Vishnu Prabhakar

Vishnu Prabhakar (21 June 1912 – 11 April 2009) was a Hindi writer. He had several short stories, novels, plays and travelogues to his credit. Prabhakar's works have elements of patriotism, nationalism and messages of social upliftment. He was the First Sahitya Academy Award winner from Haryana.

He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1993, Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan Award in 1995 and the Padma Bhushan (the third highest civilian honour of India) by the Government of India in 2004.

Life and career
Along with his work he pursued an interest in literature. He also joined a Natak company in Hissar. His literary life started with the publication of his first story Diwali in the Hindi Milap in 1931. He wrote Hatya Ke Baad, his first play in 1939. Eventually he began writing as a full-time career. He stayed with the family of his maternal uncle until the age of twenty seven. He married Sushila Prabhakar in 1938 who stayed as an inspiration source for his literature until her death in 1980.

After Indian Independence he worked as a drama director, from September 1955 to March 1957, in Akashvani, All India Radio, New Delhi. He made news when in 2005 he threatened to return his Padma Bhushan award after he allegedly had to face misconduct at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Vishnu Prabhakar died at the age of 96, on 11 April 2009 after a brief illness in New Delhi. He was suffering from a heart problem and infection of the urinary tract. His wife, Sushila Prabhakar, had died in 1980. Prabhakar is survived by two sons and two daughters. His sons Atul Prabhakar and Amit Prabhakar decided to donate his body to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi as their father's last wishes.

How he became 'Prabhakar'
He became 'Vishnu Prabhakar' from 'Vishnu'; his name was listed as 'Vishnu Dayal' in the primary school of Mirapur. In the Arya Samaj school, on being asked the 'Varna', he answered – 'Vaishya'. The teacher put down his name as 'Vishnu Gupta'. When he joined government service, the officers changed his name to 'Vishnu Dharmadutt' because there were many 'Guptas' in the office and it confused the officers. He continued writing by the pen name of 'Vishnu'. Once an editor asked, "Why do you use such a short name? Have you passed any examination?" Vishnu answered that he had passed 'Prabhakar' examination in Hindi. Thus the editor appended Prabhakar to his name making it 'Vishnu Prabhakar'.

Novels

 * 1) Dhalti Raat, 1951
 * 2) Nishikant, 1955
 * 3) Tat Ke Bandhan,


 * 1) Darpan Ka Vyakti, 1968
 * 2) Parchhai, 1968
 * 3) Koi To, 1980
 * 4) Ardhnarishwar, 1992

Story Collections

 * 1) Ek Kahani Ka Janam (एक कहानी का जन्म) (Collection of his Love Stories), 2008
 * 2) Aadi Aur Ant, 1945
 * 3) Rehman Ka Beta, 1947
 * 4) Zindagi Ke Thapede, 1952
 * 5) Sangharsh Ke Baad, 1953
 * 6) Dharti Ab Bhi Ghoom Rahi Hai, 1959
 * 7) Safar Ke Saathi, 1960
 * 8) Khandit Pooja, 1960
 * 9) Sanche Aur Kala, 1962
 * 10) Meri Tentis Kahaniya, 1967
 * 11) Meri Priya Kahaniya, 1970
 * 12) Pul Tootne Se Pehle, 1977,
 * 13) Mera Watan (मेरा वतन), 1980,
 * 14) Meri Lokpriya Kahaniya, 1981
 * 15) Meri Badrinath Yatra
 * 16) Khilone, 1981
 * 17) Aapki Kripa (Short Stories), 1982
 * 18) Meri Kahaniya, 1984
 * 19) Meri Kathayatra, 1984
 * 20) Ek Aur Kunti, 1985
 * 21) Zindagi Ek Rehearsal, 1986

Poetry

 * 1) Chalta Chala Jaonga, 2009

Plays

 * 1) Naprabhat, 1951
 * 2) Samaadhi (Gaandhar Ki Bhikshuni), 1952
 * 3) Doctor, 1961
 * 4) Yuge-Yuge Kranti, 1969
 * 5) Toot-te Parivesh, 1974
 * 6) Kuhaasa Aur Kiran, 1975
 * 7) Tagar, 1977
 * 8) Bandini(बंदिनी), 1979
 * 9) Satta Ke Aar-Paar, 1981
 * 10) Ab Aur Nahin, 1981
 * 11) Shwet Kamal, 1984
 * 12) Keral Ka Krantikari, 1987
 * 13) Vishnu Prabhkar : Sampurna Natak (Part-1,2,3), 1987
 * 14) Pustak Kit
 * 15) Seema rekha
 * 16) Sanskar aur Bhavna

Biographies – Memories

 * 1) Jaane Anjaane, 1961
 * 2) Kuchh Shabd : Kuchh Rekhaayen, 1965
 * 3) Aawara Masiha, 1974
 * 4) Amar Shahid Bhagat Singh, 1976
 * 5) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, 1976
 * 6) Swami Dayananda Saraswati, 1978
 * 7) Yadaun Ki Teerthyatra, 1981
 * 8) Shuchi Smita, 1982
 * 9) Mere Agraj : Mere Meet, 1983
 * 10) Samantar Rekhaayen, 1984
 * 11) Hum Inke Rini Hain, 1984
 * 12) Mere Humsafar, 1985
 * 13) Rah Chalte-Chalte, 1985
 * 14) Kaka Kalelkar, 1985

Essays

 * 1) Jan-Samaj Aur Sanskriti : Ek Samgra Drishti, 1981
 * 2) Kya Khoya Kya Paya, 1982

Children's Literature

 * 1) Imandar Balak
 * 2) Mote Lal, 1955
 * 3) Kunti Ke Bete, 1958
 * 4) Ramu Ki Holi, 1959
 * 5) Dada Ki Kachehari, 1959
 * 6) Sharachandra, 1959
 * 7) Jab Didi Bhoot Bani, 1960
 * 8) Jeevan Parag, 1963
 * 9) Bankimchandra, 1968
 * 10) Abhinav Ekanki, 1968
 * 11) Abhinay Ekanki, 1969
 * 12) Swaraj Ki Kahani, 1971
 * 13) Hadtaal, 1972
 * 14) Jaadu Ki Gaay, 1972
 * 15) Ghamand Ka Phal, 1973
 * 16) Nutan Baal Ekanki, 1975
 * 17) Heere Ki Pehchaan, 1976
 * 18) Motiyon Ki Kheti, 1976
 * 19) Paap Ka Ghada, 1976
 * 20) Gudiya Kho Gayi, 1977
 * 21) Aise-Aise, 1978
 * 22) Tapovan Ki Kahaniyan
 * 23) Pahad Chade Gajanand Lal, 1981
 * 24) Balvarsha Zindabad, 1981
 * 25) Khoya Hua Ratan (खोया हुआ रत्न), 2008
 * 26) Pustak Keet

Miscellaneous

 * 1) Baapu Ki Batein, 1954
 * 2) Hajrat Umar 1955
 * 3) Meri badrinath ki yatra, 1955
 * 4) Kasturba Gandhi, 1955
 * 5) Aise Thai Sardar, 1957
 * 6) Ha-Du-Al Rashid, 1957
 * 7) Hamare Padosi, 1957
 * 8) Man Ke Jeete Jeet, 1957
 * 9) Murabbi, 1957
 * 10) Kumhar Ki Beti, 1957
 * 11) Baajiprabhu Deshpande, 1957
 * 12) Shankracharya, 1959
 * 13) Yamuna Ki Kahani, 1960
 * 14) Ravindranath Thakur, 1961
 * 15) Pehla Sukh : Nirogi Kaya, 1963
 * 16) Main Achhoot Hoon, 1968
 * 17) Ek Desh : Ek Hridaya, 1973
 * 18) Manav Adhikar
 * 19) Nagarikta Ki Aur
 * 20) Theka

Others

 * Plays: Prakash aur Parchhaiyan, Barah Ekanki, Ashok
 * संस्मरण: हमसफ़र मिलते रहे

Awards and honours
Both Sahitya Akademi and Padma Bhushan awards were given for his novel Ardhanarishvara (The Androgynous God or Shiva).
 * 1) Sahitya Akademi Award, 1993
 * 2) Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan Award, 1995
 * 3) Padma Bhushan, 2004
 * 4) Soviet land nehru award, 1976 for awara masiha