| name = Dr. Naresh Pandey Chakor
| name = Dr. Naresh Pandey Chakor
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Dr. Naresh Pandey Chakor |
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| Born | 3 Jan 1938
Devdha, Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, Bihar |
| Died | November 14, 2015(2015-11-14) (aged 77)
Patna |
| Occupation | Writer, Poet, Editor, Stastical Officer |
| Language | Angika, Hindi |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Literary movement | Angika Language Movement |
| Notable works | Editing Ang Madhuri, a Monthly Magazine of Angika Language for 46 years |
| Spouse | Droupadi Divyanshu (Died: 2016) |
Dr. Naresh Pandey ‘Chakor’ (3 January 1938 – 14 November 2015) was a pre-eminent Indian litterateur, editor, poet, and cultural activist from Bihar, renowned as a foundational figure and an “epoch-making warrior” (युगांतरकारी योद्धा) of the Angika language and its literary movement. His most enduring contribution was the continuous publication and editing of the Angika monthly magazine ‘Ang Madhuri’ for 46 years.[1]
Early Life and Education
Naresh Pandey was born on 3 January 1938 in the village of Devdha, located approximately 15 kilometers south of Sultanganj in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar. He hailed from a humble farming family. His father was Shri Chandramohan Pandey, and his mother was Smt. Prajavati Devi.[2]
He received his early education in village and nearby schools. He pursued his higher studies at TNJ College under Bhagalpur University.
Professional Career and Activism
Government Service
In 1963, Dr. Pandey began his professional career with the government, joining the Bihar State Khadi Gramodyog Board, Patna, as a Statistical Officer (सांख्यिकी पदाधिकारी). He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1996.
Pioneering the Angika Movement
Concurrent with his service, Dr. Pandey became deeply involved in the movement for the promotion and recognition of the Angika language.
- 1961: He started his journey in the Angika language movement by joining the ‘Ang Bhasha Parishad’ as a Publicity Minister (प्रचार मंत्री).
- First Publication: His first published work, the Angika one-act play “Kisan ka Jagaba” (किसान क॑ जगाबऽ), was released in 1961, marking it as the first published book in the modern Angika language.
- Government-Published Book: His 1963 work, the Angika play “Sarvoday Samaj” (सर्वोदय समाज), was the first Angika book to be published by a government department.
The Editor of ‘Ang Madhuri’
His role as the editor of the monthly magazine ‘Ang Madhuri’ is considered his crowning achievement. Beginning its publication and editing in December 1970, he continuously helmed the magazine for 46 years until his death. His dedication to this work is often highlighted by comparison to other great Indian editors: he edited Ang Madhuri for a duration significantly longer than Acharya Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi edited Saraswati (18 years) or Pandit Shri Ram Sharma edited Vishal Bharat (about two decades).
Literary Output and Legacy
Dr. Pandey was a prolific writer, contributing extensively to both Angika and Hindi literature. He is credited with authoring or editing a total of 80 books, though some sources cite a figure of 71 published works (including 8 he edited).
Epithets and Recognition
Due to his relentless service and profound contributions, he was often hailed by fellow scholars and writers using several prestigious epithets, including:
- Angika ka Bhartendu Harishchandra
- Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi
- Tulsidas
- Shakespeare
- Kalidas
Cultural Activism
He was a dedicated organizer and cultural activist (आंदोलनधर्मी). Under the auspices of the ‘Jahnvi Angika Sanskriti Sansthan’ in Patna, he annually organized the ‘Angika Mahotsav’ (Angika Festival). He was known for his personal commitment, often carrying heavy boxes of Angika books on his head to ensure their exhibition at the festival.
Scholarly Focus
In addition to his independent works, he collaborated closely with Dr. Abhayakant Choudhary, co-writing and editing nine books that provided scholarly depth to the language, covering the history, rhetoric (Alankar), emotional expression (Ras Vyanjana), and cultural study of Angika literature and folk songs. Furthermore, his legacy is underscored by the fact that nine books were written by various scholars specifically about his life and contributions.
Death
Dr. Naresh Pandey ‘Chakor’ passed away in Patna on 14 November 2015. Highlighting his lifelong devotion to literature and spirituality, it is noted that he passed away while proofreading an article related to Ram and Tulsidas, symbolizing his deep commitment to both his literary service and his Ram-Bhakti (devotion to Lord Rama).
Selected Bibliography
Dr. Pandey’s bibliography spans various genres, including drama, poetry, cultural study, and translation:[3]
Plays and Drama
- Kisan ka Jagaba (अंगिका एकांकी – Angika One-Act Play)
- Ek Shaakh : Do Phool (हिन्दी नाटक – Hindi Play)
- Sarvoday Samaj (अंगिका नाटक – Angika Play)
- Shri Ram Janmotsav (अंगिका गीति-नाट्य – Angika Musical Drama)
Poetry and Epic
- Bhorka Lali (अंगिका काव्य)
- Yayati (अंगिका काव्य)
- Hamar Sankirtan Yatra (अंगिका काव्य)
- Baba Thakur (अंगिका गाथा काव्य)
- Sawan Saloni (हिन्दी काव्य)
- Milan (हिन्दी कविता)
- Kisan: Desh ke Shaan (अंगिका कविता संग्रह)
- Bhakti Pushpanjali (Part I & II)
Novels and Short Stories
- Vishakha (अंगिका लघु उपन्यास – Angika Novella)
- Eblin (हिन्दी उपन्यास – Hindi Novel)
- Tilka Sundari Daar-Daar (अंगिका कहानी संग्रह – Angika Short Story Collection)
- Daan Ek Majboori (हिन्दी लघुकथा – Hindi Flash Fiction)
Cultural and Research Works (Solo/Edited)
- Angika Jatsaar (Edited)
- Angika Aandolan ka Itihas
- Angika Lok Sahitya
- Ang Janpad Gaurav: Haldhar Baba (Biography)
- Angjanpad Ke Vaivahik Vidhi Vidhan
- Mahatma Bholi Baba: Bhola Ke Avatar
Translations
- Angika Gita (Translation)
- Raghuvansham (Translation)
- Sukhla Gaachwala Jungle (Translation)
Works Co-authored/Edited with Dr. Abhayakant Choudhary
- Angika Sahitya Ka Itihas (Three Parts: First, Second, and Revised Edition)
- Angika Kavya Mein Ras Vyanjana
- Angika Mein Alankar
- Angika Lokgeeton Ka Sanskritik Adhyayan
- Angika Lohoikti Sangrah (Collection of Proverbs)
