“An Introduction” by Kunwar Biseshwar Sahi

​On his eighty-fourth birthday on 4th March 2020, I’m delighted to release what could essentially have been an introduction to Kunwar Biseshwar Sahi in his own words.

Though he left us on 9th April 1989, my Baba has had a huge impact on my life and was quite a man to learn from. I have found this handwritten note in one of his six dairies:
​

Jai Durga

Life came into me on the 4th of March 1936 at a remote village now situated in the northern part of the district of Deoria [1] in Uttar Pradesh. Though the family is said to be one of the ancient Bhumihar Brahmins [2] family of India but still the economic status of the parents [3] was not much too high. I was the second son of my parents. My grandfather [4] and grandmother [5] were both alive then. As has been told by my mother my birth was celebrated with great pomp + show and clothes and food were distributed to the people of the village and to persons associated with the family. My grandfather’s popularly known as Hira Saheb was a prince in thought and action and as at that time the economic condition had improved hence as per family tradition and custom all functions concerning my birth were performed with the highest standard. It is said that dancing and singing continued up to the ‘barhi’ (twelfth day after birth).

Since my birth the financial position of the house started improving and hence as all the senior members of the family were strictly religious came to the conclusion that this boy’s birth would bestow upon them all the goods of the earth. I was being brought up with much love and affection by my mother. My elder brother [6] was a favorite of my grandmother.  

When I was about the age of two to three years my mother went along with me to allahabad my maternal grandfathers [7] place who commanded a very respectable position in the locality of Anapur in the district of allahabad. My maternal grandfather was a rich man but I was unfortunate to not have a maternal uncle. My second grandmother [8] and paternal grandmother were cousins hence they planned that I should be given away to my maternal grandparents. During the course of this visit of my mother this was acted upon and thus she left me with her stepmother. Thus I became a resident of allahabad and started living there.

My life at alla

Kunwar Biseshwar Sahi

​That’s where he stopped it. I presume this was an introduction to his autobiography considering how he had a habit of documenting events in his life. But now, we will never know for certain.

Notes

1. Deoria was carved out of old Gorakhpur district. In 1994, Tamkuhi became part of the newly created district, Kushingar.
2. Bhumihar Brahmins are a class of brahmins spread out in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. 
3. Raja Jitendra Pratap Bahadur Sahi and Rani Lokeshwari Devi.
4. Kunwar Chatrapati Pratap Bahadur Sahi.
5. Srimati Ishvarwati Kuer.
6. Raja Khagendra Pratap Sahi.
7. Rai Bahadur Babu Bhagwati Saran Singh of Anapur.
8. Rani Chandrakala Devi.

Team

1. Contributor:​
   ​Kunwar Biseshwar Sahi
   ​
2. Notes:
   Vaidurya Pratap Sahi
   
   
3. Editors:
   ​Ahna Sahi &
   Sree Raj​

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