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Kamleshwar

BornKamleshwar Prasad Saxena

January 6, 1932 Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh

Died

January 27, 2007 (aged 75)Faridabad

Occupation

story writer, screenwriter, critic, essayist

Years active

1954-2006

Awards wonKamleshwar

(January 6,1932– January 27,2007

) was a prominent 20th-century Hindi writer, and script and dialogue writer for Hindi cinemaand television. Among his most well-known work are the films

Aandhi

Mausam

Chhoti Si Baat

and

Rang Birangi

.Considered a part of the league of Hindi writers, likeMohan Rakesh, Nirmal Vermaand Bhisham Sahni, who left the old pre-independence, literary preoccupations and presentedthe new sensibilities, that reflected new moorings of a post-independence India, thuslaunching, the Hindi literature's 'Nayi Kahani' (New Story) movement in the 1950s,

[1]

, hewas awarded the 2003Sahitya Akademi Award for his cult Hindi novel, 'Kitne Pakistan', and also thePadma Bhushanin 2005.

Contents

•

1 Biography

1.1 Early life and education

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•

Biography

Early life and education

Kamleshwar Prasad Saxena

[2]

was born in the Mainpuri district

[3]

of Uttar Pradesh, India, where he spent his early years. Kamleshwar's first story 'Comrade' was publishedin 1948

[4]

.Later he did his graduation and followed by a Master's degree in Hindi literature fromAllahabad University. His first novel 'Badnam Gali (Cursed lane) was published while hewas still a student

[4]

, he later started his literary career in Allahabad itself.

Career

In his early days, he worked as a proof reader

[4]

, growing up to become, the editor of 'Vihan', literary magazine in late 50's. This was followed by editorship of many Hindimagazines, like 'Nayi Kahaniyan' (1963-66), 'Sarika' (1967-78), 'Katha Yatra' (1978-79),'Ganga' (1984-88) and weeklies, 'lngit' (1961-63) and 'Shree Varsha' (1979-80), besidesthis, he also remained the editor of Hindi dailies,'Dainik Jagaran'(1990-1992), and 'Dainik Bhaskar '(1996-2002)

[3]

, and helped revive the Hindi magazine, 'Sarika', as itseditor by bringing focus on new and emerging voices of modern India, an effort whichreflected his encouragement to Marathi Dalitwriters and Bohra Muslim litterateurs, thusopening new vistas for Hindi readers.Kamleshwar became famous for his shortstories, and some other works, which depictedthe contemporary life in a vivid style of presentation. With the publication of his story,'Raja Narbansiya' (1957)

[5]

, he was immediately placed in league of leading writers of his times.In his prolific career, spanning four decades, hewrote over three hundred stories, including,Maans Ka Dariya, 'Neeli Jheel' and 'Kasbe KaAadmi'

[6]

, published over ten collections of short stories, ten novels most prominent amongthem being, Ek Sadak Sattawan Galiyan, Laute Huye Musajir, Kaali Aandhi, AagamiAteet, Registan and Kitne Pakistan, apart from 35 other literary works in different genresranging from literary criticism, travelogue, memoirs, to socio-cultural commentary

[7]

Films

“

"...once upon atime, trees providedshelter from the sunand the wind tohuman homes. Now, the trees have become used togrowing in theshadows of tallconcrete buildings." --

Kitne Pakistan

[

citation needed

]

”

He move to Bombay in the 70s and started writing scripts and dialogues for Hindi films,in the next decade or so, he worked for over 75 feature films

[7]

, which include films likeGulzar 's Aandhi, based on his novel Kaali Aandhi, Mausam;Basu Chatterjee's Rajnigandha,Chhoti Si Baat and Rang Birangi andRavi Chopra's triller,The Burning Train. In fact, reminiscing his worksd noted poet-director,Gulzar said, "..in 'Kitne Pakistan'... there is a description where a handkerchief falls off the bridge; I always usedto tell him that I could write a complete short story on this one line only."

[8]

Television

By late 70s, he had made his first short TV film the “Jamuna Bazar”, near river Yamunain Delhi, and soon switched to television scriptwriting, and eventually became the'Additional Director General' of Doordarshan, India's national television channel, (1980- 82), during his tenure, in a matter of 24 months, the entire nation was connected withtelevision network

[9]

.Over the years, he wrote stories in ten TV serials including, Chandrakanta, AakashGanga, Yug and Betal Pachisi, and popular serials based on literary works, Darpan andEk Kahani

[10]

, hosted a popular talk show onDoordarshan,'Parikrama', started a weekly literary show, 'Patrika', and also produced and directed several TV Programes andinvestigative documentaries on social and political issues for Doordarshan

[11]

Later years

He was awarded the 2003Sahitya Akademi Award,for his novel based on the Partition of India in 1947, 'Kitne Pakistan' (How Many Pakistans), which explored the way, nationsfracture, through an allegorical court trial, wherein historical and political figures are present as witnesses

[12]

,and the

Padma Bhushan

in 2005.He died, onJanuary 27,2007at Faridabad

[13]

following a heart attack, after being in poor health for several years.A collection of his short stories in English translation, "Not Flowers of Henna", wasreleased in 2007

[14]

Literary works

•

Jo Maine Jiya (Part 1)[1]

•

Yadon Ke Chirag (Part 2)

•

Jalti Hui Nadi (Part 3)

•

Meri Priya Kahaniyan[2]

•

Kamleshwar Kee Shreshtha Kahaniyan

•

Samagra Kahaniyan

•

Ek Sarak Sattavan Galiyan

•

The Street with Fifty-Seven Lanes (Translation)

of 00

Rajeev Nair

I remember watchin Parikrama on DD as a kid. totally brilliant - wish those episodes were upoloaded on youtube ! Pity if they are not archived and available for the future.

reply05 / 14 / 2012

Ramesh Soni

plz provide the all translated books of kamleshwar.....there is no enough material vailable on net...hindi lit hve poor quality...

reply03 / 02 / 2011

Ramesh Soni

no enough material....

reply03 / 02 / 2011