The Multifaceted Career of Shivpūjan Sahay: Writer, Editor, Teacher
Shivpūjan Sahay entered the world on 9 August 1893 in the village of Unwan, Bhojpur, Bihar, originally named Bholanath. After clearing his 10th‑grade exams, he secured a position as a copy‑clerk in Banaras court, later turning to teaching. The national Non‑Cooperation Movement sparked a decisive shift: he left his government job to devote himself entirely to Hindi literature.
His editorial journey began in Calcutta (1921) with "Marwari Sudhar" and quickly progressed to head the magazine "Matwala" in 1923. In Lucknow (1924) he joined the editorial team of "Madhuri", where he met Premchand and contributed to the editing of "Rangbhoomi" and other stories.
Back in Calcutta (1925) Sahay oversaw several short‑lived journals—"Samnvay", "Mauji", "Golmaal" and "Upanyas Tarang"—displaying his ability to manage diverse publications. A relocation to Varanasi (1926) marked his phase as an independent journalist, later affiliating with the literary quarterly "Jagrhan" under the patronage of Jai Shankar Prasad.
The mid‑1930s saw Sahay move with his family to Laheriasarai, Darbhanga, editing the children's periodical "Balak". By 1939 he had accepted a professorship in Hindi at Rajendra College, Chapra, merging his literary pursuits with academia.
In 1950 he was appointed secretary of the Bihar Rashtriya Bhasha Parishad, eventually rising to director. In this capacity he edited more than fifty Hindi reference works and compiled the comprehensive history "Hindi Sahitya aur Bihar". His own literary output includes prose collections such as "Dehati Duniya", "Mahila‑Mahattva", "Vibhuti", "Ve Din Ve Log" and the autobiographical "Mera Jeevan".
For his lifelong service to Hindi literature and language, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1960, and a commemorative postage stamp was issued in his memory. Shivpūjan Sahay’s career, spanning writer, editor, journalist and teacher, exemplifies a relentless commitment to the growth of Hindi culture.