Kundan Mali’s Solo Recital and Dialogue at Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi

Udaipur – As part of the ongoing Cultural Creation Fortnight, the Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi, in collaboration with Team Sanstha, hosted a special literary evening featuring the eminent poet, critic, and translator Kundan Mali. The event, graced by distinguished guests, was presided over by Prof. G. M. Mehta, with Dr. M. L. Nagda as the chief guest and former RAS officer Dinesh Kothari as the special guest.

A retired professor of English from Gujarat University, Kundan Mali has authored nearly thirty books across Rajasthani, Hindi, and English. His oeuvre includes translations of Italian poetry into Hindi, Gujarati novels into Hindi, and significant works of Rajasthani criticism. Recognized with awards from the Central Sahitya Akademi, the Rajasthani Language, Literature and Culture Academy, Bikaner, and the Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi, Mali has earned a distinct place in the contemporary literary world.

The evening was marked by the honoring of eminent personalities such as Shri Krishna Kumar Jugnu, Manju Chaturvedi, Madhu Agrawal, Shrinivas Iyer, Sharda Bhatt, Gaurikant Sharma, G. S. Rathore, Renu Devpura, Tarana Parveen, Ashish Harkawat, Vipul Sharma, Ambalal Mali, Jamnalal Mali, and Suresh Salvi. Team Sanstha, represented by Ashok Sharma, Sunil Tank, Laksha Pota, Shaili Shrivastava, Pradeep Kaushik, Mahipal Singh Rathore, Deepak Sharma, and Mukesh Dhangar, welcomed and felicitated the guests. A warm introduction of Sharda Ji Pota was presented, followed by felicitations of senior writers and art enthusiasts.

The session began with Gaurikant’s insightful overview of Mali’s creative journey and critical endeavors. A heartfelt welcome was extended by Sunil Tank on behalf of Team Sanstha, and the program concluded with a vote of thanks by Ramdayal of the Akademi.

Applause for His Selected Poems

The highlight of the evening was Kundan Mali’s recital of his selected poems, spanning from his earliest compositions to his recent works. Poems like “Cheenti Sanche Teetar Jai” resonated with social truths, while others breathed fresh life into the idioms of Rajasthani. His celebrated piece “Rukh Bachana” offered a moving portrayal of the role of trees, while another poem sparkled with the charm of imaginative wonder. Each reading drew heartfelt applause, reaffirming Mali’s stature as a poet who bridges tradition with innovation.