Hari Singh Gour was a member of the Legislative Assembly for the Central Provinces in the 1920s. He was a prominent Barrister and reformer in favour of increasing the age of consent. In 1924 he proposed a bill that raised the age from 12 to 14; this was eventually raised to 13 in an amended bill in 1925. Gour also established a University in Saugar in Madhya Pradash in 1946, now known as Dr Harisingh Gour University.
Aged eighteen, Gour went to England to study at Cambridge University. He joined Downing College, Cambridge and in 1891 he took the degree of philosophy and economics. In 1892 he took the degree in law. In 1905 he was awarded a D.Litt. degree from London University and then from Trinity College. After getting the law degree in 1892, he returned to India.
When a student at Cambridge in 1890, Gour published an anthology of poems entitled Stepping Westward and Other Poems. He became a member of the Royal Society of Literature after his poems were published. In 1930 he published a novel in London entitled His Only Love. The hero of the novel, Himmat Singh, was a state scholar at King's College, Cambridge, who was called to the Bar and had published prize poems.
Published works:
Stepping Westward and Other Poems (London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co., 1890) also published in Cambridge by Redin and Co.
His Only Love (London: Henry Walker, 1930)
Example:
The Indian Magazine 232 (April 1890), pp. 223-4
Date of birth:
26 Nov 1870
Content:
Notice of publication of Hari Singh Gour's book of poems, Stepping Westward and Other Poems in the National Indian Association's journal.
Contributions to periodicals:
The Indian Magazine 233 (May 1890)
Reviews:
The Indian Magazine 232 (April 1890)
Extract:
The author, Mr H. S. Gour, was First Medallist and Government Scholar, Central Provinces. We understand that the verses have been submitted to some distinguished poets and critics, whose opinion of them is very favourable, both in regard to originality and command of the English language. Mr Gour is probably the first Hindu who has with any degree of success ventured upon that difficult form of poetical composition, blank verse.
Secondary works:
Dr Harisingh Gour University website http://www.sagaruniversity.nic.in/univ.htm
Relevance:
The notice remarks, perhaps patronizingly, on the favourable opinion of British poets and critics to Gour's poems. In particular they note his command of the English language and his ability to write verse in a Western style.
