Satyapal Anand (Hindi: सत्य पाल आनंद, Urdu: ستیا پال آنند; born April 24, 1931) is an Indian-American poet, critic and writer. He has written several fictional and poetry books in four languages: English, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. He has also received awards for his literary work.
Literary
Anand's writing career started in the early 50s when in a span of just two years he published a poetry collection, a collection of stories, and novels, all in Urdu. He had his brush with authorities when the Government of Punjab, India banned his Hindi novel "Chowk Ghanta Ghar" in 1957 and ordered his arrest. His first book of short stories was published in 1953, when he was a 22-year young student. He has been highly praised by the Urdu writers and poets for his best literary work in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and English. He mostly writes poems rather than ghazals.[1] His poems are based on history, mythology or mixed culture of the West and the East.
Anand's English poem "Thus Spake The Fish" has qualified for the award in an international competition by UN sponsored committee for "Earth Preservation Day Celebration." The poem,
THUS SPAKE THE FISH
Thus spake the fish to the dwellers of the deep _ Take heed, O brothers _ How this, our ocean was once clean
How dirty has it become _ a muddy pond! _ Wasn't it but a recent event _ That gods of heaven and demons of earth
Joined hands to churn it up _ In an unholy 'manthuna'? _ Used air blowers to awaken the fire demons asleep in the deep
Fired up a hearth of cascading earthquakes! _ Where was the elixir of life _ Indeed where was it?
What they found was poison _ Poison that broke the surface _ And now boils and broils all life forms.
Where are the nymphs – my sisters of yore _ That played with the waves? _ Thus spake the half-dead fish
To the half-dead dwellers of the deep. _ Take heed, my friends _ We're but dead already.
The demons and gods have used a ruse _ To churn up the ocean _ And to turn it into a mud heap.
Awards
Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship for his book Promises to Keep; Ahmad Adaya
Urdu Markaz Award, Los Angeles
Shiromani Sahityakar Award by the Government of Punjab, India
Bibliography
Short stories
Jeeney Key Liye
Apney Markaz Ki Taraf
Dil Ki Basti
Apni Apni Zanjeer
Patthar Ki Saleeb
Novels
Aahat
Chowk Ghanta Ghar
Ishq Maut Aur Zindagi
Shehr Ka Ek Din
Urdu poetry
Dast e Barg
Waqt La Waqt
Aaney Wali Sahar Band Khirki Hai
Lahu Bolta Hai
Mustaqbil aa Mujh Se Mil
Aakhri Chattan Tak
Mujhay Kar Vida
Mere Andar Ek Samandar
Meri Muntakhab Nazme
Byaz e Umr
Books in Hindi
Yug Ki Awaz
Painter Bawrie
Azadi Ki Pukar, Bhoori
Dil Ki Basti
Chowk Ghanta Ghar
Geet Aur Ghazles
Ghazlon Ka Guldasta
In Punjabi
Saver Dopeher Shaam
Makhu Mittha
Ghazal Ghazal Darya
Ghazal Ghazal Sagar
Ghazal Ghazal Leher
Rajneetak Chetana Ate Sutantarta Sangraam
In English
The Dream Weaver
A Vagrant Mirror
One Hundred Buddha
If Winter Comes
Sunset Strands
Some shallow, some deep
Life's a tale