Sitanshu Yashaschandra (b.1941) is among contemporary Gujarati literature’s most eminent representatives. A much celebrated poet and playwright, he is also a critical theorist, translator and academic. His creative, critical and academic work has received wide critical acclaim in India and elsewhere. He is currently President, Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, Ahmadabad.

He has received National Sahitya Akademi Award (1987); Rashtriya Kabir Samman, (Madhya Pradesh); Gangadhar Maher Samman (Orissa), Kavi Kusumagraj National Award (Maharashtra), 2013, National Harmony Award (New Delhi). Also, Ranjeetram Suvarna Chandrak (Ahmedabad) (1987) and Narmad Suvarna Chandrak (Surat) (2002), Gujarat Gaurav Award (2014). K K Birla Foundadtion of Delhi has recently declared Sarasvati Samman for 2017 for him.

He has been invited to read internationally from his poems ad plays at Paris, Belin, Frankfurt, Stuttgard, Moscow, Riga, Croetia, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seoul etc and natinally at Delhi, Jaipur, Shimla, Chandigadh, Kolkata, Guahati, Patna, Bangalore, Trivendrum, Hydrabad etc.

A Fulbright Scholar and a Ford West European Fellowship recipient, Sitanshu Yashaschandra has a Doctorate in Comparative Literature from USA and another Doctorate in Indian poetic from Mumbai. He worked as Vice Chancellor (Saurashtra University), UGC Emeritus Professor and National Lecturer, as well as Chief Editor of the Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature (Sahitya Akademi).

He has taught, as Professor and Chair of Gujarati, at the M. S. University of Baroda, from 1972, and has been a visiting Professor at the Sorbonne University (Paris), University of Pennsylvania, the Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles), and Jadavpur University (Kolkata).

Publications Poetry:

• Odysseusnu-n Halesu-n (1975)
• Jatayu (1986)
• Mohen-jo-dado (Audio-book) 1990
• Vakhaar (2008)
• Mahabhoj (2019)

Plays:

• Kem Makanji kyan chalya. 1999
• A Manas Madrasi Laage Chhe. 1999
• Khagras. 1999
• Ashvatthama aje pan jive chhe (ane hanay chhe.) 2001
• Nakkamo Manas Chhe Narasimha Maheta. 2008
• Akhaani Olakhaano, 2009.

Critcal Theory:
Ramaniyatano Vag Vikalp. Theory of Form and Play in Literature. Simankan ane Simollanghan. Comparative Literature. Asya Sargavidhau. Genesis of Verbal Art.

‘From Hemachandra to Hind Svaraj: Region and Power in Gujarati Literary Culture’, in Literary Cultures in History: Reconstruction from South Asia. (2003, UCLA Press), ed. Sheldon Pollock.

Translations of poems and critical writings available in English, Hindi, Bangla, Marathi in books by Sahitya Akademi, Raza Foundation and Rajkamal Prakashan.