Bekal Utsahi

Muhammad Shafi Ali Khan (1 June 1924 – 3 December 2016), popularly known as Bekal Utsahi, was an Indian poet, writer and politician. He was a congressman close to Indira Gandhi and a Member of Parliament in the Upper House Rajya sabha. He received several national awards, including the Padma Shri and Yash Bharti.

Bekal Utsahi
Utsahi in 2013
Born1 June 1924
Utraula, Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Died3 December 2016(2016-12-03) (aged 92)[1]
New Delhi, India
NationalityIndian
OccupationPoet, writer, politician
OrganizationIndian National Congress
Known forNational Integration, Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb
Spouse(s)Begum Sughra Rose
RelativesAfroz Ahmad (son in law)
Websitehttp://bekalutsahi.webs.com

Early life

Bekal Utsahi was born on 1 June 1924[2]

He was a former member of Rajya Sabha. In 1976 he received the Padmashree Award in literature. During a visit to the Mazar of Hazrat Vaaris Ali Shah of Dewa Sharif in 1945 Shah Hafiz Pyare Miyan quoted, "Bedam Gaya Bekal aaya". After that incident Mohammad Shafi Khan changed his name as "Bekal Varsi". During the period of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1952 an interesting event happened, which resulted in the emergence of Utsahi. There was an election programme of congress party in Gonda at that time. Bekal Varsi welcomed Nehru with his poetry "Kisan Bharat Ka". Nehru was very much impressed and said, "Yeh hamara utsahi shayar hai". Finally he is known as Bekal Utsahi in the literary world.

Politics

Utsahi was actively involved with Indian National Congress and very close to Indira Gandhi. He was nominated by congress as a Member of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, because of his contribution for national integration.[3] He was also Member of National Integration Council chaired by Prime Minister of India.[4]

Awards

Utsahi received the Padma Shri award in 1976. He received Yash Bharti Award from Uttar Pradesh Government.[5]

References
  1. Baikal Utsahi, poet, writer and politician, is no more. etemaaddaily.com (3 December 2016)
  2. Dikshit, Suryaprasad (2016). Awadh Sanskriti Vishwakosh (in Hindi). 2. New Delhi: Vani Prakashan. p. 37. ISBN 978-93-5229-582-1.
  3. List of Former Members of Rajya Sabha (Term Wise). Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
  4. Re-constitution of the National Integration Council Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (5 April 2010) . Retrieved on 3 December 2016.
  5. Akhilesh honours 56 achievers with Yash Bharti. Times of India (10 February 2015). Retrieved on 2016-12-03.
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