Mohan Rakesh was one of the pioneers of the Nai Kahani (literally new story) movement of the Hindi literature in the 1950s and made considerable contribution to novel, travelogue, criticism, memoirs, short story, and drama. Mohan Rakesh was born on 8th January 1925 in Amritsar. He did his masters in Hindi and English from Punjab University. He was a talented playwright and novelist. As we go through his early works we find a gradual development in his later works. Gradually he comes closer to the fate and aspirations of mankind. He was a master storyteller and had an excellent control over the Hindi language. He mostly wrote about the urban middle class people, about their hopes and aspirations.
Mohan Rakesh entered the profession of teaching to earn his livelihood. For few years he was the editor of ‘Sarika’. Few of his major works are Andhere Bandh Kamre, Antraal, Na Hone Wala Kal in the genre of novels, while few of his collection of stories include Quarter tatha Anya Kahaniyaan, Pehchan tatha Anya Kahaniyaan, Varis tatha Anya Kahaniyaan; plays include Ashad Ka Ek Din, Laharon Ke Rajhans and Aadhe Adhure. Mohan Rakesh’s three plays Ashad Ka Ek Din, Laharon Ke Rajhans and Aadhe Adhure are very famous, they created a rage in the world of theatre. His plays were the first choice of the directors of that time. Aadhe Adhure is a tragic comedy on the life of middle class people. He translated Mrichakatikam and Shakuntalam.
He was awarded by Sangeet Natak Academi. This Hindi writer left the world on 3rd January 1972 in New Delhi.
