Latest news with #BharatiyaJnanpith
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
I must admit, I always had my eye on the Jnanpith: Gulzar
MUMBAI: Renowned writer Gulzar was honoured with the 58th Jnanpith award for the year 2023 for his 'outstanding contribution to Indian literature and the world of Urdu writing' at a warm, informal ceremony at his Pali hill residence on Thursday. In his brief acceptance speech delivered in impeccable Urdu, Gulzar, dressed in spotless kurta-pyjama with a stole wrapped around his shoulders, advocated the need to strike a greater rapport with Indian languages which, he pointed out, sparkle with myriad moods and metaphors and cater to a larger readership across geographies and cultures. 'You can't dismiss Marathi, Tamil, Bangla or Gujarati as regional languages,' he said. 'They boast a rich tapestry of experiences and expressions. These tongues remind those writing in big-ticket languages that they have better writers under their wings.' Likening writing to a game of hopscotch, Gulzar said, 'Today, a poet or a writer will have to draw more marked-out squares on India's soil as we face graver social issues: a decline in secularism, human values, the environment and gender justice.' Lauding the Jnanpith award for taking in its sweep all Indian languages and their varied literary forms and styles, Gulzar said, 'The Jnanpith is like the final 'thappi' (pat) on a writer's back.' He added, tongue firmly in cheek, 'I must admit that I had my eye on the Jnanpith. The award is like a lighthouse amidst a stormy ocean.' Acknowledging Gulzar as 'the voice of our times', the Jnanpith citation praised him for blending the plebeian and the classical in his vast literary oeuvre. In his use of the language, Gulzar has amply demonstrated how contemporary Urdu is willing to adapt and modify to the exigencies of the age we live in, the citation added. The award carried a silk shawl, citation, traditional 'shreefal' (coconut) and a bronze replica of Vagdevi Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, knowledge, self-control and introspection. Accepting a cheque of ₹11 lakh from Mudit Jain, one of the trustees of the Bharatiya Jnanpith, Gulzar remarked wryly: 'Anyone envious of the award amount is allowed to take a look at the cheque only once', even as a serene Buddha, frozen in marble, kept a kind vigil over the gathering. When a friend asked after his health, Gulzar, 90, quipped, 'Jee, thoda nasal irritation hai, but I feel romantic when I sneeze.' The Jnanpith team came to Mumbai as Gulzar missed the official function, held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi last week with President Draupadi Murmu in the chair, as he was unwell. In her speech, President Murmu praised Gulzar's contribution to literature and prayed for his speedy recovery. She felicitated Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharyaji, renowned Sanskrit scholar and the second recipient of the award. Gulzar's close friends attended the exclusive do at 'Boskyana': noted music director Vishal Bharadwaj and his wife, well known vocalist Rekha, Ashok Bindal, Pawan Jha, Ajay Jain, senior journalist Vishwanath Sachdev, publisher Arun Shevte, photographer Pradeep Chandra and his son-in-law Govind Sandhu, an entrepreneur and music buff. Meghna, Gulzar's film-maker daughter, was away location-hunting for her next film, said Sandhu. Talking to HT, Sachdev recalled Gulzar's 'powerful and soul-stirring imagery and his perceptive understanding of human emotions.' 'Shorn of well-worn cliches such as 'husn-ishq', 'shama-parwana' and the hapless 'bulbul' held captive by a ruthless 'sayyaad' (huntsman), Gulzar-ji's poetry displays ample resilience and creative force to tackle contemporary themes,' he said. 'Moreover, Gulzar-ji gladly dips into Bhojpuri, Brij, Haryanvi, Bagheli, Maithili and Punjabi, North India's rustic dialects, to deepen the literary content of his poetry.' Pointing out that the young generation was 'kind of hooked' onto Gulzar's poetry, Divyesh Bindal said, 'He is there on Facebook and YouTube. What I like about him is that he can pack one or two lines with great meaning. It's mind-blowing.' The 18-year-old Gulzar admirer, who is preparing to go to the US for further studies, had come along with his grandfather to congratulate his favourite poet. Cinema experts say that Gulzar's oeuvre is incredible: film scripts, plays, essays, travelogues, short stories, monologues and anecdotes—and, of course, the lilting film lyrics that mirror India's changing moods over five decades from 'Mora gora ang laiee le' ('Bandini', 1963) to 'Bidi jalayeele' ('Omkara', 2006). Gulzar's poems such as 'Kitaabein jhaankti hai band almariyon ke sheeshe se', 'Saans lena bhi kaisi aadat hai' and 'Aadmi bulbula hai paani kaa' have acquired the status of proverbs in the public consciousness, said Jha. Gulzar is currently gearing up to finish his book 'Aamchee Mumbai' on the city that gave him shelter and hope in circa 1960.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gulzar receives Jnanpith Award at his residence
Renowned poet-lyricist Gulzar on Thursday received the 58th Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honour, at his residence in suburban Bandra. The 90-year-old lyricist was not able to attend the ceremony in New Delhi last week due to health-related issues. Gulzar was given a citation plaque, a cash prize of Rs. 11 lakh and a bronze replica of Vagdevi Saraswati by Bharatiya Jnanpith members including Trustee Mudit Jain, former secretary Dharmpal, and General Manager R N Tewari. "We met Gulzar sahab at his residence today afternoon to honour him with the Jnanpith Award. Gulzar sahab's son-in-law Govind Sandhu, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, his wife Rekha, and a few literary writers were present on this occasion," Tewari said. 02:00 Residents up in arms after Gulzar axes tree outside Pali Hill home In the past, Gulzar has received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002, the Padma Bhushan in 2004, Academy Award and Grammy Award for the song "Jai Ho" in 2008 for "Slumdog Millionaire", and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2013 for his contribution to the Indian film industry. Sampooran Singh Kalra, popularly known as Gulzar, is celebrated for his works in Hindi cinema and considered one of the finest Urdu poets of this era. He has also helmed critically acclaimed films like "Parichay", "Koshish", "Aandhi", "Maachis", and "Hu Tu Tu", among others. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Some of his most notable songs are "Maine Tere Liye" in "Anand", "Dil Dhundhta Hai" in "Mausam", "Chhaiya Chhaiya" in "Dil Se..", and "Ay Hairathe Aashiqui" in "Guru". Instituted in 1961 by Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain and Rama Jain, the Bharatiya Jnanpith award has been given to noted litterateurs of Indian languages, including Firaq Gorakhpuri, Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar', Ashapoorna Devi, Mahadevi Varma, Girish Karnad, Nirmal Verma, and Damodar Mauzo. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gulzar receives Jnanpith Award at his residence
Gulzar, the celebrated poet-lyricist, was honored with the 58th Jnanpith Award at his Bandra residence due to health concerns preventing his attendance in New Delhi. Bharatiya Jnanpith members presented him with a citation plaque, a cash prize, and a bronze Vagdevi Saraswati replica. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Renowned poet-lyricist Gulzar on Thursday received the 58th Jnanpith Award , India's highest literary honour, at his residence in suburban Bandra. The 90-year-old lyricist was not able to attend the ceremony in New Delhi last week due to health-related was given a citation plaque, a cash prize of Rs. 11 lakh and a bronze replica of Vagdevi Saraswati by Bharatiya Jnanpith members including Trustee Mudit Jain, former secretary Dharmpal, and General Manager R N Tewari."We met Gulzar sahab at his residence today afternoon to honour him with the Jnanpith Award. Gulzar sahab's son-in-law Govind Sandhu, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, his wife Rekha, and a few literary writers were present on this occasion," Tewari the past, Gulzar has received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002, the Padma Bhushan in 2004, Academy Award and Grammy Award for the song "Jai Ho" in 2008 for "Slumdog Millionaire", and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2013 for his contribution to the Indian film Singh Kalra, popularly known as Gulzar, is celebrated for his works in Hindi cinema and considered one of the finest Urdu poets of this era. He has also helmed critically acclaimed films like "Parichay", "Koshish", "Aandhi", "Maachis", and "Hu Tu Tu", among of his most notable songs are "Maine Tere Liye" in "Anand", "Dil Dhundhta Hai" in "Mausam", "Chhaiya Chhaiya" in "Dil Se..", and "Ay Hairathe Aashiqui" in "Guru".Instituted in 1961 by Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain and Rama Jain, the Bharatiya Jnanpith award has been given to noted litterateurs of Indian languages, including Firaq Gorakhpuri, Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar', Ashapoorna Devi, Mahadevi Varma, Girish Karnad, Nirmal Verma, and Damodar Mauzo.
The Print
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
Gulzar and Rambhadracharya honoured with 58th Jnanpith Award
Justice Vijendra Jain, president of Bharatiya Jnanpith, and Pratibha Ray, chairperson of the award selection board, were also present at the ceremony to honour the awardees. President Murmu praised both writers for their contributions to India's cultural and spiritual life. The event celebrated Gulzar's emotional, lyrical poetry and Rambhadracharya's deep scholarship, with each awardee presented a citation, a cash prize, and a bronze statue of Vagdevi Saraswati. 'Literature unites and awakens society. The song Vande Mataram , composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has been awakening the children of India for almost 150 years—and will always do so,' said President Murmu, highlighting the vital role of poets and writers in India's social and cultural evolution. New Delhi: Gulzar—beloved for his poems sung by schoolchildren and shared in everyday messages—and Rambhadracharya—a scholar and spiritual teacher who has written epics in Sanskrit and Hindi—were honoured with the 58th Jnanpith Award for their literary contributions. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, celebrating two remarkable contributors to Indian literature. 'A poet fulfils the role of a creator. A poet is a visionary. A poet's life reflects the blueprint of India's future, and that is what I have aimed to do,' said Rambhadracharya. The Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honour, has recognised extraordinary contributions to literature since 1961. So far, 58 distinguished individuals have received this prestigious accolade, including celebrated figures like Mahadevi Verma, Girish Karnad, and Pratibha Ray. This year, the spotlight was on two literary giants, each celebrated for their unique contributions to literature and beyond. Also read: Akilan, legendary Tamil writer who fell out of love with Gandhian philosophy Rambhadracharya: 'Knowledge recognised' The event honoured Rambhadracharya for his significant contributions to both literature and education. 'Despite losing his sight at a young age, Rambhadracharya memorised the Bhagavad Gita and Ramcharitmanas by the age of five. By awarding him, the Jnanpith Award has gained even greater prestige,' said Justice Vijendra Jain. Jain also praised Rambhadracharya's philanthropic work, notably the establishment of the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Divyang State University (JRDSU) in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh, in 2001. The institution serves over 2,000 visually impaired students, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes, along with vocational training and rehabilitation services. 'I am happy that my knowledge has been recognised through this award,' Rambhadracharya said. His works include four Sanskrit epics like Geet Ramayan and Dashavatara Charitam. 'I did not sing poetry, or perform couplets, or do qawwali. I did not entertain—I contributed to the national spirit through my literary work,' he said. Rambhadracharya also spoke about Operation Sindoor, referencing the Vedas. 'One Veda was at work during the operation. Those who seek to destroy us must be completely eliminated,' he quoted. He praised the Prime Minister for leading the mission carefully, ensuring no civilian casualties, and added with resolve: 'We shall not rest until we have reclaimed PoK.' Also read: What makes Gulzar effortlessly political? From Aandhi, Maachis to poems on GST, Narmada dam Gulzar: A poet for all ages Sampooran Singh Kalra, popularly known as Gulzar, is a legendary poet, lyricist, and filmmaker who has authored over 20 books and penned timeless songs like 'Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi' and 'Chaiyya Chaiyya,' earning numerous prestigious awards. His work spans literature and cinema, blending simplicity with emotional depth in a way that resonates across generations. Through collaborations with renowned composers like RD Burman and AR Rahman, his lyrics have reached mainstream audiences and transcended barriers of language and culture. Though Gulzar could not attend the ceremony due to 'health issues,' the emotional weight of his work was acknowledged and deeply felt. Justice Jain reflected on how Gulzar's poetry—especially iconic lyrics like 'Humko mann ki shakti dena'—and his shayari have become an integral part of everyday life. 'He has earned an Oscar, a Grammy, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his lifelong contributions to the film industry,' Jain said. Recalling Gulzar's humble response on receiving the Jnanpith Award, he shared: 'I was a songwriter, an artist, but today I have become a literary figure too.' 'Gulzar has nurtured his devotion to literature for decades. He is an artist who has carved out tenderness amidst the harshness of life—Kathorta ke beech komalta ko sthapit karne wale kalakar hain Gulzar,' said President Murmu. (Edited by Prashant)
