Udayan Thakkar (Gujarati: ઉદયન ઠક્કર) is a Gujarati language poet, writer and translator from Mumbai, India.[1]

Udayan Thakker
Native name
ઉદયન કરસનદાસ ઠક્કર
BornUdayan Karsandas Thakker
(1955-10-28) 28 October 1955 (age 68)
Mumbai, India
OccupationPoet, Writer, Translator
LanguageGujarati
NationalityIndian
EducationBachelor of Commerce
Alma materSydenham College
PeriodPostmodern Gujarati literature
Years active1974 - present
Notable works
  • Ekavan (1987)
  • Sellara (2003)
Notable awards
Spouse
Rajul
(m. 1984)
ChildrenRicha, Garima
Signature

His first anthology of poems is Ekavan (1987) which won him Jayant Pathak Poetry Prize. Sellara (2003), his second anthology, was awarded the Ushnas Prize (2002–03). His other significant works include Jugalbandhi (1995) and Udayan Thakker Na Chuntela Kavyo (2012; Selected poems of Udayan Thakker). He contributed to Gujarati children's literature.[2] He is an editor of online poetry portal Poetry India.

Early life edit

Thakker was born on 28 October 1955 in Mumbai, India to Karsandas and Shantiben. His grandfather was a native of Kutch. He started writing poems during his primary education.

He completed his SSC from The New Era School, Mumbai. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce from Sydenham College.[3]

Career edit

He is a Chartered accountant and Cost accountant by qualification.
In 1974 his poem came out for the first time in Kavita, a bimonthly Gujarati poetry journal. Subsequently, his poems appeared in Gujarati literary magazines including Shabdasrishti, Kavilok, Etad, Samipe, Gazalvishwa and Navneet Samarpan.[4]

Works edit

Ekavan, his first anthology of poems, was published in 1987, followed by Sellara (2003) and Udayan Thakker Na Chuntela Kavyo (2012). His poems have been translated into Japanese and English language and been published as a book.

His works in children's literature include En Milake Ten Milake Chhoo, Tak Dhina Dhin and Haak Chhi Hippo.[3]

Recognition edit

His poetry collection Ekavan (1987) was awarded by Jayant Pathak Poetry Award of 1987-88 and also prescribed as a textbook by SNDT Women's University. He won Ushnas Prize (2002–03) for his book Sellara (2003). He is a recipient of Harindra Dave Memorial Award and Best Book Prize of 2003 instituted by Gujarat Sahitya Akademi.[2] In 2019, he received the Kalapi Award given by Indian National Theatre.[5] He received the 2023 Narsinh Mehta Award.[6]

Personal life edit

He married Rajul in 1984 and they have two daughters, Richa and Garima.[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Welcome to Muse India". Welcome to Muse India. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b Shukla, Kirit (2013). Gujarati Sahityakar Kosh. Gandhinagar: Gujarati Sahitya Akadami. p. 230. ISBN 9789383317028.
  3. ^ a b c સુરેશ (3 June 2016). "ઉદયન ઠક્કર, Udayan Thakker". ગુજરાતી પ્રતિભા પરિચય (in Gujarati). Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  4. ^ Brahmbhatt, Harsh; Chavda, Anil (2013). Shabda Sathe Maro Sambandha. Ahmedabad: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir. p. 100. ISBN 978-81-8440-754-9.
  5. ^ "ઉદયન ઠકકર અને પ્રણવ પંડ્યાને આઈએનટીનો એવોર્ડ અપાશેઃ ૩ ઓગષ્ટના કાર્યક્રમ". Akila News (in Gujarati). 30 July 2019. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  6. ^ "ચાર કવિને અપાશે નરસિંહ મહેતા અવૉર્ડ" [Narsinh Mehta Award will be given to these four poets from Gujarat]. Gujarati Mid-Day (in Gujarati). 12 September 2023. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.

External links edit