Yogesh Praveen

Dr. Yogesh Praveen was a well-known author and scholar from India who specialized in the history and culture of Avadh, with a focus on Lucknow. He was born on October 28th, 1938, and earned a Master's degree in Hindi and Sanskrit as well as a Doctorate in Literature from Meerut University. Dr. Praveen was known as the "Encyclopedia of Avadh and Lucknow" because of his vast knowledge of the region's cultural heritage. He wrote many books on Lucknow and Avadh, including "Dastan-e- Avadh," "Tajdar-e-Avadh," "Doobta Avadh," "Dastan-e-Lucknow," "Lucknow Nama," "Peele Gulab," and "Mayur Pankh," among others.

He was also a published poet and won the Bal Krishna Sharma Naveen Award in 1973 and the Tulsi Award of U.P. Hindi Sansthan for the book "Aprajita." Dr. Praveen received numerous awards for his contributions to literature and education, including the Padma Shri award in 2020, which is one of India's highest civilian honors. He also received the U.P. Ratna Award (2000), the National Teachers Award (1999), the Yash Bharti Award (2006), and the U.P. Sangeet Natak Academy Award (1998).

Dr. Praveen was involved in the film industry as well, contributing to several films such as "Junoon," "Umrao Jaan," and "Shatranj ke Khilari." He was also a playwright, and his plays were performed as stage shows across India. He was the editor of the Lucknow Mahotsava's magazine, Urmila, for twenty-five years and wrote for several other publications. Dr. Praveen passed away on April 12th, 2021, at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy of scholarship and cultural preservation in the region of Avadh and Lucknow.