Ashok Vajpeyi
{{Short description|Indian Hindi-language poet, essayist and literary-cultural critic}}
{{hatnote|Not to be confused with Ashok Bajpai.}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Ashok Vajpeyi
| image = Ashok Vajpeyi.jpg
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| caption = With his books at a seminar in IGNOU| pseudonym =
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| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1941}}
| birth_place = Durg, Central Provinces and Berar, British India
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| death_place = | resting_place = | occupation =Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi India's National Academy of Arts (2008–2011), poet, essayist, literary-cultural critic | language = Hindi| nationality = | ethnicity = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | period = | genre = | subject = | movement = | notableworks = | spouse = | partner = | children = | relatives = | influences = | influenced = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = | portaldisp = }}
Ashok Vajpeyi (born 1941) is an Indian Hindi-language poet, essayist, literary-cultural critic, apart from being a noted cultural and arts administrator, and a former civil servant. He was chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi India's National Academy of Arts, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India, 2008–2011.{{cite web|title=General Council Members |url=http://www.lalitkala.gov.in/history/up-coming-events/gc-members.html |publisher=Lalit Kala Akademi website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715182953/http://lalitkala.gov.in/history/up-coming-events/gc-members.html |archive-date=15 July 2014 }}{{cite web |title=The Word: Ashok Vajpeyi , Poet and former chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main51.asp?filename=hu030312The_word.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203173943/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main51.asp?filename=hu030312The_word.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 February 2013 |date=3 March 2012 |publisher=Tehelka Magazine, Vol 9, Issue 09, Dated }} He has published over 23 books of poetry, criticism and art, and was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award given by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, in 1994 for his poetry collection, Kahin Nahin Wahin.{{cite web |title=Ashok Vajpeyi |url=http://jaipurliteraturefestival.org/ashok-vajpeyi/ |publisher=Jaipur Literature Festival |access-date=27 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117134613/http://jaipurliteraturefestival.org/ashok-vajpeyi/ |archive-date=17 November 2011 |url-status=dead }} His notable poetry collections include, Shaher Ab Bhi Sambhavana Hai (1966), Tatpurush (1986), Bahuri Akela (1992), Ibarat Se Giri Matrayen, Ummeed ka Doosra Naam (2004) and Vivaksha (2006), besides this he has also published works on literary and art criticism: Filhal, Kuchh Poorvagrah, Samay se Bahar, Kavita ka Galp and Sidhiyan Shuru ho Gayi Hain. He is generally seen as part of the old Delhi-centric literary-cultural establishment consisting of bureaucrat-poets and academicians like Sitakanta Mahapatra, Keki Daruwalla, J.P.Das, Gopi Chand Narang, Indra Nath Choudhari and K.Satchidanandan.{{cite news|last1=Amit Prakash|first1=Y.P. Rajesh|title=The Literary Mafia|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/The-Literary-Mafia/200102|work=Outlook Magazine|date=1 Nov 1995}}
Career
Vajpeyi received his master's degree (MA English) from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi{{cite web |url= https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-cultural-impact/article4860402 |title=A Cultural Impact|website=The Hindu }} and joined the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) in Madhya Pradesh (MP), in 1965. He was patronized by Indian National Congress leader Arjun Singh, and became the state's culture secretary when Singh became the Chief Minister of MP. As the culture secretary, he set up 11 cultural institutions, and made decisions regarding appointment of trustees and office-bearers of these institutions. This made him an influential figure within MP. In 1980s, he gained national recognition, starting with the establishment of Bharat Bhavan, which was inaugurated by prime minister Indira Gandhi. Vajpeyi lost his powerful position in MP, when Congress' rival Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the state. In 1990, the Sunder Lal Patwa government transferred him to the state Revenue Board.{{cite journal |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/the-literary-mafia/200102 |title=The Literary Mafia |author=Amit Prakash and Y. P. Rajesh |journal=Outlook |date=1 November 1995 }}
Over the years he served Secretary of Culture, Union Ministry of Culture, and as Vice-Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya; trustee, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA); member, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), and executive board member of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.{{cite news |title=Ashok Vajpeyi Lalit Kala Akademi pro-tem chief |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/23/stories/2008022357390100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227222401/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/23/stories/2008022357390100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 February 2008 |work=The Hindu |date=23 February 2008 }} He has won the Dayavati Modi Kavi Shekhar Samman, 1994, and the Kabir Samman (2006). His work has been translated into many Indian languages, besides in English, French, and Polish.{{cite web |title=Play: Ashok Vajpeyi|url=http://www.ou.edu/worldlit/11_2010/vajpeyi.html |publisher=World Literature Today, University of Oklahoma }} After being appointed a pro-tem Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi India's National Academy of Arts, he was subsequently appointed as its regular chairman, in April 2008, till December 2011.{{cite web |title=Ashok Vajpeyi becomes chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=37735 |date=22 April 2008 |publisher=Ministry of Culture}}
After his retirement from IAS, he has lived in Delhi.{{cite news |title=Arty soul: Lalit Kala Akademi Chairman Ashok Vajpeyi..|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/12/24/stories/2010122450810500.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125121959/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/12/24/stories/2010122450810500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2013 |work=The Hindu |date=24 December 2010 }}
Protest and return of awards
On 7 October 2015 it was reported that Vajpeyi returned his Sahitya Akademi Award supporting "the right to dissent" and protesting recent murders of writers.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/after-nayantara-sahgal-ashok-vajpeyi-returns-sahitya-akademi-award/story-pn50XQ2QGW5kU3mnH30GPO.html|title=Now, Ashok Vajpeyi returns Sahitya Akademi award, slams PM Modi|publisher=Hindustan Times| date=7 October 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sahitya-akademi-awardee-ashok-vajpeyi-on-why-they-returned/article7743868.ece?ref=relatedNews|title=Why we returned Sahitya Akademi awards|work=The Hindu| date=10 October 2015}} On 20 January 2016, Ashok decided to return D.Litt. given to him by University of Hyderabad in protest against the "Anti-Dalit" attitude of authorities which has allegedly driven a Dalit student Rohith Vemula to commit suicide.{{cite web|title=Writer Ashok Vajpeyi returns D Litt degree in protest against Rohith Vemula's suicide|date=19 January 2016 |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/awardwapsi-returns-writer-ashok-vajpeyi-returns-d-litt-degree-in-protest-against-rohith-vemulas-suicide_1846897.html|publisher=Zeenews.com|access-date=20 January 2016}}
Works
- Kahin Nahin Vahin (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-267-0547-7}}.
- Jo Nahin Hai (Hindi). Kitabghar Prakashan, 1996. {{ISBN|81-7016-349-8}}.
- Seediyan Suroo Ho Gayee Hain (Hindi). Vani Prakashan, 1996. {{ISBN|81-7055-498-5}}.
- Ek Patang Anant Mein (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-267-1047-0}}.
- Samay Ke Pass Samay (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-7178-972-2}}.
- Kavita Ka Galpa (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-7119-272-6}}.
- Dukh Chitthirasa Hai (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|978-81-267-1506-0}}.
- Umang (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-267-0979-0}}.
- Pao Bhar Jeera Mein Brahambhoj (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-267-0533-7}}.
- Kuch Purvgrah (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-267-0546-9}}.
- Sanshaya Ke Saaye (Hindi). Bhartiya Jnanpith. {{ISBN|81-263-1417-6}}.
- Kavita Ka Janpad (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-7119-116-9}}.
- Ujala Ek Mandir Banati Hai (Hindi). Rajpal And Sons, {{ISBN|81-7028-631-X}}.
- Avignon. Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-7178-431-3}}.
- Punarwasu (S.) (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|978-81-267-1454-4}}.
- Kuchh Rafoo Kuchh Thigare (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-267-0846-8}}.
- Vivaksha (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-267-1199-X}}.
- Anyatra (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|978-81-267-2029-3}}
- Kabhi Kabhar (Hindi). Vani, 2000. {{ISBN|81-7055-716-X}}.
- Bahuri Akela (Hindi). Vani, 2005.
- Ab Yahan Nahin (Hindi). Penguin, 2011. {{ISBN|978-0-14-310160-4}}.
;Anthology
- Pratinidhi Kavitayen : Ashok Vajpeyi (Hindi). Rajkamal Prakashan. {{ISBN|978-81-7178-704-3}}.
- "Din firne wale hai" : Ashok Vajpeyi
As a translator, he collaborated with {{ill|Renata Czekalska|pl|Renata Czekalska}} to translate from Polish into Hindi the works of four major Polish poets: Czesław Miłosz, W. Szymborska, Z. Herbert and T. Rozewicz.{{Cite web|last=Czekalska|first=Renata|title=Lista publikacji|url=https://orient.uj.edu.pl/documents/20745011/0/Czekalska_Lista%20publikacji.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114211751/https://orient.uj.edu.pl/documents/20745011/0/Czekalska_Lista%20publikacji.pdf|archive-date=2021-11-14|access-date=2021-11-14|website=orient.uj.edu.pl|language=pl}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- [http://www.littlemag.com/bloodsport/ashokvajpeyi.html They were here] The Little Magazine
External links
- [http://www.kavitakosh.org/kk/index.php?title=%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%80 Ashok Vajpeyi, poetry (Hindi)] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130415074640/http://www.kavitakosh.org/kk/index.php?title=%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%80 |date=15 April 2013 }} at Kavita Kosh
- {{cite news |title=Cultural crusader |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120429/spectrum/book8.htm |work=The Tribune |date=29 April 2012}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120210132643/http://outlookindia.com/peoplehome3.aspx?pid=5409&author=Ashok+Vajpeyi Columns by Ashok Vajpeyi] at Outlook
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Hindi}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Indian literary critics
Category:Hindi-language writers
Category:St. Stephen's College, Delhi alumni
Category:Indian civil servants
Category:Indian male essayists
Category:20th-century Indian translators
Category:Translators from Polish
Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi
Category:Indian arts administrators
Category:20th-century Indian essayists