Gulab Khandelwal

Gulab Khandelwal (21 February 1924 - 2 July 2017) was an Indian poet who wrote poetry in different forms such as Lyrics, Sonnets, Rubais (Quatrains), Dohas (Couplets), Odes, Elegies, Lyrical Ballads, Epics, Poetic Dramas, Ghazals, and Masnavi with equal felicity. He even introduced some of these forms into Hindi literature and, apart from Hindi, has also written poetry in Urdu and English. The span of his poetic language touches upon Sanskrit on one end and Urdu on the other. Gulab Khandelwal died in Ohio on 2 July 2017. Gulab Khandelwal started writing poetry at an early age. His first volume of poems was published in 1941 with preface by the famous poet Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala'. Since then, 73 books have been published, including more than 50 volumes of poems and 2 dramatic works in prose, some of which have been digitized by the Digital Library of India.Six of his books have received awards from the Uttar Pradesh government and one has received an award from the Bihar government. Some of his books were selected as textbooks for colleges in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with Alok Vritt used in the intermediate board in Uttar Pradesh, India, since 1976. Mahakavi Gulab translated some of his poems in English in Gulab Khandelwal: Selected Poems, which was published in 1986 with preface by Dr. Karan Singh, ex-Prince of Kashmir. In recognition of this and his achievements in his literary career, he was awarded honorary citizenship of Baltimore City, USA on 13th July, 1985. Furthermore, both the mayor of the City of Baltimore and the governor of Maryland state declared this day as Hindi Day. Mahakavi Gulab was the president of Archana, a literary society of Kolkata founded in the 1950s, and presided over many events organized by multiple literary organizations. He was the president of Akhil Bhartiya Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag, for 18 years. He was also the president of Bharati Parishad, an organisation founded by Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya. For 15 years, he was the senior member of the editorial board of Vishwa, a literary magazine by the International Hindi Association. He was also the president of the International Hindi Association. Mahakavi Gulab lived mostly in the USA, but visited India every year. Till his death, he was active in his literary pursuit. In addition to his involvement in the Indian literary organizations, he also worked extensively with Indian organizations in the United States. He presided on meetings in New York on Vishwa Hindi Sammelan, an organization which strives towards the firm establishment of the Hindi language. At the age of 82, he wrote his auto-biography ज़िन्दगी है कोई किताब नहीं (Zindagi Hai Koi Kitaab Nahi). Awards Some of his books were presented awards by Hindi Sansthan (U.P. Government), India Usha – by U.P. Government in 1967 Roop Ki Dhoop – by U.P. Government in 1971 Sau Gulab Khile – by U.P. Government in 1975 Kuchh Aur Gulab – by U.P. Government in 1980 Ahalya – Vishisht Puraskar by U.P. Government in 1980 Har Subah Ek Taza Gulab – Nirala Puraskar by U.P. Government in 1989 Adhunik Kavi-19 – Akhil Bharatiya Granth Puraskar by Bihar Government Ahalya – Akhil Bharatiya Rambhakti Puraskar by Hanuman Mandir Trust, Kolkata, 1984 Some of his books were selected as textbooks for colleges: Kach Devyani – Had been in Intermediate in Magadh University, Bihar (India) Usha (Mahakavya) – Had been in B.A. in Magadh University, Bihar (India) Ahalya (Khand-kavya) – Had been subject for dissertation in Awadh University, U.P. (India) Ahalya (Khand-kavya) – Had been in B.A. in Magadh University, Bihar (India) Alok-Vritt (Khand-kavya) – Had been in B.A. in Magadh University, Bihar (India) Alok-Vritt (Khand-kavya) – Is in Intermediate Board in Uttar Pradesh (India) since 1976