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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Surendra Jha 'Suman'
| image =
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| pseudonym = Suman ji
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1910|10|10}}
| birth_place = Ballipur village, [[Samastipur]] District, [[Bihar]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2002|03|05|1910|10|10}}
| death_place = [[Darbhanga]] district, [[Bihar]]
| occupation = Poet, [[Freedom Fighter]], Member of Parliament, [[Member of Legislative Assembly]], essayist, [[Literary critic]], journalist, publisher, [[Academician]]
| nationality = Indian
| ethnicity =
| citizenship = India
| education =
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| notableworks =
| spouse = Ganga Devi
| partner =
| children = Brajendra Jha, Two Daughters
| relatives =
| influences =
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| awards = 1971:[[Sahitya Akademi Award]] <br>1995: [[Sahitya Akademi Award]]Translation <br>1981: [[Vidyapati]] Puraskar
| signature =
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}}

'''Surendra Jha 'Suman'''' (10 October 1910 – 5 March 2002), also referred to as ''''Suman Ji'''' or '''Acharya Surendra Jha 'Suman'''', was a [[Maithili language|Maithili]] poet, writer, publisher, editor and elected member of legislative assembly and parliament. He is also known for his role as publisher, editor, journalist, social and cultural reformer and promoter of [[Mithila (India)|Mithila]] culture.<ref name="mithilaonline">{{cite web|url=http://www.mithilaonline.com/writer.html |title=MITHILA ONLINE Gateway to Mithila |publisher=Mithilaonline.com |date=6 March 2002 |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/politics/electionstats/candidate/Surendra%20Jha%20Suman.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126050501/http://ibnlive.in.com/politics/electionstats/candidate/Surendra%20Jha%20Suman.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 January 2013 |title=Candidate Statistics Surendra Jha Suman: Indian General Elections | Lok Sabha Elections |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |date=1 January 1970 |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref> He authored about forty books in Maithili and was also the Editor of various publications and books in Maithili, Sanskrit and Hindi. He served the Governing Bodies of various literary and academic institutions in different capacities in his State. He was also the recipient of Sahitya Akademy Award in 1971 for Payaswini and in 1995 for Translation Rabindra Natakavali Vol. I.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/home/mithila/academy.htm |title=Academy Awards |publisher=Angelfire.com |date= |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="indiankanoon">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1986655/?type=print |title=OBITUARY REFERENCE: References Made To The Passing Away Of Shri L. ... on 15 April, 2002 |publisher=Indiankanoon.org |date= |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref> He was born in a village known as Ballipur in the Samastipur district of Bihar.<ref name="mithilaonline" />

==Early life and family==

Surendra Jha 'Suman' was born on 10 October 1910 in Ballipur Village of District [[Samastipur]], Bihar.<ref name="mithilaonline" /> His father Bhubaneswar Jha was a well known [[Ayurveda|Ayurvedic]] practitioner. Traditionally the family belonged to Sanskrit scholars.<ref name="mithilaonline" /> He was educated at Dharmaraj Sanskrit College, Muzaffarpur and was a graduate in literature (Sahityacharya) and was also a Kavyatirtha (Bengal).<ref name="mithilaonline" /> He was married to Ganga Devi a native of [[Begusarai]] at the age of 25 years. He has one son Brajendra Jha, and two daughters. He retired as a professor and HOD, Maithili Language in LNMU University Darbhanga, Bihar. He was elected a member of parliament from [[Darbhanga]] Lok Sabha Constituency on [[Janata Party]] ticket for the [[6th Lok Sabha]].

==Work and contributions==

As a writer, both in the realm of prose and poetry, He had a superb command over several languages and this qualification brought him a reward from the then President of India, Dr. [[Rajendra Prasad]]. Besides the [[Sahitya Akademi]] award, in 1981 Maithili Akademi, Patna Awarded him Vidyapati Puraskar.<ref name="mithilaonline" />

He was the Maithili representative in Sahitya Akademi and a member of its Maithili advisory board. He was president of All India Maithili Sahitya Parishad. He was associated with Vaidehi Samiti [[Darbhanga]] also.<ref name="mithilaonline" />

He occupies a very prominent place in the modern [[Maithili Language|Maithili literature]]. His choice of words, alliterations, metaphor and similes, use of prosody and description of seasons, have been unique in modern Maithili literature.

His Payasvini (1969),<ref name="bare_url">{{cite web|url=http://tesla.websitewelcome.com/~sahit/old_version/bklst13.htm |title=Booklist-Maithili |publisher=Tesla.websitewelcome.com |date= |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref> a collection of 25 poems about beauty of nature, colourful imagery and simplicity of rural life has won for him the [[Sahitya Akademi]] award for 1971. In this one can find metrical experiment to metaphor.

Payasvini is based on the idea of comparing poetry with a milch cow, as described in the Prithvisukta of [[Atharvaved]] and Brihadaranyakopnishad, where Vakdhenu has been described in Vth chapter VIIIth [[Brahman]].

Here Pavas (Rainy Season) is as good asTamasi, Mrityunjaya and milch cow and the river has been compared with rasvanti (charming succulent woman), vanita (woman) and kavita (poetry).<ref>{{cite web|author=MetaNym |url=http://www.oocities.org/kavitayan/suman.html |title=Kavitayan I Indian Poetry I Surendra Jha 'Suman' |publisher=Oocities.org |date= |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref> The mountain has been compared with an old man, a youth and a child.
Sumanji's poetry Dattavati (1962)<ref name="bare_url" /> describes the [[Sino-Indian War]] and contains patriotic fervour as in Bharat vandana (1970) and Antarnad (1970).

His Uttara (1980)<ref name="bare_url" /> is a Khandakavya (miniepic) the story has been taken from the [[Mahabharat]] it doesn't focuses the compactness of the character of [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]] only. In fact his style and verve of poetry is loaded with Sanskrit words, simile, Alankar and imagery of old [[Sanskrit]] poetry hence at times not relished by modern readers, not much acquainted with [[Sanskrit]] [[Semantic prosody|prosody]].<ref name="mithilaonline" />
His publications include Pratipada (1948). The very name suggests the new start, a new direction in Maithili poetry. Its introduction and dedication is also in poems. All the other 16 poems were composed before India achieved independence. It expresses suffocation felt by the poet under foreign rule. Similarly Kavitak Ahvan shows poetic inspiration and patriotic fervour. Samsan shows philosophical reflection on the cremation ground. The favourite topics of [[Sanskrit]] poets are treated with new imagery in Asadhasya pratham divase, [[Yamuna]], Asuryampasya and Sharad. Similarly, the poet exalts the feelings of 'Haldhar' (ploughman) of today, higher than [[Balaram]] and [[Janaka]] of the Yore days of [[Dvapara Yuga]] and [[Treta Yuga]].

His 'Ode to Tree'<ref name="bare_url" /> can favourably be compared with anyone of the best lyrics of any literature. Here he compares and admires the services, dedication and sacrifices of 'Tree' to mankind and associates them with those of an ascetic. Yugnirman visualises the future and Uktipratyukti reaches out to the heart of the down trodden. All these poems have since been collected in his anthologies of poems 'Pratipada'which is a landmark in modern [[Maithili Language|Maithili]].

His other collections of poetry areSaon-Bhado (1965), Archana (1961), Kathayuthika (1976) and many others. His Lalana Lahari (1969) is a vivid description of the peculiar characteristics of love making by girls of different provinces of India<ref name="mithilaonline" />
His song in praise of the Ganga in Gangavtaran (1967) has been termed superb.<ref name="mithilaonline" />
He has made himself memorable by writing on a number of topics. With his steadfast adherence to classical poise and dignity has produced literature of permanent value.<ref name="mithilaonline" />

His excellent poetic qualities can be seen in the following lines:
<blockquote><poem>
The jungles on all sides are thick with the smell of [[Trees of India|Bakul flower]];
the Ketaki flower has filled the wind and made it dense.
In every home the she-peacock is dancing;
Everybody's eyes feast upon the dark clouds (meaning also [[Lord Krishna]]),
but it is in my home alone where the flame of love remains unquenched.<ref name="mithilaonline" />
</poem></blockquote>

This is the young lady of Alaka agonised on account of unrequited love. (A Survey of Maithili Literature-R.K.Choudhary Pp. 199)

As a translator into Maithili he has chosen both poetry and prose. Mainly he translated from [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Sanskrit]]. His translations from Bengali are:<ref name="mithilaonline" />

* Sarat Chandra's Baradidi (Barakidai)
* [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s [[Gitanjali]] (1969)
* and Rabindra Nibandhabali(1994)

;From Sanskrit

* Puruspariksha of Vidyapati
* [[Vedic hymns]] (Richalok, 1970)
* Sankaracharya's Anand Lahari (1969)
* and Saundarya Lahari (1972)
* [[Durgasaptasati]] (Chandicharya, 1950)
* Shivamahimna Strotra (1969)
* [[Kalidas]]'s [[Raghuvamsa]] (1970) and [[Ritusamhar]]
* Sringar Tilak (1969)
* Hitopdesika
* PutroahamPrithvyah (1964)
* Shaktistavak (1969)
* Harismaranika (1970)
* Prachetas Rajashastram (1993)

===Fiction writing===

Surendra Jha 'Suman' also ventured into fiction writing. In fact one of his short stories 'Brihaspatik Shes'<ref name="mithilaonline" /> (The inauspicious afternoon of Thursday) has been quite popular. He published his first anthology of short stories Kathamukhi. His novel 'Uganak Diyadvad ' deals with the Khavas (bonded labour) system of [[feudalistic]] society and the changes occurring in society in the light of modernity.<ref name="mithilaonline" />

===Mithila Press===

His contribution as a journalist, editor and publisher is remarkable which started with setting up of Mithila Press in 1948, dedicated to his quest of spreading awareness of [[Maithili language|Maithili]] language, culture and literature. It is still functioning under his son as Mithila Press Publications. He edited erstwhile edition of the Mithila Mihir (Old edition).<ref name="mithilaonline" />

His calibre as an editor can be seen in the Mithilank of Mithila Mihir published in 1935.He has also edited: –
Swadesh first a monthly and then a daily.<ref name="mithilaonline" /> He has the credit to bring out first daily in Maithil, for which he suffered a heavy loss, spent his provident fund and devoted time and labour to publish this daily newspaper.<ref name="mithilaonline" />

He successfully edited Prachi, a periodical published by Sahitya Akademi, regional office, Kolkata. It consisted of English translation of literature published in eastern India, namely, [[Assamese language|Assamese]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Meitei language|Meitei]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]] and [[Oriya language|Oriya]].

He was the editor of a popular monthly magazine named Vaidehi first a fortnightly and later on published monthly.

He compiled Maithili Prachin Geet (1977) a research work with Dr. Ramdev Jha.His other research work includes, a critical study:-

* ''Maithili Kavya Par Sanskritak Prabhav (Impact of Sanskrit on [[Maithili language|Maithili]] poetry (1977))''

===Other publications and work===
* Lal Das's Ramayana and Chanda Jha's Ramayana.
* Biographies of Maithili writer Kumar Ganganand Singh(1991) and Mahakavi Raghunandan Das(1996)
* Brought out Jyotiriswar's Varnaratnakar.
* Edited Anand Vijaya (1971) by Ramdas Jha, And Umapati Upadhyay's Parijat Haran (1965), dramas of medieval period and Manbodha's Krishnajanma (1970), a Khanda kavya.
* Compiled and edited an anthology of one act play, Ekanki Sangrah (1970) with Manipadma and Sudhansu Sekhar Choudhary.

===Political career===

Surendra Jha 'Suman' was a Member of Sixth Lok Sabha from 1977 to 1979 representing Darbhanga Parliamentary Constituency of Bihar.<ref name="indiankanoon" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok06/alpha/06lss.htm |title=Biographical Sketch of Sixth Lok Sabha |publisher=Parliamentofindia.nic.in |date= |accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref>

An able Parliamentarian, Suman was a Member of the Committee on Official Language during 1977–78 and the Committee on Absence of Members from the Sittings of the House during 1978.<ref name="indiankanoon" />

Earlier, Surendra Jha 'Suman' was a Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly from 1972 to 1975. He was also a Member of Darbhanga Municipality for ten years.<ref name="indiankanoon" />

==Death==

He died on 5 March 2002 in [[Darbhanga]] at the age of 92 years due to heart-related problem.<ref name="mithilaonline" /><ref name="indiankanoon" /> Acharya Suman Chowk has been established near Harahi Lake in his memorial in Darbhanga and named after him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maps.google.co.in/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=suman+chowk+darbhanga&fb=1&gl=in&hq=suman+chowk&hnear=0x39edb835434acdb1:0x70ec31d04822699e,Darbhanga,+Bihar&cid=0,0,11944901110118877458&ei=t27lUKf5AoT_rAfiroGABw&ved=0CKoBEPwSMAQ|title=Acharya Suman Chowk · 5W53+3GM, Kathalbari, Darbhanga, Bihar 846004}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of people from Darbhanga]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*http://www.ignca.nic.in/coilnet/akshr005.htm

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suman, Surendra Jha}}
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:Poets from Bihar]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:People from Samastipur district]]
[[Category:6th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:People from Darbhanga district]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Bihar]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Lok Dal politicians]]
[[Category:Janata Party politicians]]
[[Category:Bihar MLAs 1972–1977]]

Surendra Jha 'Suman' - Revision history

->BattyBot: /* top */General fixes, replaced: | nationality = India | → | nationality = Indian |