Kumar Vishwas (born 10 February 1970) is an Indian Hindi poet, performer and former politician. He is the most popular stage poet of his generation, drawing large young audiences to kavi sammelans (poetry gatherings) in India and abroad. His romantic poem “Koi Deewana Kehta Hai” became a campus anthem in the 2000s. He was a prominent face of the 2011 anti-corruption movement and a founding member of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Quick Facts
| Birth name | Vishwas Kumar Sharma |
| Born | 10 February 1970, Pilkhuwa, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Age | 56 |
| Occupation | Poet, performer, lyricist |
| Language | Hindi |
| Education | M.A. and Ph.D. in Hindi literature |
| Spouse | Manju Sharma |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Known for | “Koi Deewana Kehta Hai”, Apne Apne Ram |
Early Life
Vishwas was born in Pilkhuwa, a small town near Ghaziabad, the youngest of five children. His father, Chandrapal Sharma, was a college lecturer. At his father’s wish he joined an engineering college in Allahabad, but he left to study Hindi literature, in which he took a master’s degree with a gold medal and a doctorate. He began teaching Hindi at a college in Rajasthan in 1994 and later taught for many years at a college in Pilkhuwa.
Poetry
Vishwas began reciting on stage while still a student and was given the pen name “Kumar Vishwas” early in his career. His style, a blend of love poetry (shringar ras), humour and patriotic verse delivered with a performer’s timing, suited both traditional gatherings and college festivals. He became a regular at IITs, IIMs and other campuses, and recordings of his recitals spread widely online.
His best-known poem, “Koi Deewana Kehta Hai” (“Some Call Me Mad”), gave its name to his 2007 collection. An earlier book, Ik Pagli Ladki Ke Bin, appeared in 1996, and Phir Meri Yaad in 2019. He has also written song lyrics for films and television and presented literary programmes.
In recent years he has become known for Apne Apne Ram, a series of long public sessions in which he narrates and interprets the Ramayana with poetry and music before audiences of thousands.
Politics
Vishwas was a member of Anna Hazare‘s team during the 2011 Jan Lokpal agitation. In 2012 he joined Arvind Kejriwal in founding the Aam Aadmi Party. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election he stood from Amethi against Rahul Gandhi and lost. He later fell out with the party leadership, was passed over for a Rajya Sabha seat in 2018 and has since been a critic of Kejriwal.
Personal Life
Vishwas is married to Manju Sharma, a former college lecturer, and they have two daughters. He lives in Ghaziabad.
Works
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Kumar Vishwas born?
Kumar Vishwas was born on 10 February 1970 in Pilkhuwa, Uttar Pradesh, India and is 56 years old.
What is Kumar Vishwas known for?
Known for: “Koi Deewana Kehta Hai”, Apne Apne Ram.
Featured image: Kumar Vishwas recites at a poetry gathering, August 2009. Photo by Kumar Vishwas, in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
