Sitanshu Yashaschandra Mehta (born 19 August 1941), better known as Sitanshu Yashaschandra, is a Gujarati language poet, playwright, translator and academic from India.[1]
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.[3]Surrealism is considered as his signature style.[7][11][12]
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.[7]
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 as Tokhar in Gujarati.[7] It was produced by Pravin Joshi, Shafi Inamdar, and Mahendra Joshi.[9] All three literary adaptations were successful commercially.[7] His Aa Manas Madrasi Lage Chhe (This Man Looks Madrasi, 1978) was directed by Satyadev Dube.[9]Kem Makanji, Kya Chalya? (Hello Makanji, Where Are You Going?, 1985) appeared as a radio play was directed by Nimesh Desai of Chorus.[9]Grahan (Eclipse, 1989), directed by P. S. Chari, was inspired by Oedipus.[9][7]
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 Ashvatthama and Grahan are his unpublished works.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 other work. He has edited Natya-Kesuda.[7]
Simankan ane Simollanghan (1977), Ramaniyata no Vagvikalpa (1979) and Asyaha Sarga Vidhau (2002) are his works of criticism, theory of literature and literary historiography.[7]
He received Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati writer in 1987 for his poetry collection Jatayu.[1] 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.[14][15][16] 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.[1][10] He was selected for Adyakavi Narsinh Mehta Award in 2008 but he had declined.[7] In 2013, he won Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar. He received Saraswati Samman (2017) for his poetry collection Vakhar.[17] 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".[18]
^ abcdefghijBrahmabhatt, Prasad (2010). અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ - આધુનિક અને અનુઆધુનિક યુગ (History of Modern Gujarati Literature – Modern and Postmodern Era) (in Gujarati). Ahmedabad: Parshwa Publication. pp. 63–69. ISBN978-93-5108-247-7.
^Upadhyay, Darshana (31 December 2007). "Chapter 6". સર્જક સિતાંશુ યશશ્ચન્દ્ર: કાવ્ય અને નાટ્ય-સાહિત્ય સંદર્ભે: એક અભ્યાસ [Writer Sitanshu Yashaschandra: A Study in Contex of His Poems and Plays] (Ph.D) (in Gujarati). Vallabh Vidyanagar: Department of Gujarati, Sardar Patel University. pp. 772–775. hdl:10603/98131.