Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Suri first met on 31 December 1942. Bachchan was teaching English at Allahabad University at that time. His Madhushala, published in 1935, brought him to such a level of fame that he did not need to introduce himself. Teji Suri taught psychology in a college in Lahore. Those days she had come to her principal Prema’s house in Bareilly. Harivansh Rai had come to meet the principal’s husband Gyan Prakash Johri.
Harivansh and Johari were friends. It was in Bareilly that Harivansh Rai and Teji met for the first time. This was the time when Harivansh Rai was recovering from the death of his first wife. He married Shyama in 1926. But in 1936, his wife died after a long illness of TB. In that meeting he read an emotional poem.
The poem ends – Asu was busy studying. She was so emotional that her tears were not stopping. Same was the condition of Harivansh Rai also. Meanwhile, Gyan Prakash Johari and his wife Prema also went out for some time, leaving both of them alone in the house. The talks about Bachchan and Teji kept revolving around poems.
Both of them fell deeply in love in their first meeting. Harivanshrai has mentioned this in his biography. He wrote, ’24 hours ago we came into this room like strangers. Now after 24 hours we are going out of the room like life partners. Recalling this meeting, Teji tells in an interview given to BBC that destiny had introduced her to Harivansh in Bareilly. Perhaps he wanted to reduce the suffering in Harivansh’s life. So destiny brought them together early.
According to reports, Bachchan and Teji spent four more days together after their first meeting. Meanwhile, both of them decided to become life partners. On 24 January 1942, both of them got married in the district court of Allahabad (now Prayagraj). Rs 800 were spent on the wedding. The bride and groom spent Rs 400 each. This incident was very special in Bachchan’s life. Harivansh had two sons from this marriage. Amitabh Bachchan, who became a superstar of the film industry. Ajitabh Bachchan, who chose the profession of business.
Hindi cinema megastar Amitabh Bachchan often keeps mentioning his mother. He says that his mother Teji Bachchan supported him a lot in the beginning of his film career. Teji Bachchan breathed his last on 21 December 2007 at the age of 93. Earlier, due to poor health, he was undergoing treatment at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai for a long time. Teji Bachchan is still remembered for his social work. Teji Bachchan’s influence was not limited to his son. She also had an influence on her husband and famous Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan. It is mentioned in the poems and biographies of Harivansh.