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Ganesh Narayandas Devy | |
|---|---|
 Devy in 2025 | |
| Born | (1950-08-01)1 August 1950 (age 75) |
| Occupation | Critic, thinker, editor, educator, cultural activist |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Genre | Literary Criticism |
| Notable awards |
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Ganesh Narayandas Devy (born 1 August 1950)[1] is an Indian cultural activist, literary critic and former professor of English. He is known for thePeople's Linguistic Survey of India[2] and the Adivasi Academy created by him.[3] He is credited with starting the Bhaashaa research and Publication Centre.[4] He writes in three languages—Marathi, Gujarati and English. His first full-length book in English isAfter Amnesia (1992).[5] He has written and edited close to ninety books in areas including Literary Criticism, Anthropology, Education, Linguistics and Philosophy.[6]
G. N. Devy was educated atShivaji University,Kolhapur and theUniversity of Leeds,UK. Among his many academic assignments, he held fellowships atLeeds University andYale University and has been THB Symons Fellow (1991–92) andJawaharlal Nehru Fellow (1994–96). He was a Professor of English at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda from 1980 to 96. In 1996, he gave up his academic career in order to initiate work with the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNT) and Adivasis. During this work, he created the Bhasha Research and Publication Centre at Baroda, the Adivasis Academy at Tejgadh, the DNT-Rights Action Group and several other initiatives. Later he initiated the largest-ever survey of languages in history, carried out with the help of nearly 3000 volunteers and published in 50 multilingual volumes. Devy has continued to combine his academic work with his work for the marginalised communities and cultures. After creating the Adivasi Academy, Devy worked as Professor of Humanities at the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information Technology (2003-2014), Gandhinagar, Honorary Professor at the Centre for Multidisciplinary Development Research, Dharwad( 2015-18), Obaid Siddiqi Chair Professor at the National Centre for Biological Sciences—TIFR, Bangalore (2022-23) and is currently Professor of Eminence and Director, school of Civilisation at the Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Bombay.
In response to the growing intolerance and murders of several intellectuals in India, he launched the Dakshinayan (Southward) movement of artists, writers, and intellectuals. In order to lead this movement, he moved toDharwad in 2016. The Dakshinayan movement follows the ideas ofMahatma Gandhi and Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar.
G. N. Devy has received several Lifetime Achievement Awards. He was awardedPadma Shri on 26 January 2014 in recognition of his work with denotified andnomadic tribes and endangered languages.[7] He was awarded theSahitya Akademi Award (1993) forAfter Amnesia, and theSAARC Writers’ Foundation Award (2001) for his work with denotified tribals. He was given the reputedPrince Claus Award (2003) for his work for the conservation of tribal arts and craft. His Marathi bookVanaprasth received eight awards including theDurga Bhagwat Memorial Award and the Maharashtra Foundation Award. Along withLaxman Gaikwad andMahashweta Devi, he was one of the founders of The Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Rights Action Group (DNT-RAG). He won the 2011Linguapax Prize for his work for the preservation of linguistic diversity.[8]
