Gopaldas Neeraj

Gopaldas Saxena (known by his nom-de-plume, Neeraj; 4 January 1925[3] – 19 July 2018[4]) was an Indian poet and author of Hindi literature. He was also a poet of Hindi Kavi sammelan (Poets Meet). He wrote under the pen name "Neeraj".[5]

Gopaldas Neeraj
Born
Gopaldas Saxena

(1925-01-04)4 January 1925
Puravali, United Provinces, British India
Died19 July 2018(2018-07-19) (aged 93)
Delhi, India
Occupation(s)poet, songwriter
Spouse
Savitri Devi
​
(m. 1945⁠–⁠2001)​
ChildrenMilan Prabhat Gunjan[1][2]
Awards

Biography

Gopaldas Saxena was born in the village of Puravali, near Mahewa in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh, India, on 4 January 1925. He was born into a Hindu family of the Kayastha caste. Besides writing, he earned his living teaching in a college and was a Professor of Hindi Literature in Dharma Samaj College, Aligarh.[6][7] Around 2012, Neeraj was the chancellor of Mangalayatan University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

Several poems and songs written by Neeraj have been used in Hindi movies. He wrote songs for several Hindi films and was proficient in both Hindi and Urdu. In a television interview, Neeraj called himself an unlucky poet who had to concentrate on the poetry form instead of writing songs for films. His career as a film lyricist ended when he became depressed by the deaths of some of the film music directors with whom he had worked.[8] He noted in particular the deaths of Jaikishan of the music duo Shankar–Jaikishan, and S. D. Burman, for both of whom he had written highly popular film songs.[6]

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991[9] and Padma Bhushan in 2007.[10]

Neeraj died, aged 93, on 19 July 2018 in New Delhi. He had been admitted to hospital with a lung infection.[11]

Filmography

Some of the popular film songs written by Neeraj include:

Song Film
Subah na aai sham na aai Cha Cha Cha
Sapne jhare phool se Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal
Likhe jo khat tujhe Kanyadaan
Kaal ka paahiya ghoome bhaiya Chanda Aur Bijli
Ae bhai zara dekh ke chalo Mera Naam Joker
Aap yahan aaye kis liye Kal Aaj Aur Kal
Phoolon ke rang se Prem Pujaari
Rangila re tere rang me
Khilte hai gul yahan Sharmilee
Megha chhaye aadhi raat
Aaj madhosh hua jaaye re
Kaise kahe hum
Dil aaj shayar hai Gambler
Mera man tera pyaasa
Chudi nahin ye mera dil hai
Re man sur ma ga Lal Paththar
Jeevan ki baagiyan Tere Mere Sapne
Jaise Radha ne mala japi
Ek maine kasam li, ek tune kasam li
Jhoom ke ga yuhn aaj mere dil Patanga
Tum kitni khubsoorat ho Jangal Mein Mangal

References
  1. "Milind Prabhat grieves demise of father". Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  2. "Neeraj-passes-away-at-93". Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  3. "Veteran poet and lyricist Gopal das Neeraj passes away". 19 July 2018.
  4. "Yesterday Once More". The Indian Express. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  5. "Ashes of the poet Neeraj immersed in Ganga". The Pioneer. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  6. "Lyricist and poet Gopal Das Saxena 'Neeraj' dies at 93". indianexpress. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  7. "Neeraj, once more". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  8. Sharma, Aditya (4 January 2018). "Poet and lyricist Neeraj: 'Poetry has kept me intoxicated throughout my life'". Scroll.in. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  9. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  10. "Padma Awards 2007". Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  11. "Doyen Of Hindi Poetry Gopal Das Neeraj Dies At 93". NDTV.com. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
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