Krishan Chander or ‘Krishna Chander’ (English: Krishan Chander, born – 23 November, 1914; death – 8 March, 1977) was a prominent Hindi storyteller. He was a Hindi and Urdu story writer. He was awarded ‘Padma Bhushan’ by the Government of India in the year 1969 in the field of literature and education. He wrote mainly in Urdu, but after India’s independence he wrote mainly in Hindi.
Krishna Chander was born in Gujranwala, Pakistan. Poot’s feet were visible in the cradle itself. By writing a satire on his master during his school days, he got beaten by his father and swore that he would never do that again. But this could not happen. After studies, I tried to get a job in Akashvani but it did not work. In the preface to the story collection ‘Nazare’ which was published in 1939, Shaya wrote something like this – “In memory of Krishna Chander, who was strangulated by his own hands on a weary and sad evening of Gujishta November and died forever. Dropped the pier”.
Luckily, he did not ‘die’, he just became half-dead and soon left the job and was declared sane. During this period, Krishna Chander wrote some plays, stories and novels. ‘Shikast’ can be placed at the top in this list which made him famous as a storyteller of different styles. By the way, Krishna Chander’s literary journey starts with ‘Jehlum Par Naav Mein’. In it, the character is crossing the Jhelum river in a boat with two women – one beautiful and one ugly. Krishna Chander was honest even while showing his frustration in the story. He writes- ‘She (the beautiful girl) was crying in memory of a lost lover. I wanted to wipe her tears with the soft delicate petals of a rose and ask her, “Tell me, beautiful one! What is your problem?” Instead I saw that ugly woman’s eyes fixed on my face.
Novels – Autobiography of a donkey, A violin on the sea shore, A donkey in NEFA, Bud of storm, Carnival, Return of a donkey, Traitor, Prisoner of dreams, White flower, Thirst, Yadon ke chinar, Soil’s love, Sand’s Palace, paper boat, silver wound heart, wealth and world, thirsty earth, thirsty people, defeat. Story collection – Najjaare, At the turn of life, Broken stars, Annadata, Three goons, The sea is far away, Ahead of Ajanta, We are savages, I will wait, Dil is no one’s friend, Book’s shroud, Talisme khiyaal, Jamun ka Tree
