Namvar Singh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Namvar Singh
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Namvar Singh speaking at the launch of 'Aalochana' vol 53-54 (published by Rajkamal Prakashan), at Rabindra Bhawan, Sahitya Akademi
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Namvar Singh
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| Born | 28 July 1926 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, British India |
| Died | 19 February 2019 (aged 92) Delhi, India |
| Occupation | Writer, critic |
| Language | Hindi |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Banaras Hindu University |
| Notable works | Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman, Chhayavaad , Dusari Parampara Ki Khoj |
| Notable awards | 1971: Sahitya Akademi Award 1991: Shalaka Samman,Sahitya Bhushan Samman, Kuvempu Rashtreeya Puraskar |
| Relatives | Kashinath Singh (brother) |
Namvar Singh (Hindi: नामवर सिंह) (born July 28, 1926 – died February 19, 2019) was a very important Indian writer and thinker. He was known for his work as a literary critic, which means he carefully studied and wrote about books and poems. He also taught at many universities. He helped start a special language center at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
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Early Life and Education
Namvar Singh was born on July 28, 1926. His birthplace was Jiyanpur village in Uttar Pradesh, India. He started his schooling in his village. Later, he moved to Varanasi to continue his studies. He attended Udai Pratap Autonomous College there.
He then joined Banaras Hindu University (BHU). He earned his bachelor's degree in 1949. In 1951, he completed his master's degree with a gold medal. He also received his Ph.D. from BHU. His younger brother, Kashinath Singh, is also a well-known writer.
Career as a Teacher and Critic
After finishing his Ph.D., Namvar Singh began teaching. He taught at Banaras Hindu University for some time. He also taught briefly at Sagar University. Due to his strong political views, his time at these universities ended. Later, he became a professor of Hindi at Jodhpur University.
He played a big role at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). He helped create new ways of teaching. He also designed the study plans for students. He was the first person to lead JNU's Centre of Indian Languages. He retired from JNU in 1992. Even after retiring, he continued to serve as a professor emeritus there. This means he was still a respected teacher.
In 1959, Namvar Singh also tried to enter politics. He ran in the general election as a candidate for the Communist Party of India (CPI). He did not win the election.
Besides teaching, Singh was also an editor. He worked for Janyuga, a weekly news magazine. He also edited Alochana, a Hindi magazine focused on literary criticism. After retiring from JNU, he became the Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya. He also led the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation. Singh also helped choose winners for the Jnanpith Award.
Namvar Singh passed away on February 19, 2019, in Delhi. He was 92 years old.
Notable Books
Namvar Singh wrote more than a dozen books. Here are some of his important works:
- Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman ISBN: 978-8-1267-0744-7
- Chhayavaad ISBN: 978-8-1267-0736-2
- Dusari Parampara Ki khoj ISBN: 978-8-1267-1591-6
- Itihaas Aur Alochana ISBN: 978-8-1267-0510-8
Awards and Recognition
Namvar Singh received many awards for his contributions to literature:
- Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award (1971) for his book Kavita Ke Naye Pratiman.
- Shalaka Samman from Hindi Academy, Delhi.
- Sahitya Bhushan Samman from Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan.
- Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar from Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Prathisthana.
- Bharat Bharati Samman.
- He also received an honorary D.Litt. degree from the University of Hyderabad.
