Popati Hiranandani (17 September 1924 – 16 December 2005) was an Indian writer who authored more than sixty books in Sindhi language during her life. She was an essayist, fiction writer, poet, educationist, feminist and social activist. She made significant contributions to Sindhi literature before and after the partition of India. She won several awards including the Sahitya Akademi Award (1982), Woman of the Year Award (1988), and the Gaurav Puraskar (1990) among others.
Biography She was born on 17 September 1924 in a Hindu Amil family of Hyderabad, Sindh. Her father Ramchand Hiranandani was a forest officer. She was the second eldest of seven children, and lost her father at the age of ten. She studied at Kundan Mal High School and Miran College Hyderabad. In order to support her family, she joined as a music teacher at Kundan Mal High School and Pigit Girls School Hyderabad, while continuing her studies simultaneously. After graduating from Banaras Hindu University in 1943 with a distinction in Sanskrit, she began teaching languages and literature. She retired as chairperson of Sindhi Department of Kishinchand Chellaram College, Bombay (now Mumbai).Asha, Dayal Dr.; لاثاني اديب پروفيسر پوپٽي ھيراننداڻي, Weekly Hinvasi, 23 June 2019, pp. 02. During the last years of her service at this college, she also taught and supervised postgraduate students of the Bombay University.
In 1970, she was nominated as a member of a panel of advisors of the Audition Committee of All India Radio, Bombay. In the same year, she was nominated as a member of the Advisory Board for Sindhi, Ministry of Education, Government of India. In 1972, she was selected as a member of Sahitya Akademi's Advisory Board for Sindhi. In 1974, she served as Secretary of All India Sindhi Language and Literary Association. In 1977, she was a member of the selection committee for Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terminology and in 1979 as a member of the selection committee of the Union Public Service Commission. In 1988, she was the convener of the Sahitya Akademi's Advisory Board.
Books She authored more than 60 books which include short stories, novels, poems, criticism, essays, autobiography and translations. They include:Meet the Author: Popati Hiranandani, Sahitya Academy, 17 September 1991.
Aziz Shaksu Ain Alim, 1980, Criticism Belong to a Land, 1991, Poems Bhasha Shastra, 1962, Philology Bharat Ji Istri, 1963 Boli Muhinji Mau, 1977, Essays Churan Chimkan Chit Men, 1971, Essays Hasratun Ji Turbat, 1961, Novel Hiku Pushup Pundhram Pankhriyun, 1962, Essays History of Post Independence Sindhi literature, 1984 Hut Tawheen Hit Aseen, 1988, Short Stories Jia Men Jhori, Tan Men Taat, 1968, Short Stories Kabir, 1989, Translation Kali Gulab Ji Sagar Sharab Jo, 1967, Short Stories Khizan jo Daur Pooro Thiyo, 1976, Short Stories Learn Sindhi Within 10 Days, 1984 Maan Chha Ahiyan, 1965 Man Sindhin, 1988, Poems Manik Moti Lal, 1993, Biography Manju, 1950, Novel Muhinjay Hayatia Ja Sona Rupa Warq, 1980, Autobiography Padmini, 1984 Pukar, 1953, Short Stories Rageen Zamanay Joon Ghamgheen Kahaniyoon, 1953, Short Stories Ruha Sandhi Ranjh, 1975, Poems Shahnaz, 1983, Short Stories Sailab Zingia Jo, 1980, Novel Shah Sindhi Tahzeeb Jo Rooh, 1983, Latifyat Shrimad Bhagvad, 1980, Translation Sindhi Boli, 1981, Philology Sindhi Muslman Kaviyun Ji Hindi Kavita, 1982 Sindhi Sahitya Ji Jhalak, 1967 Sindhi Shadi, 1988 Sindhis the Scattered Treasurer, 1980 Tanqeedi Mazmoon, 1985, Criticism Vivekanand Jeevani, 1963, Translation Zindah Sa Qaum Rahandi, Essays, 1976 Zindagia Ji Photri (1933) Zindagi Na Kavita Na Kahani, 1984, Short Stories
Books on Popati Hiranandani Following two books have been written on life and literary contributions of Popti Hiranandani: Popati Hiranandani Shakhsiyat ain Sanman Parcho, Koonj Publications, Bombay, 1975 Paun Phutti Popati, Veena Publications, Ulhasnagar, 1988
Awards and honours Sahitya Academy Award (1982) on her autobiography Muhinji Hayati-a-Ja Sona-Ropa Warq Woman of the Year Award (1988) Gaurav Purasker Award (1990) by Maharashtra Government Aseen Sindhi Award (1990), Dubai Sindhi Academy Award (1993) International Latif award (1990), Dubai Sindhi Navratan title (1993) by Sindhi Cultural Association, Mumbai Akhil Bharat Sindhi Boli Ain Sahit Sabha Award (1998) Sources:
Death Popati Hiranandai died on 16 December 2005 in Mumbai.
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