JNANPITH AWARD 1960s

Jnanpith Award

Jnanpith Award
Awarded by Bharatiya Jnanpith
Category	Literature (Individual)
Description
Description	Literary award in India
Statistics
Instituted	1961
First awarded	1965
Last awarded	2015
Total awarded	51
First awardee(s)	G. Sankara Kurup
Last awardee(s)	Raghuveer Chaudhari

The Jnanpith Award (also spelled as Gyanpeeth Award) is a literary award in India. Along with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship,^[1] it is one of the two most prestigious literary honours in the country.^[2] The award was instituted in 1961. Eligibility is restricted to any Indian citizen who writes in one of the 22 languages listed in Schedule Eight of the Indian constitution. It is presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, a trust founded by the Sahu Jain family, the publishers of the newspaper The Times of India.

The Award[edit]

The name of the award is taken from Sanskrit words jnāna and pīṭha (knowledge-seat). It carries a cheque for ₹11 lakh, a citation plaque and a bronze replica of Saraswati, the Indian goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts.^[3]

Prior to 1982, the awards were given for a single work by a writer; since then, the award has been given for a lifetime contribution to Indian literature. As of 2014 most Jananpith award winners, ten have been writing in Hindi followed by eight in Kannada, five each in Bengali and Malayalam, four each in Oriya, Urdu and Marathi and three each in Gujaratiand Telugu and two each in Assamese and Tamil.

Starting with the Bengali writer Ashapoorna Devi in 1976, seven women writers have won the award so far. The other recipients include Amrita Pritam (1981, Punjabi), Mahadevi Varma (1982, Hindi), Qurratulain Hyder (1989, Urdu), Mahasweta Devi (1996, Bengali), Indira Goswami (2000, Assamese) and Pratibha Ray (2011, Oriya).

The award announcements have lately been lagging behind the award-years. The awards for the years 2005 and 2006 were announced on 22 November 2008, and were awarded to the Hindi writer Kunwar Narayan for 2005 and jointly to Konkani writer Ravindra Kelekar and Sanskrit scholar Satya Vrat Shastri for 2006.^[4] Satya Vrat Shastri is the first Sanskrit poet to be conferred the award since its inception.^[5] The awards for the 45th and 46th Jnanpith for the years 2009 and 2010 respectively, were announced on 20 September 2011.^[6] The 48th Jnanpith award for the year 2012 was announced on 17 April 2013 and was conferred to Telugu novelist, short-story writer and poet Ravuri Bharadhwaja for his overall contribution to Telugu literature.

Jnanpith Award recipients[edit]

Year	Name	Works	Language	Image
1965	G. Sankara Kurup	Odakkuzhal	Malayalam
1966	Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay	Ganadevta	Bengali
1967	Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa(Kuvempu)	Sri Ramayana Darshanam	Kannada
	Umashankar Joshi	Nishitha	Gujarati
1968	Sumitranandan Pant	Chidambara	Hindi
1969	Firaq Gorakhpuri	Gul-e-Naghma	Urdu
1970	Viswanatha Satyanarayana	Ramayana Kalpavrukshamu (A resourceful tree:Ramayana)	Telugu
1971	Bishnu Dey	Smriti Satta Bhavishyat	Bengali	–
1972	Ramdhari Singh Dinkar	Urvashi	Hindi
1973	Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre	Nakutanti (Four Strings)	Kannada
	Gopinath Mohanty	Matimatal	Oriya
1974	Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar	Yayati	Marathi
1975	P. V. Akilan	Chitttrappavai	Tamil
1976	Ashapoorna Devi	Pratham Pratisruti	Bengali	–
1977	K. Shivaram Karanth	Mookajjiya Kanasugalu (Mookajjis dreams)	Kannada
1978	Sachchidananda Vatsyayan	Kitni Navon Men Kitni Bar (How many times in how many boats?)	Hindi	–
1979	Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya	Mrityunjay (Conquering Death)	Assamese	–
1980	S. K. Pottekkatt	Oru Desathinte Katha (Story of a Land)	Malayalam
1981	Amrita Pritam	Kagaj te Canvas	Punjabi
1982	Mahadevi Varma	Yama	Hindi
1983	Masti Venkatesha Iyengar	Chikkaveera Rajendra (Life and struggle of Kodava King Chikkaveera Rajendra)	Kannada
1984	Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai	Kayar (Coir)	Malayalam
1985	Pannalal Patel	Maanavi Ni Bhavaai	Gujarati
1986	Sachidananda Routray		Oriya	–
1987	Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar(Kusumagraj)	For his contributions to Marathi literature	Marathi
1988	C. Narayana Reddy	Viswambhara	Telugu
1989	Qurratulain Hyder	Akhire Shab Ke Humsafar	Urdu
1990	V. K. Gokak(Vinayaka Krishna Gokak)	Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi	Kannada
1991	Subhas Mukhopadhyay	Padatik (The Foot Soldier)	Bengali
1992	Naresh Mehta		Hindi	–
1993	Sitakant Mahapatra	For outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Indian literature, 1973–92	Oriya
1994	U. R. Ananthamurthy	For his contributions to Kannada literature	Kannada
1995	M. T. Vasudevan Nair	Randamoozham	Malayalam
1996	Mahasweta Devi	Hajar Churashir Maa	Bengali	–
1997	Ali Sardar Jafri		Urdu	–
1998	Girish Karnad[2]	For his contributions to Kannada literature and for contributions to Kannada theatre (Yayati)	Kannada
1999	Nirmal Verma		Hindi
	Gurdial Singh		Punjabi	–
2000	Indira Goswami	Datal Hatir Unye Khuwa Howdah (The Termite Eaten Howdah of the Tusker)	Assamese
2001	Rajendra Shah	Dhwani	Gujarati
2002	D. Jayakanthan	Novels: Oru Manidhan Oru Vidu Oru Ulakam (A Man, a Home and a World), Oru Nadikai Nadakam Parkkiral (Actress watches the Act), Parisukkup Po (Go to Paris), Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (Certain people at certain times). More than 200 short stories. Non fiction: Oru Ilakkiyavaathiyin Arasiyal Anubhavangal (A Literary Man's Political Experiences), Oru Ilakkiyavaathiyin Aanmeega Anubhavangal (A Literary Man's Spiritual Experiences)	Tamil
2003	Vinda Karandikar	For his contributions to Marathi literature	Marathi	–
2004	Rehman Rahi[7]	Subhuk Soda, Kalami Rahi and Siyah Rode Jaren Manz	Kashmiri	–
2005	Kunwar Narayan[4]		Hindi	–
2006	Ravindra Kelekar[4]		Konkani	–
	Satya Vrat Shastri[5][8]		Sanskrit
2007	O. N. V. Kurup[9]	For his contributions to Malayalam literature	Malayalam
2008	Akhlaq Mohammed Khan 'Shahryar'[9]		Urdu	–
2009	Amar Kant[10]		Hindi	–
	Lal Shukla[11]		Hindi	–
2010	Chandrashekhara Kambara[11]	For his contributions to Kannada literature	Kannada
2011	Pratibha Ray[12]	Yajnaseni	Oriya
2012	Ravuri Bharadhwaja[13]	Paakudurallu	Telugu
2013	Kedarnath Singh[14]	Akaal Mein Saras	Hindi
2014	Bhalchandra Nemade	Hindu: Jagnyachi Samrudhha Adgal	Marathi
2015	Raghuveer Chaudhari[15][16]	For his contributions to Gujarati literature	Gujarati

1965:

G. Sankara Kurup

G. Sankara Kurup
Drawing of G. Shankarakurup
Born	June 3, 1901 Nayathode, Kingdom of Cochin
Died	February 2, 1978 (aged 76) Vappalassery, Angamaly,Ernakulam, Kerala
Occupation	Teacher, Poet, Essayist, Translator, Lyricist, Member of Indian Parliament
Notable works	Odakkuzhal (1950)

G. Sankara Kurup, ( Malayalam: ജി.ശങ്കരകുറുപ്പ്, born June 3, 1901, Nayathode, Kingdom of Cochin (now in Ernakulam district,Kerala) - February 2, 1978, Vappalassery, Angamaly, Ernakulam district, Kerala), better known as Mahakavi G (The Great Poet G), was the first winner of the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary award.^[1][2] He won the prize in 1965 for his collection of poems inMalayalam Odakkuzhal (The bamboo flute, 1950). With part of the prize money he established the literary award Odakkuzhal in 1968. He was also the recipient of the Soviet Land Nehru Award, in 1967, and the Padma Bhushan in 1968.^[3] His poetry collectionViswadarshanam won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1961 and Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 1963.

After completing his education, Kurup worked as the Malayalam teacher in a secondary school in Thiruvillwamala in 1921. Later he became a teacher in the Government Secondary Teacher Training Institute near Trichur. He worked as the Malayalam Pandit in Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, and retired as Professor of Malayalam from the College in 1956.

Kurup published his first poem, called Salutation to Nature in 1918, while still a student. Apart from 25 collections of poetry, Kurup also wrote verse dramas and collections of literary essays—in all about 40 works in Malayalam. He also translated the Rubáiyát(1932) of Omar Khayyám, the Sanskrit poem Meghaduta (1944) of Kalidas, and the collection of poems Gitanjali (1959) ofRabindranath Tagore into Malayalam. Indeed, one often speaks of the influence of Tagore and Gandhi on the humanism and nationalism of Kurup. He has also been described as a “bard of science” who explores the role of science in achieving the human potential.

He also penned the lyrics for P.J.Cherian’s Nirmala, (1948), the first Malayalam film to incorporate music and songs. Kurup also led an active public life as a member (1968–72) of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament.

Sankara Warrier was his father and Vadakkani Lakshmikutty Amma was his mother. G's uncle was a good Sanskrit scholar and astrologer, who had a significant influence in shaping his literary life. In 1931 G married Subhadra Amma from an ancient Nair family - Purathu Veedu in Thiruvanchikulam, capital of the old Chera empire.

Works[edit]

Poetry

• Suryakaanthi (Sunflower) (1933)
• Nimisham (The Moment) (1945)
• Odakkuzhal (Flute) (1950)
• Padhikante Paattu (The Traveler's Song) (1955)
• Vishwadarshanam (The Sight of the Universe) (1960)
• Moonnaruviyum Oru Puzhayum (Three Streams and a River) (1963)
• Jeevana Sangeetham (The Music of Life) (1964)
• Sahithya Kauthukam (The Sweetness of Literature), in 3 Volumes (1968)
• Ente Veil

- Perunthachan

Essays

• Gadhyopahaaram (Honouring with Prose) (1947)
• Mutthum Chippiyum (Pearl and Oyster) (1958)
• Ormayude Olangalil (In the Waves of Memory) (1978)

1966:

Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay

Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay তারাশঙ্কর বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়
Born	23 July 1898 Labhpur, Birbhum district,Bengal, British India
Died	14 September 1971 Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Occupation	Novelist
Notable awards	Rabindra Puraskar Sahitya Akademi Jnanpith Award Padma Bhushan

Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay (Bengali: তারাশঙ্কর বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়) (23 July 1898^[1] – 14 September 1971) was one of the leading Bengali novelists. He wrote 65 novels, 53-story-books, 12 plays, 4 essay-books, 4 autobiographies and 2 travel stories. A notable man of wisdom, he was awarded Rabindra Puraskar, Sahitya Akademi Award, Jnanpith Award, and Padma Bhushan.

Biography[edit]

Bandyopadhyay was born at his ancestral home at Labhpur village in Birbhum district, Bengal Province, British India (nowPaschimbanga, India) to Haridas Bandyopadhyay and Prabhabati Devi. He passed the Matriculation examination from Labhpur Jadablal H. E. School in 1916 and was later admitted first to St. Xavier's College, Calcutta and then to South Suburban College (now Asutosh College). While studying in intermediate at St. Xavier's College, he joined thenon-co-operation movement. He could not complete his university course due to ill health and political activism.^[2]

He was arrested in 1930 for actively supporting the Indian independence movement, but released later that year. After that he decided to devote himself to literature.^[3] In 1932, he met Rabindranath Tagore at Santiniketan for the first time. His first novel Chaitali Ghurni was published on the same year.^[2]

In 1940, he rented a house at Bagbazar and brought his family to Calcutta. In 1941, he moved to Baranagar. In 1942, he presided over the Birbhum District Literature Conference and became the president of the Anti-Fascist Writers and Artists Association in Bengal. In 1944, he presided over the Kanpur Bengali Literature Conference arranged by the non-resident Bengalis living there. In 1947, he inaugurated Prabasi Banga Sahitya Sammelan held in Calcutta; presided over the Silver Jubilee Prabasi Banga Sahitya Sammelan in Bombay; and received Sarat Memorial Medal from the University of Calcutta. In 1948, he moved to his own house at Tala Park, Calcutta.^[2]

In 1952, he was nominated to be a member of the legislative assembly. In 1954, he took Diksha from his mother. In 1955, he was awarded the Rabindra Puraskar by theGovernment of West Bengal. In 1956, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award. In 1957, he visited China at an invitation from the Chinese Government. In the next year he visitedSoviet Union to join the preparatory committee of the Afro-Asian Writers' Association and later went to Tashkent as the leader of the Indian Writers delegation at the Afro-Asian Writers' Association.^[2]

In 1959, he received the Jagattarini Gold Medal from the University of Calcutta, and presided over All India Writer's Conference in Madras. In 1960, he retired from the West Bengal Legislative Assembly but was nominated to the Parliament by the President of India. In 1962, he received Padma Shri; but the death of his son-in-law broke his heart and to keep himself diverted he took to painting and making wooden toys. In 1963, he received Sisirkumar Award. In 1966, he retired from the Parliament and presided over Nagpur Bengali Literature Conference. In 1966, he won the Jnanpith Award and in 1969, he received Padma Bhushan and was honoured with the title of Doctor of Literature by the University of Calcutta and the Jadavpur University. In 1969, he was given the fellowship of Sahitya Akademi, and became the president of Vangiya Sahitya Parishad. In 1971, he gave the Nripendrachandra Memorial Lecture at Visva-Bharati University and D. L. Roy Memorial Lecture at the University of Calcutta.^[2]

Bandyopadhyay died at his Calcutta residence early in the morning on 14 September 1971. His last rites were performed at the Nimtala Cremation Ground, North Calcutta.^[2]

Marriage and children[edit]

Bandyopadhyay was married to Umashashi Devi in 1916. Their eldest son Sanatkumar Bandyopadhyay was born in 1918; the youngest son Saritkumar Bandyopadhyay was born in 1922; the eldest daughter Ganga was born in 1924; the second daughter Bulu was born in 1926 but died in 1932; the youngest daughter Bani was born in 1932.^[2]

Literary career[edit]

Literary achievements[edit]

The realism in Literature is well substituted when the writers indulge in introducing romance in it. Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay is grouped with those writers of the third decades of the twentieth centuries who broke the poetic tradition in novels but took to writing prose with the world around them adding romance to human relationship breaking the indifference of the so-called conservative people of the society who dare to call a spade a spade. Tarasankar's novels, so to say, do not look back to the realism in rejection, but accepted it in a new way allowing the reader to breathe the truth of human relationship restricted so far by the conservative and hypocrisy of the then society.

He learned to see the world from various angles. He seldom rose above the matter soil and his Birbhum exists only in time and place. He had never been a worshipper of eternity. Tarasankar's chief contribution to Bengal literature is that he dared writing unbiased. He wrote what he believed. He wrote what he observed.

His novels are rich in material and potentials. He preferred sensation to thought. He was ceaselessly productive and his novels are long, seemed unending and characters belonged to the various classes of people from zaminder down to pauper. Tarasankar experimented in his novels with the relationships, even so called illegal, of either sexes. He proved that sexual relation between man and women sometimes dominate to such an extent that it can take an upperhand over the prevailing laws and instructions of society. His novel 'Radha' can be set for an example in this context.

His historical novel Ganna Begum is an attempt worth mentioning for its traditional values. Tarasankar ventured into all walks of Bengali life and its experience with the happenings of socio-political milieu. Tarasankar will be remembered for his potential to work with the vast panorama of life where life is observed with care and the judgment is offered to the reader. and long ones, then any other author. He is a region novelist, his country being the same Birbhum.

Awards[edit]

In 1957, he led the Indian delegation of writers at the Asian Writers' Conference in Tashkent. For his novel Arogya Niketan, he received the Rabindra Puraskar in 1955 and theSahitya Akademi Award in 1956. In 1966, he received the Jnanpith Award for his novel Ganadebata.^[4] He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1962 and the Padma Bhushan in 1969.^[5] He also received the Sharat Smriti Puraskar and the Jagattarini Gold Medal from the Calcutta University. In 1970, he was elected the president of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. He was a member of the West Bengal Vidhan Parishad between 1952–60 and the Rajya Sabha between 1960–66.

Bibliography[edit]

Tarasankar mainly flourished during the war years, having produced in that period a large number of novels and short stories. Most of his early short stories were published in periodicals Bangasri and Prabasi. Sukumar Sen observed:^[6]

Banerji is happiest in his regional stories and novels. He knows quite well the men and the nature of the part of the country he belongs to (Birbhum district in West Bengal), and his stories are always interesting.

Poetry[edit]

• Tripatra (1926)

1967:

Kuvempu

Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa , ಕುಪ್ಪಳ್ಳಿ ವೆಂಕಟಪ್ಪ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ
Born	29 December 1904 Hirekodige village, [Koppa taluk], Chikkamagaluru District,Kingdom of Mysore
Died	11 November 1994 (aged 89) Mysore, Karnataka, India
Pen name	Kuvempu
Occupation	Poet, Playwright, Novelist, Critic, Thinker, Professor
Nationality	India
Genre	Fiction, poetry, drama, essays
Literary movement	Navodaya
Notable awards	● Padma Vibhushan (1988) ● Padma Bhushan (1958) ● Jnanpith Award (1967) ● Karnataka Ratna (1992)
Signature

Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa (Kannada: ಕುಪ್ಪಳಿ ವೆಂಕಟಪ್ಪ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ ; 29 December 1904 – 11 November 1994),^[1] popularly known by the pen name Kuvempu (ಕುವೆಂಪು) or by K. V. Puttappa, was a Kannada novelist, poet, playwright, critic and thinker. He is widely regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century. He is the first among Kannada writers to be decorated with the prestigious Jnanpith Award.^[2]

For his contributions to Kannada literature, the Government of Karnataka decorated him with the honorificRashtrakavi[disambiguation needed] ("national poet") in 1958 and Karnataka Ratna ("Gem of Karnataka") in 1992. His epic narrative Sri Ramayana Darshanam, a modern rendering of the Indian Hindu epic Ramayana is regarded as the revival of the era of Mahakavya("Great Epic poetry") in contemporary form and charm. His writings and his contribution to "Universal Humanism" (in his own words, "Vishwa maanavataa Vaada") gives him a unique place in modern Indian literature. He was conferred the Padma Vibhushan by Government of India in 1988. He penned the Karnataka State anthem Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate.

Biography[edit]

Early life, education and family[edit]

Kuvempu's ancestral house in Kuppali

Kuvempu was born in Hirekodige in Koppa taluk of the Chikmagalur district, Karnataka, to a Vokkaliga Kannada family. His father was Venkatappa Gowda from Kuppali and mother Seethamma from Hirekodige, a nearby village. He grew up in the lush Malenadu region of Tirthahalli, called Kuppali in Shivamogga district. Early in his childhood, he was home schooled by an appointed teacher fromDakshina Kannada district. He joined the Anglo Vernacular school in Tirthahalli to continue his middle school education. Kuvempu's father died when he was only twelve. He finished his lower and secondary education in Kannada and English languages in Thirthahalli and moved to Mysore for further education at the Wesleyan high school. Thereafter, he pursued college studies at theMaharaja College of Mysore and graduated in 1929, majoring in Kannada. He married Hemavathi on 30 April 1937. He was forced to enter marital life on advice of this faculty at Ramakrishna Mission.

Kuvempu has two sons, K P Poornachandra Tejaswi, Kokilodaya Chaitra, and two daughters, Indukala and Tharini. Tharini is married to K. Chidananda Gowda, the former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University. His home in Mysore is called Udayaravi ("Rising Sun"). His son Poornachandra Tejaswi was a polymath, contributing significantly to Kannada literature, photography, calligraphy, digital imaging, social movements, and agriculture.

Quotes[edit]

• Chakracharanake swagatha – "Welcome to wheel footed" when he bought his first car
• Uluva Yogi ("tilling Yogi") is the title he gave the farmer
• Sarvarige samapaalu, sarvarige samabaalu ("Equal share for all, Equal life for all", when he and called for egalitarian society).
• O nanna chetana, Agu nee aniketana ("Be unhoused O my soul, only the infinite is your goal").

Career[edit]

Kuvempu began his academic career as a lecturer of Kannada language at the Maharajas College in Mysore in 1929. He worked as an assistant professor in the Central college,Bangalore from 1936. He re-joined Maharajas college in Mysore in 1946 as a professor. (group photo) He went on to become the principal of the Maharajas college in 1955. In 1956 he was selected as the Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University where he served till retirement in 1960. He was the first graduate from Mysore University to rise to that position.^[3]

Works and message[edit]

Kuvempu's house "Udayaravi" in Mysore

Kuvempu's memorial in Kavishaila,Kuppali

Kuvempu started his literary work in English, with a collection of poetry called Beginner's Muse but later switched to his native Kannada. He spearheaded the movement to make Kannada the medium for education, emphasizing the theme "Education in the Mother tongue". To cater to the needs of Kannada research, he founded the Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe ("Institute of Kannada Studies") in the Mysore University, which has since been renamed after him as "Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies". As Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University, he pioneered the study of sciences and languages. He championed the publishing of Knowledge for the laymen with by G. Hanumanta Rao.

Kuvempu was more than a writer for his life was in itself a 'great message'. He was against casteism, meaningless practices and religious ritual. Kuvempu's writings reflect his resentment against these practices. The Shoodra Tapaswi ("untouchable saint") was one such writing. Kuvempu who was from the Vokkaliga community gave a perspective to the ancient epic Ramayana that was quite unlike the portrayal of the characters by the original author Valmiki. Kuvempu's version of the epic called Sri Ramayana Darshanamwon him the prestigious Jnanpith Award. His epic underscores his vision of Sarvodaya ("upliftment of all"). The protogonist of his epic, the Hindu god Rama, personifies this when he tests himself along with his consort Sita by jumping into the fire.

The speech he made during the convocation ceremony of Bangalore University was published in the book Vichaarakranthige Aahwaana. It calls for a re-assessment of developmental policies. Though it was delivered in 1974, the message is still considered relevant to modern society. In the year 1987, The Government of Karnataka started the Kuvempu University in the Shimoga district, Karnataka. The university is located in the Jnana Sahyadri campus, 28 km from Shimoga city.

Kavimane - Kuvempu Memorial[edit]

The childhood home of Kuvempu at Kuppali has been converted into a museum by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Pratishtana (a trust dedicated to Kuvempu). This trust has undertaken immense developmental works in Kuppali to showcase Kuvempu and his works to the external world.^[4] On November 23, 2015 night, many valuables including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards conferred on poet laureate Kuvempu were stolen from Kavimane.^[5][6][7]

The entire museum has been ransacked. The surveillance cameras there have also been damaged. Interestingly the Jnanapith award kept there has remained intact.

Kavishaila The gradually rising hill south of the house is named Kavishaila, Kuvempu's mortal remains were placed at Kavishaila.^[4]

Awards[edit]

• Karnataka Ratna (1992)^[8]
• Padma Vibhushan (1988)^[9]
• Pampa Award (1987)^[8]
• Jnanpith Award (1967)^[10]
• Rashtrakavi ("National Poet") (1964)^[8]
• Padma Bhushan (1958)^[9]
• Sahitya Akademi Award (1955)^[8]

Bibliography[edit]

Novels

• Kaanuru Heggadati (1936)
• Malegalalli madumagalu (1967)

Epic (Mahakavya)

• Sri Ramayana Darshanam - Volume-1 (1949), Volume-2 (1957)

Collection of poems

• Kolalu (1930)
• Panchajanya (1936)
• Navillu (1937)
• Kindarijogi Mattu Itara Kavanagalu (1938)
• Kogile Mattu Soviet Russia (1944)
• Shoodra Tapaswi (1946)
• Kinkini (1946)
• Agnihamsa (1946)
• Prema Kashmira (1946)
• Chandramanchake Baa Chakori (1954)
• Ikshugangotri (1957)
• Kabbigana kaibutti
• Pakshikaashi
• Jenaaguvaa
• Kutichaka
• Kadiradake
• Kathana Kavanagalu
• Manthrakshathe
• Valmikiya Bhagya
• Honna Hottare
• Aniketana

Plays

• Birugaali (1930)
• Maharatri (1931)
• Smashana Kurushethrum Mattu Maharatri (1931)
• Jalagaara (1931)
• Raktaakshi(1932)
• Shoodra Tapaswi (1944)
• Beralge koral (1947)
• Yamana solu
• Chandrahasa
• Balidaana
• Chitrangada
• Drowpadiya Shreemudi
• Amalana Kathe
• Mantramangalya
• Kuvempu Avara Mooru Natakagalu
• Jalagara Mattu Shudratapasvi

Autobiography

• Nenapina Doniyali (vol 1-2, 1980)

Collection of stories

• Malenaadina Chitragalu (1933)
• Sanyaasi Mattu Itare Kategalu (1937)
• Nanna Devaru Mattu Itara Kategalu (1940)

Literary criticism

• Atmashreegagi Nirankushamatigalagi (1944)
• Kavyavihara (1946)
• Taponandana (1951)
• Vibhuthi Pooje (1953)
• Draupadiya Shrimudi (1960)
• Vicharakrantige Ahvana (1976)
• Sahityaprachara
• Kruttike
• Ithyadi

Essay and Other

• Raso Why Saha
• Kogile Mattu Soviet Russia
• Koneya Tene Mattu Viswamanava Sandesha
• Manujamatha Viswapatha
• Anuthara
• Preta Que
• Shodashi
• Kalasundari
• Kavya Vihara
• Haluru
• Kanina
• Panchajanya
• Pakshikashi
• Shasti Namana

Biography

• Swami Vivekananda(1932)
• Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1934)

Religion

• Guruvinodane Devaredege
• Janapriya Valmiki Ramayana

Stories and poems for children

• Bommanahalliya kindarijogi(1936)
• Mari vijnani(1947)
• Meghapura (1947)
• Nanna mane (1947)
• Nanna gopala
• Amalana kathe
• Sahasa pavana
• Modannana Tamma
• Narigaligeke Kodilla

Kuvempu's works in visual media[edit]

Movies

• Kanooru Heggadithi - directed by Girish Karnad.

Biographies on Kuvempu[edit]

• Annana Nenapu, Poornachandra Tejaswi
• Yugada Kavi, K.C. Shiva Reddy
• Kuvempu, Pradhan Gurudatta
• Magalu Kanda Kuvempu, Tharini Chidananda,

Umashankar Joshi

Umashankar Joshi
Portrait of Umashankar Joshi
Born	21 July 1911 Bamna, Sabarkantha, Gujarat
Died	19 December 1988 (aged 77) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Poet, novelist
Nationality	India

Umashankar Jethalal Joshi (Gujarati: ઉમાશંકર જોશી) (21 July 1911 – 19 December 1988) was an eminent poet, scholar and writer. He received the Jnanpith Award in 1967 for his contribution to Indian, especially Gujarati literature.^[1]

Biography[edit]

Origin[edit]

Umashankar Joshi was born in small village named Bamna, taluka Bhiloda in District of Sabarkantha of Gujarat. He was Brahmin from the caste named Trivedi Mewada Brahmin Barishi. His father, Jethalal Kamalji was a Karbhari in small jagirs. His Mother was Navalbai. He had eight siblings: six brothers and two sisters.^[2] Umashankar Joshi received inspiration for creative writing from the beautiful surroundings of the hilly region and the social life of the villages and fairs and festivals held there.^[3]

Education[edit]

He started his education at Primary school, Bamna in 1916. In 1921, he passed standard fourth in Idar school and continued his education till 1927 at Idar's Pratap High school; which was an Anglo-vernacular school. In 1927, he did matriculation from Proprietary High school, Ahmedabad. In 1928, he took Admission in Gujarat College, Ahmedabad and continued his education there till 1930. Then he took admission in Elphinstone College, Mumbai for BA. and there he was graduated with second division in Economics and History. After that, he got MA with first division in Gujarati and Sanskrit from Mumbai University.^[2]

Activism and Freedom Struggle[edit]

He joined the freedom struggle led by Gandhi and gained an understanding of history.^[3] In 1929, he started his struggle by participating in the 34-day strike called by the students of Gujarat College which began in January that year. In 1930, he took active part in the Freedom Struggle and joined Viramgam Camp as a satyagrahi from early April. After that, he was imprisoned for fourteen weeks, starting from November 1930 in Sabarmati jail and tent-jail at Yerwada till 1931. Then in 1931, he attended National Conference ofCongress at Karachi and stayed at Gujarat Vidyapith from July for six months. He was Imprisoned for the second time for eight months, at Sabarmati and Visapur jails in 1932.^[2]

Academic career[edit]

In 1937, he started his career as Teacher at Goklibai High School in Vile Parle, Mumbai. Then, after his graduation in MA, he became a part-time lecturer at Sydenham College of Commerce, Mumbai – till 1939. After that, he was appointed as professor in post graduate research studies department, at Gujarat Vernacular Society (Gujarat Vidyasabha). He worked there till 1946 when he took voluntary retirement. Then, in 1948, he was appointed by Mumbai Government on the Gujarati Textbook Committee. In 1953, he served as a visiting faculty at Lokbharti Shikshan Sanstha which was an educational institution in Sanosara, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat. In June 1954, he was appointed as professor of Gujarati Literature at Gujarat University. He was also appointed head of School of languages in that university. In 1956, he toured America and England as a member of a committee sent by the Indian Government to study the activities of 'General Education' in American and some British Universities. In 1964, he became a member of a committee appointed by the Government of Gujarat for establishment of South Gujarat and Saurashtra Universities. From 30 November 1966: he was Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University. On 17 November 1972: he retired from that post.^[2]

Personal life[edit]

His Father died in 1934. On 25 May 1937, he married to Jyotsna N. Joshi in Ahmedabad. He had two daughters: Nandini and Svati. In 1957, he shifted to his new residence 'Setu', which was at Sardar Patel Nagar, Ahmedabad. His Mother died in 1966.^[2]

Death[edit]

In 1988, he was admitted for lung cancer in Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. He died on 19 December 1988 at the age of 77.^[2]

Works[edit]

Nishith ( નિશિથ ) – The God of Midnight (collection of poems)His works include:^[4]

• Gangotri ( ગંગોત્રી )
• Vishwashanti ( વિશ્વશાંતિ ) – World Peace
• Mahaprasthan ( મહાપ્રસ્થાન ) – Great Departure
• Abhigna ( અભિજ્ઞ ) – Recognition.
• Sanskruti' – Editor of the magazine
• Visamo – collection of stories
• Haveli – collection of dramas
• Shravani melo – collection of stories
• Akho ek Adhyayan
• "Shakuntal"- translation of Abhigyan Shakuntal of Kalidas
• "Uttar Ramcharit"- translation of Uttar Ramcharit of Bhavbhooti
• "Ishavaya Upanishad"- translation and commentary in Gujarati.

Awards[edit]

• Jnanpith Award – 1968 for "Nishith" – collection of his poems^[5]
• Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak – 1939^[5]
• Narmad Suvarna Chandrak – 1947^[5]
• Soviet Land Nehru Award – 1973^[5]
• Delhi Sahirya Academy Award^[5]

Positions held[edit]

• President – Sahitya Akademi (1978–1982)
• Vice-Chancellor – Gujarat University (1970)
• Member – Rajyasabha, Upper House of the Indian Parliament

1968:

Sumitranandan Pant

Sumitranandan Pant
Born	Sumitra Nandan Pant May 20, 1900 Kausani village, Almora District, Uttarakhand, India.
Died	December 28, 1977 (aged 77) Rajahmundry, A.P, India.
Pen name	Poems =Nari,bharatmata gramvasani,mai sabse chote hu
Occupation	Writer, poet
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	Indian
Education	Hindi Literature
Subject	Sanskrit
Notable awards	Padma Bhushan (1961) Jnanpith Award Nehru Peace Prize

Sumitranandan Pant (May 20, 1900 - December 28, 1977) was born in Kausani village, Almora District, Uttarakhand, was one of the most famous modern Hindi poets. He is considered one of the major poets of the Chhayavaadi school of Hindi literature. Pant mostly wrote in Sanskritized Hindi. Pant authored twenty-eight published works including poetry, verse plays and essays.

Apart from Chhayavaadi poems, Pant also wrote progressive, philosophical (influenced by Sri Aurobindo), socialist and humanist poems.^[1]

Pant was the first Hindi poet to receive the Jnanpith Award, in 1968. He did so for a collection of his most famous poems, titledChidambara.^[2] He was awarded the Nehru Peace Prize by the Soviet Union for Lokayatan. Pant received "Sahitya Kala Academy" award for "Kala Aur Budhdha Chand". The Indian Government honored him with Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.^[3]

Pant's childhood house, in Kausani, has been converted into a museum. This museum displays his daily use articles, drafts of his poems, letters, his awards, etc.

Sumitra Nandan Pant composed the Kulgeet of IIT Roorkee, "Jayati Jayati Vidya Sansthan". He died on December 28, 1977, at Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh, India.

1969:

Firaq Gorakhpuri

Firaq Gorakhpuri
Born	Raghupati Sahay 28 August 1896 Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Died	3 March 1982 (aged 85) New Delhi, India
Pen name	Firaq Gorakhpuri
Occupation	Poet, writer, critic, scholar,lecturer, orator
Language	Urdu, English, Hindi
Nationality	Indian
Education	M.A. in English literature
Alma mater	Allahabad University
Genre	Poetry, Literary criticism
Notable works	Gul-e-Naghma
Notable awards	Padma Bhushan (1968) Jnanpith Award (1969) Sahitya Akademi Fellowship(1970)
Signature

Raghupati Sahay (28 August 1896 – 3 March 1982), better known under his pen name Firaq Gorakhpuri (Urdu: فراق گورکھپوری,Hindi: फ़िराक़ गोरखपुरी), was a writer, critic, and, according to one commentator, one of the most noted contemporary Urdu poetsfrom India.^[1] He established himself among peers including Muhammad Iqbal, Yagana Changezi, Jigar Moradabadi and Josh Malihabadi.^[2][3]

Career[edit]

He was selected for the Provincial Civil Service (P.C.S.) and the Indian Civil Service (I.C.S.), but he resigned to follow Mahatma Gandhi's Non-cooperation movement, for which he went to jail. Later, he joined Allahabad University as a lecturer in English literature. It was there that he wrote most of his Urdu poetry, including his magnum opus Gul-e-Naghma which earned him the highest literary award of India, the Jnanpith Award, and also the 1960 Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu. During his life, he was given the positions of Research Professor at the University Grants Commission and Producer Emeritus by All India Radio. After a long illness, he died on 3 March 1982, in New Delhi.

As a distinguished poet, Firaq Gorakhpuri was well-versed in all traditional metrical forms such as ghazal, nazm, rubaai and qat'aa. He was a prolific writer, having written more than a dozen volumes of Urdu poetry, a half dozen of Urdu prose, several volumes on literary themes in Hindi, as well as four volumes of English prose on literary and cultural subjects.

His biography, Firaq Gorakhpuri: The Poet of Pain & Ecstasy, written by his nephew Ajai Mansingh will be published by Roli Books in 2015.^[4] The book included anecdotes from his life and translations of some of his best work.

Selected works[edit]

• Gul-e-Naghma
• Gul-e-Ra'naa
• Mash'aal
• Rooh-e-Kaayenaat
• Roop (Rubaayi)
• Shabistaan
• Sargam
• Bazm-e-Zindagi Rang-e-Shayri

Awards[edit]

• 1960 – Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu
• 1968 – Padma Bhushan^[5]
• 1968 – Soviet Land Nehru Award
• 1969 – Jnanpith Award (First Jnanpith Award for Urdu literature)^[6]
• 1970 – Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
• 1981 – Ghalib Academy Award