Amitabh Bachchan, one of Bollywood’s greatest icons, recently shared a deeply emotional and lesser-known story about his father, the legendary poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, on Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 16. In this episode, Amitabh revealed details about his father’s first marriage to Shyama Bachchan, a name many may not be familiar with.
The Tragic Story of Shyama Bachchan
Harivansh Rai Bachchan, known for his profound poetry, married Shyama Bachchan in 1926. Sadly, their happiness was short-lived as Shyama suffered from tuberculosis (TB), a disease with limited treatment options at the time. After battling the illness for four painful years, Shyama passed away in 1936, leaving her husband in deep sorrow.
Amitabh shared that the loss of Shyama had a profound impact on his father, saying, “After her passing, my father was deeply affected. His poetry became much darker, filled with pain and sorrow.” Harivansh Rai’s works during this period reflected the emotional toll Shyama’s death took on him.
Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Suri’s Meeting
A few years after Shyama’s passing, Harivansh Rai met Teji Suri, who would later become his second wife and Amitabh’s mother. Amitabh narrated this touching story on the show, explaining how they first met through a mutual friend in Bareilly. During their initial meeting, Harivansh Rai was asked to recite one of his poems, and it was here that Teji first heard him speak the heartfelt words of his poem, “Kya Karu Sanveda Lekar Tumhari”.
Amitabh recalled his father’s description of Teji, saying that he remembered her beauty and even the clothes she wore during that first encounter. Her quiet attention to his poetry moved him deeply, and the connection between them grew from there. As Big B recounted, “When my father saw Teji’s reaction to his words, he knew she was the one.”
A Life of Love and Poetry
Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Suri married in 1941, and they shared a lifelong partnership, becoming parents to Amitabh and his brother. Despite the tragedy of losing Shyama, Harivansh Rai found love again, and his poetry continued to inspire millions.
