Manohar Shyam Joshi (9 August 1933 – 30 March 2006) was a Hindi writer, journalist and scriptwriter, most well known as the writer of Indian television's first soap opera,Hum Log (1984) and his early hitsBuniyaad (1987),Kakaji Kahin, a political satire[1] and many experimental novels includingKasap andKyap, which won him theSahitya Akademi Award.
Manohar Shyam Joshi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1933-08-09)9 August 1933 |
| Died | 30 March 2006(2006-03-30) (aged 72) |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, essayist, columnist, journalist |
| Spouse | Dr. Bhagwati Joshi |
| Children | Anupam Joshi Anurag Joshi Ashish Joshi |
Biography
editManohar Shyam Joshi was born on 9 August 1933 atAjmer in Rajasthan,[2] the son of a noted educationist and musicologist belonging to aKumaoniBrahmin family fromAlmora,Uttar Pradesh now in the state ofUttarakhand. He is the father of leading AI and cybersecurity expert ProfessorAnupam Joshi.
He died on 30 March 2006, at the age of 73,[3] in New Delhi, India. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Bhagwati Joshi, and sons,Anupam Joshi, Anurag Joshi and Ashish Joshi. Upon his death, Prime MinisterManmohan Singh called him "one of the most influential writers and commentators in Hindi in recent times".[4][5]
According toKhushwant Singh, the eminent author, editor and critic,"By the time he died in 2006, he was recognised as the first and the most innovative writer of Hindi."[6]
Career
editTelevision
editHe is often called "the Father ofIndian Soap Operas"[7] being the writer of India's first television soap opera,Hum Log. Made in 1982, when television was still a luxury item for the majority of Indians, the serial dealt with the everyday struggles of the middle-class India, making it an instant hit, especially because every Indian could identify with it.[8][9] Another popular creation wasBuniyaad (1987–1988), directed by Ramesh Sippy, a serial based around the life a family displaced by the Partition of India in 1947; both went on to deeply influence an entire generation of Indians as well as the Indian television industry.[10]
In the following years he wrote many more long running serials likeMungeri Lal Ke Hasin Sapney,Kakaji Kahin,Humrahi,Zameen Aasman andGatha.
Novels
editManohar Shyam Joshi is also known for his novels which have dealt with topics ranging from love, inKasap, described as one of the greatest love stories in Hindi, to devastating political satire likeNetaji Kahin.
He was a prominent post-modernist authors in modern Hindi literature,[11] as amiably demonstrated by his cult novelKuru kuru Swaahaa and his novellaHariya Hercules ki Hairaani. He was awarded the prestigiousSahitya Akademi Award in 2005 for Hindi, for his novelKyap,[12] an allegory of modern India, known for its sensitive portrayal of theKumaoni traditions of his home state ofUttarakhand.
Films
editHe had a penchant for romance, subtle comedy and satire alike. This allowed him to write for cinema on a variety of subjects, likeHey Ram,Appu Raja,Papa Kahte Hain andBrashtachar. He was a dubbing expert of much ability and dubbed for films likeAppu Raja andHey Ram.[citation needed]
Journalism
editHe had a long stint as a journalist in broadcast and the print media. He worked first withAll India Radio, New Delhi, in the Hindi news section and then with theFilms Division of India in Mumbai, where he wrote the scripts for many documentaries. This is when he started writing his famous landmark interviews with ordinary folks, which were serialised in theSarika magazine. It was not long before he was handpicked bySachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan Agyeya for a new Hindi news magazineDinaman, being brought out by theTimes of India group. Agyeya was to be the editor and Joshi the assistant editor.
Later, he edited the leading Hindi magazineSaptahikHindustan, concurrently with the EnglishWeekend Review and, in late 70s, theMorning Echo weekly all brought out by theHindustan Times.
His journalistic writings have covered a wide range of topics from popular science and scintillating travelogues to astute political analyses. Until his death, he wrote an opinion column forOutlook Saptahik,Hindi magazine fromOutlook India.
Literary works
edit- Kasap
- Netaji Kahin (political satire made into a memorable TV seriesKakkaji Kahin, by Basu Chatterji)
- Kuru Kuru Swaahaa
- Hariya Hercules Ki Hairani (Rajkamal & Sons, 1999.ISBN 81-7178-775-4.Hariya Harquelize Ki Hairani (HINDI) by Manohar Shyam Joshi English translation ofThe Perplexity of Haria Hercules by Robert Hueckstedt)
- Prabhu Tum Kaise Kissago (short stories)
- Mandir Ghaat ki Pauriyaan (short stories)
- Uss Desh Ka Yaron Kya Kahna
- Baton Baton Mein (interviews)
- Kaise Kissago
- Kasap
- Ek Durlabh Vyaktitva (short stories)
- Lucknow Mera Lucknow (memoirs of student days)
- Gatha Kurukshetra Ki (play)Gatha Kurukshetra Ki (HINDI) by Manohar Shyam Joshi
- Seemaant Diary – Kashmir Se Kachh Tak (travelogue)Gatha Kurukshetra Ki (HINDI) by Manohar Shyam Joshi
- 21st Century (essays and opinions)
- T'ta Professor, also an award-winning English translation by Ira Pandehttps://www.penguin.co.in/
- Kyaap, winner of Sahitya Academy Award 2005
- Hamzad, Rajkamal & Sons, 1999.ISBN 81-7178-776-2.Hamzad (HINDI) by Manohar Shyam Joshi
- Main Kaun Hoon? an exploration on identity loosely based on the real life Bhawal Sanyasi case, of the prince who came back from the dead to reclaim his life, love and kingdom.
- Vadhasthal (National Book Trust, India, 2009): A novel set in the killing fields of Cambodia
- Kapeeshji (NBT, India, 2009): Novel about the evolution of an unselfmade godman.
Television serials
edit- Hum Log (1982)
- Buniyaad (1987)
- Kakaji Kahin
- Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne
- Hamrahi
- Zameen Aasman (1995)
- Gatha (1997)[13]
Filmography
edit- Bhrashtachar (1989) – Screenplay
- Papa Kehte Hai
- Appu Raja
- Hey Ram (2000) – Dialogue
Works in Translation
edit- T'Ta Professor (2008), translated byIra PandeISBN 978-0-670-08209-4, winner ofVodafone Crossword Book Award for best translated work.
- Hariya Hercules ki Hairani, translated byRobert Hueckstedt[14]
Awards
edit- MP Sahitya Parishad Samman
- Sharad Joshi Samman
- Shikhar Samman
- Delhi Hindi Academy Award
- Onida and Uptron Award for TV writing
- 2005Sahitya AcademyAward
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Manohar Shyam JoshiArchived 10 March 2007 at theWayback Machine In Memoriam.
- ^WRITERS AND THEIR WORKSArchived 2 April 2010 at theWayback Machine Foundation of SAARC Writers.
- ^"Writer Manohar Shyam Joshi dies". 30 March 2006.Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved30 March 2006 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^PM condoles passing away of Manohar Shyam JoshiArchived 27 July 2009 at theWayback Machine PM Messages, 2006.
- ^PM condoles Manohar Shyam Joshi's death indianews, 31 March 2006.
- ^"The Tribune - Magazine section - Saturday Extra".Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved12 December 2015.
- ^http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/-father-of-indian-tv-serial--joshi-dies-at-73/1492/
- ^"Buniyaad, Hum Log writer dead".Rediff.Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved6 February 2025.
- ^"Archived copy".Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved2 February 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"The Tribune...Sunday Reading".www.tribuneindia.com.Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved6 February 2025.
- ^Father of Indian Soap OperasArchived 9 February 2008 at theWayback Machine Legends at 4to40.
- ^Sahitya Akademi AwardsArchived 4 July 2007 at theWayback Machine Hindi 2005, Kyap (Novel).
- ^Gatha Debuts at STARArchived 26 July 2009 at theWayback MachineThe Indian Express, 18 August 1997.
- ^Jośī, Manohara Śyāma; Hueckstedt, Robert A. (2009).The Perplexity of Hariya Hercules.ISBN 978-0143067962.