Kuber Nath Rai (26 March 1933 – 5 June 1996), also written as Kubernath Ray and Kuber Nath Ray, was a writer and scholar of Hindi literature and Sanskrit.
Kuber Nath Rai was born in Matsa village of Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh, India. His father's name was Vakunth Narayan Rai. He got his early education at village Matsa. However he did his matriculation from Queen's College, Varanasi. For higher studies he got enrolled in Banaras Hindu University (BHU). He did his masters in English Literature from Calcutta University. As an academician he started his career with Vikram Vishvavidyalaya but after a short period he moved to Nalbari, Assam as a lecturer of English literature. He retired from Swami Sahajanand Mahavidyalaya as its principal.
From 1958 to 1986 he was in Nalbari College, Assam as a lecturer in English Department. From 1986 to 1995 he was in Swami Sahajanand Saraswati PG College, Ghazipur, UP as a Principal. He got the Moortidevi Award from Bharatiya gyanpith and many awards from UP, WB and Assam Government.
Kuber Nath Rai dedicated his writing entirely to the form of the essay.
His collections of essays Gandha Madan, Priya neel-kanti, Ras Aakhetak, Vishad Yog, Nishad Bansuri, Parna mukut have enriched the form of essay. A scholar of Indian culture and western literature, he was reverent towards Indian heritage. His love for natural beauty, Indian folk literatures, preference for agricultural society over the age of machines, his romantic outlook, sensibility, his keen eye on contemporary reality and classical style place him very high among contemporary essayists in Hindi.
Andhkaar Mein Agnishikha, Prabhat Prakashan, ISBN 81-85826-61-7.
Priya Neelkanthi, Bharatiya Jnanpith, 1969.
Ras Aakhetak, Bharatiya Jnanpith, 1971.
Gandhmaadan, Bharatiya Jnanpith, 1972.
Vishad Yoga, National Publiśhiṅg Hause (Delhi), 1974.
Parn mukut, Lok Bhāratī Prakāśana (Allāhābād), 1978.
Mahakavi ki Tarjani, National Publiśhiṅg Hāuse (Delhi), 1979
Patr:Maniputul ke naam, Viśvavidyālaya Prakāśana (Vārāṇasī), (1980) reprint 2004.
Manpawan ki Nauka, Prabhāt Prakāśana (Delhi), 1983.
Kirat nadi mein Chandramadhu, Viśvavidyālaya Prakāśana (Vārāṇasi), 1983.
Dristi Abhisaar, National Publiśhiṅg Hāuse (New Delhi), 1984
Treta ka vrihatsaam, National Publiśhiṅg Hāuse (New Delhi), 1986.
Kaamdhenu, Rājapal& Sons (Delhi), 1990.