Shri Jaishankar Prasad (1889–1937), fondly called Prasad Ji, is not merely a great poet but a phenomenon with no parallel in Indian literary history.

He was born on 30 January 1890, in an aristocratic family of Varanasi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. He was admitted to a pathshala, a small school, run by Master Mohini Lal. But his parents’ early passing away cut short his formal education to eight years of school. At home, eminent teachers were hired to teach him Hindi, English, Sanskrit and Persian. He gained deep knowledge by studying Indian history, Sanskrit, literature, philosophy and the Hindu scriptures by himself.

Prasad Ji drew inspiration from Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads, to create the epic poem Kamayani, which has inspired many generations of scholars and intellectuals. He is one of the most eminent four pillars of the Chhayavad movement, which emphasised spiritualism,...