Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan Agyeya is a pioneer of modern trends in the realm of Indian poetry. In literature, Hindi moved from a phase of revivalist cultural nationalism in the 1910s to mainstream Gandhian nationalism in the 1920s and the early 1930s.
Over the following two decades Hindi, while firmly rooted in native ground, opened up and responded to various international literary movements by going through phases of Romanticism (Chhayavad, represented by the poets Nirala, Mahadevi Verma etc.), Modernism (Prayogvad, represented by Agyeya and the Tar Saptak poets) and, later, Progressivism (Pragativad, represented by Muktibodh and others). Through these greatly speeded up and therefore sometimes apparently contrary stages of development, Hindi came abreast of contemporary literary trends and movements sweeping the world.
Agyeya bought experimentalism (prayogvaad) in the Hindi literature. Tar Saptak was an influential literary publication-series, launched in 1943, associated with a spirit of experimentalism in Hindi poetry, which, in turn, shaped the New Poetry or Nayi Kavita.
In the 1950s, Muktibodh was a significant poet, but not very well known. From 1950 to mid-1960s, it was Agyeya who presided over Hindi poetry. The most prominent exponent of the ‘Nayi Kavita’ (New Poetry) movement in Hindi, he edited the ‘Tar Saptaks’.
Agyeya edited many literary journals and also launched his own Hindi weekly, Dinaman, thus establishing new standards in the field of Hindi journalism. Agyeya has to his credit sixteen volumes of poetry, three novels, travelogues and several volumes of short stories and essays.
Amongst the most well-known of his poetry anthologies are Aangan Ke Paar Dvaar, Chakranta-Shila, Kitni Naavon Mein Kitni Baar, Hari Ghaas Par Kshan-bhar, Indradhanu Raunde Hue ye etc. His major prose works include Shekhar : Ek Jeevani.
Agyeya was an extensive traveller, and in course of his travels held visiting positions at various institutions around the world. He received numerous honours such as the Sahitya Akademi award, Jnanpith award, Bharatbharati award and the international Golden Wreath award for poetry.
He left for his heavenly abode in 1987.
