Sitanshu Yashaschandra | |
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| Born | Sitanshu Yashaschandra Mehta (1941-08-19)19 August 1941 (age 84) |
| Occupation | poet, literary critic, playwright, editor |
| Language | Gujarati |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | |
| Period | modernGujarati literature |
| Notable works | Jatayu (1986) |
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Sitanshu Yashaschandra Mehta (born 19 August 1941), better known asSitanshu Yashaschandra, is an IndianGujarati-language poet, playwright, translator and academic fromGujarat, India.[1]
He was the President ofGujarati Sahitya Parishad. He was awarded theSahitya Akademi Award given bySahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, in 1987 for his poetry collectionJatayu. Subsequently, he was awarded thePadma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award by Government of India, in 2006.[2]
Sitanshu Yashaschandra was born on 19 August 1941 atBhuj,Cutch State (now inKutch, Gujarat, India).[3][4][5] His family belonged toPetlad. His father was a Government Officer. He completed BA in Gujarati andSanskrit fromSt. Xavier's College, Mumbai and later MA fromUniversity of Bombay in 1965. He taught Gujarati from 1965 to 1968. In 1970, he went to US underFulbright Scholarship and studied MA in Aesthetics and Comparative Literature fromIndiana University Bloomington. He later completed PhD in 1975. He went to France for a year under Ford West European Fellowship where he studied, translated in Gujarati and did comparative study ofEugène Ionesco'sMacbett andShakespeare'sMacbeth. He also completed PhD in 1977 fromUniversity of Mumbai underRamprasad Bakshi.[3][6][7]
Yashaschandra married Anjaniben on 8 May 1966. His daughter, Vipasha, was born in 1971, while his son, Aranyak, in 1978.[8]
He has taught Gujarati atMithibai College from 1972 to 1975 and later atMaharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda from 1983. Sitanshu served as Vice-Chancellor ofSaurashtra University,Rajkot for three years.[9] He served as a visiting professor at theSorbonne University,Loyola Marymount University, andJadavpur University. He was anemeritus professor and national lecturer atUniversity Grant Commission. He was appointed the chief editor of theEncyclopedia of Indian Literature published bySahitya Akademi, Delhi in 1977.[3][7][6][10]
Yashaschandra wrote mainly in Gujarati but his works are translated into Hindi and other languages. He has translated some works of poetry, drama and criticism from English to Gujarati.[3]Surrealism is considered as his signature style.[7][11][12]
Odysseus nu Halesu (1974),Jatayu (1986) andVakhar (2008) are his collections of poetry.Mohen-jo-dado is a collection of poems published in August 1970 inSanskriti magazine and later released on audio cassette in 1978.[7]
He has written and adapted several plays. He adaptedEugène Ionesco'sThe Lesson asMargdarshan in Gujarati. He also adaptedThomas Hardy's story,Day After The Fair as a play,Vaishakhi Koyal in Gujarati. He also adaptedPeter Shaffer'sEquus asTokhar in Gujarati.[7] It was produced byPravin Joshi, Shafi Inamdar, and Mahendra Joshi.[9] All three literary adaptations were successful commercially.[7] HisAa Manas Madrasi Lage Chhe (This Man Looks Madrasi, 1978) was directed by Satyadev Dube.[9]Kem Makanji, Kya Chalya? (Hello Makanji, Where Are You Going?, 1985) appeared as a radio play was directed by Nimesh Desai of Chorus.[9]Grahan (Eclipse, 1989), directed by P. S. Chari, was inspired byOedipus.[9][7]
In 1999, his six plays, all performed on stage, were published, which includedChhabili Ramati Chhanumanu,Kem Makanji, Kya Chalya?,Lady Lalkunwar,Aa Manas Madrasi Lage Chhe,Tokhar andKhagras.Lady Lalkunvar (1999) is a Gujarati adaptation ofEduardo De Filippo's play,Filumena Marturano.[7]Ashvatthama Aaje Pan Jive Chhe (ane Hanay Chhe) (2021) is a play based onAshwatthama.[13]Grahan is his unpublished work.Jagine Joyu To is his other work. He has editedNatya-Kesuda.[7]
Simankan ane Simollanghan (1977),Ramaniyata no Vagvikalpa (1979) andAsyaha Sarga Vidhau (2002) are his works of criticism, theory of literature and literary historiography.[7]
He had written a screenplay of 1993 Hindi filmMaya Memsaab, which was based onGustave Flaubert'sMadame Bovary.[14]
He edited the bookCritical Discourse in Gujarati, an anthology of critical writings in Gujarati.[15]
He receivedSahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati writer in 1987 for his poetry collectionJatayu.[1] He also receivedRanjitram Suvarna Chandrak, the highest award in Gujarati literature, in 1987. He was awardedPadma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, in 2006.[16][17][18] He also received Rashtriya Kabir Samman (1998) byGovernment of Madhya Pradesh, Indian National Theatre –Gujarat Samachar award, Nanalal Award, Gujarat State Government Poetry award.[1][10] He was selected for AdyakaviNarsinh Mehta Award in 2008 but he had declined.[7] In 2013, he wonSahitya Gaurav Puraskar. He receivedSaraswati Samman (2017) for his poetry collectionVakhar.[19] The award citation said: "...Vakhar is the pinnacle of his poetic journey where he crosses the boundaries of the real world and establishes high standards of Liberty in language and creativity by evolving a balance in the contradicting elements of human emotions and thoughts".[20]
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