About K. Satchidanandan
K. Sachidanandan (Malayalam: കെ സച്ചിദാനന്ദൻ) is a noted Indian poet and critic, writing in Malayalam and English. A pioneer of modern poetry in Malayalam, a bilingual literary critic, playwright, editor, columnist and translator, he is the former Editor of Indian Literature journal and the former Secretary of Sahitya…
Selected Quotes
Poetry & Stories
About K. Satchidanandan
K. Sachidanandan (Malayalam: കെ സച്ചിദാനന്ദൻ) is a noted Indian poet and critic, writing in Malayalam and English. A pioneer of modern poetry in Malayalam, a bilingual literary critic, playwright, editor, columnist and translator, he is the former Editor of Indian Literature journal and the former Secretary of Sahitya Akademi. He is also social advocate for secular anti-caste views, supporting causes like environment, human rights and free software and is a well known speaker on issues concerning contemporary Indian literature. He is the festival director of Kerala Literature Festival.
Poetry
- Anchu Sooryan (Five Suns, 1971)
- Aathmagita (The Song of the Self, 1974)
- Kavita (Poetry, 1977, 82, 84)
- Indian Sketchukal (Indian Sketches, 1978)
- Ezhuthachan Ezhutumbol (When the Poet Writes, 1979, 85, 87, 89)
- Peedana Kalam (Times of Torment, 1981, 89)
- Venal Mazha (The Summer Rain, 1982)
- Randu Deergha Kavyangal (Two Long Poems, 1983)
- Satchidanandante Kavithakal 1962–82 (Poems 1962–82, 1983,87)
- Socrateesum Kozhiyum (Socrates and the Cock, 1984)
- Ivanekkoodi (Him, too, 1987, 89, 90, 95, 97)
- Veedumattam (Changing House, 1988)
- Kayattam (The Ascent, 1990)
- Kavibuddhan (The Poet as Buddha, 1992)
- Enta Satchidanandan Kavitakal, Ed. Balachandran Chullikkad (Selected poems 1993)
- Desatanam (Going Places, 1994, 1995)
- Malayalam (1996, 1998, 2003))
- Apoornam (Imperfect, 1998)
- Theranjedutha Kavitakal (Selected Poems, 1999)
- Sambhashanathinu Oru Sramam (An Attempt to Converse, 2000)[31]
- Vikku, (Stammer, 2002)
- Sakshyangal (Witness, 2004)
- Ghazalukal, Geetangal (Ghazals and Geets, 2005)
- Satchidanandante Kavithakal (Poems 1965–2005, 2006)
- Anantam (Infinite, 2006)
- Onnaam Padham (The First Lesson, 2006)
- Ente Kavita (My Poems, 2008)
- Marannunacha Vasthukkal (2009)
- Bahuroopi (2011)
- Tathagatham(2013)[32]
- Nilkkunna Manushyan ( The Standing Man, 2015)[33]
- Sachidanandante Kavithakal 1965-2015 (Poems, 2016)[34]
- Samudrangalkku Matramalla (Not only the Oceans, 2017)[35]
Plays
- Saktan Thampuran (One-act Plays, 1983)
- Gandhi (Full-length Play, 1995)[36]
Prose
- Kurukshetram (Studies in Modern Poetry, 1970)
- Janatayum Kavitayum ((Poetry and the People, 1982, 84)
- Marxian Soundarya Sastram (Marxian Aesthetics, 1983, 90)
- Thiranjedutha Lekhanangal (Selected Essays, 1985)
- Pablo Neruda (A Lecture on Pablo Neruda, 1985, 1990, Revised, 2007))
- Samvadangal (Dialogues: on society, culture, politics, religion education, ecology and literature, 1986)
- Sameepananangal (Approaches, 1986)
- Samskarathinte Rashtreeyam (The Politics of Culture, 1989)
- Sambhashanangal (Conversations: a collection of Interviews given, 1989)
- Brechtinte Kala (The Art of Bertolt Brecht, 1989, Revised, 2007)
- Padavukal (Steps: Early articles, 1990)
- Kazhchakal, Kazhachappadukal (Sights and Visions: Travelogues, 1991)
- Anveshanangal (Enquiries, 1991)
- Veenduvicharangal (Rethinkings, 1992)
- Soundaryavum Adhikaravum (Beauty and Power : on Aesthetics and Politics, 1993)
- Muhurtangal (Moments, selected Essays on Malayalam Literature, 1996)
- Pala Lokam, Pala Kalam (Many Times, Many Worlds, Travel Writings, 1998)
- Kalayum Nishedhavum (Art and Dissent, 1999)
- Bharateeya Kavitayile Pratirodha Paramparyam (The Tradition of Dissent of Indian Poetry, 2002)
- Moonnu Yatra (Three Travels, Travelogues, 2004)
- Kizhakkum Padinjarum (East and West, Travelogues, 2005)
- Adithattukal (Foundations, Essays, 2006)
- Mukhamukham (Face to Face, Interviews, 2006)
- Darshanathinte Ritubhedangal (Seasons of Vision, Articles, 2010)
- Malayalakavitha Patanangal (Studies in Malayalam Poetry, 2009, 2011)
- Sahityavum Pratirodhavum (Literature and Resistance, Criticism, 2013)
- Anubhavam, Orma, Yatra ( Experience, Memory, Travel, Autobiographical Essays, 2013)
- Vithum Vrikshavum (The Seed and the Tree, Selected Essays on Literature, 2013)
- Varoo, Ee Theruvile Raktham Kaanoo ( Come and See the Blood in the Streets, 2017)
- Kavithayude Lokangal ( The Many Worlds of Poetry, Essays and Columns on Poetry, 2018)
Poetry translations in other languages
- Andha Admi Jisne Soorya Khoja (Selected Poems, Hindi, Delhi, 1987)
- Selected Poems (Gujarati, Ahmedabad 1989)
- Irachasakshigal (Selected Poems, Tamil, Coimbatore, 1990)
- Summer Rain: Three Decades of Poetry (English, Delhi, 1995)[37]
- Voh Jise Sab Yad Tha (Selected Poems, Hindi, Delhi, 1996)
- Nanna Mai Nagara (Selected Poems, Kannada, Bangalore, 1996)
- How To Go To The Tao Temple (New Poems, English, Delhi, 1998)[38]
- Sachidanandan Kavitaikal (Selected Poems, Tamil, Madras, 1998)
- Sareeram Oru Nagaram (Selected Poems, Tamil, Madras, 1999)
- Apoorna Aura Anya Kavitayem (Poems, Hindi, Delhi, 2000)[39]
- Imperfect and Other New Poems (Poems, English, Calicut, 2000)
- Sagar Teerer Kavita (Poems, Assamese, Guwahati, 2001)
- Matra Ata Sparsatei Barasun Diya Megh (Poems, Assamese Language, Compiled and translated by Utpal Datta,published by Publication Board, Assam, Guwahati, 2013
- Herai Jowa Bastubor aru ananya kabita (Poems, [[[Assamese Language]], translated by Utpal Datta, published by Sahitya akademi, 2019, translation of his akademi award winning book Misplaced Objects and other poems.
- Sachidanandaner Kavita (Poems, Bengali, Calcutta, 2001)
- So Many Births (Poems, English, Delhi, 2001)[40]
- Kavitai Meendum Varum (Poems, Tamil, Madras, 2002)
- Peele Pathe Da Supna (Poems, Punjabi, Delhi, 2002)
- Ghar O Anyanya Kabita (Poems, Odia, Cuttack, 2002)
- Tant De Vies: L’Incomplet et autres poemes (Poems, French, Paris, 2002)
- Haklahat (Poems, Hindi, Delhi, 2004)
- Ham Jazeeraun Mein Rahte Hein (Poems, Urdu, Hyderabad, 2004)
- Sareeram Oka Nagaram (Poems, Telugu, Hyderabad, 2004)
- I Riti Della Terra (Poems, Italian, Rome, 2004)
- Suruatem (Poems, Hindi, 2005)
- Stammer and Other Poems (Poems, English, 2005)
- Ich Glaube Nicht An Grenzen (Poems, German, 2006)
- Luknat (Poems, Urdu, 2008)
- How Did Mayakovsky Commit Suicide (Poems, Arabic, 2009)
- While I Write (Poems, English, 2011)[41]
- Rogha Danta (Selected Poems, Irish, 2012)[42]
- K Satchidanandanyanchi Kavita (Marathi, 2013)
- Misplaced Objects and Other Poems (English, 2014)
- While I Write (Poems, Chinese, 2015)
- The Missing Rib ( Poems, English, 1965-2015, 2016)[43]
Prose translation in other languages
- Marxiya Azagiyar (Marxian Aesthetics, Tamil, 1986)
- Bharatiya Sahitya: Sthapanayem Aur Prasthavanayem (Indian Literature : Positions and Propositions, 2003)
Original works in English
- Indian Literature: Positions and Propositions (Essays in Indian Literature, Delhi, 1999)[44]
- Authors, Texts, Issues (Essays in Indian Literature, Delhi 2002)
- Indian Literature Paradigms and Perspectives (Essays in Indian Literature, Delhi, 2008)
- Readings, Indian Literature and Beyond (Essays in Indian Literature, Delhi, 2009)[45]
Translations into Malayalam
Poetry
- Thiranjedutha Kavithakal (Selected Poems of Kazi Nazrul Islam), Trichur, 1976
- Nerudayude Kavithakal (Selected Poems of Pablo Neruda, Trivandrum, 1976; Reissued with more poems from Calicut, 1985, 1987, 1998)
- Jail Diary (Ho Chi Minh’s Prison Diary, Trivandrum, 1976, Kottayam 1982, Calicut, 1998)
- Brechtinte Nooru Kavithakal (100 poems of Bertolt Brecht, Calicut, 1985)
- Naleyude Kavitha (Poems by Alexander Blok, Vladimir Mayakovsky and Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Irinjalakuda, 1982)
- Karutha Kavitha (Black Poetry from Three Continents, Badagara, 1982, 2012)
- Latin American Kavithal (Poetry from Latin America, Guruvayur, 1982)
- Maoyude Kavithakal (Mao Zedong’s Poems, Kottayam, 1984)
- Kavithaparyadanangal (Poetry from Across the World, Ernakulam, 1986)
- Pathu Naveena Kavikal (Ten Modern Poets: Cesar Vallejo, Federico García Lorca, Giuseppe Ungaretti, Eugenio Montale, Yehuda Amichai, Chairil Anwar, Zbigniew Herbert, Attila József, Nazim Hikmet, Lu Hsun - Payyannur, 1989, Reissued as Oliyum Palunkum with two more poets, Wisława Szymborska and Mahmoud Darwish, Trivandrum, 2009)
- Nooru Russian Kavithakal (100 Russian Poems, Calicut, 1989)
- Samakaleena Hindi Kavitha (Contemporary Hindi Poetry, Calicut, 1989)
- Magadha (Shrikant Verma’s Long Hindi Poem, Magadh, Calicut, 1990)
- Muppathu Indian Kavayathrikal (30 Indian Women Poets, calicut, 1990)
- Vakkukalude Akasham (Sitakant Mahapatra’s Oriya poems, Sabdara Akash, Delhi,1999)
- Urangunnavarkkulla Kathukal (Modern Swedish Poetry, Kottayam, 2007)
- Padinjaran Kavitha (Collected Translations, Vol 1. European Poetry, Calicut, 2008)
- Kettiyitta Koladu (The Last Poems of Kamala Das from Closure, Kottayam, 2010)
- Maram (Translation of Safdar Hashmi’s Tree, Poetry for children, Trivandrum, 2010)
- Moonnam Loka Kavitha (Collected Translations, Vol. 2. Third World Poetry, Calicut), 2012
- Indian Kavitha (Collected Poems, Vol.3. Indian Poetry, Calicut, 2014)
- Palaloka Kavitha (Collected Poems, Vol. 4. Poetry from Around the World, Calicut, 2014)
Plays
- Lukkallassinte Vicharana (Bertolt Brecht’s The Trial of Lucullus, in TWO BRECHT PLAYS, Trichur, 1978)
- Ezhu Laghunadakangal (Seven Short Plays by W. B. Yeats, Bertolt Brecht and Ben Caldwell, Delhi, 2010)
Works on K. Satchidanandan
In Malayalam
- Satchidanandante Lokangal : (The Worlds of Satchidanandan) : Essays on the poet's works
- Navasargam M. Leelavathy (A Chapter on the Poet)
- Haritha Niroopanam Malayalathil - Ed. G. Madhusudanan (An eco-aesthetic study on the poem, Ezhimala)
- Bible Adhunika Kavithayil - Fr. Joseph Cheeran (A l00-page Chapter on Bible and Satchidanandan’s Poetry)
- Sambhashanangal Conversations with Satchidanandan
- Mukhamukham Collection of Interviews with Satchidanandan
- Grandhalokam a festschrift on Satchidanandan
In English
- Malayalam Literary Survey : Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Trichur (Article ‘Under the Bodhi Tree : A Study of the Images of Thathagatha in Satchidanandan's poems’ by A. R. Vijayaraghavan
- Making it New : IIAS, Shimla 1995 : E.V. Ramakrishnan (Chapter ‘Living on the Faultline : The Poetry of Satchidanandan; with Interview)
- Indian Review of Books, Chennai, 8 Dec–Jan.1998–99. Review Article, ‘Sensitive Reflections’ by Pramod Menon
- The Book Review, Delhi, April 2001, Review Article, ‘The Dialectic of Poetry’ by E. V. Ramakrishnan
- World Literature Today, Minnesota, Spring 2002, Review Article, ‘So Many Births’ by John Oliver Perry
- Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 4 Oct 2003, Article ‘Reminiscences of a Poet’ by Lakshmee Rajeev
- GBD’s of Assam Letters, Guwahati, 2004, Article ‘Reflection’s on Life’ by Jaykanta Sharma
- How To Go To The Tao Temple, Delhi, 1998, ‘Modernism and Beyond’, Interview by Makarand Paranjape
- The Gulf Today, Dubai, 24 May 2001, ‘Packaging Exotic Life’, Article by Rajeev Poduval
- The Creative Mind, Delhi, July–Sept. 2004, ‘Master Magician in Literature’, Interview and article by Sujata Chowdhuri
- About Poetry, About Life, Author's essay on his life and work in While I Write (Harper-Collins, Delhi, 2011)
- A Conversation with Satchidanandan (Interview with Rizio Raj) in Misplaced Objects and Other Poems (Sahitya Akademi, Delhi, 2014)[46]
In German
- Literatur Nachrichten, Frankfurt, February 2006 ‘Auch nach Tagore line Mange intelligentes Schariben’, Interview
- Ich Glaube Nicht An Grenzen, Frankfurt, 2006, Introduction, Interview
In French
- Visions et révisions (Introduction); Genèse; L'homme qui se souvenait de tout; in Digraphe no. 80/81, 1997
- Les survivants; in Europe vol. 80, no. 883-884, 2002
- Tant de vies: L’incomplet et autres poèmes, Editions Caractères, Paris, 2002, introd. et trad. Martine Chemana
- Ragmala - Anthologie, Anne Cestaing (ed.) L'Asiathèque - Langues & Mondes, Paris, 2005: Introd. article and Extract
In Italian
- India, Rome, 2002, 2 Article, ‘Poesia di Satchidanandan’ by Antonio Menniti Ippolito
- I Riti Della Terra, Castelvecchi, Rome, Feb. 2005, Introduction ‘Tradurre Versi’ by Giulia Gatti
K. Satchidanandan: Quick Answers
Who is K. Satchidanandan?
K. Sachidanandan (Malayalam: കെ സച്ചിദാനന്ദൻ) is a noted Indian poet and critic, writing in Malayalam and English.
When was K. Satchidanandan born?
K. Satchidanandan was born on 28 May 1948. Associated place: Kodungallur, Thrissur.
Where can I read K. Satchidanandan's poetry?
Kavishala has 12 poems and stories by K. Satchidanandan, free to read on this page, along with selected quotes you can share.
Poems & Stories by K. Satchidanandan
CACTUS
Thorns are my language.I announce my existence
GANDHI AND POETRY
One day a lean poemreached Gandhi s ashram
HOW TO GO TO THE TAO TEMPLE
from Northern CantosTo D.R. Nagaraj
SAKUNTALAM
Every lover is cursedto forget, at least for a while,
STAMMER
A stammer is no handicap.It is a mode of speech.
THE MAD
The mad have no casteor religion. They transcend
WHO SAID?
Who saidthat waiting is a
SELF
My mother didn t believewhen, in 1945, I appeared to her
GRANNY
My granny was insane.As her madness ripened into death,
A MAN WITH A DOOR
A man walks with a dooralong the city street;
MY BODY, A CITY
My body, a city,my eyes, its cantonments.
IMPERFECT
Imperfect is the summitYves Bonnefoy
Selected Quotes by K. Satchidanandan (चुनिंदा उद्धरण)
One day a lean poemreached Gandhi s ashram
from Northern CantosTo D.R. Nagaraj
Thorns are my language.I announce my existence
A stammer is no handicap.It is a mode of speech.
The mad have no casteor religion. They transcend
Every lover is cursedto forget, at least for a while,
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