Naresh Pandey Chakor

Dr. Naresh Pandey Chakor (3 January 1938 – 14 November 2015) was an Indian litterateur, editor, poet, and cultural activist from Bihar. He was a foundational figure of the Angika language and its literary movement. His most enduring contribution was the continuous publication and editing of the Angika monthly magazine 'Ang Madhuri' for 46 years.^[1]

Naresh Pandey was born on 3 January 1938 in the village of Devdha, located approximately 15 kilometers south of Sultanganj in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar. His father was Shri Chandramohan Pandey, and his mother was Smt. Prajavati Devi.^[2]

He received his early education in his village and nearby schools. He pursued higher education at Bhagalpur University.

In 1963, Pandey began his professional career in the government, joining the Bihar State Khadi Gramodyog Board, Patna, as a Statistical Officer (सांख्यिकी पदाधिकारी). He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1996.

Concurrent with his service, Pandey became deeply involved in the movement for the promotion and recognition of the Angika language:

• In 1961 he started his journey in the Angika language movement by joining the 'Ang Bhasha Parishad' as a Publicity Minister (प्रचार मंत्री).
• His first published work, the Angika one-act play "Kisan ka Jagaba" (किसान क॑ जगाबऽ), was released in 1961, marking it the first published book in the modern Angika language.
• In 1963, his Angika play Sarvoday Samaj (सर्वोदय समाज) became the first Angika book published by a government department.

He was the editor of the monthly magazine Ang Madhuri. Beginning its publication and editing in December 1970, he helmed the magazine for 46 years until his death. His dedication to this work is often highlighted by comparison to other great Indian editors: he edited Ang Madhuri for a duration, while Acharya Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi edited Saraswati for 18 years and Pandit Shri Ram Sharma edited Vishal Bharat for about two decades.

Pandey was a prolific writer, contributing extensively to both Angika and Hindi literature. He is credited with publishing a total of 80 books (9 of which were written by Dr. Abhaykant Chaudhary)

Due to his service and contributions, he was often referred to by fellow scholars and writers using several prestigious epithets, including:

• Angika ka Bhartendu Harishchandra
• Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi
• Tulsidas
• Shakespeare
• Kalidas

He was a dedicated organizer and cultural activist (आंदोलनधर्मी). Under the auspices of the 'Jahnvi Angika Sanskriti Sansthan' in Patna, he annually organized the 'Angika Mahotsav' (Angika Festival). He was known for his personal commitment, often carrying heavy boxes of Angika books on his head to ensure their exhibition at the festival.

In addition to his independent works, he collaborated closely with Dr. Abhayakant Choudhary, co-writing and editing nine books that provided scholarly depth to the language, covering the history, rhetoric (Alankar), emotional expression (Ras Vyanjana), and cultural study of Angika literature and folk songs. Furthermore, his legacy is underscored by the fact that nine books were written by various scholars specifically about his life and contributions.

Pandey 'Chakor' died in Patna on 14 November 2014.^[3]

Pandey's bibliography spans various genres, including drama, poetry, cultural study, and translation:^[4]

• Kisan ka Jagaba (अंगिका एकांकी - Angika One-Act Play)
• Ek Shaakh: Do Phool (हिन्दी नाटक - Hindi Play)
• Sarvoday Samaj (अंगिका नाटक - Angika Play)
• Shri Ram Janmotsav (अंगिका गीति-नाट्य - Angika Musical Drama)

• Bhorka Lali (अंगिका काव्य)
• Yayati (अंगिका काव्य)
• Hamar Sankirtan Yatra (अंगिका काव्य)
• Baba Thakur (अंगिका गाथा काव्य)
• Sawan Saloni (हिन्दी काव्य)
• Milan (हिन्दी कविता)
• Kisan: Desh ke Shaan (अंगिका कविता संग्रह)
• Bhakti Pushpanjali (Part I & II)

• Vishakha (अंगिका लघु उपन्यास - Angika Novella)
• Eblin (हिन्दी उपन्यास - Hindi Novel)
• Tilka Sundari Daar-Daar (अंगिका कहानी संग्रह - Angika Short Story Collection)
• Daan Ek Majboori (हिन्दी लघुकथा - Hindi Flash Fiction)

• Angika Jatsaar (Edited)
• Angika Aandolan ka Itihas
• Angika Lok Sahitya
• Ang Janpad Gaurav: Haldhar Baba (Biography)
• Angjanpad Ke Vaivahik Vidhi Vidhan
• Mahatma Bholi Baba: Bhola Ke Avatar

• Angika Gita (Translation)
• Raghuvansham (Translation)
• Sukhla Gaachwala Jungle (Translation)

• Angika Sahitya Ka Itihas (Three Parts: First, Second, and Revised Edition)
• Angika Kavya Mein Ras Vyanjana
• Angika Mein Alankar
• Angika Lokgeeton Ka Sanskritik Adhyayan
• Angika Lohoikti Sangrah (Collection of Proverbs)