Despite life’s trials and tribulations, many never give up their passion for writing. One such literary figure is Ramakant Sharma ‘Udbhrant’, who has been writing poetry since childhood. He has also penned short stories, a novelette, literary criticism, memoirs, children’s literature, lyrics and ghazals, in Hindi as ‘Udbhrant’. The name suggested by the well-known poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan means restless, in this case for creativity. “He was my mentor and guide since my young days. I met him many times and exchanged over 100 letters with him since 1964,” he reveals.
Udbhrant’s works came into being while he worked as a journalist, public relations officer and finally retiring as Deputy Director General of Doordarshan. “Life’s stresses and strains could not compel me to give up writing,” he declares genially.
Over the last six decades, he has had several publications to his name. These include “Treta”, poetry on Rama Katha’s female characters, “Radhamadhav”, poetry on Radha, “Abhinav Pandav”, an introspection by Yudhishthira, “Anadhya Sookta”, on the origin of the Universe, “Naxal”, a novelette based on the Naxalbari movement, “Udbhrant: Shreshta Kahaniyan”, a short story collection, literary memoirs like “Smritiyon Ke Meel Pathar”, “Shahar Dar Shahar Umadti Hai Nadi” and “Kanpur, Oh Kanpur”, among several others.
Such is the depth of his works that recently the audio visual rights of “Pragyavenu”, the poetic rendering of Shrimad Bhagwad Gita and “Rudravatar”, a long mythological lyrical poem about Lord Hanuman has been acquired by Yogesh Kumar, a noted producer-director of “Pankhudiyan” fame.
His latest work is the first part of his autobiography “Mein Jo Jiya”, titled “Beej Ki Yatra”. Chronicling his struggles, the poet says “it helped me introspect”. A very candid account, it covers Udbhrant’s childhood, student days, writings, the times he lived in and other experiences. “Written in third person, it allowed me to keep my ego aside, perceiving everything from a distance in an objective manner and impartially, including self.” Interestingly, the title “Mein Jo Jiya” is derived from his song “Mein Jo Jiya Wahi Likha Hai”.
Inspired by “The Confessions” by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Mahatma Gandhi’s “My Experiments With Truth”, Udbhrant has been completely honest. “If one is incapable of being truthful, then one shouldn’t write an autobiography. Lack of honesty defeats the very purpose of writing an autobiography.”
Turning to literature early in life, Udbhrant feels it was due to his father, a littérateur, learning scriptures like Ramayan and Bhagvad Gita and access to Indian and world literature at home. He counts Kabir, Tulsidas, Nirala (Suryakant Tripathi), Ayodhya Prasad Upadhyay ‘Hari Oudh’, and Jaishankar Prasad as those who impressed him the most.
Poetry, he feels, came to him naturally. “A poet can’t be prepared or groomed. It is an innate talent, a spontaneous act and never a deliberate attempt. Poet Bachchan had in his letter to me said that poetry writing required talent, practice and reading the great masters.”
Living in Kanpur, with his father being a labour officer, made Udbhrant empathise with others’ miseries, especially that of working class. This is amply reflected in his works like the poetry compilation “Nataktantra Tatha Anya Kavitayen”. “A true poet has to be sensitive. He must be moved by other’s plight to write.”
Likewise, society too is of major concern for him. “As a part of society, you can’t keep aloof. Understanding its problems and concerns is must for a poet.” This is reflected in his “Bache Hue Logon Se”, which exhorts people to be aware of what is happening around and be proactive. His mythological poems too are contextual. In “Radhamadhav”, Putna is portrayed as a childless tribal, whose maternal instincts makes her embrace the little Krishna, making people suspicious and killing her. Moved by the tragic accident of a class X topper, he penned “Sara Abidi”. Animals like tortoise, bat, stray dogs and cockroach too have been subjects of his verses.
Being sensitive to his environment, Udbhrant reflects on the prevailing conditions. “India is an inclusive society and dividing it on caste, religion, region and creed basis can’t be allowed. The literary fraternity must stand up and speak against it.”
