Kala Prakash

Kala Prakash (2 January 1934 – 5 August 2018) was an Indian novelist, short story writer, and poet of Sindhi language. She authored more than 15 books and won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1994 from the Government of India.

Biography Kala was born on 2 January 1934 to a moderate family of Karachi, Sindh, British India (now Pakistan). She was only 13 when Pakistan was created and Sindhi Hindus had to leave their homeland. At that time, she was studying at Haridevi High School in Karachi. The deep pain of partition and bitter sense of homelessness can easily be felt in her writings. After migration to India, she studied at K.J. Khalnani High School. She got a master's degree from Jai Hind College Mumbai and entered into government service as an auditor. She continued this job till 1977. After getting a Diploma in Sindhi, she joined as a lecturer. During her teaching career, she always encouraged and inspired young girls to take up Sindhi literature.

Her first story Dohi Bedohi (ڏوهي بيڏوهي) was published in the literary magazine Naeen Dunya in 1953. Her first novel published in 1957 was Hik Dil Hazar Arman. In 1954, she was married to noted poet Moti Parkash. She moved to Dubai in 1980 to join her husband who was appointed there to manage Indian High School Dubai. After the retirement of her husband, they returned to India in 2002 and settled in Adipur.

Her short stories were published in various prominent literary magazines including Naeen Dunya, Sipoon, Rachna, and Hindwasi. She also wrote on the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Sachal Sarmast. According to her, Shah Latif should be called the poet of people rather than that of mysticism.

Publications Sources:

Novels

Hik Dil Hazar Arman, 1954 Sheeshay Ji Dil, 1960 Hayati Hotan Reea, 1975 Waqat, Vithiyoon, Vichhotiyoon, 1988 Arsi-a-Aado, 1992 Pakhan Ji Preet, 1998 Samund ain Kinaro, 2004 Oakha Pandh Piyar Ja, 2010

Short story collections

Murk ain Mumta, 1973 Varan men Gul, 1993 Intizaar, 2008

Poetry collection

Mumta Joon Lahroon, 1963

Autobiography

Je Hianre Manjh Huran, 1987

Awards and honours Sources:

Akhil Bharat, Sindhi Boli, and Sahit Sabha Award, 1965 Maharashtra Sindhi Sahitya Academy Award, 1992 Sahitya Akademi Award, 1994 Ishwari Jeevatram Buxani Award, 2001 Priya Darshni Academy Award, 2010 Sindhi Language Authority Award, 2011

Death She died on 5 August 2018 in Mumbai.