Today Google Doodle honours celebrated Hindi poet Mahadevi Varma. She was not limited to poetry but also a freedom fighter, women’s rights activist and educationist. On April 27, 1982, Mahadevi Varma had been awarded the Jnanpith Award for her outstanding contributions to Indian literature. Today’s Doodle is in that honour.
Her Life Journey
Born on March 26, 1907, in Uttar Pradesh, Mahadevi Varma was born in an orthodox family. When she was only nine years old she got married. But she had remained at her parental home and continued her education at Crossthwaite Girls’ School in Allahabad. Since childhood, she got support of her parents in studying. On the encouragement of her mother, she began to write in Sanskrit and Hindi. As a young woman, she had written her first verse in secret, only to be discovered by her roommate and friend Subhadra Kumari Chauhan. She herself had become a well-known poet.
Also known as ‘modern Meera‘, Mahadevi Varma is considered one of the foundational poets of the Chhayavad movement in Hindi literature. She was a strong supporter of women’s rights. Her poetry, letters and essays very well reflect that spirit. She had also explored the topics of tradition and past with great fondness. She died in 1987.
She had been awarded other prestigious awards like Padma Bhushan in 1956, Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 1979 and Padma Vibhushan in 1988.
Google Doodle
Talking about this Google Doodle, it has been designed by guest artist Sonali Zohra. The Doodle showcases the poetess sitting under the tree and writing her thoughts into beautiful verses. The poetess seems in the field on a breezy afternoon.
