Nirmal Verma

Born 3 April 1929

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Died 25 October 2005 (aged 76)
New Delhi, India
Occupation Novelist, writer, activist, translator
"for a writer to desire
spiritual security is as
fatal as an aspiration to
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nirmal Verma (Devangar: ; 3 April 1929 25
October 2005) was a Hindi writer, novelist, activist and
translator. He is credited as being one of pioneers of 'Nayi
Kahani' (New Story) literary movement of Hindi literature,
[1]
wherein his first collection of stories, 'Parinde' (Birds) is
considered its first signature.
[2]
In his career spanning five decades and various forms of
literature, like story, travelogue and essays, he penned five
novels, eight short-story collections and nine books of
non-fiction, including essays and travelogues
[3]
1 Biography
2 Awards and milestones
3 Nayi Kahani movement
4 Major works
4.1 Novels
4.2 Story anthologies
4.3 Plays
4.4 Essays and literary criticism
5 Further reading
6 References
7 External links
Nirmal Verma was born on 3 April 1929 in Shimla, where his father worked as an officer in the Defense
Department of the British Indian Government. He was the seventh child among his eight siblings. One of his
brothers is one of India's greatest artists Ram Kumar.
[4]
He wrote his first story for a students' magazine in the early 1950s. He did M.A. in History from St. Stephen's
College, Delhi University. Thereafter he started teaching in Delhi and writing for various literary magazines.
His activism streak was visible even during his student days; in
194748, he regularly attended Mahatma Gandhiji's morning prayer
meetings in Delhi, even though he was a card holding member of
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material pleasure. For a
writer, every place of
refuge is a pitfall; you
fall once, and the clear
sky of creativity is lost
forever."
- Dhund se Uthati Dhun
[5]
Communist Party of India, which he resigned in 1956, after Soviet
invasion of Hungary. The very activism was soon to be reflected in his
stories, which added a whole new dimension to the Indian literary
scene.
He stayed in Prague for 10 years, where he was invited by Oriental
Institute to initiate a program of translation of modern Czech writers
like Karel Capek, Milan Kundera, and Bohumil Hrabal, to Hindi; he
also learnt the Czech language, and translated nine world classics to
Hindi, before returning home in 1968, as the result of Prague Spring.
[4]
During his stay in Prague he travelled widely across Europe, and the result was seven travelogues, including
Cheeron Par Chandni (1962), Har Barish Mein (1970) and Dhund Se Uthti Dhun and his first novel, based on
his student days in Prague, titled, "Ve Din" (Those Days) (1964). On his return from Prague, he was
disillusioned by Communism and later became highly vocal against Indian Emergency, and an advocate for the
Tibetan independence movement. His subsequent writing reflected his concerted relooking of Indian traditions,
which he found to be innately modern, compared with external modernity reflected in the western viewpoints
and cultural milieu, which were being imposed on Indian ethos, all around, so much so that later his views were
confused as pro-Hindutva as well.
[5]
From 198083, Verma served as chairman of Nirala creative writing chair in Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal. In
198890 he was director of Yashpal Creative Writing Chair in Shimla.
[2]
A film based on his story, Maya
Darpan (1972), directed by Kumar Shahani, won theFilmfare Critics Award for Best Film.
[6]
In his popular novel A Torn Happiness, August Strindberg looms large over the heads of many characters.
He died on 25 October 2005 in New Delhi.
Jnanpith Award in 1999, the highest literary award for Indian writers.
'Kavve aur Kala Pani', A collection of seven short stories, won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985.
[7]
Padma Bhushan in 2002.
Jnanapith Trust's "Murtidevi Award" for his book of essays, Bharat Aur Europe: Pratishruti Ke Kshetra
(1991).
Jury member Lettre Ulysses Award for the art of Reportage 2003.
[2]
He was a fellow with the International Institute for Asian Studies.
Library of Congress catalogues most of the works of Nirmal Verma in its collection.
India's highest literary award, for lifetime achievement, the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2005.
[8]
On the publication of his book, "The World Elsewhere", in 1988, by the Readers International in London,
BBC Channel Four telecasted a film on his life and works.
[2]
Chevalier de l'ordre des arts et des lettres (France) 2005
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Nirmal Verma, together with Mohan Rakesh, Bhisham Sahni, Kamleshwar, Amarkant, Rajendra Yadav and
others, is the founder of the Nayi Kahani (new short story) in Hindi literature.
Nirmal Verma is best known for his short stories and his best known story, 'Parinde' (Birds) (1959) is supposed
to be the pioneer of the Nai Kahani Movement in Hindi literature.
[4]
Nirmal Verma's other notable stories are
Andhere Mein, Dedh Inch Upar, and Kavve Aur Kala Pani. Nirmal Verma's last story was published in "Naya
Gyanodaya" August 2005 issue, titled "Ab Kuchh Nahin".
Nirmal Verma experimented vividly with theme as well as technique of the Hindi short story in the 60s and 70s.
A collection of his letters written to Ramkumar (well known artist and his brother) has been published by
Bhartiya Jnanpith, titled "Priya Ram" (Dear Ram). His books have been translated into several European
languages such as English, Russian, German, Icelandic, Polish, Italian and French.
Novels
Ve Din His first novel, set in Prague, former Czechoslovakia (1964),
Antima Aranya (The Last Wilderness)
Ek Chithara Sukh (1979)
Lal Teen Ki Chhat (Red Tin Roof), (1974)
Raat ka Reporter (1989)
Story anthologies
'Parinde' (Birds) (1959)
Jalti Jhari (1965)
London ki raat *Pichli Garmiyon Mein (1968)
Akala tripathi
'
Dedh Inch Upar
Beech Bahas Mein (1973)
Meri Priya Kahanian (1973)
Pratinidhi Kahaniyan (1988)
Kavve aur Kala Pani (1983)
Sookha aur Anya Kahaniyan (1995).
Dhage (2003)
Bold text===Reportage and travelogues===
Cheeron Par Chandni (196)
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Har Barish Mein (1989)
Plays
Teen Ekant (1976)
Essays and literary criticism
Shabda aur Smriti (1976) Literary essay
Kala Ka Jokhima (1981) investigation of the Indic arts in the 20th century
Dhundha Se Uthati Dhun written like a diary on issues related to Hindi literature. Literary criticism
Dhalan se Utarate Huye Literary criticism
Bharat Aur Europe: Pratishruti Ke Kshetra (1991) Essay.
Encyclpopaedia of Indian Literature, 1992, Sahitya Akademi, Page 4503-4.
The lost stream by Nirmal Verma (short story) (http://www.littlemag.com/2000/nirmal.htm)
A Day's Guest by Nirmal Verma (short story) (http://www.littlemag.com/vox/nirmal.html)
Dhage () by Nirmal Verma (http://www.hindinest.com/kahani/2003/116.htm)
^ Ode to Nirmal Verma (http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/06/stories/2005110611990400.htm) The Hindu, 6 November
2005.
1.
^
a

b

c

d
Nirmal Verma, India (http://www.lettre-ulysses-award.org/jury03/verma.html) 2.
^ AUTHOR SPEAKS:"I cater to several layers of sensibilities" (http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020310
/spectrum/book4.htm) The Tribune, 10 March 2002.
3.
^
a

b

c
'He was the modern voice of Indian genius' (http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/oct/26nirmal.htm) Obituary,
Rediff.com, 26 October 2005
4.
^
a

b
Nirmal Verma, 19292005 (http://www.flonnet.com/fl2224/stories/20051202005513300.htm) Frontline, Volume
22 Issue 24, Nov. 19 Dec. 02, 2005.
5.
^ Nirmal Verma (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1168263/) at the Internet Movie Database 6.
^ Sahitya Akademi Awards (http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/awa10306.htm#hindi) 7.
^ Fellowships (http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/awa2.htm) Sahitya Akademi Official website. 8.
9. Noi se i n si l ent cemet er y, Obi t i n The Times of India, by Avijit Ghosh, ht t p: / / ar t i cl es. t i mesof i ndi a. i ndi at i me
Nirmal Verma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirmal_Verma
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Nirmal Verma at Abhivyakti (http://www.abhivyakti-hindi.org/lekhak/n/nirmalverma.htm)
An Interview with Nirmal Verma, 2002 (http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020310/spectrum
/book4.htm)
Nirmal Verma at Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/delhi/salrp/nirmalverma.html)
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Categories: 1929 births 2005 deaths Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award
Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
Recipients of the Jnanpith Award Recipients of the Padma Bhushan
Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Deaths from myocardial infarction Indian novelists
Indian literary critics Indian translators Indian essayists Hindi-language writers Hindi poets
People from Shimla People from Delhi St. Stephen's College, Delhi alumni University of Delhi alumni
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