Surendra Jha 'Suman'

Surendra Jha 'Suman' was born on 10 October 1910 in Ballipur Village of District Samastipur, Bihar.[1] His father Bhubaneswar Jha was a well known Ayurvedic practitioner. Traditionally the family belonged to Sanskrit scholars.[1] He was educated at Dharmaraj Sanskrit College, Muzaffarpur and was a graduate in literature (Sahityacharya) and was also a Kavyatirtha (Bengal).[1] He was married to Ganga Devi a native of Begusarai at the age of 25 years. He has one son Brajendra Jha, and two daughters. He retired as a professor and HOD, Maithili Language in LNMU University Darbhanga, Bihar. He was elected a member of parliament from Darbhanga Lok Sabha Constituency on Janata Party ticket for the 6th Lok Sabha.

As a writer, both in the realm of prose and poetry, He had a superb command over several languages and this qualification brought him a reward from the then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Besides the Sahitya Akademi award, in 1981 Maithili Akademi, Patna Awarded him Vidyapati Puraskar.[1]

He was the Maithili representative in Sahitya Akademi and a member of its Maithili advisory board. He was president of All India Maithili Sahitya Parishad. He was associated with Vaidehi Samiti Darbhanga also.[1]

He occupies a very prominent place in the modern Maithili literature. His choice of words, alliterations, metaphor and similes, use of prosody and description of seasons, have been unique in modern Maithili literature.

His Payasvini (1969),[5] a collection of 25 poems about beauty of nature, colourful imagery and simplicity of rural life has won for him the Sahitya Akademi award for 1971. In this one can find metrical experiment to metaphor.

Payasvini is based on the idea of comparing poetry with a milch cow, as described in the Prithvisukta of Atharvaved and Brihadaranyakopnishad, where Vakdhenu has been described in Vth chapter VIIIth Brahman.

Here Pavas (Rainy Season) is as good asTamasi, Mrityunjaya and milch cow and the river has been compared with rasvanti (charming succulent woman), vanita (woman) and kavita (poetry).[6] The mountain has been compared with an old man, a youth and a child. Sumanji's poetry Dattavati (1962)[5] describes the Sino-Indian War and contains patriotic fervour as in Bharat vandana (1970) and Antarnad (1970).

His Uttara (1980)[5] is a Khandakavya (miniepic) the story has been taken from the Mahabharat it doesn't focuses the compactness of the character of Uttara only. In fact his style and verve of poetry is loaded with Sanskrit words, simile, Alankar and imagery of old Sanskrit poetry hence at times not relished by modern readers, not much acquainted with Sanskrit prosody.[1] His publications include Pratipada (1948). The very name suggests the new start, a new direction in Maithili poetry. Its introduction and dedication is also in poems. All the other 16 poems were composed before India achieved independence. It expresses suffocation felt by the poet under foreign rule. Similarly Kavitak Ahvan shows poetic inspiration and patriotic fervour. Samsan shows philosophical reflection on the cremation ground. The favourite topics of Sanskrit poets are treated with new imagery in Asadhasya pratham divase, Yamuna, Asuryampasya and Sharad. Similarly, the poet exalts the feelings of 'Haldhar' (ploughman) of today, higher than Balaram and Janaka of the Yore days of Dvapara Yuga and Treta Yuga.

His 'Ode to Tree'[5] can favourably be compared with anyone of the best lyrics of any literature. Here he compares and admires the services, dedication and sacrifices of 'Tree' to mankind and associates them with those of an ascetic. Yugnirman visualises the future and Uktipratyukti reaches out to the heart of the down trodden. All these poems have since been collected in his anthologies of poems 'Pratipada'which is a landmark in modern Maithili.

His other collections of poetry areSaon-Bhado (1965), Archana (1961), Kathayuthika (1976) and many others. His Lalana Lahari (1969) is a vivid description of the peculiar characteristics of love making by girls of different provinces of India[1] His song in praise of the Ganga in Gangavtaran (1967) has been termed superb.[1] He has made himself memorable by writing on a number of topics. With his steadfast adherence to classical poise and dignity has produced literature of permanent value.[1]

His excellent poetic qualities can be seen in the following lines:

The jungles on all sides are thick with the smell of Bakul flower;
the Ketaki flower has filled the wind and made it dense.
In every home the she-peacock is dancing;
Everybody's eyes feast upon the dark clouds (meaning also Lord Krishna),
but it is in my home alone where the flame of love remains unquenched.[1]

This is the young lady of Alaka agonised on account of unrequited love. (A Survey of Maithili Literature-R.K.Choudhary Pp. 199)

As a translator into Maithili he has chosen both poetry and prose. Mainly he translated from Bengali and Sanskrit. His translations from Bengali are:[1]

• Sarat Chandra's Baradidi (Barakidai)
• Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali (1969)
• and Rabindra Nibandhabali(1994)

From Sanskrit

• Puruspariksha of Vidyapati
• Vedic hymns (Richalok, 1970)
• Sankaracharya's Anand Lahari (1969)
• and Saundarya Lahari (1972)
• Durgasaptasati (Chandicharya, 1950)
• Shivamahimna Strotra (1969)
• Kalidas's Raghuvamsa (1970) and Ritusamhar
• Sringar Tilak (1969)
• Hitopdesika
• PutroahamPrithvyah (1964)
• Shaktistavak (1969)
• Harismaranika (1970)
• Prachetas Rajashastram (1993)

He died on 5 March 2002 in Darbhanga at the age of 92 years due to heart-related problem.[1][4] Acharya Suman Chowk has been established near Harahi Lake in his memorial in Darbhanga and named after him.[8]

• List of people from Darbhanga

• http://www.ignca.nic.in/coilnet/akshr005.htm