About Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal

Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi (1889-1968), after whom the Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalaya, of Bhopal has been named, was an ace poet, writer and journalists of Madhya Pradesh who had acquired nation-wide renown not only for the excellence of literary creativity and might of his pen, but also for his undaunted participation in the national struggle for freedom of India. Pandit Makhanlalji was a true disciple of Lokmanya Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi, and was a rare combination of Tilak-like fiery patriotism and sacrifices and Gandhian non-violence, self abnegation and simplicity. He was the illustrious Editor of “Prabha” and later “Karmaveer”, the journals which emitted fire at the British imperialism and inspired the contemporary generation to throw off the yoke of alien slavery. He himself was repeatedly incarcerated by the British rulers, and his journal forcibly closed down with forfeiture of security deposits by the Government time and again. But the British excess could not bend the will of the valiant patriot-poet, who, once out of jail, indefatigably restated his journal to mount assault against the British imperialists as well as inner weaknesses and evils of the Indian society. After freedom was won in 1947, Pandit Makhanlalji refrained from seeking a share in power and pelf of the ruling set and continued to exhort the people through speech and writing to toss of social evils and build an exploitation-free, equitable society as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi. Here is a very famous Poem “Pushp Ki Abhilasha” of Pt. Makhanlal Ji in its own handwriting :-

Information compiled from: Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal Website