Harishankar Parsai: The Most Celebrated Satirist of Indian Literature

Harishankar Parsai Bhavan in Wright Town stands tall as a living testament of the remarkable Indian writer and the most celebrated satirist of Indian literature Harishankar Parsai. Just like there is only one Premchand, only one Shakespeare, only one Chekhov, there will always be only one Harishankar Parsai. His level of satire used in his poems and stories remains unmatched and unparalleled hitherto!

It’s really very unfortunate and a pity that young generation knows nothing about him. Harishankar Parsai was truly a beacon of change and revolution in the Indian literature. The government trembled whenever his new work was launched in the market, for he spared no one! Harishankar Parsai was an intrepid and sharp critique of those in power. He frequently penned about corruption, red tapism, racism, communism, capitalism, consumerism, and communalism.

Albeit he was inclined towards leftist ideology, he didn’t spare even the left-wing politics and politicians. He wrote about everything he found problematic and different from his opinion in a very witty and creative manner. Reading Harishankar Parsai is the need of the hour. One can learn a lot merely by reading his works.

History

Harishankar Parsai was born on 22 August 1922 in Jamani village near Itarsi, Madhya Pradesh. He settled in Jabalpur where he lived until his last breath. He had earned an M.A degree in Hindi from Nagpur University. Initially, he started writing alongside his job but after a short time he renounced his job and took up writing as a full-time career.

His writing was marked by sarcastic, humorous, and ingenious criticism of government institutions, religious fanatics, corrupt bureaucrats and politicians, communalism, capitalism, and communism. He had made his pen a weapon which he utilized to question the people in power. However, though Harishankar Parsai is cherished and venerated by his readers, government has done nothing for honoring this great writer. There are no museums, memorials, or libraries paying a tribute to his resounding legacy.

He launched a magazine christened Vasudha from Jabalpur. The magazine was quite popular but he had to close it after two years due to financial crisis. Harishankar Parsai was in close contact with his readers through the column of a newspaper called Deshbandhu which was published from Raipur and Jabalpur. He used to give answers to the readers’ questions via a column named ‘Poochhiye Parsai Se’.

It won’t be wrong to say Harishankar Parsai has revolutionized the art of satire in Indian literature. He was an ingenious man with a profound understanding of sociology and politics.

Literature

Harishankar Parsai has gifted the mankind his stupendous poems, humorous and satirical stories and thought-provoking essays. Some of the famous works of Harishankar Parsai are:

• Viklaang Shraddha ka daur – It critiques blind faith and the absurdity of rituals, exposing how societal superstitions often overshadow reason. Through sharp humor, the narrative invites readers to reflect on the complexities of genuine spirituality versus hollow practices, urging a more thoughtful approach to belief in a changing world.
• Premchand ke Phatey Jute – Harishankar Parsai humorously critiques how Premchand’s ideals of social justice and human dignity are often misinterpreted in modern society. Using the metaphor of ‘tattered shoes,’ Harishankar Parsai emphasizes the need to reconnect with the true essence of Premchand’s messages and their relevance today.
• Do Naak Wale Log – It explores the quirks of people with two noses, symbolizing their obsession for respect from the society and their hypocrisy. Through witty observations, Harishankar Parsai critiques societal norms such as casteism, patriarchy and human behavior, encouraging readers to reflect on individuality and the absurdities of everyday life in a lighthearted manner.
• Apni Apni Beemari – It is an essay that humorously examines the problem of tax, poverty, corruption, inflation in a very witty and captivating manner. Through a metaphor of ‘tax ki beemari,’ Harishankar Parsai underscores the income disparity in the society and underlines that every person in this world is facing some kind of an illness due to rigged and corrupt system.
• Thithurta Hua Gantantra – In this sharp critiquing essay Harishankar Parsai valiantly explores the flaws in democracy. Using humor and sharp observations, he critiques political corruption, inefficiency, and the disconnect between leaders and the people. The narrative emphasizes the challenges of maintaining true democratic values in a system often plagued by absurdity and dysfunction.
• Inspector Matadeen Chaand Par – It humorously follows Inspector Maataadeen as he embarks on an absurd adventure to the moon. Through witty storytelling, Parsai satirizes bureaucracy and the ridiculousness of official procedures, highlighting the gap between lofty ambitions and the mundane reality of government inefficiency.

Other famous works of Harishankar Parsai are:

1. Sudaama Ka Chaaval
2. Apeel Ka Jaadoo
3. Bus ki Yatra
4. Torch Bechnewale
5. Ek Ashuddh Bevakooph
6. Greeting Kaard Aur Raashan Kaard
7. Pitane-Pitane Mein Fark
8. Bholaram Ka Jeev
9. Baarat Kee Waapsi

Novels

The novels written by Harishankar Parsai are:

• Jwala Aur Jal – This is one of his early creations. In this novel, a young man has been shown taking an inhuman form due to the cruelty of the society and then returning to human relations with love and sympathy. In this novel, the curiosity of the readers has been maintained by using flashback. This novel shows the victory of love over hatred with great intimacy and simplicity.
• Tat Ki Khoj – In this novel Harishankar Parsai has talked about the plights of women and addressed the hurdles and shackles put in their path by the society.
• Rani Naagphani Ki Kahani – Being a fantasy novel, it has abundance of imagination. The deep social awareness of the author has helped in presenting the picture of the present society with the help of imagination. On the surface, the story of feudal life is visible in this novel, but through this story, various weaknesses of the modern society have been described indirectly.

Achievements

The notable achievements of Harishankar Parsai are:

• He won Sahitya Akademi Award in 1982 for his satirical story Viklaang Shraddha Ka Daur.
• He was also paid tribute by awarding Sharad Joshi Award in 1992.
• ‘Parsai Kehte Hain’ was an Indian TV show on DD National that adapted many of Harishankar Parsai’s works in episodes.
• Many of his works like ‘Premchand Ke Phatey Jute’ and ‘Baarat Kee Waapsi’ are a part of CBSE school curriculum
• A collection of his twenty-one stories was translated into English by C.M. Naim and published in 1994.

Legacy

Harishankar Parsai – The King of Satire left this materialistic world on 10 August 1995. He is no more but his works keep inspiring millions of us. No other critic like him has born hitherto. Harishankar Parsai was not merely a writer and a satirist but a revolutionary! He tried revolutionizing the society and government institutes though his work. Writers like Harishankar Parsai are born one in a millennium.

All of us should read his works. India has given many great writers like Premchand, Harishankar Parsai, Mahadevi Verma, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan and many more. And we Indians should take a pride in that by reading their works and revering them.