Editing Chhayavad (section)

{{short description|Era of Neo-romanticism in Hindi literature}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
[[File:Matvala Magazine.jpg|thumb|180px|right|The first issue of [[Matwālā|Matvala]], a notable magazine that played a significant role in the development of Chāyāvād.]]
'''Chhayavad'''  ([[ISO 15919|ISO]]: {{transliteration|hi|ISO|  Chāyāvād}}) refers to the era of [[Neo-romanticism|mystical-romanticism]] in [[Hindi literature]], particularly poetry, spanning approximately from mid-1910s to early-1940s. It emerged as a reaction to the didacticism of its previous poetic movement - the Dwivedi era - as well as the courtly traditions of poetry.

It was marked by a renewed sense of the self and personal expression with an increase in romantic and humanist content. It is known for its leaning towards themes of [[Nature writing|love and nature]], as well as an individualistic reappropriation in a new form of [[mysticism]].

The movement is typically attributed to [[Jaishankar Prasad]], [[Suryakant Tripathi Nirala]], [[Sumitranandan Pant]], and [[Mahadevi Varma]], often cited as the four pillars of Chāyāvād.  Their writings reflected a conscious blending of classical Indian heritage with occidental sensibilities. The movement delved into love as a spiritual and transformative force, reverence for nature as a source of solace, and the individual's quest for identity and connection with the divine. These themes incorporated traditional values with the evolving ideas of freedom and self-expression during the country's struggle for [[Indian independence movement|independence]].

It is characterized by a lyrical, poetic, and musical accomplishment of modern [[Hindi literature]]. Anchored in new sensibilities, it concluded with the rise of the experimental spirit of ''[[Experimental literature|Prayogvad]]'' and the socially engaged ''Pragativad'', together reflecting the dynamic evolution of Hindi poetry in the early 20th century.