Swapn jhade phool se mit chubhe shool se
Lut gaye shringar sabhi baagh ke babool se
Aur ham khade khade bahaar dekhte rahe
Kaarvan guzar gayaa ghubaar dekhte rahe
Padma Bhushan Gopaldas Neeraj is considered to be as the best -known poets and authors in Hindi literature as on date. Born in village Ekdil of Etawah, he is now ‘Har-Dil-Azeez’. His style is considered easy to understand but has also been compared with high quality Hindi literature. Several of his poems and songs have been used in Hindi movies and are very famous. He attained a unique position as a songwriter who wrote with equal facility in both Hindi as well as in Urdu. He is one of the best example of the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, where he also mixed both the languages to produce a masterpiece. He is also a famous poet of Hindi Kavi Sammelan. Creative writings of unparalleled brilliance flowed freely from his mighty pen. He fought anti-social forces of separatism, religious segregation and superstition with full might and propagated communal harmony and enlightenment in a country plagued with conflicting ideologies and destructive forces. Neeraj put forward his views, gently, guised with literary flair, the beauty and elegance of the Hindi language. After five decades of relentless writing, he occupies the pinnacle of fame and is the poet laureate of India !
Aankh bhi khuli na thi ki hai dhoop dhal gai
Paanv jab talak uthe ki zindagi phisal gai
Paat paat jhad gae ki shaakh shaakh jal gai
Chaah to nikal saki na par umar nikal gai
He wrote more than 100 songs and heart-touching musical utterances for Hindi films in a period of flirting with the make believed celluloid industry. A poet is pleased with his own passions and volition and he is the rock of defense for human nature…..this is the real aspiration of Neeraj. He had written highly popular film songs for Shankar-Jaikishan & S.D.Burman. The death of Jaikishan & Burman left him very depressed and he made a decision to quit the film industry. Following are some of the films in which he has penned songs : Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal, Cha Cha Cha, Prem Pujari, Tere Mere Sapne, Kanya Daan, Sharmili, Gambler, Chanda aur Bijli, Chupa Rustam, Fareb, Censor, Jane Na Dil Se Door, Gunah, Mera Naam Joker, etc.
Maang bhar chali ki eik jab nai nai kiran
Dhol se dhunak uthi thumak uthe charan charan
Shor mach gaya ki lo chali dulhan chali dulhan
Gaanv sab umad pada bahek uthe nayan nayan
His work has been translated in various languages like Bengali, Gujrati, Marathi, Punjabi, English, Russian, German and much more. Many scholars have been awarded doctarate on his literature. Many more are engaged in the research leading to Ph.D. Some of his popular works are Pran Geet, Dara Diya Hai, Sangharsh, Badar Baras Gayo, Neeraj Ki Geetikayen, Do Geet, Nadi Kinare, Geet Ageet, Neeraj Ki Rachnavali, Antardwani, Neeraj ki Paati, Baadlon se Salaam Letaa Hoon, Geet Jo Gaaye Nahin, etc. Neeraj was also the chancellor of Mangalayatan University – Aligarh, President of writers’ Forum of India, Chairman of Writers’ Association of India to name a few. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1991, Sahitya Vachaspati – Hindi Sahitya Sammelan Prayag in 1991, Yash Bharti – UP Government in 1994, Vidya Vachaspati – Vikramshila Vidya Peeth, Bhagalpur, Bihar in 1995, Doctor of Letters – Agra University in 1995, Padma Bhushan in 2007, Pride of Lucknow award by Lucknow Society at Lucknow Literary Festival, Kaifi Azmi Award recently, etc.
Founder LUCKNOW Society met the legend recently and was enlightened with his poetry. Padma Bhushan Gopaldas Neeraj is gift of God to us and poetry. It is often said that a poet is distinguished by greater promptness to think and feel without immediate external excitement; Neeraj is a poet and romantic because of his love to poems… Humility is his hallmark, even though he writes like an angel. Salute to the true genius who’s contributions are of immense values, which has enriched the art of poetry. After writing countless gems in a career of more than 50 years, he will always remain a shining star in the poetic horizon !
Raat idhar dhalti to din udhar nikalta hai
Koi yahan rukta to koi wahan chalta hai
Deep aur patange mein farq sirf itana hai
Eik jalke bujhta hai eik bujh ke jalta hai