Dilip Chitre
Encyclopedia
Dilip Purushottam Chitre (17 September 1938 – 10 December 2009) was one of the foremost India
n writers and critics to emerge in the post Independence India
. Apart from being a very important bilingual writer, writing in Marathi
and English
, he was also a painter
and filmmaker.
and Ramesh Samarth. In 1975, he was awarded a visiting fellowship by the International Writing Programme of the University of Iowa
in Iowa City, Iowa
in the United States
. He has also worked as a director of the Indian Poetry Library, archive, and translation centre at Bharat Bhavan
, a multi arts foundation, Bhopal. He also convened a world poetry festival in New Delhi
followed by an international symposium of poets in Bhopal.
(published as Says Tuka). He has also translated Anubhavamrut by the twelfth century bhakti poet Dnyaneshwar
.
Among Chitre’s honours and awards are several Maharashtra State Awards, the Prix Special du Jury for his film Godam at the Festival des Trois Continents at Nantes in France in 1984, the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s Emeritua Fellowship, the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program Fellowship, the Indira Gandhi Fellowship, the Villa Waldberta Fellowship for residence given by the city of Munich, Bavaria, Germany and so forth. He was D.A.A.D. ( German Academic Exchange) Fellow and Writer-in-Residence at the Universities of Heidelberg and Bamberg in Germany in 1991–92. He was Director of Vagarth, Bharat Bhavan Bhopal and the convenor-director of Valmiki World Poetry Festival ( New Delhi,1985) and International Symposium of Poets ( Bhopal, 1985), a Keynote Speaker at the World Poetry Congress in Maebashi, Japan (1996) and at the Ninth International Conference on Maharashtra at Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA in 2001 and Member of the International Jury at the recent Literature festival Berlin, 2001;
He was member of a three-writer delegation ( along with Nirmal Verma
and U. R. Ananthamurthy
) to the Soviet Union (Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia), Hungary, the Federal Republic of Germany and France in the spring and summer of 1980 and to the Frankfurter Buchmesse in Frankfurt, Germany in 1986; he has given readings, lectures, talks, participated in seminars and symposia, and conducted workshops in creative writing and literary translation in Iowa City, Chicago, Tempe, Paris, London, Weimar, Saint Petersburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Konstanz, Heidelberg, Bamberg, Tübingen, Northfield, Saint-Paul/Minneapolis, New Delhi, Bhopal, Mumbai, Kochi, Vadodara, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Pune, Maebashi, and Dhule among other places;
He travelled widely in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America as well as in the interiors of India; been on the visiting faculty of many universities and institutions, a consultant to projects. He was the Honorary President of the Sonthhheimer Cultural Association, of which he was also a Founder-Trustee.
After a long bout with cancer
, Dilip Chitre died at his residence in Pune
on 10 December 2009.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n writers and critics to emerge in the post Independence India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Apart from being a very important bilingual writer, writing in Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, he was also a painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and filmmaker.
Biography
He was born in Baroda on 17 September 1938. His father Purushottam Chitre used to publish a periodical named Abhiruchi which was highly treasured for its high, uncompromising quality. Dilip Chitre's family moved to Mumbai in 1951 and he published his first collection of poems in 1960. He was one of the earliest and the most important influences behind the famous "little magazine movement" of the sixties in Marathi. He started Shabda with Arun KolatkarArun Kolatkar
Arun Balkrishna Kolatkar was a poet from Maharashtra, India. Writing in both Marathi and English, his poems found humor in many everyday matters. His poetry had an influence on modern Marathi poets...
and Ramesh Samarth. In 1975, he was awarded a visiting fellowship by the International Writing Programme of the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He has also worked as a director of the Indian Poetry Library, archive, and translation centre at Bharat Bhavan
Bharat Bhavan
thumb|350px|Bharat Bhavan, [[Bhopal]]Bharat Bhavan is a multi-arts complex without parallel in Bhopal, India housing a museum of the arts, an art gallery, a workshop for fine arts, a repertory theater, indoor and outdoor auditoria, rehearsal room, and libraries of Indian poetry, classical and folk...
, a multi arts foundation, Bhopal. He also convened a world poetry festival in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
followed by an international symposium of poets in Bhopal.
Poetry
His Ekun Kavita or Collected Poems were published in the nineteen nineties in three volumes. Travelling in the Cage is his collection of English poems. He has also edited An Anthology of Marathi Poetry (1945–1965). He is also an accomplished translator and has prolifically translated prose and poetry. His most famous translation is of the celebrated 17th century Marathi bhakti poet TukaramTukaram
Sant Tukaram was a prominent Varkari Sant and spiritual poet during a Bhakti movement in India.Sant Tukaram was born and lived most of his life in Dehu, a town close to Pune in Mahārāshtra, India. He was born to a couple with the family name "More", the descendent of the Mourya Clan with first...
(published as Says Tuka). He has also translated Anubhavamrut by the twelfth century bhakti poet Dnyaneshwar
Dnyaneshwar
Dnyāneshwar , also known as Jñanadeva , was born into a Deshastha Brahmin Kulkarni family.He was a 13th century Maharashtrian Hindu saint , poet, philosopher and yogi of the Nath tradition whose works Bhavartha deepika teeka ,...
.
Films
He started his professional film career in 1969 and has since made one feature film, about a dozen documentary films, several short films in the cinema format, and about twenty video documentary features. He wrote the scripts of most of his films as well as directed or co-directed them. He also scored the music for some of them.Awards and honors
He worked as an honorary editor of the quarterly New Quest, a journal of participative inquiry, Mumbai.Among Chitre’s honours and awards are several Maharashtra State Awards, the Prix Special du Jury for his film Godam at the Festival des Trois Continents at Nantes in France in 1984, the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s Emeritua Fellowship, the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program Fellowship, the Indira Gandhi Fellowship, the Villa Waldberta Fellowship for residence given by the city of Munich, Bavaria, Germany and so forth. He was D.A.A.D. ( German Academic Exchange) Fellow and Writer-in-Residence at the Universities of Heidelberg and Bamberg in Germany in 1991–92. He was Director of Vagarth, Bharat Bhavan Bhopal and the convenor-director of Valmiki World Poetry Festival ( New Delhi,1985) and International Symposium of Poets ( Bhopal, 1985), a Keynote Speaker at the World Poetry Congress in Maebashi, Japan (1996) and at the Ninth International Conference on Maharashtra at Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA in 2001 and Member of the International Jury at the recent Literature festival Berlin, 2001;
He was member of a three-writer delegation ( along with Nirmal Verma
Nirmal Verma
Nirmal Verma was a Hindi writer, novelist, activist and translator. He is credited as being one of pioneers of ‘Nayi Kahani’ literary movement of Hindi literature, wherein his first collection of stories, ‘Parinde’ is considered its first signature.In his career spanning five decades and various...
and U. R. Ananthamurthy
U. R. Ananthamurthy
Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy is a contemporary writer and critic in the Kannada language and is considered as one of the pioneers of the Navya movement. He is well known among Indian authors. He is the sixth person among eight recipients of the Jnanpith Award for the Kannada language, the...
) to the Soviet Union (Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia), Hungary, the Federal Republic of Germany and France in the spring and summer of 1980 and to the Frankfurter Buchmesse in Frankfurt, Germany in 1986; he has given readings, lectures, talks, participated in seminars and symposia, and conducted workshops in creative writing and literary translation in Iowa City, Chicago, Tempe, Paris, London, Weimar, Saint Petersburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Konstanz, Heidelberg, Bamberg, Tübingen, Northfield, Saint-Paul/Minneapolis, New Delhi, Bhopal, Mumbai, Kochi, Vadodara, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Pune, Maebashi, and Dhule among other places;
He travelled widely in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America as well as in the interiors of India; been on the visiting faculty of many universities and institutions, a consultant to projects. He was the Honorary President of the Sonthhheimer Cultural Association, of which he was also a Founder-Trustee.
After a long bout with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, Dilip Chitre died at his residence in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
on 10 December 2009.
In Marathi
- Kavita, Mouj Prakashan, Mumbai, 1960
- Orpheus, Mouj Prakashan, Mumbai,1968; 2nd Ed: Shabdalay Prakashan, Srirampur,2010
- Sheeba Raneechya Shodhaat, Majestic Prakashan, Mumbai,1969
- Kavitenantarchyaa Kavita, Vacha Prakashan, Aurangabad,1978
- Chaavyaa; Pras Prakashan, Mumbai, 1983
- Dahaa By Dahaa, Pras Prakashan, Mumbai, 1983
- Mithu Mithu Porat ani Sutak, Saket Prakashan, Aurangabad,1989
- Tirkas Ani Chaukas, Lok Vangmay Griha, Mumbai;1980;2nd Ed: Shabdalay Prakashan, Srirampur,2010
- Punha Tukaram, S.K.Belvalkar, Pune, 1990; 2nd edition: Popular Prakashan, Mumbai, 1995; 3rd edition:Popular Prakashan, Mumbai, 2001
- Shatakaanchaa Sandhikaal, Lok Vangmay Griha, Mumbai
- Bhau Padhye Yanchyaa Shreshtha Kathaa ( Editor), Lok Vangmay Griha, Mumbai, 1995
- Ekoon Kavita-1, Popular Prakashan, Mumbai, 1992; 2nd edition:1995
- Ekoon Kavita-2, Popular Prakashan; Mumbai;1995
- Ekoon Kavita-3, Popular Prakashan; Mumbai
- Chaturang, Popular Prakashan, Mumbai;1995
- Tukobache Vaikunthagaman,Shabdalay Prakashan, Srirampur,2010
- Agatikanche Jaagatikikaran, Shabdalay Prakashan, Srirampur,2010
- Kavi Kai Kaam Karto(in Gujarati and English translation), Poetrywala, Mumbai,2010
In English
- An Anthology of Marathi Poetry (1945–1965) (Editor), Nirmala-Sadanand, Mumbai, 1968
- Ambulance Ride, Self, Mumbai, 1972
- Travelling In A Cage; Clearing House; Mumbai; 1980
- The Reasoning Vision: Jehangir Sabavala’s Painterly Universe, Introduction and Notes on the paintings by Dilip Chitre
- Tata-McGraw-Hill, New Delhi, 1980
- Says Tuka: Translation of Tukaram, Penguin, 1991
- Tender Ironies: A Tribute To Lothar Lutze (Editor), Manohar, New Delhi, 1994
- Shri Jnandev’s Anubhavamrut: The Immortal Experience of Being, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 1996
- The Mountain, Vijaya Chitre, Pune, 1998
- No-Moon Monday On The River Karha, Vijaya Chitre, Pune, 2000
- Virus Alert: Poems of Hemant DivateHemant DivateHemant Divate is a reputed Marathi poet, translator and publisher based in Mumbai.- Biography :Hemant Divate is an avant-garde poet, a reputed editor, publisher and translator....
,( as translator) Mumbai: Poetrywala, 2003 - Namdeo Dhasal: Poet of the Underground: Poems 1972-2006 (as Translator), Navayana Publishing, Chennai, 2007
- As Is, Where Is: Selected Poems, Poetrywala, Mumbai,2008
- Shesha: Selected Marathi poems in English Translation, Poetrywala, Mumbai, 2008
In Hindi
- Pisati ka Burz: Dileep Chitre ki Chuni Huvi Kavitaayen, translated by Chandrakant Deotale, Rajkamal, New Delhi, 1987
In Gujarati
- Milton-na Mahaakaavyo, translated by Yashwant Dashi and the author, Parichay Pustakavali, Mumbai, 1970
- Kavya Vishva Shreni: Marathi: Dileep Chitre, translated by Jaya Mehta, Gujarat Sahitya Academy, Gandhinagar
In German
- Das Fallen des Banyanbaums, translated by Lothar Lutze, Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, New Delhi, 1980
- BOMBAY/MUMBAI: Bilder einer Mega-Stadt ( with Henning Stegmuller and Namdeo Dhasal) Translated by Lothar Lutze, A-1 Verlag, Munchen
- Worte des Tukaram, Translated by Lothar Lutze, A=1 Verlag, Munchen
- Lotos Blatter 1: Dilip Chitre: Aus dem Englischen und dem Marathi, translated by Lothar Lutze, Proben Indische Poesie:Lotos Verlag Roland Beer; Berlin,2001
Paintings and exhibitions
- 1969, First One Man Show of Oil Paintings; Bombay; India;
- 1975, Triple Triptych; in collaboration with Peter Clarke and Ahmed Muhammad Imamovic; Iowa City, Iowa; USA;
- Participation in group shows in India and the Netherlands;
- Dilip Chitre 63: Mini-Retrospective of Paintings in Pune (1986–2001); Studio S, Pune;2001;
- In the collection of Air-India International, Bombay, India; John Deere Inc. Administrative Centre, Moline, Illinois, USA; Dr. Viktor Ionesescu, Iowa City, USA; Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Yaw, Cedar Rapids, USA; Mr. Peter Clarke, Cape Town, South Africa; Marie Jose Van de Loo and Henning Stegmuller, Munich, Germany; Dr. Lothar Lutze, Berlin, Germany; Frau Petra Matusche, Goethe=Institute, Germany; Vijay Shinde, Pune; Sujit Patwardhan, Pune; Mrs. Statira Wadia, Pune; Jayant Risbud, Pune; Dr. Sameer Kulkarni, Pune; Bhaskar Hande, Den Haag, The Netherlands; Daniel Weissbort, Iowa City, Iowa, USA/ London United Kingdom; Sanat and Kunda Sashital, Los Angeles, USA; Evonna Lee Landwehr, Evanston, Illinois, USA; Milind and Kirti Gupte, Mumbai; Ganesh Vispute and Shruti Tambe, Pune;Sanjeevani Nerkar, N.Y.City, USA; Vasant Ksheersagar, New Jersey, USA; Bhalchandra Nemade, Mumbai; Ashok Shahane, Mumbai; Sphurti and Ashok Patil, Pune; Ananya Parekh, Mumbai; and others.
Filmography and videography
- Vijeta, produced by Filmvalas, Mumbai, Directed by Govind Nihalani; Story and Screenplay
- Godam, produced by the National Film Development Corporation, Mumbai; Screenplay, Direction, and Music
- Ardha Satya, Directed by Govind Nihalani; Theme Poem
- A Tryst With Destiny, produced by S.S. Oberoi; Script and Direction
- Education ’72, produced by S.S. Oberoi; Script and Direction
- A Question of Identity, produced by Y.R.Khandekar; Script, Direction, and Narration
- Dattu, produced by Dnyada Naik; Script and Direction
- Made In India, Producer, Scriptwriter, and Directior, on behalf of the Industrial Design Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Mumbao
- Bombay:Geliebte Moloch, produced by Adanos-Film, gmbh, Munich, Germany; Co-Scriptwriter and C-Director; Videofilms Made For The Archives of Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal (1984–85)
- Shakti Chattopadhyaya: Portrait of the Poet, produced by Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal; Concept, Script, and Direction
- Translating Shakti Chattopadhyaya into English: A discussion with Jyotirmoy Datta and Arvind Krishna Meherotra, Concept and Direction, Produced by Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
- Translating Shakti Chattopadhyaya into Hindi a discussion with Kedar Nath Singh and Prayag Shukla, Concept and Direction
- Shamsher Bahadur Singh: A Portrait of the Poet, Concept and Direction
- Shamsher Bahadur Singh in discussion with Namvar Singh and Ashok Vajpeyi, Concept and Direction, produced by Bharat Bhavan Bhopal
- K.Satchidanandan: A Portrait of the Poet and a discussion by Sudha Gopalakrishnan and Rajendra Dhodapkar, Concept and Direction, produced by Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
- In The Darkness of the Twentieth Century: A discussion featuring Shrikant, Verma, Namvar Singh, and Ashok Vajpeyi, Concept and Direction, produced by Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
- Kunwar Narayan: A Portrait of the Poet, Concept and Direction, produced by Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
- B.C.Sanyal: Memories of Life and Art at 82, Concept and Direction. For Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi
- Narayan Surve: A Poet of The Proliterait (in Marathi,Hindi,and English versions), 2000
Editor
- Shabda (1954–1960), Mumbai
- New Quest (1978–1980), (2001–), Mumbai
Columnist
- Free Press Journal, Mumbai (1959–1960)
- Loksatta, Mumbai
- Dinank, Mumbai
- Ravivar Sakal, Pune
- Quest
- New Quest
- Abhiruchi
Occasional book reviewer/contributor of articles
- The Indian Express
- The Times of India
- Sakaal Times
- Quest
- New Quest
- Granth
- The Illustrated Weekly of India
- Times Weekly
- Biblio
- Gallery
- Kala-Varta
- Sakshatkar
- Poorvagraha
External links
- Chitre Home Page
- Tribute to Chitre at Cerebration.org by Sachin Ketkar
- Chitre's Interview at Rediff.com
- A very Important Article by Chitre on Marathi Poetry
- Dilip Chitre Interview
- Articles on various topics written by Chitre. Many of them unpublished