Harishankar Parsai: The Legendary Satirist Who laid the revolution of a new Nation -

Harishankar Parsai who lived from Aug22,1924 to Aug10,1995) was a Hindi writer. Being born in Jamnia village near Itarsi in Hoshangabad district, Madhya Pradesh. He has procured his M.A. in Hindi from Nagpur University. He had also been a pilot in World War 2. Having pursued writing along with his service for a certain duration, he resigned from his job and adopted writing as a full-time career. He accommodated himself in Jabalpur (M.P) and started a literary magazine called Vasudha which later on became very popular in those days. Despite it being highly praised, he had to stop the magazine after the publication suffered economic losses. The great success achieved satirist left this world on August 10, 1995, in Jabalpur. In the late centuries, he had won Sahitya Akademi Award in 1982, for his satire, "Viklaang Shraddha ka Daur" 'विकलांग श्रद्धा का दौर' .Hari Shankar Parsai used to provide answers to readers in a column "POOCHHIYE PARSAI SE" for a Hindi Newspaper DESHBANDHU published in regards of Raipur and Jabalpur press.

Some truly inspiring teachings of Harishankar Parsai for the new generation:-

“आत्मविश्वास धन का होता है, विद्या का भी और बल का भी, पर सबसे बड़ा आत्मविश्वास नासमझी का होता है ।”

― Harishankar Parsai, निठल्ले की डायरी

“मैं ईसा की तरह सूली पर से यह नहीं कहता - पिता, उन्हें क्षमा कर। वे नहीं जानते वे क्या कर रहे हैं। मैं कहता - पिता, इन्हें हरगिज क्षमा न करना। ये कम्बख्त जानते हैं कि ये क्या कर रहे हैं।”

― Harishankar Parsai, विकलांग श्रद्धा का दौर

“मैंने कोई विज्ञापन ऐसा नहीं देखा जिसमें पुरुष स्त्री से कह रहा हो कि यह साड़ी या यह स्नो खरीद लो । अपनी चीज वह खुद पसन्द करती है, मगर पुरुष की सिगरेट से लेकर टायर तक में दखल देती”

― Harishankar Parsai, निठल्ले की डायरी

Kavishala presents a true incident based on Harishankar Parsai's past experiences :

While he was fast asleep one night he had the strangest dream. In that the several ministers of the central and state governments were standing in midst of the city’s central park, wearing army fatigues and carrying swords in their hands (the fatigues were made of pure Khadi, naturally). As black marketers and profiteering grain merchants were frog-marched before them, the ministers sliced off their heads with their swords.

There were periodic announcements on the public address system: “Begone, you who starve the people. Bring more enemies of the people before us; we shall cut off their heads. Make it quick, we have to go to another city as well.”

The crowd was beside itself with joy. On one side women stood with their ceremonial thalis, waiting to celebrate the ministers’ deeds by performing before them.

The ministers’ faces were devoid of any expression of abhorrence or anger. On the contrary, their eyes were brimming with love – no doubt this discipline was the result of half a century of training in ahimsa, affection, and kindliness.

The other morning he narrated to Kaka his dream. He thought for a while and then he said: “The reason for this dream is clear. Day after day you read in the newspaper the threatening statements made by ministers, hence such a dream. But the dream does not augur well.”

He said: ‘Why, Kaka? What’s wrong with such a dream? It only signals that the government is always ready to gird itself – prepare itself – to destroy the enemies of the people.”

Kaka guffawed. “Great! Gird – what an excellent word you used. It is at the root of all the trouble. It is this word that does not allow any work to be done. Ministers give out statements, saying they are ready to gird themselves – tighten their belts – for this or that. Do you know what they do after making the statement? They literally tighten or fasten, their dhotis, satisfied that they have been true to their statement – they had promised to ‘tighten their belts and so they have. In fact, many people deliberately wear their dhotis loose. After issuing statements about ‘girding themselves’ they fasten their dhotis. We have been troubled enough by those who strengthen the grip of their dhotis around their waists. What we need is those who are ready to strengthen their minds.”

He interjected: “But weren’t you telling me the meaning of my dream?”

Kaka responded: “Yes, indeed. Look here, Ayushman, seeing an elected representative wearing army fatigues is not a good augury. Furthermore, when a minister himself cuts off a guilty man’s head, it means a failure of governance. Do you understand? Don’t have such inauspicious dreams. It’s important not to have such dreams, even if it means not sleeping.”

Kaka warmed to his theme: “Don’t be in a daze. Do something. Here, read this newspaper. Once again everyone down from the prime minister to ministers in state governments have issued statements that no corrupt person will go unpunished – nothing but the harshest of punishments for them. Why don’t you stir yourself and haul some profiteers up before the administration? The officials are making daily appeals for public assistance.”

Sharma Master who was returning from his tuition classes had stopped to listen to our conversation. Now he spoke up: “I know of at least two merchants who are hoarding food grains. One has secreted about 500 sacks and the other 500.”

He said, “What are we waiting for? Let’s go to the officials so that they are caught this instant.”

Sharma ji took half a day off and accompanied me.

When we reached the crossroads, we saw a sizeable contingent of policemen directing traffic. As we started to cross the road, a police inspector shouted, “Hey, Shrimanji (sir), are you blind? Can’t you see that you don’t have the right of way yet?”

They stopped in their tracks. They turned to Sharma Master and asked, “Why are they using the word Shrimanji today? Listen, they are addressing everyone as Shrimanji.”

Sharma ji said, “The police are observing ‘Civility Week’. On these days they behave with the utmost courtesy towards citizens. They are instructed to address every person as Shrimanji.”

Thus, in this way, he proved that "A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for others." 

Short Story Collection from Harishankar Parsai includes :

  • जैसे उनके दिन फिरे
  • भोलाराम का जीव
  • हँसते हैंं रोते हैंं

His Famous Children's Anecdotes

  • चूहा और मैं

His Popular Novels

  • ज्वाला और जल)
  • तट की खोज
  • रानी नागफनी की कहानी(Rani Naagphani Ki Kahani)

Memoirs

  • Tirchchi Rekhayein (तिरछी रेखाएं)
  • Marna Koi Haar Nahi Hoti (मरना कोई हार नहीं होती)
  • Seedhe-Sade Aur Jatil Muktibodh (सीधे-सादे और जटिल मुक्तिबोध)

Fictious Stories everyone should explore

  • Chande Ka Dar (चंदे का डर)
  • Apna-Paraya (अपना-पराया)
  • Daanee (दानी)
  • Rasoi Ghar Aur Paikhana (रसोई घर और पैखाना)
  • Sudhaar (सुधार)
  • Samjhauta (समझौता)
  • Yas Sir (यस सर)
  • Ashleel (अश्लील)

Famous Satires :-

  • Viklaang Shraddhaa ka daur (विकलांग श्रद्धा का दौर)
  • Do Naak Waale Log (दो नाक वाले लोग)
  • Aadhyaatmik Paagalon Ka Mishan (आध्यात्मिक पागलों का मिशन)
  • Kraantikaaree Kee Katha (क्रांतिकारी की कथा)
  • Pavitrata Ka Daura (पवित्रता का दौरा)
  • Pulis-Mantree Ka Putala (पुलिस-मंत्री का पुतला)
  • Vah Jo Aadamee Hai Na (वह जो आदमी है न) ,etc

Which were absolutely very fascinating works by Parsai. Let me put to your knowledge that "Parsai Kehete Hain" an Indian television show had adapted several works of Harishankar Parsai into episodic stories aired on DD National in the early 2000s.