Panna Naik

Panna Naik (born 28 December 1933) is an Indian Gujarati language poet and story writer who has lived in Philadelphia, United States since 1960. Working in the local university, she wrote poetry drawn from the world around her. Her book Pravesh received critical acclaim and she has published several poetry collections since.

Life Panna Naik was born on 28 December 1933 in Bombay (now Mumbai) to Dhirajlal Modi and Ratanben. She completed her B.A. in 1954 and her M.A. in 1956 with Gujarati and Sanskrit from St. Xaviers College affiliated with the University of Bombay (now University of Mumbai). In 1960, she moved to the United States as a bride. She completed Master of Science in Library Science from Drexel University, Philadelphia, in 1962 and M.S. in South Asian Studies from University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1973. In 2015, she was romantically involved with accountant Natwar Gandhi.

Poetry Panna's poetry depicts the feelings of a woman living in the modern city and a foreign country focusing on "Survival, Identity and Alienation". She also captures her relationship with men, the confusions of married life, hopes and afflictions in her poems which are considered feminist in nature. She draws inspiration from Indian as well as Western poetic traditions. Her first poetry collection was Pravesh (Admission, 1975) which drew her critical acclaim. Philadelphia (1981), Nisbat (1984), Arasparas (1989), Avanjavan (1991), Rang Zarukhe (2005), Cherry Blossom (2004), Ketlak Kavyo (1990) are her poetry collections. Attar Akshar is her Haiku collection. Flamingo (2003) is her story collection. Her poetry is anthologised in poetry collections: Udi Gayo Hans in 1996ni Shreshth Vartao, Qutip in Gujarati Navalika Chayan (1997), Katha Nalinbhaini in Gujarati Navalika Chayan (2001), Galna Tanka in Gujarati Navalika Chayan (2002). Her essay is anthologised in Ab To Baat Fail Gai edited by Suresh Dalal.

Awards She won the Government of Gujarat's Prize in Poetry in 1978 for her first poetry collection, Pravesh (1975). She also won the Chunilal Velji Mehta Award in 2002.

Selected works Pravesh (Admission, 1975) Philadelphia (1981) Nisbat (1984) Arasparas (1989) Avanjavan (1991) Rang Zarukhe (2005) Cherry Blossom (2004) Ketlak Kavyo (1990) Videshini (2000) Attar Akshar Flamingo (2003)