Viveki Rai (19 November 1924 – 22 November 2016) was an Indian writer who penned over fifty books.
He was a famous literary figure of Hindi and Bhojpuri literature. He belonged to Bhumihar Brahmin community of Sonwani village in Ghazipur. He was a well known Hindi Lalit Nibandhakaar. He received numerous awards from the government of Uttar Pradesh. Sonamati is his most popular novel. He was awarded Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan Award in 2001 and Uttar Pradesh's prestigious Yash Bharati Samman award in 2006 for his contribution to Hindi literature. He has been awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Samman by the Uttar Pradesh government. Sri Rai has been awarded by Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Award of Srimath Kashi on 14 January 2012 in Varanasi. He criticized the Indian Emergency through his writing. He also published some notable essays. After a long illness, Rai died on 22 November 2016.
Early life
Viveki Rai was born in Bharauli village of Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh, India. He lost his father when he was a young child. He got his early education at his maternal place. His first employment was as a teacher at his village Sonwani. However, after a couple of years he moved to Sri Sarvodaya Inter College, Khardiha and started teaching Hindi. It was village Khardiha where he got recognition as a writer. After a few years at Khardiha he was employed at post graduate college Ghazipur as lecturer.
List of works
Hindi
Mangal Bhavan
Namami Gramama
Dehri ke
Circus
Sona Mati
Kalatit
Gunga Jahaj
Purush Puran
Samar Shesh Hai
Fir Baitalawa Dar Par
Aam Rasta Nahin Hai
Angan Ke Bandanvar
Astha Aur Chintan
Atithi
Babool
Chali Fagunhat Baure Aam
Gamvai Gandh Gulab
Jivan Agyan Ka Ganith Hai
Lautkar Dekhna
Lokrin
Manbodh Master Ki Diary
Mere Shuddha Shraddhey
Meri Terah Kahaniyan
Narendra Kohli Apratim Katha Yatri
Sawalon Ke Samne
Shwet Patra
Yeh Jo Hai Gayatri
Literary Criticism
Kalpana Aur Hindi Sahitya, Anila Prakāśana, 1999.
Others
MERI SHRESHTHA VYANGYA RACHNAYEN, 1984.
Bhojpuri
Essays and Poetry
Bhojapurī nibandha nikuñja: Bhojapurī ke taintālīsa go cunala nibandha, Akhila Bhāratīya Bhojapurī Sāhitya Sammelana, 1977. Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Sarasvatī: Bhojapurī kahānī, nibandha, saṃsmaraṇa, Bhojapurī Saṃsthāna, 1992. Janatā ke pokharā: tīni go Bhojapurī kavitā, Bhojapurī Sāhitya Saṃsthāna, 1984. Bhojapurī Akādamī, Paṭanā, tisarakā vārshikotsava samāroha, Ravivāra, 2 Maī 1982, ke avasara para āyojita vyākhyānamālā meṃ Bhojapurī kathā sāhitya ke vikāsa vishaya para Ḍô. Vivekī Rāya ... ke vyākhyāna, Bhojapurī Akādamī, 1982.
Stories
Chhat ke talas
Novels
Amangalhari, Bhojpurī Saṃsthāna, 1998. Ke Kahala Chunarī Rangā la, Bhojpuri Saṃsāda, 1968. Guru-Grih Gayau Padhan Raghurai, 1992.
Ph.D. Dissertations on Viveki Rai
Viveki Rai Ke Upanyasom Mein Anchalikata-By.Rajeemole C R Mahatma Gandhi University Gaav Ke Badalate Swaroop:Viveki Rai Ke Upanyason Ke Visesh Sandarbh Me-By. Daissy Peter, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit Dr Viveki Rai Vyaktitav Aur Krititav-By D K Bamane, University of Mumbai
See also
List of Indian writers
Tapan Kumar Pradhan
Namdeo Dhasal
Notes
References
Amaresh Datta, Mohan Lal, Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature : Navaratri-Sarvasena, Sahitya Akademi, 1991.