Makarand Paranjape
Encyclopedia
Makarand Paranjape is an India
n poet
and professor
at the Jawaharlal Nehru University
in New Delhi
, India
.
, Gujarat. He was educated at the Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bangalore
, followed by B.A. (Hons.) in English from St. Stephen's College
, University of Delhi in 1980. Thereafter he joined the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, from where he first did M.A. in English in 1983, and subsequently his Ph.D in English in 1985 on the topic "Mysticism in Indian English Poetry".
, where he has lived and worked. He started his career in 1980, as Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
. He returned to India in 1986, joined the University of Hyderabad
, first as Lecturer and then Reader. In 1994 he joined the Dept. of Humanities & Social Sciences, IIT Delhi as an Associate Professor. Since 1999, he has been a Professor of English at Jawaharlal Nehru University
, New Delhi
, Centre for English Studies.
He has published over 120 Academic Papers in various refereed journals and edited books within the country and internationally. In addition, he is the author of several poems and short stories, over 200 essays, book reviews, and occasional pieces in academic and popular periodicals in India and abroad. He was a columnist in Sunday Observer, Business Standard, The Pioneer, and Life Positive. He is chairperson of the Centre for English Studies, JNU, and is a member of the Board of Studies, the Academic Council of JNU, and the Vision Committee of JNU; the Coordinator for UGC Special Assistance Programme, in the Centre for English Studies, JNU from 2003 to 2008; the Principal Investigator of the Project on Indian Perspectives on Science and Spirituality, from 2006 to 2009. He is the General Editor of a series of reprints of rare and out of print Indian English titles published by the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. He is the founding Trustee of Samvad India Foundation, a Delhi-based non-profit, public charitable trust, and also the founding editor of Evam: Forum on Indian Representations, an international bi-annual, multi-disciplinary journal on India.
He was the chairperson for the Europe and South Asia region of Pan-Commonwealth panel of judges for the 2008 and 2009 Commonwealth Writers' Prize
; he also served as the Indian host judge for the 2010 Prize awarded in New Delhi.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Early life and education
Makarand Paranjape was born in 1960 in AhmedabadAhmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
, Gujarat. He was educated at the Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, followed by B.A. (Hons.) in English from St. Stephen's College
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
, University of Delhi in 1980. Thereafter he joined the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, from where he first did M.A. in English in 1983, and subsequently his Ph.D in English in 1985 on the topic "Mysticism in Indian English Poetry".
Career
Makarand Paranjape has been teaching undergraduate/postgraduate students for almost 30 years. His teaching career has spanned the better part of the globe. A large part of this has been spent in USA and IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he has lived and worked. He started his career in 1980, as Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. He returned to India in 1986, joined the University of Hyderabad
University of Hyderabad
The University of Hyderabad is a post-graduate teaching and research institute in India. It was established by an act of the Parliament in 1974 as a Central University. The university also offers courses under distance learning programs...
, first as Lecturer and then Reader. In 1994 he joined the Dept. of Humanities & Social Sciences, IIT Delhi as an Associate Professor. Since 1999, he has been a Professor of English at Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, Centre for English Studies.
He has published over 120 Academic Papers in various refereed journals and edited books within the country and internationally. In addition, he is the author of several poems and short stories, over 200 essays, book reviews, and occasional pieces in academic and popular periodicals in India and abroad. He was a columnist in Sunday Observer, Business Standard, The Pioneer, and Life Positive. He is chairperson of the Centre for English Studies, JNU, and is a member of the Board of Studies, the Academic Council of JNU, and the Vision Committee of JNU; the Coordinator for UGC Special Assistance Programme, in the Centre for English Studies, JNU from 2003 to 2008; the Principal Investigator of the Project on Indian Perspectives on Science and Spirituality, from 2006 to 2009. He is the General Editor of a series of reprints of rare and out of print Indian English titles published by the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. He is the founding Trustee of Samvad India Foundation, a Delhi-based non-profit, public charitable trust, and also the founding editor of Evam: Forum on Indian Representations, an international bi-annual, multi-disciplinary journal on India.
He was the chairperson for the Europe and South Asia region of Pan-Commonwealth panel of judges for the 2008 and 2009 Commonwealth Writers' Prize
Commonwealth Writers' Prize
Commonwealth Writers is an initiative by the Commonwealth Foundation to unearth, develop and promote the best new fiction from across the Commonwealth. It's flagship are two literary awards and a website...
; he also served as the Indian host judge for the 2010 Prize awarded in New Delhi.
Honours
- Homi Bhabha Fellow for Literature, 1991–1993
- Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, 1996.
- Shastri Indo-Canadian Research Fellow, University of Calgary, Canada, Summer 2000. Visiting Professor, Ball State University, Indiana, USA, Fall 2001.
- IFUSS Fellow, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA, Summer 2002.
- Mellon Fellow, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, Summer 2003 and Summer 2004.
- Coordinator, UGC Special Assistance Programme, 2003 onwards
- Joint-Coordinator, China-India inter-cultural dialogue, 2004–2005
- GPSS research award, 2005–2006
- Australia India Council Fellow, 2005–2006
- GPSS Major Award 2006-2009
- Chair of the Jury for South Asia and Europe of the Commonwealth Writers Prize, 2007-2009.
- Visiting Professor, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, April–October 2009
- Shivdasani Visiting Fellow, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, University of Oxford, Michaelmas Term, 2009 (October–December)
- ICCR Chair in Indian Studies, National University of Singapore, August 2010 onwards
External links
See also
- Indian English LiteratureIndian English literatureIndian English literature refers to the body of work by writers in India who write in the English language and whose native or co-native language could be one of the numerous languages of India. It is also associated with the works of members of the Indian diaspora, such as V.S...
- Indian Writing in English