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{{Short description|Indian Telugu-language poet (1928 - 2003)}}
{{for|the Pakistani cricketer|Mohammad Ismail (cricketer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
'''Mohammad Ismail''' (26 May 1928 – 25 November 2003)<ref name=imwwiw>[https://books.com/books?id=QA1V7sICaIwC&pg=PA475&lpg=PA475&dq=%22Ismail+Mohammad%22+po "Ismail, Mohammad"] entry, p 475, in ''Who's who of Indian Writers, 1999: 1999 : In 2 Vol. Vol. 1 A-M'' edited by K. C. Dutt, published by Sahitya Akademi, 1999, {{ISBN|978-81-260-0873-5}}, retrieved via Google Books, 19 January 2009</ref> is an Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language poet, critic, academic and university administrator.

He was born in [[Kavali]], [[Nellore district|Nellore]] district. He completed his education in [[Kakinada]] and Waltair. While he was studying at Pithapuram Raja's College at [[Kakinada]], the poet [[Devulapalli Krishna Sastri]] was one of his teachers and a neighbor. Ismail considered Krishna Sastry and [[Rabindranath Tagore]] his mentors. While at school, he initially became a Marxist and a student activist, but turned away from it. Later influences included Brahmo Samaj, including one of its exponents, [[Peddada Ramaswamy]]; the writings of "[[Tarakam]]"; [[Krishna Shastri]] and [[Gudipati Venkata Chalam|Chalam]]. A philosophy student, he went on to receive a master's degree from [[Andhra University]], then worked as a lecturer in philosophy at Kakinada, [[Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh|Anantapur]] and [[Vijayawada]]. He was also a principal in his alma mater, Pithapuram Raja Government College.<ref name=mieil>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&pg=PA1752&lpg=PA1752&dq=Ismail+Telugu+poet "Ismail"] article, p 1752, ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature'' Volume 2, published by Sahitya Akademi, 1988,
{{ISBN|978-81-260-1194-0}}, retrieved via Google Books on 19 January 2009</ref>

In his thirties, Ismail began writing poetry, and published his poems in the prestigious literary magazines ''Bharati'' and ''Kala keli''.<ref name=mieil/>

== Style ==
Muhammad 'Ismail's style of writing was contrary to the genre of Marxist literature that was popular during his time. His works were famous for deep imagery and profundity that resulted from Zen like simplicity. He is famously called "Sada balakudu", meaning Eternal child (of poetry).<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Sada Balakudu Ismail, an essay}} {{full citation needed|date=September 2018}}</ref>

==Books==
Ismail wrote more than a dozen books which include poetry, criticism and translations. He wrote with the pen name "Ismail".

===Poetry===
* ''Chettu naa aadarsam'' <ref name=mieil/> (1972)
* ''Mrityu vriksham''<ref name=mieil/> (1976)
* ''Chilakalu vaalina chettu''<ref name=mieil/> (1980)
* ''Ratri Vaccina Rahasyapu Vana''<ref name=imwwiw/> (1987)
* ''Baalcheelo Chandrodayam''
* ''Ismail Kavitalu''<ref name="imwwiw" /> (1989)
* ''Kappala Nissabdam'' (haiku)<ref name="imwwiw" /> (1997) :
* ''Rendo Pratipaadana''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Rendo Pratipaadana|last=Mohammad|first=Ismail|publisher=Kusuma Publications}}</ref> (Translations) :
* ''Pallelo maa paatha illu''<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Original and Translated poetry by Ismail|last=Mohammad|first=Ismail|publisher=Desi Books|year=2006}}</ref> (2006)

===Essays ===
* ''Kavitvam lo Nissabdam'' (criticism) (1987)
* ''Karuna Mukhyam'' (Essays and criticism)

Of these, ''Chettu naa aadarsam'' has been translated to English by D. Kesava Rao as "Tree, My Guru<ref>{{Cite book|title=Tree, My Guru|last=D.|first=Kesava Rao|publisher=Desi Books}}</ref>". ''Rendo Pratipaadana'' is a collection of poems (from Bengali poets like [[Sujata Bhatt|Sujatha Bhat]], [[Jibanananda Das|Jibananad Das]] to Western poets like [[Nicanor Parra]]) translated by Ismail. ''Pallelo maa paatha illu''<ref name=":0" /> is a posthumous publication of Ismail's poetry and his translations of Japanese [[haiku]] and tanka poets. Ismail himself was a prominent haiku writer in Telugu. His critical essays in ''Kavitvam lo Nissabdam'' have given a new direction to the Telugu poetry.

== Awards ==
* Free verse Front award in 1976 for ''Mrityu vriksham.''
* Telugu University literary criticism award in 1990.

== Other ==
His work has been translated to French and Spanish besides various Indian languages and English. As an appreciation for best poetry in Telugu, ''Ismail Kavitha Puraskaram'' is being awarded every year (from 2010) in his honor.

==See also==
{{portal|Poetry}}
* [[List of Indian poets#Telugu|List of Telugu poets]]

== External links ==
Ismail mitra mandali, a blogspot maintained by friends and fans of Ismail.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ismail, Mohammad}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:Telugu poets]]
[[Category:Writers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Andhra University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Kakinada]]
[[Category:Writers from East Godavari district]]

Mohammad Ismail (poet) - Revision history

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