Former editor of Nandan passes away

Like the man himself, the pen he had wielded for over half a century probed life on the edge, with its indomitable aspirations and dogged failures.

Like the man himself, the pen he had wielded for over half a century probed life on the edge, with its indomitable
aspirations and dogged failures.

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Rajendra Awasthi, who had edited Hindustan Times group's Hindi literary magazine Kadambini and was an award-winning short story writer-cum-novelist, breathed his last on Wednesday morning. He was 79.

Awasthi died at around 8.40 am at Escorts hospital, leaving behind a legion of readers and admirers in the literary world.
Awasthi's last rites were performed at the Lodhi Road crematorium by his son Reva Shanker at around 3.30 pm. His family includes two other sons and two daughters.

Born in 1930 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Awasthi started his writing career as a Hindi poet with the pen name of Trishit. He made his debut in media with the Hindi daily, Nav Bharat. In 1960 he began editing the literary magazine Sarika before joining the Hindustan Times group as the editor of Nandan, a short story periodical meant for the young. In the next few
years, Awasthi became the editor of Kadambini and Saptahik Hindustan.

Awasthi's writing on the life of tribals inside Madhya Pradesh's forested tracts left a lasting impression on the minds of readers as well as sociologists. These included short stories like 'Lamse-na' and 'Dagarpole' and the novel 'Jungle ke phool', which earned a President's award.

Awasthi earned his place among writers of the pioneering post-independence 'Nai Kahani' (New story) movement. He wrote eight novels, including Suraj ki Chaon.

Awasthi was the recipient of many national literary and media awards including the Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayana Puraskar, Mahadevi Verma Samman, and Sahitya Bhushan Samman.