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Kunwar Narayan

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Kunwar Narayan
Born (1927-09-19) 19 September 1927 (age 97)
Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh
OccupationPoet
NationalityIndian
Notable awardsSahitya Akademi Award in Hindi (1995)

Kunwar Narain (born 19 September 1927)[1] is a poet in Indian literature, often regarded as the leading living poet in Hindi.[1] He has read and traveled widely and written over the last six decades. Linked to the New Poetry movement, he publishes selectively and is characteristically polite. He read English literature and publishes in Hindi but also plays with English and Urdu. Earlier, he lived in Lucknow where his house was a centre of literary meets and classical performances. He now lives in with his wife and son. Influences on him have been diverse, from the Indian epics and Upanishads to Kabir and Amir Khusro, history and mythology to Buddhism and Marxism, Kafka and Cavafy to Ghalib and Gandhi.

Life

Born on 19 September 1927, in Faizabad district, Uttar Pradesh[1] Kunwar Narayan passed his M.A. examination in English Literature from Lucknow University in 1951. Married to Bharati Goenka in 1966, he has a son Apurva, born in 1967.

Political leaders Narendra Deva and Acharya Kriplani were key literary influences and he gives formative importance to his first visit to Europe, Russia and China in 1955 and meetings with poets like Nazim Hikmet Ran, Anton Słonimskie and Pablo Neruda. Later, his translations of the French symbolist poets like Mallarmé and Valery, and then of poets like Cavafy and Borges, contributed to his poetic development. His work covers varied genres—poetry, epic poetry, short stories, literary criticism, translations, essays on world cinema, history and Indian classical music, and articles of versatile cultural and human interest. He has been translated nationally and internationally, and his many honours include the Jnanpith Award, Sahitya Akademi Award, Kabir Samman, Vyasa Samman, Lohia Samman, Shalaka Samman, Warsaw University’s honorary medal and Italy’s Premio Feronia for distinguished international author (a prestigious honour given for the first time to an Indian writer and previously awarded to authors like Germany’s Günter Grass, South Africa’s J. M. Coetzee, China’s Gao Xingjian, Syria’s Adonis, Cuba’s Roberto F Retamar, Palestine’s Mahmoud Darwish, Iraq’s Saadi Youssef, France’s Michel Butor and Albania’s Ismail Kadaré).

Work

His oeuvre began with Chakravyūh, his first poetry collection published in 1956, a landmark in Hindi literature. About the same time, he co-edited Yug-Chétnā, an avant-garde literary magazine. A little later in 1959, he was one of the poets in Tīsrā Saptak edited by Agyeya. In 1961, his second poetry collection Parivésh: Hum-Tum came. Ātmajayee, published in 1965, a short epic based on the Upanishadic character of Nachiketā, expresses some of the most fundamental metaphysical concerns and is widely recognised as a classic of Hindi literature.

His short story collection Ākāron Ke Ās-Pās came in 1971 and is a lasting example of a poetic mind exploring the genre of fiction. In the poems of Apné Sāmné (1979), contemporary political and social ironies found a more pronounced place. After a long hiatus, his much-awarded collection of poems Koī Dūsrā Nahīn was published in 1993. Āj Aur Āj Sé Pahlé, a collection of literary criticism (1999), Méré Sākshātkār, a collection of interviews (2000) and Sāhitya Ké Kuchh Antar-Vishayak Sandarbh (2003), as also journals like Yug Chétna, Naya Pratik and Chhayanat that he co-edited, and writings on cinema, art and history, reveal yet other aspects of his literary repertoire. In 2002, the poetry collection In Dino was published and, in 2008, his latest work, an epic poem Vājashravā Ké Bahāné, has appeared, which while recalling the contextual memory of Ātmajayī published forty years ago, is a chain of independent island-like poems. A selection of his poems in English translation, No Other World, by his son Apurva has appeared in 2010 from Rupa.

Works

Poetry

  • Chakravyūh (Circular Siege), 1956.[1] Radhakrishan, Delhi (first published by Rajkamal Prakashan).
  • Tīsrā Saptak (Third Heptad), seven poets, ed. Agyeya, 1959. Bharatiya Jnanpith, Delhi.
  • P: Hum-Tum (Surroundings: Us-You), 1961. Vani Prakashan, Delhi (first published by Bharti Bhandar, Allahabad).
  • Apné Sāmné (In Front of Us), 1979. Rajkamal Prakashan, Delhi.
  • Koī Dūsrā Nahīn (No One the Other), 1993. Rajkamal Prakashan, Delhi.
  • In Dino (These Days), 2002. Rajkamal Prakashan, Delhi.
  • Vājaśravā ke bahāne, 2008
  • Hāśiye kā gavāh, 2009

Epic poems

  • Ātmajayī (Self-Conqueror), based on the Upanishadic episode of Nachikétā in Kathopnishad, 1965. Bharatiya Jnanpith, Delhi.
  • Vājashravā Ké Bahāné (On Vajashrava’s Pretext), independent poems linked to Ātmajayī’s context, 2008. Bharatiya Jnanpith.

Fiction

  • Ākāron Ké Ās-Pās (Near-about Shapes), a collection of short stories, 1973. Radhakrishan Prakashan, Delhi.

Criticism

  • Āj Aur Āj Sé Pahlé (Today and Before Today), 1998. Rajkamal Prakashan, Delhi.
  • Méré Sākshātkār (My Interviews), interviews given by Kunwar Narain, ed. Vinod Bhardwaj, 1999. Kitabghar Prakashan, Delhi.
  • Sāhitya Ké Kuchh Antar-Vishayak Sandarbh (Some Interdisciplinary Contexts of Literature), XIV Samvatsar Lecture, 2003. Sahitya Akademi.

Translations

  • Selected poems of and essay on Constantine Cavafy, ‘Tanāv’, 1986 and Jorge-Luis Borges, ‘Tanāv’, 1987.
  • Selected poems of Stéphane Mallarmé, Tadeusz Różewicz, Derek Walcott, Zbigniew Herbert, Anna Świrszczyńska, etc.

Compilations

  • Kunwar Nārāin: Sansār-I (World: Select writings of Kunwar Narain), ed. Yatindra Mishra, 2002. Vani Prakashan, Delhi.
  • Kunwar Nārāin: Upasthiti-II (Presence: Select articles on Kunwar Narain and his writings), ed. Y Mishra, 2002. Vani Prakashan.
  • Kunwar Nārāin: Chunī Huī Kavitāyein (Selected Poems), ed. Suresh Salil, 2007. Medha Books, Delhi.
  • Kunwar Nārāin: Pratinidhī Kavitāyein (Representative Poems), ed. Purshottam Agarwal, 2008. Rajkamal Prakashan, Delhi.

Poems, stories, essays, criticism, and writings on cinema, music, art and history, have also appeared in journals and anthologies. Works on the poet and translations into national and international languages have been published in journals, anthologies and independent collections.

Awards and recognition

  • Hindustani Akademi Award (Atmajayee) 1971,
  • Prem Chand Award (Akaron Ke Aas-Pas) 1973,
  • Kumaran Asan Award (Apne Samne) 1982,
  • Tulsi Award (Apne Samne) 1982,
  • Hindi Sansthan Award (distinguished writing in Hindi) 1987,
  • Vyas Samman (Koi Doosra Naheen) 1995,
  • Bhavani Prasad Misra Award (Koi Doosra Naheen) 1995,
  • Shatdal Award (Koi Doosra Naheen) 1995,
  • Sahitya Akademi Award (Koi Doosra Naheen and overall literary contribution) 1995,
  • Lohia Award (overall contribution to Hindi literature) 2001,
  • Kabir Samman (highest all-India poetry award) 2001,
  • Honorary D.Litt, of Rajarshi Purushottam Tandan Mukt Vishvavidyalay, Allahabad, 2004,
  • Medal of Warsaw University, Poland (overall literary achievement) 2005,
  • Shalaka Samman (Hindi Academy’s highest honour), Delhi, 2006,
  • Premio Feronia, Italy (distinguished foreign author), 2006,
  • Jnanpith Award (considered as the highest literary award in India), for overall contribution in Hindi literature, 2005[1][2]
  • Padma Bhushan the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India for 'Literature & Education', 2009[3]
  • 'Pune Pandit' Award (Scholar of Pune Award), by the Art & Music Foundation, India for outstanding contribution in Indian literature, 2011

Selected foreign translations

  • Modern Hindi Poetry: An Anthology, ed. Vidya N. Misra, 1965, Indiana Univ. Press, Bloomington & London. (English translation by Leonard Nathan & H M Guy)
  • Tokyo University Journal, No. 7, December 1972, Hindi Dept., Tokyo Univ. of Foreign Studies, Nishigahara, Kita-ku, Tokyo (Japanese translation by Toshio Tanaka)
  • Der Ochsenkarren, Hindilyrik der siebziger und achtziger Jahre, Zusammengestellt von Vishnu Khare & Lothar Lutze, Verlag Wolf Mersch, 1983 (German transl.)
  • Kunvar Narayan, Naciketa, A cura di Mariola Offredi, Plural Edizioni, Napoli. Collezione di Poesia I Cristalli, 1989, (Italian translation of Atmajayee)
  • The Golden Waist Chain: Modern Hindi Short Stories, ed. Sara Rai, 1990, Penguin. (English translation by Sara Rai)
  • TriQuarterly 77, Winter 1989/90, ed. Reginald Gibbons, 1990, Northwestern University, US (English translation by Vinay Dharwadker)
  • Periplus: Poetry in Translation, eds. Daniel Weissbort & Arvind K. Mehrotra, 1993, Oxford Univ. Press. (English translations by Daniel Weissbort & the poet)
  • The Penguin New Writing in India, eds. Aditya Behl & David Nicholls, 1994, Penguin India, First published by Chicago Review (Vol. 38, Nos1 & 2), 1992
  • Survival, eds. Daniel Weissbort & Girdhar Rathi. Sahitya Akademi, India, 1994 (English translations by Daniel Weissbort & the poet)
  • The Oxford Anthology of Modern Indian Poetry, eds. Vinay Dharwadker & A.K. Ramanujan, 1994, Oxford University Press (English translations)
  • Yatra 2: Writings from The Indian Subcontinent, General Ed.: Alok Bhalla, Eds. Nirmal Verma & U R Ananthamurthy, 1994, Indus (English trans., Alok Bhalla)
  • Living Literature: A Trilingual Documentation of Indo-German Literary Exchange, eds. Barbara Lotz and Vishnu Khare (German translations)
  • Gestures: Poetry from SAARC Countries, Edited by K. Satchidanandan, 1996 (Reprint 2001), Sahitya Akademi, India (English)
  • An Anthology of Modern Hindi Poetry, ed. Kailash Vajpeyi, 1998, Rupa & Co., India (English translations)
  • Dilli Mein Kavita, ed. Kailash Vajpeyi, translated into Russian by Varyam Singh, 1999, Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi (Russian translations)
  • Poeti Hindi: Antologia del Novecento, A cura di Mariola Offredi, Casta Diva, Roma. 2000. Poesia, Collana diretta da Enrico D’Angelo (Italian translations)
  • Kunvar Narayan, Nessuno è altro, A cura di Roberta Sequi, Casta Diva, Roma. 2001. (Italian translation of Koee Doosra Nahin)
  • Beyond Borders: An Anthology of SAARC Poetry, eds. Ashok Vajpeyi & Ajeet Cour, 2002, Academy of Fine Arts and Literature & Rainbow Publishers.
  • Ze współczesnej poezji Hindi, Przegląd Orientalistyczny, vol. 202-203, no. 3-4, Warszawa, 2002, translated by Danuta Stasik. (Polish translations)
  • Hindi: Handpicked Fictions, Edited and translated by Sara Rai, 2003, Katha, Delhi. (English translations)
  • New Poetry in Hindi (Nayi Kavita): An anthology edited, translated and introduced by Lucy Rosenstein, 2003, Permanent Black, Delhi. (English translations)
  • Cracow Indological Studies Vol. 6, ed. Renata Czekalska, Jagiellonian Univ., Kraków, 2005. (Polish translations, Renata Czekalska & Agnieszka Kuczkiewicz-Fraś)
  • Kunwar Narain, Varco di ombre, a cura di Tullia Baldassarri Höger von Högersthal, edizione Mura, 2006 (Italian translation of selected poems)
  • Ik zag de stad, Moderne Hindi-poëzie, Vertaald en ingeleid door Lodewijk Brunt & Dick Plukker, Stichting India Instituut, Amsterdam, 2006 (Dutch translation)
  • Teaching on India in Central and Eastern Europe, eds. Danuta Stasik & Anna Trynkowska, Warsaw, 2007 (Polish translations by Danuta Stasik)
  • Kunwar Narain, Przez Słowa, Antologia pod redakcją Renaty Czekalskiej i Agnieszki Kuczkiewicz-Fraś, Księgarnia Akademicka, Kraków, 2007 (Polish translation)
  • Kunwar Narain. No Other World: Selected Poems, translated by Apurva Narain, Rupa & Co., India, 2008. (English translation)
  • Kunwar Narajan. Wiersze, w przekładzie Danuty Stasik, DIALOG, Warszawa 2013 (Polish translation)

Positions held

  • Co-editor, Yug-Chetna (1956–61), Naya Prateek (1974–78) and Chhayanat (1976–78)
  • Ex-member, General Council, UP Hindi Sansthan, and Hindi Advisory Board, Government of India
  • Vice-Chairman, UP Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lucknow (1976–78)
  • Chairman, Bhartendu Natya Kendra (Bhartendu Academy of Dramatic Arts), Lucknow (1977–79)
  • Ex-member, Kendriya Audan Samiti, Dept. of Secondary & Higher Education, Central Hindi Directorate, Government of India
  • Founding member, Vimala Devi Foundation, Ayodhya
  • Member, Advisory Board, Central Institute of Hindi, Agra, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India
  • Member, Board of Trustees and Executive Board, National Book Trust of India

Selected international literary activities

  • Visits to Europe, Russia and China; meetings with Nazim Hikmet, Anton Slonimiskie and Pablo Neruda, 1955
  • Seminars & readings at Stockholm, Gothenburg and Lund Universities, Sweden, 1987
  • Lectures on Mythology and Modern Hindi Poetry, Venice University; Poetry readings in the UK, Italy & US, 1994
  • Lectures and poetry readings in Nepal; Stay in Cambridge; Poetry Reading in London, 1998
  • Literary conferences and poetry readings in Warsaw and Jagiellonian Universities, Poland, 1999 and 2001
  • Poetry readings and release of Italian translation of Koee Doosra Naheen at Arenzano (Genova), Italy, 2001
  • Poetry readings and participation in the SAARC conference, Lahore, Pakistan, 2003
  • Guest of Honour at the 50th Anniversary of Hindi studies at the Department of Indian Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland, 2005
  • Poetry readings at the International Festival ‘Mediterranea’ and release of Italian collection of poems, Rome, 2006

References

  1. ^ a b c d e http://in.reuters.com/article/2009/10/07/idINIndia-42972720091007, Hindi poet Kunwar Narayan wins Jnanpith award, 7 October 2009, Miral Fahmy, retrieved 21 March 2011.
  2. ^ "JNANPITH LAUREATES". Bharatyia Jnanpith. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  3. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
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