Jaishankar Prasad

About

Though also a writer of short stories and novels, this prominent 20th-century Hindi literary figure is best remembered for his historical and mythological plays and romantic poems. His most famous works include Jharnā (poems), Kāmāyanī (poems), and Skandagupta (play).

Before Fame

He wrote his first poems in the Western Indian Hindi dialect of Braj Bhasha; his later work made use of a Sanskrit-influenced version of Hindi known as Khadi.

Trivia

During the 1960s, an Indian theater professor named Shanta Gandhi led a modern revival of Prasad's dramatic works.

Family Life

A native of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, he was the son of tobacco merchant Babu Devki Prasad.

Associated With

He and Girish Karnard both became successful Indian playwrights.