Gulzar Honoured with the 58th Jnanpith Award
Renowned poet-lyricist Gulzar on Thursday received the 58th Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, at his residence in suburban Bandra. The 90-year-old lyricist was not able to attend the ceremony in New Delhi last week due to health-related issues.
“The Jnanpith is like the final ‘thappi’ (pat) on a writer’s back,” he said with his tongue firmly in cheek. “I must admit that I had my eye on the Jnanpith. The award is like a lighthouse amidst a stormy ocean.”
Speaking during the informal ceremony, he admitted that he had been hoping to win the award, saying, “One waits for that kind of recognition where your literary work is recognised. Urdu is a language born in India and belongs to us. Most Urdu works are now available in Devnagri script in India, and I’m proud of this recognition.”
Joining him in the celebrations were filmmaker and long-time collaborator Vishal Bhardwaj with his wife Rekha, Gulzar’s daughter Meghna’s husband Govind Sandhu, and some members from the literary community. “Vishal and Rekha are like my children. Of course, my son-in-law was there and my old friends joined in. I could not make it to Delhi, but I’m happy members of the team came down and we could celebrate here in Mumbai.”
In the past, Gulzar has received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002, the Padma Bhushan in 2004, Academy Award and Grammy Award for the song “Jai Ho” in 2008 for Slumdog Millionaire, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2013 for his contribution to the Indian film industry.
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