हिंदी के आधुनिक प्रमुख महाकाव्यों में वैज्ञानिक दृष्टि The Scientific outlook of the representative modern Hindi Epics.
हिंदी के आधुनिक प्रमुख महाकाव्यों में वैज्ञानिक
दृष्टि
The Scientific outlook of the representative modern Hindi Epics.
भूमंडलीकरण के
परिप्रेक्ष्य में साहित्य, समाज, संस्कृति और भाषा,
ISBN No
978-93-81980-29-3, Year 2016
Prof. S.V.S.S. Narayana raju
The influence of
science on various branches of knowledge in this period is quite evident. The
scientific outlook has influenced the writers of world literature in a big way.
In modern poetry, they have tried to express their feelings not only in an artistic manner, but
also they have preferred to express their thoughts in an arguable manner, with
the people of knowledge of science. The modern Hindi poets have developed a
critical attitude towards the relation of science and literature and they
learnt the knowledge of science in various forms. The Hindi epic writers were
markedly modest and genial by temperament.
They denounced practices like those of suttee(सती), sectarian exclusiveness and over much emphasis on rituals.
Bharatendu Harish Chandra brought in an
endless chain of new ideas as poetic themes. He enumerated these in one of the
issues of ‘kavi Vachan Sudha’ as follows –
“ The evils of early marriage, slavish
adherence to horoscopes, the evil of drink, infanticide, disunity, and mutual
animosities, sectarianism and religiousity, love of the mother-land, child
education, the ways of rising the country high and the need to buy
swadeshi(India-made) goods” Modern period in many ways called ‘Modern’ but the
basis of this modernism is scientific outlook. The modern Hindi poets have
denounced the unscientific social customs and rituals. Balakrishna Bhatt, Badri
Narayan Choudhari ‘Premdhan’, Pratap Narayan Mishra, Radhacharan Goswamy,
Srinivas Das and Jagmohan Singh were the contemporaries of Bharatendu and they
accepted his lead and the scientific approach which, as a poet, he had
initiated.
The various social
movements based on scientific norms and also intellectualism, have deeply
influenced the epic writers of Dwivedi’s period. Like Bharatendu, Mahaveer
Prasad Dwivedi adopted the scientific approach to review the social conditions
and problems, had proved an invaluable guide and leader to give a new direction
to Hindi literature for a period of three decades. The poets of this age have selected
mythological themes, but they have discussed the contemporary social conditions
and problems. In ‘Priyapravaas’ and ‘Saaket’ the poets have discussed various
issues with the support of scientific arguments. The princeples of ‘Aarya Samaaj’
have deeply influenced the age
consciousness and also the thoughtful nature of poets, in a big manner. The
poets of this era have witnessed the degradation of cultural values and
expressed their concern. With the help of scientific knowledge they have made an attempt to re-establish the values in the
society through their writings. Hariaudh has presented the character of
‘Krishna’ in ‘Priyapravaas’ not in its original mythological form, but as a
symbol of intellectualism and modernism.
The branches of
Science-Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Medical Sciences, Yoga and other Sciences
have influenced the Indian literature. In modern Hindi epics, it is quite
evident that the modernism based on logic and science has emerged as a prominent
feature. In particular, this
scientific outlook appears significantly in ‘Priyapravaas’, ‘Saaket’,
‘Kaamaayanee’, ‘Vaidehi Vanavaas’, ‘Krishnaayan’, ‘Kurukshetra’, ‘Saaket sant’,
‘Paarvathi’, ‘Lokaayatan’, ‘Shiva Charith’, ‘Agni saagar’, and ‘Mook Maati’, in
a detailed manner in ‘Priyapravaas’ Srikrishna had not made any attempt to
uplift the mountain Govardhana with his index finger. This incident has been
described as –
लख अपार
प्रसार गिरीन्द में
ब्रज धराधिप के प्रिय पुत्र का
सकल लोग लगे कहने उसे
रख लिया अंगुली पर श्याम ने। (प्रियप्रवास, पृ.सं.159)
Krishna, in this childhood influenced by the intellectual
ideology and collected medicinal plants in a skillfull manner –
वनस्थली में यदि थे
विलोकते
किसी परीक्षा-रत-धीर-व्यक्ति को।
सु-बूटियों का उससे मुकुन्द तो
सु-मर्म थे सर्व-रहस्य जानते। (प्रियप्रवास,पृ.सं. 20)
In ‘Saaket’ Mythili Sharan Gupta has tried to
express his modern thoughts successfully. The factors related to gravitation,
reflection of light, sources of energy, sound technology are the main features
depicted in this epic, are related to the physical sciences. The structure of constituent
elements of the body, the vepourisation, diffusion, boiling, formation of
clouds etc, are related to the chemical science, which are described in
‘Saaket’. In the same manner the Darwin’s theory of existentialism, a halo and
also the hereditary factors were
discussed in this epic, which are related to the science of Biology. The
elements related to the Medical Sciences were also discussed such as the reason
for diseases and their treatment, prevention of fits, description of Medical
Plants etc. In this epic writing the poet has discussed the issues related to
the scinces of yoga also.
Jayashankar Prasad is acknowledged by all as the founder
of the romantic school of Hindi poetry, His ‘Kaamaayanee’ brings out his mystic
and philosophical approach to life. ‘Kaamaayanee’ is a superb poetic work. It
is full of music and has artistic imagery and appealing thought context. A
procession of vivid imagesa makes the poem highly pictorial and colourful, In
this epic writing Jayashankar Prasad has described the materialistic
development of ‘Saaraswat Nagar’ and
also foresighted at its bad consecquences –
यह सारस्वत नगर पड़ा था, क्षुब्ध मलिन कुछ
मौन बना।
जिसके ऊपर विगत कर्म का, विष विषाद आवरण
तना। (कामायनी,पृ.सं-205)
Ayodhya Singh Upaadhyaay ‘Hariaudh’ was quite a
progessive thinker and a reformer. He was no believer in caste and was highly
critical of the treatment meted out by the Hindu community to those placed low
in the caste hierarchy. He wrote eight poetic works. In ‘Vaidehi Vanavaas’ he
has presented Raama and Seetha as a symbol of modern intellectualism. The
scientific outlook of the poet, supported by logic and the elements of
intellectualism, has been expressed. Dwaaraka Prasad Mishra wrote
‘Krishnaayan’, which is considered as the significant epic belongs to the age
of pre-Independent period. In this epic ‘Krishna’ has been described as a Social
reformer, Well-wisher of the human society, Ideal leader and also as a
scientist. He writes –
संशयहीन पूर्ण मम
ज्ञाना, जहिहौं जेही विधि करहुँ बखाना।
कहहुँ ज्ञान-विज्ञान अशेषा, जानि जाहि कछु
ज्ञेय न शेषा। (कृष्णायन,पृ.सं-319)
In ‘Krishnaayan’ Arjun declares himself as an armourer,
who knows the art of using weapons –
अंतर्धान-अस्त्र संधाना, भये पार्थ पल
अंतर्धाना।
प्रकटेऊ पल महँ सूक्ष्म स्वरुपा, बहुरी विशाल
शैल अनुरुपा।
पल महि पै, पल व्योम पथ, पल स्यन्दन दिखराहिं,
पल, समीप, पल दूरि अति, पुनी अदृश्य पल मांहि। ( कृष्णायन, पृ.सं-159)
Dr. Baldev
Prasad Mishra wrote ‘Saaket Sant’, in which the scientific outlook has been
presented through mythological story. Mishra has denounced the policy of
exploitation of capitalists –
निर्धन की कुटिया ढाकर
जो अपना महल बनाते।
आहों की फूँकों से ही
वे एक दिवस ढह जाते। (साकेत संत, पृ.सं-52)
Dr. Mishra believes the discrimination of colour and
creed is the main factor, hurdles the development of Human Society. On the basis of logic and scientific temperament, he
denounces these factors –
कहीं ब्राह्मण क्षत्रिय के बैर-
कहीं क्षत्रिय-क्षत्रिय संग्राम-
कहीं है आर्य-अनार्य विरोध-
लुट गये मानवता के धाम।
कभी जो पुण्यश्लोक महान
विदित था जग में आर्यावर्तं
आज बर्बरता से आक्रांत,
गिरा वह ही दुखों के गर्तं (साकेत
संत, पृ.सं-21)
As a poet of robust Nationalism, a
Thinker and a Historian, there is little doubt that Dinakar occupies the foremost
place amongst the Hindi writers of post Independent era. The ‘Kurukshetra’ made
Dinakar, a poet of all India-fame. ‘Kurukshetra’ is the portrayal of a conflict
between in the individualistic, personal aspirations on the one hand and man’s
social and impersonal urgesa on the other. He admits that in this age, as a result
of the scientific outlook and also the experiments, man has become successful
in unveiling the hidden secrets of nature –
यह समय विज्ञान का सब भाँति पूर्ण समर्थ,
खुल गये हैं गूढ़ संसृति के अमित गुरु अर्थं
चीरता तम को, सँभाले बुध्दि की पतवार,
आ गया है ज्योति की नव भूमि में संसार।
(कुरुक्षेत्र,पृ.सं-82)
Raamaanand Tiwari’s epic ‘Paarvathi’ is famous for its
modern outlook, in which the poet underlines the importance of yoga –
बिना योग के भोग रोग का कारण बनता,
रोग प्रकृति के अंधवेग को धारण करता।
नव यौवन में योग शक्ति का संचय करता
और परिणय में प्रकृति-विषय में मंगल
भरता,
पता-शक्ति
कुमार वीर निर्णय निरोगी। (पार्वती, पृ.सं.271)
Pant’s
‘Lokaayatan’ was hailed as one of the most outstanding poetic works of the most
post-Independence era. The conflicts of the fast changing values and visible
deterioration in the tone of life in all spheres have found vivid expression in
it. The influence of scientific outlook on Sumitra Nandan Pant is quite
evident. In the second chapter of the epic ‘Lokaayatan’, the poet has accepted
the contribution of science in the modern world –
जगत को दे भौतिक विज्ञान, नित्य कर अदभुत
अनुसंधान
वाष्प-विद्युत से ले नव शक्ति, किया जन ने
जीवन निर्माण
भाग्य-भय से भव मन कर मुक्त, आधुनिकता का
दे वरदान
परिस्थितियों की सीमा लाँघ, निकट आये
पृथ्वी के छोर
खोलकर देश काल के पाश, देखता युग नर चारों
ओर। (लोकायतन,पृ.सं.373)
Prof. Vidya Shanker has proposed the importance of the
protection of earth for the benefit of the existence of human race in ‘Mook
Maati’ epic. He has denounced the destructive nature of science in this poem –
...यह लेखनी तुलना
कर बैठी
सौर और भूमंडल की,
ऊपर अणु की शक्ति काम कर रही है
तो इधर.... नीचे
मनु की
शक्ति विद्यमान
ऊपर यंत्र है, घुमड़ रहा है
नीचे
मंत्र है, गुनगुना रहा है
एक
मारक है, एक तारक,
एक विज्ञान है, जिसे आजीविका तर्कणा है
एक
आस्था है, जिसे आजीविका की चिंता नहीं,
एक
अधर में लटका है, उसे आधार नहीं पैर टिकाने,
एक को धरती की शरण मिली है।
यही
कारण है, ऊपर वाले के पास-केवल दिमाग है, चरण नहीं...
नीचे
वाला चलता भी है, प्रसंगवश ऊपर भी चढ़ सकता है,
हाँ
ऊपर
वाले का दिमाग चढ़ सकता है
तब वह
विनाश
का पतन का ही पाठ पढ़ सकता है। (मूकमाटी, पृ.सं.249)
These poets have condemned take pollution in many forms.
They have accepted the knowledge of science as a constructive force of Human
society. The outlook of these poets is more scientific in denouncing the social
evils.
