ZEKSheryl225755: brief updated references to improve readability and added references

2026-02-14T15:16:46Z

brief updated references to improve readability and added references

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Removing :Category:Fulbright Scholars per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2021 June 28#Category:Fulbright Scholars

2021-07-24T14:38:13Z

Removing Category:Fulbright Scholars per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2021 June 28#Category:Fulbright Scholars

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{{short description|Gujarati poet and writer}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Sitanshu Yashaschandra
| image = Writer Sitanshu Yashaschandra Mehta at Loktak lake.jpg
| caption = at [[Loktak Lake]], December 2016
|birth_name = Sitanshu Yashaschandra Mehta
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1941|8|19}}
| birth_place = [[Bhuj]] (now in [[Kutch]], [[Gujarat]], India)
| occupation = poet, literary critic, playwright, editor
| period = modern [[Gujarati literature]]
| language = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
| nationality= [[India]]n
| alma_mater ={{plainlist|
* [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]] <small>(B.A.)</small>
* [[University of Bombay]] <small>(M.A.; 1965)</small>
* [[Indiana University]]
}}
| notableworks = ''[[Jatayu (book)|Jatayu]]'' (1986)
| awards={{plainlist|
* [[Saraswati Samman]] (2017)
* [[Padma Shri]] (2006)
* [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] (1987)
* [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]] (1987)
}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Anjaniben|8 May 1966}}
| signature = Sitanshu Yashaschandra signature.svg
|module = {{Listen |embed= yes |filename=Jatayu poem.ogg|title= Sitanshu Yashaschandra's voice |description=''Jatayu'', a poem written by him}}
}}

'''Sitanshu Yashaschandra Mehta''' (born 1941), better known as '''Sitanshu Yashaschandra''', is a [[Gujarati language]] poet, playwright, translator and academic from India.<ref name=aa>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mSrEUjm674AC&pg=PA303 |title=Gestures: An Anthology of South Asian Poetry|author=K. Satchidanandan|author-link=K. Satchidanandan|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=1996|isbn=9788126000197|page=303}}</ref>

He was the President of [[Gujarati Sahitya Parishad]]. He was awarded the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] given by [[Sahitya Akademi]], India's National Academy of Letters, in 1987 for his poetry collection ''[[Jatayu (book)|Jatayu]]''. Subsequently, he was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award by Government of India, in 2006.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | access-date=July 21, 2015}}</ref>

== Life ==

He was born on 19 August 1941 at [[Bhuj]], [[Cutch State]] (now in [[Kutch]], Gujarat, India).<ref name=pi>{{cite web|url=http://www.poetryinternationalweb.net/pi/site/poet/item/11819/27/Sitanshu-Yashaschandra|title=Sitanshu Yashaschandra|work=Poetry International Rotterdam|date=1 July 2008|access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Modern Indian literature, an anthology|volume=3|publisher=Sāhitya Akādemī|first=K. M.|last=George|year=1992|isbn=9788172013240|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfpjAAAAMAAJ&q=sitanshu+Yashaschandra|page=579}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museindia.com/authprofile.asp?id=379|publisher=Muse India ejournal|access-date=6 October 2014|title=Labhshankar Thakar|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107012044/http://www.museindia.com/authprofile.asp?id=379|archive-date=7 November 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> His family belonged to [[Petlad]]. His father was a Government Officer. He completed BA in Gujarati and [[Sanskrit]] from [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]] and later MA from [[University of Bombay]] in 1965. He taught Gujarati from 1965 to 1968. In 1970, he went to US under [[Fulbright Program|Fulbright Scholarship]] and studied MA in Aesthetics and Comparative Literature from [[Indiana University]]. 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 of [[Eugène Ionesco]]'s ''[[Macbett]]'' and [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Macbeth]]''. He also completed PhD in 1977 from [[University of Mumbai]] under [[Ramprasad Bakshi]].<ref name=pi/><ref name=a/><ref name= "agsi">{{cite book|title=અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ - આધુનિક અને અનુઆધુનિક યુગ (History of Modern Gujarati Literature – Modern and Postmodern Era)|first=Prasad|last=Brahmabhatt |publisher=Parshwa Publication|location=Ahmedabad|year=2010|pages=63–69|isbn=978-93-5108-247-7|language=gu}}</ref>

Sitanshu married Anjaniben on 8 May 1966. His daughter, Vipasha, was born in 1971, while his son, Aranyak, in 1978.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Upadhyay |first=Darshana |title=સર્જક સિતાંશુ યશશ્ચન્દ્ર: કાવ્ય અને નાટ્ય-સાહિત્ય સંદર્ભે: એક અભ્યાસ |trans-title=Writer Sitanshu Yashaschandra: A Study in Contex of His Poems and Plays |chapter-url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/98131 |type=Ph.D |language=gu |date=31 December 2007 |chapter=Chapter 6 |publisher=Department of Gujarati, [[Sardar Patel University]] |location=Vallabh Vidyanagar |pages=772–775}}</ref>

=== Career ===
[[File:Department of Gujarati at M S University.jpg|thumb|Building of Department of Gujarati, M. S. University]]
He has taught Gujarati at [[Mithibai College]] from 1972 to 1975 and later at [[Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda]] from 1983. Sitanshu served as Vice-Chancellor of [[Saurashtra University]], [[Rajkot]] for three years.<ref name=":055">{{Cite book|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195644463.001.0001/acref-9780195644463-e-0737?rskey=tVZclk&result=2|title=Oxford Companion to Indian Theatre|last=Baradi|first=Hasmukh|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2004|isbn=9780195644463|editor-last=Lal|editor-first=Ananda|language=en|chapter=Yashashchandra, Sitanshu (1941– ): Gujarati poet and dramatist.|doi=10.1093/acref/9780195644463.001.0001|via=Oxford Reference}} {{subscription required}}</ref> He served as a visiting Professor at the [[Sorbonne University]], [[Loyola Marymount University]], and [[Jadavpur University]]. He was an [[Emeritus Professor]] and National Lecturer at [[University Grant Commission (India)|University Grant Commission]]. He was appointed as the chief editor of the ''[[Encyclopedia of Indian Literature]]'' published by [[Sahitya Akademi]], Delhi in 1977.<ref name=pi/><ref name= "agsi"/><ref name=a>{{cite web|url=http://www.adaptssi.org/trusteeandgovernngbody.html|work=Adapt Org|title=Trustees and Governing body}}</ref><ref name=sa>{{cite web|url=http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/worldpoetryfest_3.jsp|title=World Poetry Fest Participants |publisher=Sahitya Akademi|access-date =11 July 2014}}</ref>

== Works ==
He 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.<ref name=pi/> [[Surrealism]] is considered as his signature style.<ref name= "agsi"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AXiNXRM_KzMC&pg=PA93 |title=Indian Poetry: Modernism and After : a Seminar|first=Chandrakant|last =Topiwala|page=93|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year= 2001|isbn=9788126010929}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lTnv6o-d_oC&pg=PA120 |title=Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India|first=Nalini Natarajan|last= Emmanuel Sampath Nelson|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=1996|isbn=9780313287787|pages=121–122}}</ref>

''Odysseus nu Halesu'' (1974), ''Jatayu'' (1986) and ''Vakhar'' (2008) are his collections of poetry. ''Mohen-jo-dado'' is a collection of poems published in August 1970 in ''Sanskriti'' magazine and later released on audio cassette in 1978.<ref name= "agsi"/>

He has written and adapted several plays. He adapted [[Eugène Ionesco]]'s ''[[The Lesson]]'' in Gujarati. He also adapted [[Thomas Hardy]]'s story, ''Day After The Fair'' as a play, ''Vaishakhi Koyal'' in Gujarati. He also adapted [[Peter Shaffer]]'s ''[[Equus (play)|Equus]]'' as ''Tokhar'' in Gujarati.<ref name="agsi" /> It was produced by [[Pravin Joshi]], Shafi Inamdar, and Mahendra Joshi.<ref name=":055" /> All three adaptations were successful literary and commercially.<ref name="agsi" /> His ''Aa Manas Madrasi Lage Chhe'' (This Man Looks Madrasi, 1978) was directed by Satyadev Dube.<ref name=":055" /> ''Kem Makanji, Kya Chalya?'' (Hello Makanji, Where Are You Going?, 1985) appeared as a radio play was directed by Nimesh Desai of Chorus.<ref name=":055" /> ''Grahan (''Eclipse'', 1989), directed by P. S. Chari,'' was inspired from ''[[Oedipus]]''.<ref name=":055" /><ref name="agsi" />

In 1999, his six plays, all performed on stage, were published, which included ''Chhabili Ramati Chhanumanu'', ''Kem Makanji, Kya Chalya?'', ''Lady Lalkunwar'', ''Aa Manas Madrasi Lage Chhe'', ''Tokhar'' and ''Khagras''. ''Lady Lalkunvar'' (1999) is a Gujarati adaptation of [[Eduardo De Filippo]]'s play, ''[[Filumena Marturano]]''. ''Ashvatthama'' and ''Grahan'' are his unpublished works. ''Jagine Joyu To'' is his another work. He has edited ''Natya-Kesuda''.<ref name="agsi" />

''Simankan ane Simollanghan'' (1977), ''Ramaniyata no Vagvikalpa'' (1979) and ''Asyaha Sarga Vidhau'' (2002) are his works of criticism, theory of literature and literary historiography.<ref name= "agsi"/>

He had written a screenplay of 1993 Hindi film ''[[Maya Memsaab]]'', which was based on [[Gustave Flaubert]]'s ''[[Madame Bovary]]''.<ref>{{IMDb name|0946575}}</ref>

== Awards ==
[[File:The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting Padma Shri to Shri Sitanshu Yashaschandra, a theorist of culture, at an Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on March 29, 2006.jpg|thumb|The President, Dr. [[A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]] presenting Padma Shri to Sitanshu Yashaschandra, at an Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on March 29, 2006]]
He received [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] for Gujarati writer in 1987 for his poetry collection ''Jatayu''.<ref name=aa/> He also received [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]], the highest award in Gujarati literature, in 1987. He was awarded [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award in India, in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013)|publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.mid-day.com/news/2006/mar/134105.htm|title=Corea~ Khare given Padma awards|place=New Delhi|publisher=Mid Day|date=29 March 2006|access-date =9 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=16900|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|title=President presents second set of civil investiture Awards for 2006|date=29 March 2006|access-date =12 July 2014}}</ref> He also received Rashtriya Kabir Samman (1998) by [[Government of Madhya Pradesh]], Indian National Theatre – [[Gujarat Samachar]] award, Nanalal Award, Gujarat State Government Poetry award.<ref name=aa/><ref name=sa/> He was selected for Adyakavi [[Narsinh Mehta Award]] in 2008 but he had declined.<ref name="agsi"/> In 2013, he won [[Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar]]. He received [[Saraswati Samman]] (2017) for his poetry collection ''Vakhar''.<ref name="India Today 2018">{{cite web | author=PTI | title=Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashaschandras "Vakhar" chosen for Saraswati Samman | website=India Today | date=2018-04-27 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/gujarati-poet-sitanshu-yashaschandras-vakhar-chosen-for-saraswati-samman-1221702-2018-04-27 | access-date=2018-04-27}}</ref> 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".<ref name="BindustanTimes2019">{{cite web|title=Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashaschandra presented Saraswati Samman for 2017|website=Hindustan Times|date=22 January 2019|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gujarati-poet-sitanshu-yashaschandra-presented-saraswati-samman-for-2017/story-fSlZd1XYh2ejULkqtfOPhP.html|access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Gujarati-language writers]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Google Books|id=eAA7JME-rXgC}}
* {{IMDb name}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education}}
{{Saraswati Samman}}
{{Gangadhar National Award For Poetry}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yashaschandra, Sitanshu}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Gujarati]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Saraswati Samman Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Gangadhar National Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]]
[[Category:Poets from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda faculty]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian translators]]
[[Category:Translators from English]]
[[Category:Translators to Gujarati]]
[[Category:Indiana University faculty]]
[[Category:University of Mumbai faculty]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language poets]]
[[Category:Literary scholars]]
[[Category:Scholars from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Indian surrealist writers]]
[[Category:Emeritus Professors in India]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Indiana University alumni]]
[[Category:Comparative literature academics]]

Sitanshu Yashaschandra - Revision history

ZEKSheryl225755: brief updated references to improve readability and added references

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Removing :Category:Fulbright Scholars per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2021 June 28#Category:Fulbright Scholars