Harivansh Rai Bachchan (né Srivastava; 27 November 1907 – 18 January 2003) was an Indian poet and writer of the Nayi Kavita literary movement (romantic upsurge) of early 20th century Hindi literature.

[4] Bachchan was born in Babupatti, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh in British India on 27 November 1907 into a Hindu Kayastha family.

From 1941 to 1957, he taught in the English Department at the Allahabad University and then spent the next two years at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, completing a PhD on W. B.

[11] When looking to get their elder son admitted to a school, he and Teji decided the family's surname should be Bachchan instead of Srivastava, as both parents opposed the caste system.

(मिट्टी का तन, मस्ती का मन, क्षण भर जीवन, मेरा परिचय) (Body of clay, mind of fun, life of a moment, my introduction)[3]