Jagannath Shukla

Pandit Jagannath Shukla popularly known as Jaggi Baba (born Pataliputra, 1902 – 27 January 1976) was an Urdu poet, playwright and dramatist^[1]. He came from an aristocratic Vaishnava Baidya Brahmin family. He is also known as the first Bhojpuri film actor of Bihar.

Early life[edit]

His talent as an artist began to manifest from childhood and he was invited to sing, act and direct on various platforms. At the age of only six years, he had attracted the attention of art lovers in the role of a devotee Prahlada. A versatile talent, Shukla Ji also gave proper training in Kathak dance from there.

Education and career[edit]

Pt. Jagannath Shukla started his career early soon after marriage. The first job which haunted his inner urge was that of a watchman in one of the local mills. He did not steck-on too long and became a Katha-Vachak (storyteller in verse) and as a verse storyteller, he aroused political awareness through his melodious recitations of patriotic songs in the rural areas in South Bihar. going about from place to place. His melodious rendering on Harmonium accompanied by tabla and ghaal was unique. He was considered superior to Pandit Radhey Shayam Katha-Vachak of Bareilly. This was a lucrative profession and when he sat on Vayas-Gaddi listeners were spell-bound. But again the urge of the stage artist in hive kept on disturbing. The dream of the stage became a nightmare and despite vehement protests from family members he gave it up to dive deeper for higher achievements. Shukla Ji abruptly left for Calcutta to become a disciple of the greatest dramatist of the time Agha Hashar Kashmiri whose theatrical company was stationed there. Later, he was hired as a staff artist at the Alfred Theatre in Bombay. The living role of Emperor Akbar in the play 'Durga Das' not only made Calcutta but the art critics of the country astonished himself. He was a notable actor of the Parsi Stage, He also gained a foothold in Parsi theatre, and Master Manik Lal, distinguished as a specialist of Parsi theatre of the twentieth century, gave him his full patronage and made him, their running continued between Calcutta and Patna. His wish was that there should be a theater in Patna City also and social, religious, and contemporary plays should be staged in it. Finally in 1921 AD with the help of his artist colleagues and art lover, In the year Kuncha Natya Parishad was established, in which many historical, social, and religious plays were successfully staged from time to time. In the role of Harishchandra in a theatrical presentation 'Satya Harishchandra', The acting of Pt. Jagannath Shukla is still remembered by the old art lovers. Pt. Jagannath Shukla in 1924 AD. Founded another theatrical organization in the name of Patna City Union Club and staged many popular plays with the support of local artists, some of which were - Surdas, Garib Ki Duniya, Pati Bhakti and Paap- Parinaam. Initially, the council had a complete lack of acting material. For theatrical performance, goods are collected from many places, from somewhere bamboo, bala, sari, blouse, curtains for skirting, etc. Later on, everything became his own. In the ceremony organized by the Kucha Natya Parishad, the country's big leaders, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Anugrah Narayan Singh, Jagat Narain Lal, Ram Dulari Sinha, Manorama Devi, Sukhdev Sharma, Jaglal Choudhary, Dr. Shri Krishna Sinha, Mahesh Prasad Singh, Virchand Patel, etc. had come. The Governor of Bihar, Dr. Madhav Shrihari Aney also came to the council. Pt. Jagannath Shukla made an early contribution to the development of drama and theater in Bihar. Leaving the job of Imperial Bank of India in Patna dedicated to theater and art, Pt. Jagannath Shukla in 1935 AD. He turned to the growing cinema industry in Calcutta and made his mark in the cinema world with his outstanding roles in the silent films Zaljala^[2], Chalta Putla^[3], Mother India^[4][5], and many other motion pictures. He became friends with singer-actor K. L. Saigal because of his voice in instrumental singing. Got a lot in both. Attracted by his talent, some people called him to Patna and established a company called Avantika Cine Tone to produce motion pictures. But due to certain reasons This experiment of Pt. Jagannath Shukla was unsuccessfully hurt and by this to the born, due to which he was upset and gave his passionate artist heart. Shukla Ji 1940 AD. He went to Varanasi where he started the work of story-reading in his melodious voice. He founded the company Indian Film and Theater. His associate was his friend Master Hafiz who, like him, was a disciple of Agha Hashar Kashmiri But this company too was closed due to famine. At this time he was also regularly broadcasting melodious bhajans and ghazals from All India Radio Akashvani Kendra in Lucknow. An opportunity for the development of his versatility gave him again on 26 January 1948 AD. It was received when a radio station was established in Patna. The center was inaugurated by the Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel^[6][7]. From the day of the inauguration, Pt. Jagannath Shukla joined this center^[8][9]. He played Lord Buddha in the first of the radio named 'Pataliputra'. 1949 AD In the same year, he was contracted as a Senior Staff Artist. In the Chaupal program^[10][11] of All India Radio, he made millions of listeners his fans in the form of 'Patwari' a rural broadcasting program^[12]. In the first Bhojpuri film in the field of cinema, 'Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo', he played the role of a 'teacher' of a rural school. His performance in the role of 'Masterji'^[13][14] is still appreciated. Be it drama, film, music, dance or poetry conference or Mushaira, this born artist has flaunted his talent. He presented many programs in Patna All India Radio like Hriday Ki Gadbadi^[15], Bal Mandali^[16], Jagannath Shukla: Ghazal^[17][18], and many other programs like "Fawware"^[19] in front of an invited audience on the occasion of Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Patna Kendra.

Death[edit]

He died of a heart attack about 10.15 in the morning at his Hajiganj residence at Patna City. He was 75. People from all walks of life accompanied his funeral session. His mortal remains were consigned to the flames on the bank of the Ganga at the Khajekalan burning ghat. His only son, Mr. Anant Prasad Shukla performed the last rites. Mr. Radhakrishna Prasad, Station Director. All India Radio, Patna, and his senior colleagues and radio artists including the Drama Producer. Mr. Janardan Rai went to his residence to pay their last homage. Floral wreaths were placed on the pyre on behalf of the premier social and cultural institution, the Pataliputra Parishad. He leaves behind his wife, only son Mr. Anant Prasad Shukla, and two daughters besides a big family to mourn his death.

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