"Mere Bachpan ke Din" (The Days of My Childhood) is an autobiographical essay written by Mahadevi Verma, one of the most celebrated poets of Hindi and a leading voice of the Chhayavad movement. The lesson is part of the Kshitij Bhag 1 textbook of NCERT Class 9 Hindi. In this essay, Mahadevi Verma looks back with warmth and honesty at the days of her childhood, when she was a lively, restless and fearless girl growing up in an orthodox Indian family. The essay gives readers a precious glimpse into the early life of the woman who would become the "Modern Meera" of Hindi poetry.
The essay is special because it is written by an adult poet who still remembers the world through a child's eyes. Mahadevi recalls her love for nature, her longing for freedom, her adventures in the courtyard and garden, and her quiet battles with the strict rules of her family. She does not hide her mischievousness or her occasional defiance, and it is this honesty that makes the essay so appealing. Behind every memory lies the shaping of a poet - a girl whose imagination was nourished by the sky, the trees, the stories and the silences around her.
For students, the lesson is both enjoyable and instructive. It shows how childhood experiences shape a person's character and creativity. It also paints a vivid picture of Indian family life of a hundred years ago - the customs, the discipline, the festivals and the expectations placed on girls. Above all, it teaches the value of curiosity, courage and self-belief, qualities that made Mahadevi Verma a fearless and original writer.
Mahadevi Verma (1907-1987) was born in Farrukhabad and grew up in Jhansi. She was one of the four pillars of the Chhayavad movement, along with Jaishankar Prasad, Sumitranandan Pant and Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala'. Her famous poetry collections include "Nihar", "Rashmi", "Neerja" and "Sandhyageet", and she was also a great prose writer, producing autobiographical works like "Mere Bachpan ke Din", "Gillu" and "Smyuti ki Rekhayein". Known as the "Modern Meera" for her devotional and deeply felt verses, she was a teacher, the principal of a girls' college, and a champion of women's education. Her poetry is full of love, longing, pain and a deep sensitivity to nature.
In this autobiographical essay, Mahadevi Verma recalls the days of her childhood with a mixture of joy and tenderness. She was born into a family that followed orthodox traditions, where girls were expected to be modest, obedient and interested only in household work. But young Mahadevi was quite the opposite - a restless, adventurous girl who loved to climb trees, run in the open, and play in the garden. She remembers how her spirit rebelled against the restrictions placed upon her because she was a girl.
Her mother, a deeply religious and disciplined lady, tried to mould her into the ideal daughter. She taught her household duties, told her to be gentle and docile, and made her observe the family's customs and prayers. Mahadevi often found these expectations suffocating. She recalls a memorable incident when her mother, to teach her obedience, locked her in a room. Far from crying in fear, the girl played happily in the darkness and even welcomed the punishment as a chance to be alone with her thoughts. This incident reveals the fearless, independent nature that would define her later life.
Along with these small battles, the essay is full of the simple joys of childhood. Mahadevi loved the natural world - the trees, the birds, the open sky, the breeze. She was sent to school in a palanquin, and she cherished the world of books and learning that opened up before her. She describes the festivals, the household rituals, the stories told by elders, and the quiet moments when she sat alone and let her imagination wander. Through these memories, the reader sees how a sensitive girl, growing up in a world of strict rules, discovered her own voice, her love for freedom and literature, and the poetic soul that would one day inspire millions.
The central theme of the essay is childhood and self-discovery. Mahadevi Verma shows how a child's experiences - her games, her rebellions, her silences and her wonder - gradually shape the adult she becomes. The essay is a tribute to the freedom and honesty of childhood, and to the natural world that nourished her imagination.
The message of the essay is deeply relevant to young readers. It tells them that curiosity, courage and the desire for freedom are not faults to be crushed but gifts to be cherished. Mahadevi's quiet defiance of the narrow rules of her time shows that girls have every right to dream, learn and be independent. The essay also honours the role of parents and tradition in forming character, while gently questioning rules that stifle a child's spirit. Above all, it teaches that true growth comes from remaining true to oneself - from listening to one's own heart even when the world expects you to be someone else.
| World | Description |
|---|---|
| World of rules | Orthodox family, discipline, expectations on girls |
| World of freedom | Trees, garden, play, imagination and books |
| The mother | Wanted obedience and tradition |
| Young Mahadevi | Wanted freedom and adventure |
| Quality | Evidence from the Essay |
|---|---|
| Fearlessness | Played happily even when locked in a room |
| Curiosity | Loved books and learning |
| Love of nature | Joy in trees, sky and the open air |
| Independence | Defied narrow rules for girls |
| Imagination | Enjoyed solitary moments of daydreaming |
"Mere Bachpan ke Din" is a warm and honest journey into the childhood of a great poet. Through her memories of discipline and rebellion, of nature and books, of quiet solitude and fearless play, Mahadevi Verma shows how the raw material of a poet is gathered in childhood. The essay teaches students that curiosity and courage are gifts to be protected, that girls must be free to dream and learn, and that the person we become is built, brick by brick, from the days of our childhood. It remains a timeless celebration of innocence, freedom and self-discovery in Hindi literature.