The interview with the elderly state poet Udaybhanu Hans living in Lajpat Nagar, Hisar was just an excuse the good fortune of meeting him took me there. If you expect him to remember dates and memories as they are at the age of 89, then it would be unfair to an elderly person. Yes, if you want to dive into the treasure of experiences and words, then there is no dearth of opportunities. That is why I did not realize when about three hours passed in his company. He was the first poet with whom I met during my school studies. I had interviewed him in 2015. In that last meeting, he placed his affectionate hand on my head, on 26 February 2019, he left this world handing over his rubais to us. I am still saddened by his departure. Today, I am offering this article to him as a tribute.

This love is not the oil of a lamp,
It is not a game of a few moments,
It is the stream of a sword,
It is not a game of dolls.
You may call it naivety,
You may call it arbitrariness,
Whatever line I drew,
I made a picture of you.

Udaybhanu Hans was the first state poet of Haryana and the originator of 'Rubai' in Hindi, who is still popular as the 'Rubai Samrat'. Udaybhanu Hans, born in 1926, published 'Hindi Rubaiyan' in 1952, which was undoubtedly a 'new' and unique experiment in Hindi. He enriched Hindi literature with his songs, couplets, poems and ghazals. When Haryana became a separate state in 1966, Uday Bhanu was declared the state poet of Haryana. He was awarded the Sur Award in 2006 and the Haryana Sahitya Ratna Award by the Haryana Sahitya Academy in 2009. Uday Bhanu Hans Awards are given every year in his honor. Uday Bhanu was born on 2 August 1926 in Dayara Deen Panah of Muzaffargarh district of Pakistan. After the partition of India in 1947, his family came to Hisar when he was 22 years old.
He completed his post-graduation in arts in Hindi language and joined as a teacher. Yashpal Sharma was one of his students. He retired as Principal of Government College, Hisar, and lived in Hisar. He was also the Secretary of Chandigarh Sahitya Academy and a member of the Advisory Committee of Haryana Sahitya Academy. Famous lyricist 'Neeraj' considered Hans to be a lyricist, he says, "No doubt Hans's rubais can be called unmatched in Hindi literature, but his main area of expression is a song." Famous poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan considered 'Hans' ji to be the promoter of a special trend in Hindi poetry. It is only 'Hans Ji's pen, that can give voice to the pain of the soil-

"Who will now tell us the pain of the soil,
'Premchand' is dumb, 'Nirala' is missing."

You studied Urdu-Persian till middle school and your father used to teach Hindi and Sanskrit at home. Your father was a scholar of Hindi and Sanskrit and was also a poet. Later you did Prabhakar and Shastri, then M.A. in Hindi. You received your education at Sanatan Dharma Sanskrit College, Multan, and Ramjas College, Delhi. Udaybhanu Hans was the pioneer poet of 'Rubai' in Hindi who is popular as 'Rubai Samrat'. Udaybhanu Hans, born on 2 August 1926 in Dayara Deep Panah village of Pakistan, published 'Hindi Rubaiyan' in 1952 which was undoubtedly a 'new' and unique experiment in Hindi. He has enriched Hindi literature with his songs, couplets, poems and ghazals.
Finally, I asked him, "Is he satisfied with his poetic journey? Udaybhanu Hans ji laughingly said-
I sing like sadhus, sometimes I also chant mantras. I even commit some sins thinking that I may turn from a human to a deity.
Hans Ji was not affected by this but still said, "I don't know how many people have done PhD on my rubais and poems. Saint Siphai epic has been written. Even Harivansh Rai Bachchan has praised my rubais. I have got respect and honor. What more can I get than this? I have got the status of state poet. That is enough, I am happy." Finally, he put his hand on his head and said- Son! I am sitting on the last evening of my life, keep coming if you get time." I will not be able to forget this meeting in my entire life, yes I regret not being able to take out time to meet him again. Hans Ji himself had written-

I am unable to bear the pain of my heart,
I want to say something but I am unable to say it,
I cannot remain as a flame,
I cannot flow as tears.
If you want you can call me a patient, or a drunken yogi,
While remembering you,
I have lost my senses.

Email:-------------------satywansaurabh333@gmail.com