Jagdish Chandra Mathur was Hindi playwright who chose themes from Indian history and also mythology. He also used them to focus on the contemporary scenario. He was born in a village near Khurja, Bulandshahr district, in Uttar Pradesh in 1917. He started his literary career with one-act drama, collected in Bhor ka tara i.e. `Star of Dawn` in 1947 and O mere sapne i.e. `O My Dreams` in 1953. This combines poetic quality, dramatic beauty, and social awareness.

Some of the Jagdish Chandra Mathur`s full-length plays can be mentioned as Konarka in 1950, Sharadiya i.e. `Autumnal` in 1959, and Pahala raja i.e. `First King` in 1969. The first two were based on historical incidents while the third one was related to mythology. In Konark, Mathur portrays realistically the self-respect and righteous anger of a thirteenth-century artisan at the sun temple in Konark, Orissa. Similarly, Sharadiya presents with great care the tragedy of an artist in the eighteenth century. In Pahala raja, he depicts contemporary social, political, and economic conditions through the story of Maharaja Prithu. One finds echoes of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Prithu`s eagerness and full-fledged efforts for the total development of his country and people. Although Konark was regularly performed in the 1950s and 1960s, groups rarely gathered the courage to stage Pabala raja because of its volume and epic nature.

Jagdish Chandra Mathur had great faith in Indian tradition, and was concerned about modern lifestyle and its complications. His approach to problems was serious and sensitive, making a thought-provoking as well as creative contribution to Hindi theatre. He also conducted significant study and research in traditional forms. Drama in Rural India and Paramparashil natya i.e. `Traditional Theatre` is his analytical works, while Bhasha natak sangrah i.e. `Collection of Indian-language Drama` is a critical anthology for students of Hindi drama. Jagdish Chandra Mathur expired in 1978.

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