Ajmer Rode
Encyclopedia
Ajmer Rode is a Canadian author
writing in Punjabi
as well as in English
. His first work was non-fiction
Vishva Di Nuhar on Einstein's Relativity in dialogue form inspired by Plato's Republic. Published by the Punjabi University
in 1966, the book initiated a series of university publications on popular science and sociology. Rode's first poetry book Surti influenced by science and philosophical explorations was experimental and in words of critic Dr. Attar Singh 'has extended the scope of Punjabi language and given a new turn to Punjabi poetry'. His most recent poetry book Leela, more than 1000 pages long and co-authored with Navtej Bharati
, is counted among the outstanding Punjabi literary works of the twentieth century.
Ajmer Rode is regarded the founder of Punjabi theater in Canada
. He wrote and directed the first Punjabi play Dooja Passa dealing with racism faced by minorities. This was followed by his full length play Komagata Maru based on a significant racial incident in British Columbia's history. Though it lacked professional direction the play generated considerable publicity inspiring theatrical interests in the Indian-Canadian community. His most recent English play Rebirth Of Gandhi was produced at Surrey Arts Center Canada
) in 2004 to a full house.
Among Rode's significant translation is The Last Flicker an English rendering of a modern Punjabi classic novel Marhi Da Diva by Gurdial Singh who recently won the Gyan Peeth, India
's highest literary award. The translation was published by the Indian Academy of Letters in 1993. Currently Rode is member of an international team of translators rendering Sufi songs from Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi
into English; the project based in Los Angeles
aims to produce a large multilingual book of original and translated songs sung by late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the legendary Sufi singer of the twentieth century.
An active member of The Writers' Union of Canada
, Ajmer Rode was on its National Council in 1994 and later chaired its Racial Minority Writers Committee; Currently he is co-ordinator of Vancouver
's Punjabi Writers Forum, the oldest and influential Punjabi writers association in Canada. He has been founding member of several other Indian-Canadian literary and performing arts associations including Watno Dur Art Foundation, and India Music Society founded to promote classical Indian music in North America. He was the first secretary of Samaanta, an organization to oppose violence against women and is now on the advisory board of Chetna, a Vancouver based organization promoting minority rights and opposing Casteism. He has served on Canada Council
and British Columbia Arts Council juries to award literary grants.
Rode was given the Best Overseas Punjabi Author award by the Punjab Languages Dept, India
in 1994. Guru Nanak Dev University honored him with the "Prominent Citizen (literature)" award and the G.N. Engg. College with the "Poet of Life" award the same year. In Canada he has been honored with awards for Punjabi theater and translation.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
writing in Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
as well as in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. His first work was non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
Vishva Di Nuhar on Einstein's Relativity in dialogue form inspired by Plato's Republic. Published by the Punjabi University
Punjabi University
Punjabi University, located at Patiala, is one of the premier institutions of higher education in Punjab, India. Panjabi University teaches and researches in science, engineering and technology, humanities, social sciences, performing arts and sports....
in 1966, the book initiated a series of university publications on popular science and sociology. Rode's first poetry book Surti influenced by science and philosophical explorations was experimental and in words of critic Dr. Attar Singh 'has extended the scope of Punjabi language and given a new turn to Punjabi poetry'. His most recent poetry book Leela, more than 1000 pages long and co-authored with Navtej Bharati
Navtej Bharati
Navtej Bharati lives in London, Ontario, and has published books in Punjabi and English. He was the publisher of Third Eye Press, whose books covered many genres....
, is counted among the outstanding Punjabi literary works of the twentieth century.
Ajmer Rode is regarded the founder of Punjabi theater in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He wrote and directed the first Punjabi play Dooja Passa dealing with racism faced by minorities. This was followed by his full length play Komagata Maru based on a significant racial incident in British Columbia's history. Though it lacked professional direction the play generated considerable publicity inspiring theatrical interests in the Indian-Canadian community. His most recent English play Rebirth Of Gandhi was produced at Surrey Arts Center Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) in 2004 to a full house.
Among Rode's significant translation is The Last Flicker an English rendering of a modern Punjabi classic novel Marhi Da Diva by Gurdial Singh who recently won the Gyan Peeth, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
's highest literary award. The translation was published by the Indian Academy of Letters in 1993. Currently Rode is member of an international team of translators rendering Sufi songs from Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
into English; the project based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
aims to produce a large multilingual book of original and translated songs sung by late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the legendary Sufi singer of the twentieth century.
An active member of The Writers' Union of Canada
Writers' Union of Canada
The Writers' Union of Canada , founded in 1973, describes itself as supporting "the country's authors by advocating for their rights, freedoms, and economic well-being." Its members are professional writers who must have published at least one book through a commercial publisher.The Union addresses...
, Ajmer Rode was on its National Council in 1994 and later chaired its Racial Minority Writers Committee; Currently he is co-ordinator of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
's Punjabi Writers Forum, the oldest and influential Punjabi writers association in Canada. He has been founding member of several other Indian-Canadian literary and performing arts associations including Watno Dur Art Foundation, and India Music Society founded to promote classical Indian music in North America. He was the first secretary of Samaanta, an organization to oppose violence against women and is now on the advisory board of Chetna, a Vancouver based organization promoting minority rights and opposing Casteism. He has served on Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
and British Columbia Arts Council juries to award literary grants.
Rode was given the Best Overseas Punjabi Author award by the Punjab Languages Dept, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1994. Guru Nanak Dev University honored him with the "Prominent Citizen (literature)" award and the G.N. Engg. College with the "Poet of Life" award the same year. In Canada he has been honored with awards for Punjabi theater and translation.
Original works
- Vishava Di Nuhar, prose, 1966
- Dooja Passa, one act plays, 1981
- Komagata Maru, full length play, 1984
- Blue Meditations, poetry, 1985
- Poems At My Doorstep, poetry, 1990
- Surti, poetry, 1989, 1979
- Shubhchintan, poetry, 1993
- Leela, poetry, 1999 ISBN 0-9690504-9-6
Plays written and directed
- Dooja Passa, One Girl One Dream, Visa, Komagata Maru,
- Nirlajj, Chetna (co-author), Third Eye, Rebirth of Gandhi,
- Turi Wala Kotha (direction), Stair to Nowhere (reading),
- The Fragrant Grass (reading)
Translations
- The Last Flicker, Novel, 1993
- Desire, poems, 1999
- One Hundred One Surrealist Poems, 1996
- Bird Talk, children's story 2001
- Calendar Poems, poems, 2003
- Dukh Sukh, poems, 2005
Editing
- Punjabi Poetry of Canada, co-edited, 1980
- Canadian Punjabi issue of the Preet Lari, 1986
- Munch Katha, co-edited, 2002
- Om Parkash, 2005
External links
- Ajmer Rode (Archived 2009-10-24)
- Interview on poetry