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Moving from Category:People from Lahore to Category:Writers from Lahore using Cat-a-lot

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{{Short description|Indian writer}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{infobox person
|name=Krishan Chander Chopra
|image =Krishan Chander 2017 stamp of India.jpg
|caption =Krishan Chander on a 2017 stamp of India
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1914|11|23}}
|birth_place = [[Bharatpur district|Bharatpur]], [[Rajputana]], [[British India]]<br/>(now in [[Rajasthan]], [[India]])
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1977|3|8|1914|11|23}}
|occupation = Writer
|spouses = Vidyawati Chopra and Salma Siddiqui
|death_place=[[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], India
|alma_mater = [[Forman Christian College]], Lahore
}}
{{Progressive Writers' Movement}}

'''Krishan Chander''' (23 November 1914 – 8 March 1977) was an Indian [[Urdu]] and [[Hindi]] writer of short stories and novels. Some of his works have also been translated into English. He was a prolific writer, penning over 20 novels, 30 collections of short stories and scores of radio plays in Urdu, and later, after [[Partition of India|partition]] in 1947, took to writing in [[Hindi]] as well. He also wrote screen-plays for Bollywood movies to supplement his meagre income as an author of satirical stories. Krishan Chander's novels (including the classic: ''Ek Gadhe Ki Sarguzasht'', {{translation}} 'Autobiography of a Donkey') have been translated into over 16 Indian languages and some foreign languages, including English.

His short story "Annadata" ({{translation}} ''The Giver of Grain'' – an obsequious appellation used by Indian peasants for their feudal land-owners), was made into the film ''[[Dharti Ke Lal]]'' (1946) by [[Khwaja Ahmad Abbas]] – which led to his being offered work regularly as a screenwriter by [[Bollywood]], including such popular hits as ''[[Mamta (1966 film)|Mamta]]'' (1966) and ''[[Sharafat]]'' (1970). He wrote his film scripts in Urdu.<ref name=Dawn>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1255693 |author=Rauf Parekh |date=2 May 2016|title=LITERARY NOTES: Remembering Krishan Chander and Akhter-ul-Iman|newspaper=Dawn (newspaper)|accessdate=8 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="film-world">{{cite journal|title=Film World|journal=Film World|year=1974|volume=10|page=65|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sHlTAAAAYAAJ|publisher=T.M. Ramachandran|language=en|quote=I feel that the Government should eradicate the age-old evil of certifying Urdu films as Hindi ones. It is a known fact that Urdu has been willingly accepted and used by the film industry. Two eminent Urdu writers Krishan Chander and [[Ismat Chughtai]] have said that "more than seventy-five per cent of films are made in Urdu." It is a pity that although Urdu is freely used in films, the producers in general mention the language of the film as "Hindi" in the application forms supplied by the Censor Board. It is a gross misrepresentation and unjust to the people who love Urdu.}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Krishan Chander was born in [[Bharatpur district|Bharatpur]], [[Rajasthan]] where his father worked as a doctor.<ref name=Dawn/><ref name=TheWire/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/opinion/04-Feb-2014/centenary-of-krishan-chander |newspaper=Daily Times |title=Centenary of Krishan Chander |first=Ishtiaq |last=Ahmed |date=4 February 2014}}</ref> The family originally belonged to [[Wazirabad]] District [[Gujranwala]], of undivided [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], India. Chander spent his childhood in [[Poonch (town)|Poonch]], in the state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], where his father worked as the physician of [[Maharaja]] Poonch. His novel ''Shakast'' (Defeat) is related to Kashmir's partition. ''Mitti Ke Sanam'', one of his most popular novels, is about the childhood memories of a young boy who lived with his parents in Kashmir. His another memorable novel is "Gaddar", which is about the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. In this novel, he brilliantly picturised the sufferings of the people during that time through a selfish young man's feelings, who himself was a gaddar (betrayer). His short stories are the stories of Kashmiri villages, as well as those of displaced expatriates and rootless urban man. He used Pahari (dialect of people living in Poonch) words while writing in Urdu.<ref name=Dawn/><ref name=TheWire>{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/books/krishan-chander-a-salute-to-kashmir |title=From Krishan Chander, a Salute to Kashmir|date=12 August 2019|website=The Wire (India) website|accessdate=8 March 2021}}</ref>

In the 1930s, he studied at [[Forman Christian College]], Lahore and edited the English section of the college house magazine, and was at that time interested in English writings. As the then editor of the Urdu section of the magazine, [[Zia Fatehabadi|Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi]] was instrumental to his career in having got published, in the year 1932, Chander's first Urdu short story, "Sadhu".<ref name=zia>{{cite book|author=Malik Ram|year=1977|title=Zia Fatehabadi – Shakhs Aur Shair|language=Urdu|publisher=Ilmi Majlis|location=Delhi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UR_EGwAACAAJ|pages=116–117}}</ref>

==Career==
His literary masterpieces on the Bengal famine and the savagery and barbarism that took place at the time of the partition of India in 1947 are some of the finest specimens of modern Urdu literature, but at other times, too, he continued relentlessly to critique the abuse of power, poverty and the suffering of the wretched of the earth; but above all he never stopped protesting casteism, fanaticism, communal violence and terror. He was a humanist and a cosmopolitan.<ref name=HT>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/a-translation-of-krishan-chander-s-ghaddaar-that-is-timely-moving-vital/story-kkAwbAARCj9dTTL1xI22iN.html |author=Lamat R. Hasan|newspaper=Hindustan Times (newspaper)|title=A translation of Krishan Chander's Ghaddaar that is timely, moving, vital|date=25 August 2018|access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref>

== Books written by Krishan Chander ==
He has been described as the "author of more than 100 books including novels, collections of short stories, plays, fantasies, satires, parodies, reportages, film-scripts and books for children",<ref>''Advance'', Volume 26 (1977), Public Relations, Punjab, p. 17</ref> which include:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
[[Novel|'''Novels''']]:
# Jamun Ka Peid
# Shikast<ref name=goodreads/><ref name=TheWire/>
# Jab Khet Jagay
# Toofaan Ki KaliyaaN
# Dil Ki Waadiyaan So GayiN
# Darwaaze Khol Do
# Aasmaan Roushan Hai
# Bavan Patte<ref name=goodreads/>
# Ek Gadhe Ki Sarguzasht (The Life Story a Donkey)<ref name=Dawn/>
# Ek Aurat Hazaar Deewanay
# Ghaddaar<ref name=Dawn/><ref name=HT/>
# Jab Khet Jage
# Sarak Wapas Jaati Hai
# Dadar Pul Ke Neechay
# Barf Ke Phool
# Borban Club
# Meri Yaadon Ke Chinaar
# Gadhay Ki Wapasi<ref name=Dawn/>
# Chandi Ka Ghaao
# Ek Gadha Nefa Mein
# Hong Kong Ki Haseena
# Mitti Ke Sanam
# Zar Gaon Ki Raani
# Ek Voilon Samundar Ke Kinare
# Dard Ki Nahar
# London Ke Saat Rang<ref name=rekhta>[https://rekhta.org/poets/krishn-chander/ebooks Books By Krishan Chander on rekhta.org website] Retrieved 8 March 2021</ref>
# Kaghaz Ki Naao
# Filmi Qaaida
# Panch Loafer (1966)<ref name=rekhta/>
# Panch Loafer Ek Heroine
# Ganga Bahe Na Raat
# Dusri Barfbari Se Pahlay
# Gwalior Ka Hajjam
# Bambai Ki Shaam
# Chanda Ki Chandni
# Ek Karor Ki Botal
# Maharani
# Pyar Ek Khushbu
# Masheenon Ka Shahr
# Carnival
# Aayine Akelay Hain
# Chanbal Ki Chanbeli
# Uska Badan Mera Chaman
# Muhabbat Bhi Qayamat Bhi
# Sone Ka Sansaar
# SapnoN Ki Waadi
# Aadha Raasta
# Honolulu Ka Rajkumar
# Sapnon Ki Rahguzarein
# Footpath Ke Farishtay
# Aadhe Safar Ki Poori Kahani

[[Short story collection|'''Short Story Collections''']]:
# Tilism E Khayal<ref name=rekhta/>
# Ekk Tawaef Ka Khat
# Nazaray
# Hawai Qilay
# Ghunghat Mein Gori Jalay
# Tootay Hue Taaray
# Zindagi Ke Mor Per
# Naghmay Ki Maut
# Purane Khuda
# Ann Daata<ref name=goodreads>[https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/3391205.Krishan_Chander Books by Krishan Chander on goodreads.com website] Retrieved 8 March 2021</ref>
# Teen Ghunday<ref name=rekhta/>
# Hum Wahshi Hain<ref name=goodreads/>
# Ajanta Se Aagay
# Ek Girja Ek Khandaq
# Samunder Door Hai
# Shikast Ke Baad
# Naye Ghulam
# Main Intezaar Karunga
# Mazaahiya Afsaanay
# Ek Rupiya Ek Phool
# Eucalyptus Ki Daali
# Hydrogen Bomb Ke Baad
# Naye Afsaanay (1943)<ref name=rekhta/>
# Kaab Ka Kafan
# Dil Kisi Ka Dost Nahi (1959)<ref name=rekhta/>
# Muskuraane Waaliyan
# Krishn Chander Ke Afsaanay
# Sapnon Ka Qaidi
# Miss Nanital
# DaswaaN Pul (1964)<ref name=rekhta/>
# Gulshan Gulshan Dhundha Tujhko
# Aadhe Ghante Ka Khuda
# Uljhi Larki Kaalay Baal (1970)<ref name=rekhta/>
# Kaloo Bhangi<ref name=Dawn/>
{{div col end}}

==Filmography==
* ''[[Dharti Ke Lal]]'' (1946) {{mdash}} story
* ''[[Andolan (1951 film)|Andolan]]'' (1951) {{mdash}} screenplay and story<ref name=cinestaan/>
* ''[[Tamasha]]'' (1952) {{mdash}} dialogue
* ''[[Dev Anand in Goa]]'' (1955) {{mdash}} screenplay and dialogue
* ''[[Do Phool (1958 film)|Do Phool]]'' (1958) {{mdash}} dialogue
* ''Delhi Junction'' (1960) {{mdash}} dialogue<ref name=cinestaan/>
* ''[[Mamta (1966 film)|Mamta]]'' (1966) {{mdash}} dialogues<ref name=cinestaan/>
* ''[[Sharafat]]'' (1970) {{mdash}} screenplay and dialogue<ref name=cinestaan>[https://www.cinestaan.com/people/krishan-chander-1623 Filmography of Krishan Chander on Cinestaan.com website] Retrieved 8 March 2021</ref>
* ''[[Do Chor]]'' (1972) {{mdash}} dialogue
* ''[[Manchali]]'' (1973) {{mdash}} dialogue
* ''[[Hamrahi (1974 film)|Hamrahi]]'' (1974) {{mdash}} story and dialogue writer<ref name=cinestaan/>
* ''[[Ram Bharose ]]'' (1977) {{mdash}} dialogue

==Personal life and legacy==
Krishan Chander Chopra had married twice. His first wife was Vidyawati Chopra, a lady from a decent family belonging to his own community, and the match was arranged by their families in the usual Indian way. They had three children together, two daughters and one son.

Chander later took a second wife, and he was her second husband. This was a divorced Muslim woman, [[Salma Siddiqui]], daughter of Rasheed Ahmed Siddiqi, an [[Urdu]] academic.<ref name=Dawn/> Siddiqui was the mother of a son born of her earlier marriage, and the boy was raised in Chander's household. No children were born of the relationship between Chander and Siddiqui.

Krishan Chander died working at his desk in [[Mumbai]] on 8 March 1977.<ref name=Dawn/> He had just started to write a satirical essay entitled Adab baray-e-Batakh (Literature for a duck), and wrote just one line ''Noorani ko bachpan hi se paltoo janwaron ka shauq tha. Kabootar, bandar, rang barangi chiriyaan…'' (''since childhood Noorani was fond of pet animals such as pigeons, monkeys, multi-coloured birds…''). Before he could complete the sentence, he succumbed to a massive heart attack.

A Fountain Park in the town of [[Poonch (town)|Poonch]] in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] has been renamed ''Krishan Chander Park, Poonch'' in his memory. His statue has also been erected in the middle of that garden.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0151300}}
* Indiaclub [https://web.archive.org/web/20081204050756/http://www.indiaclub.com/shop/AuthorSelect.asp?Author=Krishan+Chander]
* [https://rekhta.org/poets/krishn-chander/ebooks Krishn Chander Books online]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chander, Krishan}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1977 deaths]]
[[Category:Urdu-language short story writers]]
[[Category:Hindi-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:Urdu-language writers from India]]
[[Category:Forman Christian College alumni]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Novelists from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:People from Wazirabad]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Writers from Lahore]]

Krishan Chander - Revision history

imported>Jevansen: Moving from Category:People from Lahore to Category:Writers from Lahore using Cat-a-lot