Krishna Baldev Vaid: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Indian writer}}
{{Short description|Indian writer (1927–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
 
{{Infobox person
'''Krishna Baldev Vaid'''  ({{lang-hi|कृष्ण बलदेव वैद}}) (27 July 1927 – 6 February 2020) was an Indian [[Hindi]] fiction writer and playwright, noted for his experimental and iconoclastic narrative style.
|name        = Krishna Vaid
|birth_name  = Krishna Baldev Vaid
|birth_date  = {{birth date|df=y|1927|7|27}}
|birth_place = [[Dinga]], [[British Raj]] (now [[Pakistan]])
|death_date  = {{death date and age|df=y|2020|2|6|1927|7|27}}
|death_place = [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
|education  = [[Panjab University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Harvard University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]], [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]])
|spouse      =
|children    = 3, including [[Urvashi Vaid|Urvashi]] and [[Jyotsna Vaid|Jyotsna]]
|relatives  = [[Alok Vaid-Menon]] (grandchild)
}}
'''Krishna Baldev Vaid'''  ({{langx|hi|कृष्ण बलदेव वैद}}) (27 July 1927 – 6 February 2020) was an Indian [[Hindi]] fiction writer and playwright, noted for his experimental and iconoclastic narrative style.


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Vaid was born in Dinga, in what is now Pakistan.  He and his family moved as refugees during the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent, which resulted in the creation of both modern India and Pakistan. Vaid studied at [[Panjab University|Punjab]] University and obtained his doctorate from [[Harvard University]].<ref name="Verma2013">{{cite book|author=Nirmal Verma|title=Days of Longing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uDEnAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA1|accessdate=8 July 2017|date=15 November 2013|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-93-5118-401-0}}</ref> His dissertation on [[Henry James]] was published by [[Harvard University Press]] in 1964 called: Technique in the Tales of Henry James. <ref>{{cite book |last=Vaid |first=Krishna Baldev |authorlink=Krishna Baldev Vaid |date=1964 |title= Technique in the Tales of Henry James |edition=1st |url= https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674864504&content=toc}}</ref>
Vaid was born in Dinga, in what is now Pakistan.  He and his family moved as refugees during the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent, which resulted in the creation of both modern India and Pakistan. Vaid studied at [[Panjab University|Punjab]] University and obtained his doctorate from [[Harvard University]].<ref name="Verma2013">{{cite book|author=Nirmal Verma|title=Days of Longing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uDEnAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA1|accessdate=8 July 2017|date=15 November 2013|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-93-5118-401-0}}</ref> His dissertation on [[Henry James]] was published by [[Harvard University Press]] in 1964 called: Technique in the Tales of Henry James.<ref>{{cite book |last=Vaid |first=Krishna Baldev |authorlink=Krishna Baldev Vaid |date=1964 |title= Technique in the Tales of Henry James |edition=1st |url= https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674864504&content=toc}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
He has taught at Indian universities, and moved to the United States in 1966 to continue his academic career.  His literary works have been translated and published in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Japanese and several Indian languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://penguin.co.in/author/krishna-baldev-vaid/|title=Penguin Books|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=17 November 2016}}</ref> His works include ''Uska Bachpan'' (1957) translated into English by Vaid and published as ''Steps in Darkness,''  ''Bimal Urf Jayen to Jayen Kahan'' translated into English as ''Bimal in Bog'' (1974) and ''Guzara Hua Zamana'' (1981) translated into English as ''The Broken Mirror''.
He has taught at Indian universities, and moved to the United States in 1966 to continue his academic career.  His literary works have been translated and published in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Japanese and several Indian languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://penguin.co.in/author/krishna-baldev-vaid/|title=Penguin Books|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=17 November 2016}}</ref> His works include ''Uska Bachpan'' (1957) translated into English by Vaid and published as ''Steps in Darkness,''  ''Bimal Urf Jayen to Jayen Kahan'' translated into English as ''Bimal in Bog'' (1974) and ''Guzara Hua Zamana'' (1981) translated into English as ''The Broken Mirror''.


Selected short stories in English translation were published as ''Silence and Other Stories'' ( Writer's Workshop, 1972),''Dying Alone: A novella and Ten Short Stories'' (Penguin, 1992), and ''The Sculptor in Exile'' ( Penguin Books, 2014).
Selected short stories in English translation were published as ''Silence and Other Stories'' ( Writer's Workshop, 1972), ''Dying Alone: A novella and Ten Short Stories'' (Penguin, 1992), and ''The Sculptor in Exile'' ( Penguin Books, 2014).


He did the first translation of [[Samuel Beckett]]’s plays “[[Waiting for Godot]]” and [[Endgame (play)]] into [[Hindi]] language in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://penguin.co.in/thepenguindigest/in-conversation-with-krishna-baldev-vaid/|title= In Conversation with Krishna Baldev Vaid|date=10 April 2017|publisher= Penguin India}}</ref>
He did the first translation of [[Samuel Beckett]]’s plays “[[Waiting for Godot]]” and [[Endgame (play)]] into [[Hindi]] language in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://penguin.co.in/thepenguindigest/in-conversation-with-krishna-baldev-vaid/|title= In Conversation with Krishna Baldev Vaid|date=10 April 2017|publisher= Penguin India}}</ref>
 
== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
After retirement as Professor of English from [[State University of New York at Potsdam|State University of New York, Potsdam]], in 1985, Vaid lived in India for over two decades, and continued his literary activities. In 2010, he moved back to the United States, where he  resided.
After retirement as Professor of English from [[State University of New York at Potsdam|State University of New York, Potsdam]], in 1985, Vaid lived in India for over two decades, and continued his literary activities. In 2010, he moved back to the United States, where he  resided.
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*''Bimal in Bog'' ( National Publishing House, 1972)
*''Bimal in Bog'' ( National Publishing House, 1972)
*''The Diary of a Maidservant'' (Oxford University Press, 2007)
*''The Diary of a Maidservant'' (Oxford University Press, 2007)
* ''Dying Alone , novella and ten stories'' (Penguin Books,1992)
* ''Dying Alone, novella and ten stories'' (Penguin Books,1992)
* ''The Broken Mirror'' (Penguin Books, 1994,2014—issued in Modern Classics series))  
* ''The Broken Mirror'' (Penguin Books, 1994,2014—issued in Modern Classics series))  
* ''Steps in Darkness'' (Orion Press,1962, Penguin Books, 1995,2014—issued in Modern Classics series)
* ''Steps in Darkness'' (Orion Press,1962, Penguin Books, 1995,2014—issued in Modern Classics series)
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*[http://www.indereunion.net/actu/KBVaid/interKBVaid.htm Interview]
*[http://www.indereunion.net/actu/KBVaid/interKBVaid.htm Interview]
*[http://www.hindisamay.com/contentDetail.aspx?id=1879&pageno=1 the short story ''Mera Dushman'' in &#91;Hindi&#93;]
*[http://www.hindisamay.com/contentDetail.aspx?id=1879&pageno=1 the short story ''Mera Dushman'' in &#91;Hindi&#93;]
*[https://www.andrewwhitehead.net/partition-voices-kb-vaid.html K.B. Vaid talking vividly about living through communal riots in Dinga, W. Punjab, and how this was reflected in his Partition novel, 'The Broken Mirror']  
*[https://www.andrewwhitehead.net/partition-voices-kb-vaid.html K.B. Vaid talking vividly about living through communal riots in Dinga, W. Punjab, and how this was reflected in his Partition novel, 'The Broken Mirror']


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:Hindi-language writers]]
[[Category:Hindi-language Indian writers]]
[[Category:Indian diarists]]
[[Category:Indian diarists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian memoirists]]

Latest revision as of 21:30, 23 March 2026


Krishna Vaid
Born
Krishna Baldev Vaid

(1927-07-27)27 July 1927
Dinga, British Raj (now Pakistan)
Died6 February 2020(2020-02-06) (aged 92)
New York, U.S.
EducationPanjab University (BA)
Harvard University (MA, PhD)
Children3, including Urvashi and Jyotsna
RelativesAlok Vaid-Menon (grandchild)

Krishna Baldev Vaid (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) (27 July 1927 – 6 February 2020) was an Indian Hindi fiction writer and playwright, noted for his experimental and iconoclastic narrative style.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Vaid was born in Dinga, in what is now Pakistan. He and his family moved as refugees during the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent, which resulted in the creation of both modern India and Pakistan. Vaid studied at Punjab University and obtained his doctorate from Harvard University.[1] His dissertation on Henry James was published by Harvard University Press in 1964 called: Technique in the Tales of Henry James.[2]

Career[edit | edit source]

He has taught at Indian universities, and moved to the United States in 1966 to continue his academic career. His literary works have been translated and published in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Japanese and several Indian languages.[3] His works include Uska Bachpan (1957) translated into English by Vaid and published as Steps in Darkness, Bimal Urf Jayen to Jayen Kahan translated into English as Bimal in Bog (1974) and Guzara Hua Zamana (1981) translated into English as The Broken Mirror.

Selected short stories in English translation were published as Silence and Other Stories ( Writer's Workshop, 1972), Dying Alone: A novella and Ten Short Stories (Penguin, 1992), and The Sculptor in Exile ( Penguin Books, 2014).

He did the first translation of Samuel Beckett’s plays “Waiting for Godot” and Endgame (play) into Hindi language in 1968.[4]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

After retirement as Professor of English from State University of New York, Potsdam, in 1985, Vaid lived in India for over two decades, and continued his literary activities. In 2010, he moved back to the United States, where he resided.

He was the father of Urvashi Vaid a well-known U.S. based political activist and Jyotsna Vaid an academic based in the United States. He has another daughter Rachna. Vaid was also the grandfather of the performance artist Alok Vaid-Menon.

Works[edit | edit source]

Novels[edit | edit source]

  • Uska Bachpan .
  • Bimal Urf Jayen to Jayen Kahan .
  • Nasreen
  • Ek Naukrani Ki Diary
  • Dard La Dava
  • Doosra Na Koi
  • Guzara Hua Zamana
  • Kala Kolaj
  • Maya Lok
  • Nar Nari

Short-story collections[edit | edit source]

  • Beech ka Darwaza .
  • Mera Dushman.
  • Bodhisatva ki Biwi.
  • Badchalan Biwiyo ka Dweep.
  • Doosra Kinare Se'
  • Lapata
  • Uske Bayan
  • Vah aur main
  • Khali Kitab Ka jadoo
  • Pravas Ganga
  • Khamoshi
  • Alap Lila
  • Pita Ki Parchhaiyan
  • Mera Dushman: Sampoorn Kahaniyan Part 1
  • Raat ki Sair: Sampoorn Kahanian Part 2

Story collections in English translation[edit | edit source]

  • Silence (Writers Workshop, Calcutta,1972)
  • The Sculptor in Exile (Penguin Books, 2014—issue in Modern Classics series)

Plays[edit | edit source]

  • Bhookh Aag Hai
  • Hamari Boodhiya
  • Pariwar Akhada
  • Savaal aur Swapna
  • Mona Lisa ki Muskaan
  • Kehte hain Jisko Payar
  • Unt ka Ujala

Diaries[edit | edit source]

  • Khvab hai Divane ka
  • Shama har Rang mein
  • Duboya Mujhko Hone Ne
  • Jab Aankh Khul Gayee

Interviews[edit | edit source]

  • Javab Nahin
  • Criticism
  • Shikast Ki Avaaz
  • Criticism in English
  • Technique in the Tales of Henry James (Harvard University Press, 1964)

Novels in English translation[edit | edit source]

  • Bimal in Bog ( National Publishing House, 1972)
  • The Diary of a Maidservant (Oxford University Press, 2007)
  • Dying Alone, novella and ten stories (Penguin Books,1992)
  • The Broken Mirror (Penguin Books, 1994,2014—issued in Modern Classics series))
  • Steps in Darkness (Orion Press,1962, Penguin Books, 1995,2014—issued in Modern Classics series)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Nirmal Verma (15 November 2013). Days of Longing. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-93-5118-401-0. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  2. ↑ Vaid, Krishna Baldev (1964). Technique in the Tales of Henry James (1st ed.).
  3. ↑ "Penguin Books". Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "In Conversation with Krishna Baldev Vaid". Penguin India. 10 April 2017.

External links[edit | edit source]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Krishna_Baldev_Vaid&oldid=452244"
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