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Chhayavaad (Hindi: छायावाद) ("Shadowism") refers to the era of Neo-romanticism in Hindi literature particularly Hindi poetry, 1917-1938^[1], and was marked by an upsurge of romantic and humanist content. Chhayavad was marked by a renewed sense of the self and personal expression, visible in the writings of time. It is known for its leaning towards themes of love and nature, as well as an individualistic reappropriation of the Indian tradition in a new form of mysticism, expressed through a subjective voice.

Period

In Hindi literature, Chhayavad Yug is 1918 to 1937, and is preceded by Bharatendu Yug (1868-1893), and Dwivedi Yug (1893-1918), and is in turn, followed by the Contemporary Period, 1937 onwards^[1][2].

Chhayavad continued till later half of 1930s, when the golden era of modern Hindi poetry was gradually replaced by social didacticism inspired by the uprising nationalist fervour, when some of the later poets of this era, like Dinkar, Mahadevi and Bachchan took nationalist and social critiquing within their poetry. he was alive in everyone who loves hindi.

Notable authors

Jaishankar Prasad, Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala', Sumitranandan Pant and Mahadevi Varma^[3] are considered as the four pillars of Chhayavaadi school of Hindi literature. Other important figures of this literary movement were Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar', Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Makhanlal Chaturvedi.

Notable works

Jaishankar Prasad's Kamayani (Hindi:कामायनी) (1936) is considered an important magnum opus of this school, followed by Mahadevi Verma's , Nihar (Mist, 1930), Harivansh Rai Bachchan's, Madhushala (Hindi: मधुशाला) (1935).

Notes

References

• Romantic Poetry in the Era of Convention
• Chhayavad study in The Journal of the American Oriental Society, Jul 1, 2001