Picture this: A poet pours his soul into verses of wine and revelry, yet sips only from the cup of creativity. Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s ‘Madhushala’ stirred hearts and minds, but also skepticism. Published at 28, it became Hindi’s most recited work. Detractors pounced: ‘You’ve never tasted madhu—how dare you sing its praises?’ The uproar peaked, drawing in the Mahatma himself.
Bachchan’s journey from Pratapgarh village to global acclaim was extraordinary. Overcoming poverty, he earned accolades in literature. Influenced by Iqbal and Keats, ‘Madhushala’ fused Persian forms with Hindi fervor. Its hypnotic rhythm—’Madhushala! Madhushala!’—hypnotized listeners at kavi sammelans.
The alcohol purists were relentless. In an India marching towards freedom under prohibition banners, Bachchan’s imagery clashed. He countered: ‘Wine is metaphor for life’s joys and sorrows.’ Still, the debate festered.
Gandhi’s intervention was poetic justice. In a Sabarmati speech, he dissected the quatrains. ‘Bachchan uses alcohol symbolically for maya and moksha,’ he explained. This from the man who championed temperance! Critics fell silent, recognizing genius.
Bachchan’s oeuvre spans epics like ‘Rashmirathi’ and memoirs that humanize a literary giant. At 95, he recited ‘Agnipath’ on Independence Day TV, inspiring millions. Today, as ‘Madhushala’ apps proliferate, the controversy seems quaint—a footnote to enduring brilliance.