Uday Prakash
Encyclopedia
Uday Prakash is an eminent scholar, and a prolific Hindi
poet
, journalist
, translator and short story
writer.
His writing spans fiction, non-fiction, and critically acclaimed films and documentaries. He has worked as an administrator, an editor
, a researcher, and a TV director. Now a free-lance writer, he writes for many major dailies and periodicals and takes part in seminars and reading programmes.
1952, in the "backward
" village of Sitapur, Shahdol
. He grew up there, "where we learnt to write the alphabet on wooden boards with reed quill
s". Orphan
ed as a teenager, he was raised by a teacher.
Prakash took his Master’s degree in Hindi Literature
, receiving a Gold Medal from Saugar University in 1974. From 1975-76 he was a research student at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
; as a passionate communist party
member he was imprisoned (he later lost interest in political ideology.). In 1978 he taught as an Assistant Professor at JNU, and its Imphal
Center for Post Graduate Studies. In 1980 he left academia
, to become Officer-on-Special-Duty with the Madhya Pradesh
Department of Culture
. At the same time, he was Controlling Officer of the Bhopal Rabindra Bhawan, and assistant editor of Poorvagraha, a journal of Hindi literary criticism
. (He was later critical of the Hindi literary establishment including Ashok Vajpeyi, who he worked for at Poorvagraha.)
From 1982-90, Prakash worked in New Delhi
newspapers; first as a subeditor of the Hindi news weekly Dinmaan, and later as Assistant Editor of the Sunday Mail. In 1987 becoming Assistant Professor at the School of Social Journalism (on deputation). In 1990 he joined ITV, (Independent Television), and became head of the PTI
TV Concept and Script Department. Since 1993, he has been a full-time freelance writer (and sometime director - for instance, the Ministry of Agriculture commissioned him to research, write, and direct the 15-episode television documentary
Krishi Katha on Indian agricultural history
, broadcast in 1997).
Prakash was the editor of the monthly English language
magazine "Eminence" (published in Bangalore
) until April 2000.
Prakash won the 2010 Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi for his collection of short stories, Mohan Das.
". His 2006 novella
Mohan Das has been translated into English, seven Indian languages, and adapted
by the author for the "Mohandas" screenplay (2009).
, H. Luis Borges, Paul Éluard
, C.P. Cavafy, Adam Jędrzejewski, and Tadeusz Różewicz
. Some notable examples:
His translation of Milorad Pavić
's novel Landscape painted with tea is forthcoming.
, and complete texts:
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, translator and short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
writer.
His writing spans fiction, non-fiction, and critically acclaimed films and documentaries. He has worked as an administrator, an editor
Editor
The term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
, a researcher, and a TV director. Now a free-lance writer, he writes for many major dailies and periodicals and takes part in seminars and reading programmes.
Biography
Uday Prakash was born on New Year's DayNew Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
1952, in the "backward
Underdevelopment
Underdevelopment is a term often used to refer to economic underdevelopment, symptoms of which include lack of access to job opportunities, health care, drinkable water, food, education and housing...
" village of Sitapur, Shahdol
Anuppur
Anuppur is a town in northeastern Madhya Pradesh state of central India. It is the administrative headquarters of Anuppur District. Previously, it was in Shahdol district. Anuppur Railway station is a very important junction of South east Central Railway which is located between Katni &...
. He grew up there, "where we learnt to write the alphabet on wooden boards with reed quill
Quill
A quill pen is a writing implement made from a flight feather of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen, metal-nibbed pens, the fountain pen, and, eventually, the ballpoint pen...
s". Orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
ed as a teenager, he was raised by a teacher.
Prakash took his Master’s degree in Hindi Literature
Hindi literature
Hindi literature , is broadly divided into four prominent forms or styles, being Bhakti ; Shringar ; Veer-Gatha ; and Adhunik...
, receiving a Gold Medal from Saugar University in 1974. From 1975-76 he was a research student at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
; as a passionate communist party
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
member he was imprisoned (he later lost interest in political ideology.). In 1978 he taught as an Assistant Professor at JNU, and its Imphal
Imphal
Imphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr....
Center for Post Graduate Studies. In 1980 he left academia
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
, to become Officer-on-Special-Duty with the Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
Department of Culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
. At the same time, he was Controlling Officer of the Bhopal Rabindra Bhawan, and assistant editor of Poorvagraha, a journal of Hindi literary criticism
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
. (He was later critical of the Hindi literary establishment including Ashok Vajpeyi, who he worked for at Poorvagraha.)
From 1982-90, Prakash worked 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...
newspapers; first as a subeditor of the Hindi news weekly Dinmaan, and later as Assistant Editor of the Sunday Mail. In 1987 becoming Assistant Professor at the School of Social Journalism (on deputation). In 1990 he joined ITV, (Independent Television), and became head of the PTI
Press Trust of India
Press Trust of India is the largest news agency in India. It is headquartered in Delhi and is a nonprofit cooperative among more than 450 Indian newspapers and has a staff of about 2,000 writers spread across 150 offices nationwide...
TV Concept and Script Department. Since 1993, he has been a full-time freelance writer (and sometime director - for instance, the Ministry of Agriculture commissioned him to research, write, and direct the 15-episode television documentary
Television documentary
Documentary television is a genre of television programming that broadcasts documentaries.* Documentary television series, a television series which is made up of documentary episodes....
Krishi Katha on Indian agricultural history
History of agriculture in India
Indian agriculture began by 9000 BCE as a result of early cultivation of plants, and domestication of crops and animals. Settled life soon followed with implements and techniques being developed for agriculture. Double monsoons led to two harvests being reaped in one year. Indian products soon...
, broadcast in 1997).
Prakash was the editor of the monthly English language
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...
magazine "Eminence" (published in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
) until April 2000.
Prakash won the 2010 Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi for his collection of short stories, Mohan Das.
Published books
Peelee Chhatri Wali Ladki (2001) is Prakash's best known, and longest continuous story. Often called a "novella", Prakash calls it "a long short story" - Cheeni Baba will be his "first novelNovel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
". His 2006 novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
Mohan Das has been translated into English, seven Indian languages, and adapted
Film adaptation
Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work.A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis of a feature film, but film adaptation includes the use of non-fiction , autobiography, comic book, scripture, plays, and even...
by the author for the "Mohandas" screenplay (2009).
Poetry collections
- Suno kārīgara (1980), Abootar Kabootar (1984), Raat Mein Harmonium (1998), EK Bhasha Hua Karati Hai (2009)
Short story collections
He is most famous as a short story writer, with well-known work like Warren Hastings ka Saand, and its stage version by director Arvind Gaur.- Dariyayi Ghoda (1982), Tirichh (1990), Aur Ant Mein Prarthna (1994),
- Paul Gomra Ka Scooter (1997)., Duttatrey Ke Dukh (2002)
- Areba–Pareba (2006), Mangosil (2006)
Non-fiction
- Eeshwar Ki Aankh (critical writings, essays and interviews, 1999)
- Nai Sadi Ka Panch Tantra (Essays, Comments and Criticism, 2008)
- Apani Unaki Baat (Book of InterviewInterviewAn interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
s)
Translations By Uday Prakash
Prakash has translated works by many International poets and writers into Hindi, including Pablo Neruda, Federico García LorcaFederico García Lorca
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads...
, H. Luis Borges, Paul Éluard
Paul Éluard
Paul Éluard, born Eugène Émile Paul Grindel , was a French poet who was one of the founders of the surrealist movement.-Biography:...
, C.P. Cavafy, Adam Jędrzejewski, and Tadeusz Różewicz
Tadeusz Rózewicz
Tadeusz Różewicz is a Polish poet and writer.Różewicz belongs to the first generation born and educated after Poland regained its independence in 1918. His youthful poems were published in 1938...
. Some notable examples:
- Kala Anubhav : An EnglishEnglish languageEnglish 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...
book (Art Experience) on Indian Aesthetics by Prof. Hariyanna (1982). - Amritsar : Indira Gandhi Ki Aakhiri Ladai 1985 (translated from Amritsar: Mrs. Gandhi's Last Battle).
- Romain RollandRomain RollandRomain Rolland was a French dramatist, novelist, essayist, art historian and mystic who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1915.-Biography:...
’s Inde : Two volumes (from FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
) - Lal Ghas Par Neele Ghode: A Russian play by Mikhail Shatrov, 1988. (Converted into a TeleplayTeleplayA teleplay is a television play, a comedy or drama written or adapted for television. The term surfaced during the 1950s with wide usage to distinguish a television plays from stage plays for the theater and screenplays written for films...
) - Ek Purush Dedh Purush : Translated PrasannaPrasannaPrasanna , is an Indian theatre director and playwright from Karnataka. He is one of the pioneers of modern Kannada theatre. He graduated from the National School of Drama . He founded Samudaya and gave a creative direction to Kannada theatre in the 1970's with other activists. Prasanna lives in...
's Kannada languageKannada languageKannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
play for the NSD repertory production, directed by Ram Gopal BajajRam Gopal BajajRam Gopal Bajaj is a noted Indian theatre director, academician, and a Hindi film actor. He has also been a faculty member and a former director of National School of Drama, New Delhi ....
.
His translation of Milorad Pavić
Milorad Pavic (writer)
Milorad Pavić was a Serbian poet, prose writer, translator, and literary historian. He was also a candidate for Nobel Prize in Literature....
's novel Landscape painted with tea is forthcoming.
Translations of Prakash's work
He is read in all Indian Languages, and his translated fiction regularly features in English and German collections, magazinesLiterary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
, and complete texts:
- Rage, Revelry and Romance : Translated by Robert Hueckstedt, 2003
- Der Goldene Gürtel : Translated by Lothar Lutze, 2007
- Short shorts, long shots : Translated by Robert Hueckstedt and Amit Tripurnaini
- The Girl With the Golden Parasol : Translated by Jason Grunebaum, published by Penguin IndiaPenguin BooksPenguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
, 2008. (Grunebaum received a 2005 PEN grantPEN American CenterPEN American Center , founded in 1922 and based in New York City, works to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship. The Center has a membership of 3,300 writers, editors, and translators...
for the translation.). It is available in other languages, including three separate UrduUrduUrdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
translations, and German. - Und am Ende ein Gebet : Prize-winning translation of Aur Ant Mein Prarthana Translated into German (by Andre Penz).
Sahitya Akademi film's on writers
Prakash has produced several films about important Hindi writers (he also writes and directs):- Dharamvir BharatiDharamvir BharatiDr. Dharamvir Bharati was a renowned Hindi poet, author, playwright and a social thinker of India. He was the Chief-Editor of the popular Hindi weekly magazine Dharmayug....
(1999), Vijaydan DethaVijaydan DethaVijaydan Detha also known as Bijji is a noted writer from Rajasthan and a recipient of Padma Shri award. He is also recipient of several other awards such as Sahitya Akademi Award and Sahitya Chudamani Award....
(2000), Bharatendu HarishchandraBharatendu HarishchandraBharatendu Harishchandra is known as the father of modern Hindi literature as well as Hindi theatre. He is considered one of the greatest Hindi writers of modern India. A recognized poet, he was also a trend setter in Hindi prose-writing...
(2008) - Ram Vilas SharmaRam Vilas SharmaRam Vilas Sharma was an eminent progressive literary critic, linguist, poet and thinker. He was born in Unchgaon Sani, Unnao District, Uttar Pradesh....
Documentaries
- Script for a Documentary on the "Punjab problem" Pani Mein Darar (1989).
- Scripted The Professionals, an English-language ITV serial of six episodes, telecast 1990.
- Consultant for a documentary - The Mute Witness about the Mehrana caste tabooTabooA taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
lynchingLynchingLynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
s (for DoordarshanDoorDarshanDoordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
in 1993). - Seunta on the impact of industrialization on tribal people (for the Ministry of Environment and Forests, 1994).
Feature Films and Telesion Serials
- Upranta a Feature Film Screenplay - based on his own short story (1987)
- Directed and ProducedFilm producerA film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
a 10 Films series, based on Vijaydan Detha’s short stories, entitled : Vijji ka Khajana for Prasar BharatiPrasar BharatiPrasar Bharati is India's largest public broadcaster. It is an autonomous body set up by an Act of Parliament and comprises Doordarshan television network and All India Radio which were earlier media units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.Prasar Bharati was...
, 2003. - Screenplay for a 26 Episode ETVETV Network (India)ETV2 is first 24-hour Telugu news channel in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is one of the many channels which telecast news in pure Telugu language....
serial Peelee Chhatri Wali Ladki, adapted from his short story. - Direction, Script, Research 'Krishi-Katha' a 15 episode television serial on history of agriculture in India, for the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, Produced by Cine Internation. Telecast on National Channel, 1997.
- Mohan Das, a Feature Film, Screenplay and Dialog -based on his own novel. Released in 2009, won four International awards.
Stage productions
- Tirich - First show in the direction of PrasannaPrasannaPrasanna , is an Indian theatre director and playwright from Karnataka. He is one of the pioneers of modern Kannada theatre. He graduated from the National School of Drama . He founded Samudaya and gave a creative direction to Kannada theatre in the 1970's with other activists. Prasanna lives in...
- Red Grass on the blue horse (Translation),First show in the direction of PrasannaPrasannaPrasanna , is an Indian theatre director and playwright from Karnataka. He is one of the pioneers of modern Kannada theatre. He graduated from the National School of Drama . He founded Samudaya and gave a creative direction to Kannada theatre in the 1970's with other activists. Prasanna lives in...
- Warren HastingsWarren HastingsWarren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
ka Ssand - first show in the direction of Arvind GaurArvind GaurArvind Gaur , Indian theatre director, is known for his work in innovative, socially and politically relevant theatre. Gaur's plays are contemporary and thought-provoking, connecting intimate personal spheres of existence to larger social political issues...
(2001) by Asmita theatre group. Performed in all major theatre festivals of India,including Bharat Rang Mahotsava (NSD Festival )and India Habitat CentreIndia Habitat CentreThe India Habitat Centre, located in New Delhi, India, was conceived to be a catalyst relationship between individuals and institutions working in habitat related areas to increase their effectiveness...
(more than 120 shows) - Aur ant mai Prathana - first show directed by Arun Pandey.
Awards
- Bharat Bhushan Agrawal Puraskar, 1980.
- ‘Om Prakash Samman’ for the collection of short stories ‘Dariyayi Ghoda’, in 1984.
- “Best author of the year” awarded by Union Bank of India in 1989.
- ‘Shrikant Verma Memorial Award’ for the short stories collections Tirich, in 1990
- ‘Muktibodh Samman’ : a National Award by Madhya Pradesh Sahitya Parishad for Aur Ant Mein Prathna in 1996.
- ‘Sadbhawna Samman’ 1998, for the contribution in the field of journalism by the Organization of Harmony and Fraternity, New Delhi.
- Awarded Senior Fellowship in the field of literature by the Department of Culture,Govt. of India for two years till Oct. 1999.
- ‘Sahityakaar Samman’ : Hindi Akademi (Year 1999)
- Pahal Samman, 2003. A prestigious award for contemporary literary contribution.
- Pushkin Award, 2007.
- Dvijdev Samman, 2008.
- Vanmali Samman, 2008.
- SAARC Literary Award : 2009
- Sahitya Akademi Award, 2010
International Seminars, Readings, Lectures and Tours
- Participated in the International Poetry Festival, Rotterdam, Netherlands, as a poet, 2004.
- 2007: World Hindi Conference, New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
- International Writers Festival, HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, 2007. - Read a paper and participated in the International Literature Seminar on Literature in the Time of Globalization, in South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, 2008. - Delivered a Keynote address in the SAARC Festival of Literature on 13 March 2009 at AgraAgraAgra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
. - Lectured in many German universities, 2009.
- Participated in the International Seminar on ‘What Makes India Urban’, 2009.
External links
- http://uday-prakash.blogspot.com/
- Uday Prakash at Kavita Kosh