Arjan Shad
Introductory / TSW Citation
Sindhi Language & Literature- Famous Sindhi Gazal Writer – First Doctorate in Sindhi Gazal
Arjan or Arjan who may you spell it. This doesn’t happen usually that a poet or literature scholar have the same vision of looking at the romantic and painful sufferings of life with the attitude of looking at day to day life with same vision. If and when this happens the person can only be identified as the master mind.
This is to true depth and variety of Sindhi literature that we have one such visionary personality in the form of Arjun Mirchandani, most commonly known and famous with his pen name Arjan Shad.
Biography / About - Arjun Mirchandani - Arjan Shad
Arjun Mirchandani born on 17 December 1924 as the son of Gobindram at Sakhar Sindh. He started his literature journey at the tender age of 14 with some romantic poems. The romance went on to turn into patriotism as those were days of freedom struggle for the Indians. His poetic heart get most effected from the pains and agony of partition in 1947 and the forced migration of Sindhi community to India. Like the thousands of Sindhi families, Mirchandani family also went under the struggle for existence and finally get settled in Mumbai. Arjun was collecting all the feelings and experience with his poetic heart and in the year 1957 he published his poem collection all those were reflected through creative writing and touched hearts of thousands of common Sindhi peoples.
How passionate Arjun was towards the Sindhi language and literature it reflects from his choice of topic for his Doctorate the topic was Sindhi Gazal. University first denied but on persistence and assurance from Mirchandani allowed him to go ahead without guide. After completing his doctorate and earning honour of being to first Sindhi who had done doctorate in Sindhi Gazal, he remained connected with Mumbai University. This was start of his career as educationist. During his career in educational field, he kept on progressing and worked in various capacities such as chairman of institutions like NCERT, NFDC and the Sindhi Department in Mumbai [Bombay] University. He had long 30 years of working with Mumbai University.
Besides writing of own he also translated many poems from the Russian language and won the prestigious “Soviet Nehru Peace Award” thrice. His poetic collection “Andho Dhoonhon” not only proved the best seller but also helped him to get Sahitya Akademi Award and the Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar.
His unmatched contribution towards the Sindhi Literature and in the educational field got recognition as he invited to work at an honorary position specially instituted for him in Jai Hind College as Professor Emeritus.
Arjan Shad has also contributed Sindhi through his journalism as he was associated with some magazines like Parakh [Monthly – Editor], Koonj [Monthly – Co Editor] and Lok India [English Monthly – Chief Editor]. Arjan Shad respire last on 03 November 2006 at Mumbai.
We at The Sindhu World feel honored to include this multifarious talent from the sindhi literature and educational arena. We also remember him as guide of two of the employees (Sindhi teachers ) of Sadhu Vaswani High school Gandhinagar Kolhapur when they were preparing for their M.A. in Sindhi.
Date of Birth: 17 December 1924
Died On: 03 November 2006
Literary Contribution
There is much long list of books to the credit of this versatile Sindhi poet and writer but here we are including only some of books which are considered as relatively more significant in his entire contribution to Sindhi language and literature.
Adabi Khushboo
Andho Dhoonhon
Aun Ghityun Jo Gaeendar
Bewas Ain Naon Daur
Dahiyoon Dukh Dissan
Dharati-a-Jo-Dard
Tapasya Joon Roshnyoon
Books Window
Awards
Sahitya Akademi Award: Year 1983
Title of Book: Andho Dhoonhon
Other Awards:
During the long span of literary life Arjan Shad was felicitated at several occasions. Award tally of Arjun Shad reads like
2001 – Life Time Achievement Award by Maharashtra State Sindhi Sahitya Academy
1990 – Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar by Government of Maharashtra
1983 – Sahtiya Academy Award by Sindhi Sahitya Akademi New Delhi
1972 – Soviet lands Nehru Peace Award for literature
Famous and popular Sindhi folk singer Bhagwanti Navani is eventually immortal as she even after losing the physical existence still alive at hearts of thousands and thousands of Sindhi music lovers. Often called as Sindhi Koyel Bhagwanti was born on 01 Feb 1940 at Nasarpur. Undisputed queen of Singing Sindhi Lada (marriage ritual songs) Bhagwanti will always be remembered for singing Sukhamani Sahib (Guru Bani) in Sindhi. She also acted in Sindhi film Sindhua Je Kinare. On 22 Oct 1986 she left for heavenly abode.