Remembering Harishankar Parsai: A Century of Satire

Harishankar Parsai, a renowned Hindi satirist, would have celebrated his 100th birthday on Thursday. Known for his sharp critique of politics, corruption, and societal issues, his legacy persists through his writings. Despite his influence, there are few memorials in his honor, a situation lamented by admirers and literary figures.

Taking on corrupt bureaucrats, politicians, communalism, and communism, Harishankar Parsai, the master satirist of Hindi literature, would have turned 100 on Thursday.

Born in Jamani, near Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh, Parsai lived and worked his entire life in Jabalpur, where he died on August 10, 1995. Despite his impactful works that sharply critique politics, religious fanaticism, and corruption, tangible memorials to his legacy are sparse, paining his admirers.

"Parsai wrote that a writer should avoid being venerable, but should a place honor his legacy? Definitely," said Suraj Dixit, an IT professional and avid Parsai reader. Parsai's biting satires remain relevant, yet government efforts to memorialize him are lacking.

(With inputs from agencies.)