Isuri

Born| 1838

Mendki, Mauranipur, Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh, India

Died| 1909
Other names| Isuri Babba, Hartal Isuri, Isuri Prasad
Occupation| Bundeli poet
Notable work| Over a thousand Phaag (folk songs), Chaukaria Phag
Parent| Bholanath Arjariya (father)

Isuri (1838—1909) is a Bundeli poet from Bundelkhand region. He is credited with having composed over a thousand Phaag, a form of folk songs.[1][2][3]

The poetic works of Isuri have gained widespread acclaim among the people of the Bundelkhand region. His four-lined compositions, known as Chaukaria Phag, have become integral to the local folk musical tradition of the Bundelkhand region and Madhya Pradesh.[4]

## Life

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Isuri was born in the village of Mendki in the present-day Mauranipur tehsil of Jhansi district in the state of Uttar Pradesh. He was popularly known as Isuri Babba.[5] His full name was Hartal Isuri or Isuri Prasad. He was a contemporary of Pandit Gangadhar Vyas during the Bharatendu era.[6]

Isuri's father was named Bholanath Arjariya. After losing his parents in childhood, he was raised in his maternal grandmother's house. His ancestors originated from the Orchha State and later settled in Mendki village. The house where Isuri lived still stands in Mendki village of Mauranipur tehsil.[7]

He chose to write about the ongoing situation, creating awareness among the people of Bundelkhand against British rule. His romantic poetry was inspired by a girl named Rajjo or Rajau. Isuri also wrote about the culture and traditions of Bundelkhand.[1] His works are recognized for their authentic representation of rural culture and beauty.[6]

Numerous books featuring collections of Isuri's poetry and phaag have been published by various government and literary organizations, including Sahitya Akademi, Bundelkhand Sahitya Akademi, Adivasi Lok Kala Academy, and Madhya Pradesh Sanskrit Parishad.[8][9][10]

## Legend

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In 2013, the Madhya Pradesh School of Drama (MPSD) students performed the play Hansa Ud Chal Des, depicting the life of Isuri, at the Ravindra Bhavan Auditorium, Bhopal.[1] A research institute, Isuri Shodh Sansthan, was established in his village Mendki, but due to government neglect, it has since been closed.[7]

Under the Madhya Pradesh government, the Madhya Pradesh Sahitya Academy has established the Isuri Puraskar, an annual literary award recognizing writers or poets for their noteworthy contributions to Bundeli folk poetry and literature.[11]

## References

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1. ^ a b c "life of poet Isuri depicted through play Hansa Ud Chal Des Birane". The Pioneer. July 12, 2013.
2. ^ "बुन्देली लोक का काव्यात्मक उछाह: ईसुरी" (PDF). ईसुरी. Bundeli Peeth, Department of Hindi, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. ISSN 0976-5778.
3. ^ Chanda Ben; Rajendra Yadav. "लोक जीवन के प्रहरी ईसुरी एवं उनका फाग काव्य" (PDF). Hindi Department, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University. pp. 36, 37, 38, 39.
4. ^ S. Gajrani. History, Religion and Culture of India Volume 5. Isha Books. p. 145\. ISBN 9788182050648.
5. ^ Isha Basant Joshi (1965). Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Jhansi. Department of District Gazetteers, U. P., Lucknow. p. 283.
6. ^ a b Lok Sahitya Evam Lok Sanskruti, Editor: Dr. Rajkumar Singh, Edition: First, 2012, Publisher: Ashish Publication, Kanpur, Page: 205, ISBN 978-81-89457-57-0.
7. ^ a b Sharma, Dushyant (July 6, 2021). "अपनी धरती अपने लाल : बुंदेलखंड के कबीर थे लोककवि ईसुरी, काव्य-शैली ने बनाया औरों से अलग" (in Hindi). Amar Ujala.
8. ^ Narmadā Prasāda Gupta (1984). Loka-kavi Īsurī aura unakā sāhitya. Bundelakhaṇḍa Sāhitya Akādamī, Chatarapura.
9. ^ Īsurī; Aśoka Miśra; Lokendra Siṃha Nāgara (2004). Īsurī kā phāga sāhitya (Selected works of Īsurī, 1824-1909, Bundeli poet; text with Hindi prose translation). Ādivāsī Loka Kalā Akādamī : Madhyapradeśa Saṃskr̥ti Parishad, Bhopāl.
10. ^ Dayā Dīkshita (2020). Phāga loka ke Īsurī : upanyāsa (Novel about the life of Īsurī, 1824-1909, Bundeli poet). Saṃskaraṇa prathama. ISBN 9789389220872.
11. ^ "म.प्र. साहित्य अकादमी ने देश की 121 हस्तियों को किया सम्मानित". Samachar4media.com (in Hindi). July 27, 2023.

## External links

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* बुन्देलखण्ड में ईसुरी का फागुन !
* बुन्देली बोली के कवि ईसुरी की याद