Vijaydan Detha (1 September 1926 – 10 November 2013), also known as Bijji, was a noted Indian writer of Rajasthani literature.[1] He was a recipient of several awards including the Padma Shri and the Sahitya Akademi Award.[2]
Vijaydan Detha | |
|---|---|
 Vijaydan Detha | |
| Born | 1 September 1926 Borunda, Jodhpur State, British India (now in Rajasthan, India) |
| Died | 10 November 2013 (aged 87) Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India |
| Pen name | Bijji |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | Rajasthani |
| Genre | Satire, folklore |
| Subject | Socialism, Antifeudalism, feminism |
| Notable awards | Padma Shri
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship |
| Spouse | Sayar Kanwar |
| Children | 5 (including Kailash Kabir) |
Detha has more than 800 short stories to his credit, which have been translated into English and other languages. With Komal Kothari, he founded Rupayan Sansthan, an institute that documents Rajasthani folklore, art, and music. His literary works include Bataan ri Phulwari (Garden of Tales), a 14-volume collection of stories that draws on folklore in the spoken dialects of Rajasthan. Many of his stories and novels have been adapted for the stage and the screen: adaptations include Mani Kaul's Duvidha (1973),[3] Habib Tanvir and Shyam Benegal's Charandas Chor (1975),[4] Prakash Jha's Parinati (1986),[5] Amol Palekar's Paheli (2005),[6] Pushpendra Singh's The Honour Keeper (2014),[7] Dedipya Joshii's Kaanchli Life in a Slough[8] (2020), and Pushpendra Singh's Laila aur Satt Geet (2020).[9]
Biography
editDetha said, "My land [Rajasthan] is full of stories, whatever I've written is just a drop of the ocean". Detha, was inspired by Shah Govradhan Lal Kabra to write in Rajasthani "till date I have not written in any other language", he said regarding his love for the language. He portrayed the sufferings of the poor in his writings and was also tipped for the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2011 which ultimately went to Tomas Tranströmer.[10]
Works
editRajasthani
edit- Batan Ri Phulwari, vol. 1–14, 1960–1975, folklores Published by Rajasthani Granthagar, Jodhpur
- Prerana co-edited with Komal Kothari, 1953
- Soratha, 1956–1958
- Parampara , edited three special issues – Folk songs, Gora Hatja, Jethava Ra
- Rajasthani Lokgeet, folk songs of Rajasthan, six volumes, 1958
- Tido Rao, first pocket book in Rajasthani, 1965
- Uljhan,1984, novel
- Alekhun Hitler, 1984, short stories
- Roonkh, 1987
- Kaboo Rani, 1989, children's stories
Hindi
editDue to respect for his mother tongue Rajasthani, Bijji has never written in any other language, most of his works are translated into Hindi by one of his sons Kailash Kabeer.
- Baton Ki Bagiya vol. 1–14, 2019, (Hindi translation of Batan Ri Phulwari) Published by Rajasthani Granthagar, Jodhpur
- Usha, 1946, poetry
- Bapu ke teen hatyare, 1948, critics
- Column in Jwala Weekly, 1949–1952
- Sahitya aur samaj, 1960, essays
- Anokha Ped, illustrated children's stories, 1968
- Phoolwari, Hindi translation by Kailash Kabir, 1992
- Chaudharain Ki Chaturai, short stories, 1996
- Antaral, 1997, short stories
- Sapan Priya, 1997, short stories
- Mero Darad Na Jane Koy, 1997, essays
- Atirikta, 1997, critics
- Mahamilan, novel, 1998
- Priya Mrinal, short stories, 1998
Detha also been credited for editing following works[11]
- Complete work of Ganeshi Lal Vyas for Sahitya Akademi
- Rajasthani-Hindi Kahawat Kosh
Awards and honours
edit- Sahitya Akademi Award for Rajasthani in 1974[11]
- Bhartiya Bhasa Parishad Award in 1992[11]
- Marudhara Puraskar in 1995[11]
- Bihari Puraskar in 2002 [12]
- Sahitya Chudamani Award in 2006[13]
- Padma Shri in 2007[14]
- Rao Siha 2011 by Mehrangarh Museum Trust
- Kavi Kag Award, 2011[15]
- Rajasthan Ratna in 2012
References
edit- ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- ^ Debnath, Sayari (6 May 2023). "'A challenge of translating from Rajasthani is to keep its orality alive in English': Vishes Kothari". Scroll.in. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Film flashback, The ghost in the tree, from 1973". TheGuardian.com. 14 July 2011.
- ^ "Moviebuff".
- ^ "Fate and Greed in Rajasthan A Long Time Ago". 19 April 2019.
- ^ "'Paheli' is a whim of mine, says Shah Rukh". 20 May 2005.
- ^ "A love story out of a folk take about a woman who claims her freedom in timeless Rajasthan". The Hollywood Reporter. 11 February 2014.
- ^ "Kaanchli Life in a Slough movie review: Raw, bold & probing". 7 February 2020.
- ^ "The Whole Idea of borders redundant: Laila aur satt geet director Pushpendra Singh". 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Rajasthan's Vijaydan Detha in race for Nobel Prize". Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ a b c d Who's who of Indian writers 1999
- ^ Bihari K. K. Birla Foundation
- ^ Interview on Tehelka
- ^ Indian National Portal, Govt. of India
- ^ "Books by Vijaydan Detha - Prabhat Prakashan". www.prabhatbooks.com. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
Bibliography
edit- Padmanabhan, Chitra (21 January 2006). "The English Adversary". Tehelka. Archived from the original (asp) on 30 September 2007.
- Dutt, Kartik Chandra (1999). Who's Who of Indian Writers. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 317–318. ISBN 81-260-0873-3.
- "Padma Shri Award". National Portal of India, Govt. of India. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
- "Biodata – Vijaydan Detha". Shree Sabal Woman Teacher's Training College, Borunda, Jodhpur. 15 October 2007. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2007.