Meera Bai (Mystic Saints of India: 7)

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Perhaps the only Saint, poetess of the Northern India, Meerabai, represents the inherent rebellious urge of the Indian women suppressed for ages under the false notions of pride and prestige evolved by male chauvinism. She revolted against them and sought succour in her unbridled love for her chosen deity, Lord Krishna. Her poems convey her agony and ecstasy in a very simple language that touches the listeners' heart instantly.

This small book contains not only her biography revealed in the form of a story but also her most popular lyrical poems together with their text, the Romanised version and their rendering in Hindi and English. This unique poetess-saint from the Medieval times is deemed as one of the 'gems' of India's 'Bhakti-Era' and this book reveals all about her life and creations in a most systematic way.

B.K. Chaturvedi, born in a village, Holipura (Agra, UP), on August 3, a reputed family, had his education in Allahabad (M.Sc.) and Bangalore 1945 in a. (Computer programming). Having served for a couple of years in HMT, he is now a freelance author, journalist, poet and translator based in New Delhi for about a couple of decades.

He has many articles/poems and books published in both Hindi and English to his credit. Prominent among them are the metered-verse English translation of the famous epic of modern Hindi, KAMAYANI; original long poem DEHA-DANSHA; English verse translation of Sahir Ludhyanvi's famous Nazm PARCHAAINYAN; the latest being a journalistic appraisal, KARGIL BETRAYAL. He has also rendered 'SRIMADBHAGWAT GITA' into Hindi & English, published a couple of years ago. His translation, both in Hindi and English, of 'SRI RAM CHARITA MANAS' is likely to be published soon. A profic writer he often writes for TV and Radio.

Meera is perhaps the lone saint-poetess of India, particularly of the Hindi belt. Yet her renown knows no bounds. It is to pay our homage to this lyricist of incomparable simplicity and charm on her 6th centenary that this work has been undertaken. The emphasis, in general, has been revealing her life through her verses since no authentic biography on her is available either in Hindi or in English or even in the regional languages, barring few apocryphal anecdotes. Hence, the assiduous selection of her 36 'padas' which convey the essence of her style of devotion, apart from also giving details about her personal life, though obliquely are presented here. The translation of her verses has been liberally punctuated with foot-notes to help the reader reach to the very root of the meaning. The authenticity of the period has also been cross-checked with available historical records. The geographical locations of the spots and places associated with her have been given in a separate chapter to help the readers willing to do further research in the matter.