Sohanlal Dwivedi did his higher education from Kashi University. After this, he did banking work for livelihood, but when Gandhiji appealed to the countrymen to join the freedom movement, like the rest of the nationalists, they also took part in the freedom movement at the call of Gandhiji. It was here that a revolutionary poet emerged in them and he started composing poems related to national love and national consciousness.
Poet of energy and consciousness
Not only the love of nation, but also the glimpse of energy and consciousness is clearly visible in his poems. Yes! Energy and consciousness. He was a poet completely devoted to the nation. This was the time when British rule was prevalent in the country. Indians were badly stricken by English tyranny.
The countrymen were deeply disappointed by the failure of the freedom struggle of 1857. The excitement was not there, but in such a difficult time, like Maithilisharan Gupta and other poets, Mahakavi Sohanlal Dwivedi, through his poetic work, communicated energy and consciousness to the countrymen, removing the clouds of despair that prevailed over his mind. Tried and did the important work of filling the spirit of national love in them. We can feel this in these poetic lines-
Neither hand should be an weapon,
Neither hand should be a weapon,
Neither food nor clothes,
Don’t move don’t be afraid,
Grow, move.
Gandhism in poetry
Gandhiji’s thoughts and philosophies have become iconic as ‘Gandhism’. This is why Gandhiji’s thoughts and principles had a profound impact on the life of Mahakavi Sohanlal Dwivedi, like the followers of other Gandhian ideologies. He had unwavering reverence in Gandhiji. When he composed ‘Sevagram’, a book full of patriotism, and offered it to Gandhiji on the 78th anniversary, then in this regard, Mahamana Malaviya ji wrote these lines in his address-
He composed many poems with titles like Yugavatar, Gandhi, Khadi Geet, Dandi Yatra etc. about Gandhiji’s personality. The lines of ‘Khadi Geet’ were humming when Gandhiji came to the convocation of Kashi University. On this occasion, he recited the lines of ‘Khadi Geet’ and greeted Gandhiji vigorously and was able to garner praise from the people present. The lines of this immortal song read by Mahakavi Sohanlal Dwivedi are as follows-
Khadi’s thread is filled with pride of belonging
Mother is respected in this, insulting the unjust
Khadi’s fiber filled his brother’s love
Mothers and sisters are hospitable, children cherish
How many Dalits have burnt their hearts hidden in Khadi
How many moans were hidden, how many were hurt
