Namvar Singh | |
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![Namvar Singh speaking at the launch of 'Aalochana' vol 53-54 (published by Rajkamal Prakashan), at Rabindra Bhawan, Sahitya Akademi[1]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aBharat-s-tiwari-photography-IMG_2504_June_06%2c_2015.jpg) Namvar Singh speaking at the launch of 'Aalochana' vol 53-54 (published byRajkamal Prakashan), at Rabindra Bhawan,Sahitya Akademi[1] | |
| Native name | Namvar Singh |
| Born | (1926-07-28)28 July 1926 |
| Died | 19 February 2019(2019-02-19) (aged 92) Delhi, India |
| Occupation | Writer, critic |
| Language | Hindi |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Banaras Hindu University |
| Notable works | Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman, Chhayavaad, Dusari Parampara Ki Khoj |
| Notable awards | 1971:Sahitya Akademi Award 1991: Shalaka Samman, Sahitya Bhushan Samman, Kuvempu Rashtreeya Puraskar |
| Relatives | Kashinath Singh (brother) |
Namvar Singh (28 July 1926 – 19 February 2019) was an Indian literary critic, linguist, academician and theoretician.[2][3] He received his doctorate degree from Banaras Hindu University where he also taught for some time. He served as a professor of Hindi literature in several other universities. He was the founder and first chairman ofJawaharlal Nehru University's Centre of Indian Languages and continued to remain as a professor emeritus after his retirement in 1992.
Singh was born on 28 July 1926 in Jiyanpur village inVaranasi (now underChandauli) District ofUttar Pradesh, India.[4] He received his early education there. He then moved to Varanasi to pursue his further studies and did his matriculation and higher secondary education atUdai Pratap Autonomous College, Varanasi.[4] He enrolled inBanaras Hindu University (BHU) for higher studies, where he completed his bachelor's in 1949 and master's with gold medal in 1951. He got the Ph.D. under the supervision ofHazari Prasad Dwivedi.[4][5] His younger brotherKashinath Singh is also a writer.[6]
After completing his Ph.D., Singh started teaching at Banaras Hindu University. For a brief period he also taught atSagar University. His association with the two universities ended due to hiscommunist activities.[7] He later became a professor of Hindi atJodhpur University.[8] AtJawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he created a new pattern of teaching and prepared the curriculum. He was the founder and first chairman of JNU's Centre of Indian Languages.[9] He retired from JNU in the year 1992. After his retirement, he served as a professor emeritus at the Center of Indian Languages at JNU.[10][11][12]
In 1959, Singh unsuccessfully contested thegeneral election as aCommunist Party of India (CPI) candidate from theChandauli constituency inUttar Pradesh. He polled over 18,000 votes, finishing a distant third. 5b[6]
Apart from his academic engagement, Singh worked as the editor of a weekly news magazineJanyuga, andAlochana, a Hindi magazine for literary criticism.[6][13] Following his retirement from JNU he was appointed the Chancellor ofMahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha.[14] He also worked as the chairman of theRaja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation.[10][15] Singh also served as the chairman of the selection board for theJnanpith Award.[16][17]
Namvar Singh died on 19 February 2019 inDelhi at the age of 92.[6]
Singh has authored more than a dozen books.[18][19][20] Some of his works are:
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dr namvar singh founder of narayani sahitya academy
