Popati Hiranandani


Popati Hiranandani was an Indian writer who authored more than sixty books in Sindhi language during her life. She was an essayist, fiction writer, poet, educationist, feminist and social activist. She made significant contributions to Sindhi literature before and after the partition of India. She won several awards including the Sahitya Akademi Award, Woman of the Year Award, and the Gaurav Puraskar among others.

Biography

She was born on 17 September 1924 in a Hindu Amil family of Hyderabad, Sindh. Her father Ramchand Hiranandani was a forest officer. She was the second eldest of seven children, and lost her father at the age of ten. She studied at Kundan Mal High School and Miran College Hyderabad. In order to support her family, she joined as a music teacher at Kundan Mal High School and Pigit Girls School Hyderabad, while continuing her studies simultaneously. After graduating from Banaras Hindu University in 1943 with a distinction in Sanskrit, she began teaching languages and literature. She retired as chairperson of Sindhi Department of Kishinchand Chellaram College, Bombay. During the last years of her service at this college, she also taught and supervised postgraduate students of the Bombay University.
In 1970, she was nominated as a member of a panel of advisors of the Audition Committee of All India Radio, Bombay. In the same year, she was nominated as a member of the Advisory Board for Sindhi, Ministry of Education, Government of India. In 1972, she was selected as a member of Sahitya Akademi's Advisory Board for Sindhi. In 1974, she served as Secretary of All India Sindhi Language and Literary Association. In 1977, she was a member of the selection committee for Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terminology and in 1979 as a member of the selection committee of the Union Public Service Commission. In 1988, she was the convener of the Sahitya Akademi's Advisory Board.

Books

She authored more than 60 books which include short stories, novels, poems, criticism, essays, autobiography and translations. They include:Aziz Shaksu Ain Alim, 1980, Criticism Belong to a Land, 1991, PoemsBhasha Shastra, 1962, PhilologyBharat Ji Istri, 1963Boli Muhinji Mau, 1977, EssaysChuran Chimkan Chit Men, 1971, EssaysHasratun Ji Turbat, 1961, NovelHiku Pushup Pundhram Pankhriyun, 1962, EssaysHistory of Post Independence Sindhi literature, 1984Hut Tawheen Hit Aseen, 1988, Short StoriesJia Men Jhori, Tan Men Taat, 1968, Short StoriesKabir, 1989, TranslationKali Gulab Ji Sagar Sharab Jo, 1967, Short StoriesKhizan jo Daur Pooro Thiyo, 1976, Short StoriesLearn Sindhi Within 10 Days, 1984Maan Chha Ahiyan, 1965Man Sindhin, 1988, PoemsManik Moti Lal, 1993, BiographyManju, 1950, NovelMuhinjay Hayatia Ja Sona Rupa Warq, 1980, AutobiographyPadmini, 1984Pukar, 1953, Short StoriesRageen Zamanay Joon Ghamgheen Kahaniyoon, 1953, Short StoriesRuha Sandhi Ranjh, 1975, PoemsShahnaz, 1983, Short StoriesSailab Zingia Jo, 1980, NovelShah Sindhi Tahzeeb Jo Rooh, 1983, LatifyatShrimad Bhagvad, 1980, TranslationSindhi Boli, 1981, PhilologySindhi Muslman Kaviyun Ji Hindi Kavita, 1982Sindhi Sahitya Ji Jhalak, 1967Sindhi Shadi, 1988Sindhis the Scattered Treasurer, 1980Tanqeedi Mazmoon, 1985, CriticismVivekanand Jeevani, 1963, TranslationZindah Sa Qaum Rahandi, Essays, 1976Zindagia Ji Photri Zindagi Na Kavita Na Kahani, 1984, Short Stories

Books on Popati Hiranandani

Following two books have been written on life and literary contributions of Popti Hiranandani:Popati Hiranandani Shakhsiyat ain Sanman Parcho, Koonj Publications, Bombay, 1975Paun Phutti Popati, Veena Publications, Ulhasnagar, 1988

Awards and honours

Sources:

Death

Popati Hiranandai died on 16 December 2005 in Mumbai.