Santosh pathak at 08:39, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T08:39:04Z

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{{Short description|Indian writer (1919–1994)}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Girijakumar Mathur<br/>गिरिजाकुमार माथुर
| image =
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1919|8|22}}
| birth_place = [[Ashoknagar (Madhya Pradesh)|Ashoknagar]], [[Gwalior State]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1994|1|10|1918|8|22}}
| death_place = [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
| occupation = Writer, Poet
| nationality = Indian
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| notableworks = ''Nash aur Nirman'', ''Nayi Kavita: Seemae aur Sambhavnae''
| spouse = Shakunt Mathur (m. 1940)
| partner =
| children = Pawan Mathur, Amitabh Mathur, Ashok Mathur, Beena Bansal
| relatives =
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| awards = [[Sahitya Akademi Award]]
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'''Girija Kumar Mathur''' ([[Hindi]]: गिरिजाकुमार माथुर) (22 August 1919 – 10 January 1994) was a notable Indian writer of the [[Hindi language]]. He is noted for his translation of the popular English song "[[We Shall Overcome]]" into Hindi (हम होगें कामयाब).<ref>{{cite web|title=Lyrics of Hum Honge Kaamyab (Hindi)|url=http://www.prayogshala.com/poems/hum-honge-kaamyab|website=www.prayogshala.com|publisher=Prayogshala|access-date=9 February 2017}}</ref> His father, Devicharan Mathur, was a teacher in a local school and greatly admired music as well as literature. His mother's name was Laxmidevi. Girijakumar Mathur is considered one of the most important writers in Hindi due to his efforts to modernise [[Hindi literature]] and promote it through many of his works.

==Early life==
Girijakumar Mathur was born in Ashoknagar which was tehsil of guna before 2003 [[Madhya Pradesh]], on 22 August 1919. He was homeschooled by his father in History, Geography and English. After obtaining his primary education in [[Jhansi]], he was awarded a degree of M.A (English) and L.L.B from Lucknow University. After practicing law for a few years, he started working in [[All India Radio]] and later [[Doordarshan]].

==Professional and musical career==

On obtaining his law degree, Mathur initially worked as a lawyer, but subsequently joined the [[Delhi]] office of [[All India Radio]]. After a few years there, he moved on to join the then only television broadcasting organization of India, [[Doordarshan]].<ref name="auto">{{cite book|last1=Mathur|first1=Girija Kumar|title=मुझे और अभी कहना है - गिरिजा कुमार माथुर (Mujhe aur abhi kehna hai - an autobiography of Girija Kumar Mathur)|publisher=Pustak mahal|location=Delhi|edition=First|url=http://www.pustak.org/books/bookdetails/5692|access-date=9 February 2017}}</ref>

Mathur published his first collection of poems, ''Manjir'' in 1941.<ref name="auto" />

It was during his service in Doordarshan that mathur translated the popular [[gospel]] and [[civil rights movement]] song "[[We shall overcome]]" into [[Hindi]] as "Ham Honge Kaamyab" (हम होंगे कामयाब).<ref>{{cite web|title=Biography of Girija Kumar Mathur|url=http://www.veethi.com/india-people/girija_kumar_mathur-profile-7794-25.htm|website=www.veethi.com|publisher=Veethi|access-date=9 February 2017}}</ref> It was sung by a female singer of the Doordarshan orchestra and the music was arranged by Satish Bhatia using Indian musical instruments. This version of the song was subsequently released by TVS Saregama.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bhatia|first1=Satish|title=Honge Kaamyab - 40 years of freedom|url=http://www.saavn.com/s/song/hindi/40-Years-of-Freedom-Pandit-Nehru/Hum-Honge-Kamyaab/IQ1ZXRdGU1g|website=www.saavn.com|publisher=Doordarshan / TVS Saregama|access-date=9 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Audio - Hum Honge Kaamyab|url=http://gaana.com/song/hum-honge-kamyaab|website=www.gaana.com|publisher=TVS Saregama / Gaana.com|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211235240/http://gaana.com/song/hum-honge-kamyaab|url-status=dead}}</ref> This Hindi rendition was released in 1970 as a song of social upliftment and was often broadcast by Doordarshan in the 1970s and 1980s. Doordarshan at that time was the only television station of India, and this song was especially played on days of national significance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Original Doordarsan version - Honge Kaamyab|url=http://gaana.com/song/hum-honge-kamyaab|website=www.gaana.com|publisher=Doordarshan / TVS Saregama|access-date=9 February 2017|archive-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211235240/http://gaana.com/song/hum-honge-kamyaab|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Mathur continued to work in Doordarshan, retiring in 1978 as the deputy director general.<ref name="auto" />

==Works==
Girijakumar Mathur started his career in literature in 1934 in the [[Braj language]].Greatly influenced by authors such as [[Makhanlal Chaturvedi]] and Balkrishna Sharma 'Navin', he published his first anthology, 'Manjir' in 1941. He was an important contributor to Hindi literature and used his works to spread moral messages through society.
His notable works include:
*Nash aur Nirman
*Dhup ke Dhan
*Sheilapankh Chamkile
*Bhitri Nadi Ki Yatra (Anthology)
*Janm Kaid (Play)
*Nayi Kavita:Seemae aur Sambhavnae
Girijakumar Mathur was one of the seven eminent Hindi poets included in ''[[Tar Saptak]]'',<ref>{{Cite book|title=Taar Saptak|last=Vatsyayan Ajneya|first=Sachchidanand Hiranand|publisher=Bharatiya Jnanapith|year=1966|location=Kolkata}}</ref> an anthology edited and published by Agyeya in 1943. Apart from poems, he wrote many plays, songs as well as essays. In 1991, he was awarded the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] for his anthology, "Main Vakt ke Hun Samne"<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/awards/akademi%20samman_suchi.jsp#HINDI|title = Sahitya Akademi Award|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084937/http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/awards/akademi%20samman_suchi.jsp#HINDI|archive-date = 2016-03-04|url-status = dead}}</ref> as well as the [[Vyas Samman]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.kkbirlafoundation.org/vyas-r.html|title = Vyas Samman for Girijakumar Mathur|access-date = 1 January 2016|archive-date = 4 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095633/http://www.kkbirlafoundation.org/vyas-r.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> in the same year. He is noted for his translation of the popular English song "[[We Shall Overcome]]" into Hindi.<ref name="auto" />

Mathur described his life's journey in his autobiography [http://www.pustak.org/books/bookdetails/5692 Mujhe aur abhi kehna hai (मुझे और अभी कहना है)] (''I still have to say something'').<ref name="auto" />

==Death==
Girijakumar Mathur died on 10 January 1994, aged 75 in New Delhi.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Hindi poet Girija Kumar Mathur passes away : Signposts | publisher=India Today|url = https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/signposts/story/19940215-hindi-poet-girija-kumar-mathur-passes-away-808829-1994-02-14| date=15 February 1994 | access-date = 2023-05-06}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Hindi}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathur, Girija Kumar}}
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Hindi-language Indian writers]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1994 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi]]

Girija Kumar Mathur - Revision history

Santosh pathak at 08:39, 26 March 2026