Quote by Mahadevi Varma: “The candle we light will dispel darkness, even if it melts itself away.”

This beautiful metaphor illustrates the idea of selfless contribution. It means that illuminating truth or bringing hope to others is a worthy endeavor, even if it requires personal sacrifice or depletion of one's own energy.

Varma's poetry frequently used light as a metaphor for knowledge and self-sacrifice, reflecting a spiritual and humanitarian outlook during a time of national introspection and social reform.

Hindi poet and prose writer of the Chhayavad movement, one of the foremost figures in modern Hindi literature, and recipient of the Jnanpith Award in 1982, India's highest literary honor. Born in Farrukhabad in 1907, she combined a deeply lyrical spiritual sensibility with feminist social activism, and served as the Principal of Prayag Mahila Vidyapith for decades. Her poetry is characterized by its mystical depth and its championing of women's dignity.