Prof. M U (Mangharam) Malkani
Introductory / TSW Citation
Famous Sindhi Author – The Grand Old Man of Sindhi Plays – Father of Modern Sindhi Drama – Sahitya Academy Award 1969 – Popular Sindhi Dramatist
Fatherly figure of Sindhi one act play, Pioneer of Modern Sindhi Drama Stage, first generation Sindhi writer in the post partition era Prof. Mangharam Malkani was born on 24 December 1896 at Hyderabad in the Zamindar family of Shri Udhavdas Malkani. This is said that even from the early childhood he had a very little interest towards the works of Zamindari. After completing B.A., he joined D J Sindh College Karachi as the Lecturer of English. This also indicates that he was more passionate about the language and literature than his ancestral zamindari work.
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Biography / About - Mangharam Malkani
To boost his love for Sindhi Language, Literature and culture he along with Khanchand Daryani has established Rabindranath Literary and Dramatic Club in the year 1923. He also founded Sindhi Adabi Sabha. This is fact that Prof Malkani has been felicitated with Sahitya Akademi award for his book Sindhi Nasar Ji Tarikh (prose) but he always be remembered for his contribution towards the Sindhi Drama and One act Plays.
After the partition Malkani joined the Jai Hind College Mumbai and worked there till his retirement. Prof. M U Malkani has worked as the President of Sindhi Sahit Mandal [institution of Sindhi writers, poets and other literary personalities] for long fourteen years from 1949 to 1962. During all these years he dedicated himself as the friend, philosopher and guide of young budding Sindhi writer and poets and become famous as the fatherly figure. His suggestions and constructive criticism have helped to add a new lease of life for the Sindhi language and literature.
This was he, who during the conference of Asian Writers in 1953, where he got chance to lead Indian delegation & Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of India at that time came as guest, he has successfully explained to Dr. Rajendra Prasad, rich heritage of Sindhi language, status and effects of partition on Sindhi language and literature and need for the inclusion of Sindhi language in Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This is different thing that the final announcement about the recognition of Sindhi language was made in the year 1967 on 10 April.
Malkani’s renowned literary creation “Sindhi Nasar Ji Tarikh” [History of Sindhi Prose] was completed more than one decade before it was published in 1968 and for which Malkani was crowned with Sindhi Sahitya Akademi Award in 1969. He died on 1 December 1980 at Pune. Sindhi literature will remember as the one of the most popular Sindhi Dramatist.
Prof Malkani – Sindhi Drama
This was his observation and feeling that in compare to Sindhi poetry and prose, Sindhi Drama are progressing with less speed and even the creative work in the field of Sindhi Drama is not up to standards. He along with Khanchand Daryani and some other likeminded has established Rabindranath Literary and Dramatic Club in the year 1923. Besides presenting translations he started concentrating more and more on his own one act play in Sindhi. During the period from 1931 to 1945 he was also active with Gujarati Theater.
Sindhi literature is enriched with 34 one-act plays and four full-length plays of Prof. M U Malkani and he is remembered as The Grand Old Man of Sindhi Plays and Father of Modern Sindhi Drama. Besides being active with Sindhi Drama he also acted in Hindi Film “Insan Ya Shaitan” in which her lead lady was Jadan Bai [mother of popular heroin Nargis].
Literary Contribution
Besides the Sindhi Nasar Ji Tarikh, some of Sindhi Essay Books of Profs. Malkani are :
Adabi Usool – Jeevan Chahchita – Khur Khubeeta Piya Timkan
List of his popular plays:
Akhreen Bheta – Aulad – Kurro Kalank – Melap – Nalayak Putr – Pap Jo Keeto – Papu Kin Punju – Preet Ji Reet – Samund Ji Gajgor – Tea Party
Books Window
Awards
Sahitya Akademi Award: Year 1969
Title of Book: Sindhi Nasir Ji Tarikh [Prose]
Other Awards:
Many awards, citations and felicitation were showered from the various social and literary organizations / institutions of Sindhi community on M U Malkani whom entire Sindhi literary world looks as pioneer of Modern Sindhi Drama and uncrowned king of One Act play. Do we didn’t able to get complete list of books written by M U Malkani but learned that number of books is close to forty.
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.