Nissim Ezekiel | |
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| Born | (1924-12-16)16 December 1924 |
| Died | 9 January 2004(2004-01-09) (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Poet, playwright, art critic, editor |
| Citizenship | • British India (1924–1947) • India (1947–2004) |
| Period | 1952–2004 |
| Genre | Modern Indian English Poetry |
| Notable work | Night of the Scorpion;Latter Day Psalms |
| Notable awards | Sahitya Akademi Award (1983) Padma Shri (1988) |
Nissim Ezekiel (16 December 1924 – 9 January 2004)[1] was anIndianpoet,actor,playwright,editor, andartcritic.[2] He was a foundational figure[3] inpostcolonial India's literary history, specifically for Indian poetry in English.[4]
He was awarded theSahitya Akademi Award in 1983 for his collection, "Latter-Day Psalms", by theSahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters.[5] Ezekiel has been applauded for his subtle, restrained and well crafted diction, dealing with common and mundane (everyday) themes in a manner that manifests both cognitive profundity, as well as an unsentimental, realistic sensibility, that has been influential on the course of succeeding Indian English poetry.Ezekiel enriched and established Indian English language poetry through his modernist innovations and techniques, which enlarged Indian English literature, moving it beyond purely spiritual and orientalist themes, to include a wider range of concerns and interests, including familial events, individual angst and skeptical societal introspection.[6]
Ezekiel was born on 16 December 1924 inBombay (Mumbai) inMaharashtra. His father was a professor ofbotany atWilson College, and his mother was the principal of her own school. The Ezekiels belonged toMumbai'sMarathi-speakingJewish community known as theBene Israel.[7]
In 1947, Ezekiel earned a BA in Literature fromWilson College, Mumbai,Bombay University. In 1947–48, he taughtEnglish literature and publishedliterary articles.[citation needed] After dabbling in politics for a while, he sailed toEngland in November 1948. He studiedphilosophy atBirkbeck College, London. After three and a half years, Ezekiel worked his way home as a deck-scrubber aboard a ship carrying arms to Indochina.[8]
Ezekiel's first book,[9]A Time to Change, appeared in 1952 which changed the trajectory of Indian poetry as it was a new form of poetry,Indian English Poetry. The book serves as a declaration of transformation, encompassing the poet's personal life and surroundings. It brings about a significant shift with deep implications for society, intellectual thought, and moral values. Most importantly, it introduces a transformation in the way poetry is written. Written in 1952, it emphasizes the cultural context of the post colonial period. Ezekiel uses his poetry as a way to make remarks on the period emphasizing his approach to modernity and encompassing his personal life. A Time to Change may be a small volume with just around thirty-five pages, but it holds great significance in terms of its quality and historical importance. The title of the book indicates change embracing all aspects of Ezekiel's writing or poetry and his aesthetics. A Time To Change marks the onset of a unique form of poetry and the start of a noteworthy career. The opening lines of the poem are "We who leave the house in April, Lord,/How shall we return?/Debtors to the whore of Love"[10] suggesting that Ezekiel is expressing deep regret for leaving home during a season associated with renewal. In addition, A Time To Change represents Ezekiel's talent for presenting an incident in dew stanzas and his ability to use gentle irony with sadistic humor.[11] This departure is symbolic, representing a shift away from a life of natural happiness and spontaneity. A Time to Change depicts a book that fights larger concerns such as power, communication and the limitations of languages in the world. In addition, Ezekiel touches upon sexuality, human nature, and religion.
Ezekiel has distinctive views of his language when it comes to his poetry. In Ezekiel's earlier works much of the collection was defined by large language with a focus on rhyme, meter, and poetic form. In Ezekiel's poetry the quality of the heart is evident through his undertones, irony, and self mockery.[12] Within his poetry the lines are a similar length and if the poem has stanza, the stanza will have a similar number of lines. This demonstrates Ezekiel's attention to detail with his writing by using symmetry, further emphasizing Ezekiel's early dependence for structure in poetry. Ezekiel follows whatRene Wellek andAustin Warren use in their Theory of Literature or the "extrinsic" approach which examines literature in the broader context as it understands the relationship to society. It also looks at how literature has an impact by other influences in the world. The "extrinsic" approach follows closely to how Ezekiel writes because he writes about society, personal experiences, and human connections. Ezekiel also uses the "intrinsic" approach which focuses on the elements of the literature in itself such as using metaphors, similes, images, and the techniques that are found in the text. Ezekiel emphasizes the importance of creating literature that connects on a global scale. He references Berdyaev's ideological approaches with creativity and how the poet should not imitate other cultures but should be genuine in their writing. The poet should prioritize their integrity and own experiences in poetry. Ezekiel believes the cultural roles are secondary which leads him to believe that poetry has a universal likening. For instance, Ezekiel emphasizes the significance of humanity in the universe in his poem "Morning Prayer".[13]
He published another volume of poems,The deadly man in 1960.[14] After working as an advertising copywriter and general manager of a picture frame company (1954–59), he co-founded the literary monthlyJumpo, in 1961. He becameart critic ofThe Times of India (1964–66) and editedPoetry India (1966–67). From 1961 to 1972, he headed the English department ofMithibai College,Bombay.The Exact Name, his fifth book of poetry, was published in 1965. During this period he held short-term tenure as visiting professor atUniversity of Leeds (1964) and University of Pondicherry (1967). In 1969, at theWriters Workshop, Ezekiel[15] published hisThree Plays which includesNalini, Marriage Poem, The Sleep-walkers.[16] A year later, he presented an art series of ten programmes for Indian television. In 1976, he translated Jawaharlal Nehru's poetry from English toMarathi, in collaboration with Vrinda Nabar, and co-edited a fiction and poetry anthology.[17] His poemTheNight of the Scorpion is used[18] as study material[19] in Indian and Colombian schools. Ezekiel also penned poems in 'Indian English'[20] like the one based on instruction boards in his favouriteIrani café. His poems are used[21] inNCERT andICSE English textbooks. His poem 'Background, Casually' is considered to be the most defining poem of his poetic and personal career.
Nissim Ezekiel is often considered the father of Modern Indian English poetry by many critics.[22][23][24][25]
He was honoured with thePadmashri award by the President of India in 1988 and the Sahitya Akademi cultural award in 1983.[26]
He editedThe Indian P.E.N., official organ of P.E.N. All-India Centre, Bombay from The Theosophy Hall, NewMarine Lines, and encouraged poets and writers.[27]
He was the founding editor ofQuest in 1954.
After a prolonged battle withAlzheimer's disease, Nissim Ezekiel died inMumbai, on 9 January 2004 (aged 79).[28][29][30]
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