Narendra Kohli
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Narendra Kohli (born January 6, 1940, Sialkot) is one of the most prominent Hindi language author of modern times. Leader of cultural renissance in hindi literature in modern times, his legendary works include all time greats like "Abhyudaya", "Mahasamar", "Vasudeva" and "Todo, Kara Todo". In recognition of his great literary presence, the post 1985 period is termed as 'Kohli Yuga'. His contribution to Hindi literature is often compared to the legendary writer Premchand.
With his writings began the cultural renissance of Modern Hindi Literature. He is credited with synthesizing the essential elements of Indian philosophy and culture in his epic writings, which include his best known classic, Mahasamar. His epic writings effertlessly engross the reader in the story, and by the virtue of his art, this master story-teller elucidates the complicated concepts of Indian Philosophy like Law of Karma with such an ease and grace the the reader can imbibe the complete theory via situational examples, without even an inkling that he is being taught.
His works also assert the timeless nature of Human mind and behaviour. In the world lierature, he occupies the same place as count Leo Tolstoy. It is only a matter of time when his writings, translated in many languages, can spread the timeless message of India throughout the world.
Vasudeva is a novel (554 pages) which describes in detail the times and life of Vasudeva, the father of Krishna; his virtues and draws parallels from the situations of that time and this time. It has been variously hailed by critics as manifesto of a cultural revolution, an epic of human endurance and endeavour.
[edit] Early life
Narendra Kohli was born to Parmananda Kohli and Vidyavanti in Punjab province of Undivided India. His first school was the Dev Samaj High School in Lahore. Then he attended the Ganda Singh High School in Sialkot for a few months. In 1947, after the partition of India, the family moved to Jamshedpur (Bihar). He resumed his schooling in third grade at Dhatkidih Lower Primary school. He spent fourth to seventh grade (1949-53) at New Middle English school. Urdu was the medium of instruction for all subjects except English, which was limited to reading and writing. From eighth to eleventh grade, he attended KMPM High School in Jamshedpur. He selected the science stream in high school. The medium of instruction was Urdu till this point.
For higher education, he joined the Jamshedpur Co-operative College. He took the IA exams in 1959 from Bihar University with Compulsory English, Compulsory Hindi, Psychology, Logic, and special Hindi as his subjects. He completed his BA (Hons.) in 1961 from Jamshedpur Co-operative College (Ranchi University) in Hindi. He completed his MA in 1963 at Ramjas College (University of Delhi). Later, in 1970, he did his Ph. D. from the University of Delhi.
[edit] Literature
Narendra Kohli is a novelist, short story writer, playwright, and satirist. His first story was in sixth grade for the handwritten class magazine. In eighth grade, his Urdu story Hindostan: Jannat Nishan was published in the school's printed magazine. As a child author, some of his first Hindi stories were published by Kishore (Patna), Avaaz (Dhanbad) etc. During his IA years, Sarita (Delhi) published his story Paani ka Jug, Gilas aur Ketli in its Nae Ankur ("New Sprouts") column.
But it was only after February 1960 that his works started getting published regularly. He considers Do Haath published by Kahani (Allahabad) as his first published work. He turned to satire around 1965. Later, he wrote a huge 1800 page novel Abhyudaya (in four parts) which was based on Ram Katha. He also wrote Abhigyaan, a novel based on Krishna Katha and Mahasamar, based on Mahabharata.
After this, he wrote a new series of novels. Among these were Toro Kara Toro, based on life of Swami Vivekananda.
