LITERARY GIANTS-1

Babu Devaki Nandan Khatri

            
Devaki Nandan Khatri (1861-1913) was the first author of mystery novels in Hindi. He wrote Chandrakanta, Chandrakanta Santati, Kajar ki Kothari, Narendra-Mohini, Kusum Kumari,Virendra Veer, Gupt Godna, Katora Bhar Khoon and Bhootnath. He is also known as Babu Devakinandan Khatri. Bhootnath was incomplete and completed by his son, Durga Prasad Khatri, who also wrote the concluding volumes of Bhootnath saga as Rohtasmath

Khatri was born at Samastipur, Bihar. After his earlier education he moved to Tekari Estate in Gaya. He became an employee of the Raja of Benares. He started a printing press called "Lahari" and started a Hindi monthly, "Sudarshan", in 1898. There is also a book shop with the name Lahari Book Depot. Lahari Press is situated at Ram Katora Road, near Ram Katora Crossing, Varanasi, India. Durga Prasad Khatri's son, Kamlapati Khatri, and grandson "Sonny". The various works of Khatri and his son are still published by Lahari Press.

Khatri made a strong contribution to the learning of the Hindi language by the people of the times. People were so mesmerised by the works Chandrakanta, Chandrakanta Santiti andBhootnath that they started to learn Hindi just to be able to read the works. Khatri did not write any work at one go and then publish the same. He used to write "bayaans" - chapters - on the run from the British and these were published and distributed widely. People would enthusiastically await the new "bayaans" and congregate around those who could read Hindi to hear the latest exploits in the continuing saga.

An AIYYAR (male) or AIYARRA (female) is a spy, in the service of a king, who specializes in making disguises. A TILISM is a kind of maze containing many secret locations, passages and prisons. Words like these were contributed to the Hindi language by the popular novels by Khatri, the first author of mystery novels in Hindi.

Khatri had a home called Khatri Haveli in Ramapura, Varanasi. He was living in Musakhand area when he was writing Chandrakanta.