh (Dictionary, 2006)
 * 2) Bhili-Hindi shabd kosh Dictionary, 2007)
 * 3) Korku-Hindi shabd kosh (Dictionary 2007)
 * 4) Gond Janjati Ka Sanskratik Pralekh (Culture of Gond Tribe, 2006)
 * 5) Janjatiya Godna: Shrungar aur upchaar (2012)
 * 6) Bhil Janaati Samuh Ke Saanskritik Aayaam (Culture of Bhil Tribal Group, 2015)
 * 7) Dhangana (Coffee table book on Baigapainting, 2017)

Children's literature

 * 1) Vanvaasi Krantiveer (1990)
 * 2) Languron K Desh Mein (1996)
 * 3) Ababeel Ki Saheli (2000)
 * 4) Ghonsala Bola (2005)
 * 5) Adivasi Kranti Nayak (2005)
 * 6) Thibaru (Novel, 1992)
 * 7) Suraj ke Desh mein (Novel, 2005)
 * 8) Titali Pari (Drama, 1998)
 * 9) Uttar ban Jayen (Poems, 2005)
 * 10) Uunche Rakhen Iraade (Poems, 2005)
 * 11) Adivaasi Bachchon ke Khel (Encyclopedia on tribal games, In two parts, 2005)

Other works

 * 1) Telefilm 'Mahuphool'(based on short story 'Mahue ke Phool) and tele dama 'Bhoomkal'( based on Gundadhoor)
 * 2) Translated 'Somaru' in Marathi and English and 'Kandeel mein Sooraj' in Urdu.
 * 3) Some of the poems and stories have been translated into Urdu, Telugu, Halbi, and Sindhi.
 * 4) Some of the stories and poems have included in the syllabus of m.p board and C.B.S.E
 * 5) Gundadhoor, Somaru, Harshit hai Brahmand, Gamak and even him as a personality have been matter of study of PhD and D lit. for many researchers.
 * 6) 6. There had been a program called 'Somaru- Prasang' by karvat Kala Parishad (1997)
 * 7) An event called 'Payodhi- Prasang' by janhit prakashan and was organized to discuss Payodhi's literature.(2002)
 * 8) Vande Matram Samiti organized Ghazal eve on Payodhi's creation. Twice, once on 'Gamak' in 2002 and then for 'Andhere ke Paar' in 2011.

Editing

 * 1) Samajh jharokha (govt.monthely magazine for children)
 * 2) Vimarsh (about criticism)
 * 3) Gondi- Hindi dictionary
 * 4) Bhili- Hindi dictionary
 * 5) Korku -Hindi dictionary
 * 6) Sampark and Sandhaan (newsletter of Tribal Welfare Department, Madhya Pradesh)
 * 7) Research bulletin (Tribal Research and Development Institute, Madhya Pradesh)
 * 8) Korku Vyakaran
 * 9) Bhili Vyakaran
 * 10) Kaargil ki Goonj (Poems)

Honors and awards

 * Indravati Award.(1982) Kondagaon.
 * Ambika Prasad 'Divya' Puraskar: 'Sambandhon k Avej Mein' (1993), Harshit hai Brahmaand (2008), Madhya Pradesh Rashtra Bhasha Prachaar Samiti.
 * Kadambinee Puraskar, (1995), Hindustan Times.
 * Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla Puraskar. (1996)Madhya Pradesh Saahitya Academy
 * Pavaiya Puraskar: (2007) Kala Mandir.
 * A special award for dictionary of 3 tribal languages (Bheeli, Korku, Gondi). (2008) Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
 * Bhartiya bal kalyan sansthan, (1996) (contribution for children's literature)
 * Vasant Rao Uikey Samman (2002), Vasant Rao Uikey Smruti Sansthan, for tribal emotions in Hindi literature.
 * Special honor for children's literature (2008) Bal Kalyan evam Bal Sahitya Shodh Kendra.
 * Bhasha Bharti samman (2010) Karvat Kala parishad.
 * Sudeergh Samman:Baalinaath Shodh Samsthaan, Ujjain
 * Nagrik Samman(2015) Nagrik kalyan samiti, Bhopal
 * Kamleshwar Award from the Dushyant Museum