14 Facts About Nissim Ezekiel

1.

Nissim Ezekiel was an Indian Jewish poet, actor, playwright, editor and art critic.

2.

Nissim Ezekiel was a foundational figure in postcolonial India's literary history, specifically for Indian Poetry in English.

3.

Nissim Ezekiel was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983 for his collection, "Latter-Day Psalms", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters.

4.

Nissim Ezekiel was born on 16 December 1924 in Bombay in Maharashtra.

5.

Nissim Ezekiel's father was a professor of botany at Wilson College, and his mother was principal of her own school.

6.

In 1947, Nissim Ezekiel earned a BA in Literature from Wilson College, Mumbai, Bombay University.

7.

Nissim Ezekiel published another volume of poems, The deadly man in 1960.

8.

Nissim Ezekiel became art critic of The Times of India and edited Poetry India.

9.

In 1969, at the Writers Workshop, Nissim Ezekiel published his Three Plays which includes Nalini, Marriage Poem, The Sleep-walkers.

10.

Nissim Ezekiel penned poems in 'Indian English' like the one based on instruction boards in his favourite Irani cafe.

11.

Nissim Ezekiel's poems are used in NCERT and ICSE English textbooks.

12.

Nissim Ezekiel is often considered the father of Modern Indian English poetry by many critics.

13.

Nissim Ezekiel was honoured with the Padmashri award by the President of India in 1988 and the Sahitya Akademi cultural award in 1983.

14.

Nissim Ezekiel was the founding editor of Quest in 1954.