Eminent Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh passes away at 84
Abhi bilkul Abhi, Yahan se Dekho are his famous poems
Lucknow: Noted Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh died following a prolonged illness at Delhi’s AIIMS on Monday. He was 83.
In June 2014, Singh was chosen for the prestigious Jnanpith award ( for 2013).
Singh, who also wrote essays and short stories, was born on July 7, 1934 in Chakia village in Balia, Uttar Pradesh.
Abhi bilkul Abhi and Yahan se Dekho are among his prominent works. After working as a Hindi teacher in Gorakhpur, Singh went to Jawaharlal Nehru University ( JNU) in Delhi, where he served as a professor as well as the head of the department of Hindi language at the Indian Languages Centre. He had retired as a professor of the university.
“Deeply sad on demise of great poet- writer Kedarnath Singh. He gave space to emotions of public life in his poetry. He will always be an inspiration for the literature world and general public,” a statement quoting the prime minister said.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath condoled Singh’s demise. “The chief minister said Kedarnath Singh had given a new speed and direction to contemporary poetry. His contributions in the literary world will always be remembered,” an official statement from the CM’s office stated. UP Governor Ram Naik also condoled the death of the eminent Hindi poet.
In his condolence message, Naik said, “Kedarnath Singh had enriched Hindi literature through his works. His literature was for the masses ( jan- sahitya), which will always be remembered. His death is an irreparable loss for Hindi literature.”
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on Chakia, the ancestral village of Singh in Ballia district’s Bairia tehsil, as news of his death started pouring in.
Ramashankar Tiwari ( 85), a childhood friend of Singh, said the latter had a deep attachment with the village and that several aspects of the village had even found a place in his literary works.
Singh’s nephew Shailesh Kumar Singh said the poet had last visited the village in November last year.