Public Domain – Booknomics

India Public Domain 2022: Twelve Indian Authors whose Works are Entering the Public Domain in 2022

Some of our regular readers asked us if we would be publishing our yearly list of authors whose works have come out of the public domain. We usually publish it early in January but this time, it got delayed a bit.

Every year on January 1, the copyright of a number of creative works expires and they enter the public domain in India and in other countries of the world. The criteria for creating this list for 2022 is that the author died in the calendar year 1961 and the work was published before his death. In case the work was published after the author’s death, it will only come out of copyright after 60 years from the date of publication.

These are the Public Domain Lists we have created in the previous years: 2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020,2021

A book in the public domain is now free to be republished, translated, and converted to different formats.

Our primary source is Wikipedia but we do consult other secondary sources if we come across them. Let us know if you think we have made any errors and also feel free to comment on any author we may have missed out.

Saralabala sarkar (1866- 1961)

Saralabala Sarkar was a politically active Bengali novelist, short story writer, essayist and poet who served as a Member of the Women Satyagraha Samity of the Satyagraha movement in British India. Her books of poetry include Prabaha in 1904 and Arghya in 1938. Her memoir, Harano Atit, was published in 1953. Her works were published in journals like the Antahpur, Bharatbarsa, Jahnabi, Prabasi, Suprabhat, Sahitya Pradip, Utsaha, etc.

Sachindranath Sengupta (1873 – 1961)

Sachin Sengupta was a prominent Bengali playwright and the producer and director of theatrical plays in Calcutta, India. He traveled all over the world as part of the non-governmental troupe. His famous plays include Raktakamal, Rashtrabirohi, Desher dabi, Sirajdullah. Like many writers of his era, he was involved in the nationalist movement and his plays are replete with nationalistic fervor. You can listen to the radio play – Yug Yugantar by Sachindranath Sengupta here.

Chandradhar Barua (1874 – 1961)

Chandradhar Barua was an eminent writer, poet, dramatist and lyricist from Assam. He was inspired by the literary works of Michael Madhusudan and is remembered for his kavyas like Meghnad badh, Ranjan, Bidyut Bikash, Kamrup Jiyari and Muktaboli. What stands out in his writing is his satirical stance. He was the second president of the Assam Sahitya Sabha in 1918 and was the founder secretary of Asam Sahitya Sabha Patrika. He also represented India at the Round Table Conference held in London in 1930.

Bhupendranath Datta (1880 – 1961)

Bhupendranath Datta’s reputation is often overshadowed by his brother Swami Vivekananda. He was an erudite scholar, revolutionary, sociologist, anthropologist and writer. Datta studied in Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s Metropolitan Institution and later joined the Brahmo Samaj. He joined the Bengal Revolutionary Society and served as the editor of Jugantar Patrika during which time he built a strong rapport with Sri Aurobindo. He was imprisoned for a year and then left for the US where he indulged in political activities, later relocating to Berlin. He returned to India and immersed himself in political activities. A famous book by him is Swami Vivekananda : Patriot-Prophet. Other Bengali political books by him include Aprakasita Rajnitik Itihas (1953) Bharater Dvitiya Svadhinatar Sagram (1949), Jati Samgathan (1928-29),Yuga Samasya
(1926-27), etc.

Nalam Krishna Rao (1881 – 1961)

Nalam Krishna Rao was an accomplished Telugu writer, magazine editor and social activist. He founded Gowthami Grandhalayam at Rajahmundry in 1898. His famous works include Sri Krishnaraya Andhra Vignana Sarwasvamu and Jateeya Lokoktulu. The Nalam Krishna Rao Memorial Award is given to the Best Woman Writer in Telugu.

Charu Chandra Bhattacharya (1883 – 1961)

Charu Chandra Bhattacharya was a science teacher and Bengali science writer. He was a brilliant student and ended up doing his Masters in Physics at the University of Calcutta. One of his mentors was none other than Jagdish Chandra Bosu. When he wrote, he preferred the simple dialect Chalit Bhasha. In 1939, he joined the publication department of Visva Bharati, Shantiniketan. He published the Rabindra Rochonaboli (Collected works by Rabindranath) and aided Rabindranath Tagore in publishing a series of books to promote literacy. He then started writing more books of the Bishwa Vidya Songroho series and his books featured mostly science. He edited several Bengali magazines and even wrote textbooks. Here is a book by him: Bidyapati O Chandidas: Buy Bidyapati O Chandidas.

Shaukat Ali Khan Fani Badayuni (1883 – 1961)

Shaukat Ali Khan or Fani Badayuni was an Indian Urdu poet. He graduated from Bareilly College in 1901, studied law at Aligarh Muslim University, and started composing poetry in his twenties. He moved to Hyderabad when he was appointed in the department of education. His first collection of poems was published in 1917 by Naqib Press. His other published works include Baqiyat-e-Fani (1926), Irfaniyat-e-Fani (1938), etc.

Rathindranath Tagore (1888 – 1961)

Rathindranath Tagore, son of Rabindranath Tagore and Mrilanini Devi, was an educationist, agriculturist, carpenter, architect, writer, painter and teacher of genetics. He studied at Shantiniketan and then after a stint in Japan moved to the US. Later he returned to India and served as the first vice-chancellor of the Visva-Bharati University. To know more about this eclectic character, read this account of him by his foster son.

Some books by him are available here: Pitrsmriti and On the Edges of Time.

Suryakant Tripathi (1896- 1961)

Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ was truly unique. With a background in Bangla, he ended up being a Hindi poet, novelist, artist and essayist. His life was punctuated by several tragedies- an unhappy childhood, a short-lived marriage, the death of his daughter and a subsequent bout of schizophrenia.

He made a mark with his verse and was the pioneer of the Chhayavaad (Neo-Romantic) movement of Hindi literature (a movement that also included Jaishankar Prasad, Sumitranandan Pant and Mahadevi Varma).His craft was not reserved to poetry- he also wrote novels like Nirupama, Prabhavati, Choti ki Pakad, and Kulli Bhat. There are several stories woven around this poet- for instance, American novelist and translator David Rubin praised Nirala’s poem Saroj Smriti, which was dedicated to his daughter Saroj, and when Gandhi complemented Nirala by calling him the Tagore of Hindi literature, he was not flattered.

R. P. Sethu Pillai (1896 – 1961)

R. P. Sethu Pillai was a Tamil scholar, writer and professor at the University of Madras. He studied law and after a short political stint began teaching. He ended up becoming the Head of the Tamil department. In 1955, he won the first-ever Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil for his series of essays titled Tamil inbam. He was awarded a D. Litt degree and he wrote over twenty-five books. His famous work is the biography of Bishop Robert Caldwell titled Caldwell Aiyar Sarithram. He was also involved in the creation of the Tamil encyclopedia and the last volume of the Tamil lexicon. He wrote prolifically in English as well.

Vattikota Alwar Swamy (1915- 1961)

Vattikota Alwar Swamy is the first Telugu novelist. He had humble beginnings but his love for books led him to fight against the Nizam. A famous book by him is Jailu Lopala about his experience while being imprisoned. His other novels include Prajala Manishi (People’s Man) (1952) and Gangu (1940–45). he established Deshoddaraka Granthamala and published 35 books. He also published a newspaper called Telangana.

Nalin Vilochan Sharma (1916 – 1961)

Professor Pandit Nalin Vilochan Sarma taught Hindi Literature in the University of Patna. He was born to a scholarly family and is credited with having started the Nakenwad movement in Hindi literature. He was heavily influenced by trends in European literature and his erudition had no parallel at the time.

Professor Nalin Vilochan Sharma believed that diction in poetry mattered more than content. He believed in simplicity and found the phrases of the literature at the time too cumbersome. He was also a well-known dramatist and critic. Some works by him include Bibbo ka Bibbok, Drishtikon, Jagjivan Ram: A Biography, Naken ke Prapadya, Swarna Manjusha.

If you have links to any other work of theirs for download or for purchase, please leave a comment.

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India Public Domain 2021: Seventeen Indian Authors whose Works are Entering the Public Domain in 2021

Hello 2021! It’s that time of year again. Every year on January 1, the copyright of a number of creative works expires and they enter the public domain in India and in other countries of the world.

The criteria for creating this list for 2021 is that the author died in the calendar year 1960 and the work was published before his death. In case the work was published after the author’s death, it will only come out of copyright after 60 years from the date of publication.

Check out the Public Domain Lists we have created in the previous years: 2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

What happens when the work enters the public domain? It is now free to be republished, translated, and converted to different formats.

We have collected the data from various sources including Wikipedia and other online sources, some of which we will be linking here. Please intimate us if you come across any errors and let us know if you are aware of any other authors from India who died in 1960.

Sripada Krishnamurty Sastry (1866- 1960)

Sripada Krishnamurty Sastry was a prolific writer in Telugu and the first poet laureate of Andhra Pradesh. His works include Sri Krishnasweeyacharitam, an autobiography in Sanskrit. He won many awards including the Padma Sri in 1958.

A book by the author here.

Indira Devi Chaudhurani (1873 – 1960)

Indira Devi Chaudhurani was born to the Tagore family. She grew up in England and corresponded regularly with Rabindranath Tagore. She was well-versed in Bengali, French and English and used her language skills to translate Rabindranath’s works. Indira was a strong proponent of women’s issues and also had a keen interest in classical music.

Click here to see the book with letters that Tagore wrote to Indira Devi.

An interview: Interview of Indira Debi Choudhurani–Interview by Khitish Roy (1960) – YouTube

M. Raghava Iyengar (1878–1960)

Black and white image of M. Raghava Iyengar from Wikipedia — M. Raghava Iyengar

Raghava Iyengar was a well-known Tamil literature scholar, editor and professor. He worked on establishing the time periods of the old Tamil Poets and focused primarily on the Alwars. He collaborated with Pandithurai Thevar to promote the Tamil Language. He also collaborated with the archeologist T.N. Gopinatha Rao to understand the temple inscriptions of Tamil Nadu. He has authored twenty books including Toklaapia Poruladikaara Araichi, Alvargal Kaala Nilai, Alvargal Varalaru, Kesava Perumal Erattai Mani Malai and many others.

A. Chakravarti (1880 –1960)

Chakravarti served the Indian Educational Service (IES) and was a professor of philosophy at the Presidency College in Chennai, India. He is most famous for translating the Tirukkural, a classic Tamil language text consisting of 1330 short couplets, into English in 1953.

Navaratna Rama Rao (1877 – 1960)

Navaratna Rama Rao was an Indian writer, lawyer and scholar based in Mysore. He was pivotal in the establishment of the silk Industry in Mysore and the Central Silk Board of India. He was well-versed in French, English and Kannada and translated Masti’s Kannada novel Chenna Basava Nayaka to English and Niccolò Machiavelli’s book The Prince to Kannada. He chronicled the lives of the Mysore dynasty rulers and wrote extensively on Shakespeare’s work.

You can read his memoir published by his two grandchildren, Navaratna Srinivasa Rajaram and Rajeshwari Rao: The Vanished Raj: Amazon.in: Rajaram N S: Books

Kshitimohan Sen (1880-1960)

Kshitimohan Sen was Indian scholar, writer and Sanskrit professor. He was the first Deshikottam (1952) of Vishwa Bharati and has the added distinction of being the grandfather of Amartya Sen. Some of his books include Kabir (1910–11), Bharatiya Madhyayuger Sadhanar Dhara (1930), Bharater Sangskrti (1943), Banglar Sadhana (1945), Hindu Sangskrtir Svarup (1947), Bharater Hindu-Mussalman Yukta Sadhana (1949), Prachin Bharate Nari (1950), Chinmay Banga (1957), etc.

If you wish to find books by him, check this.

Rajshekhar Basu (1880-1960)

Black and white Image of author Rajshekhar Basu from Wikipedia — Rajshekhar Basu

Rajshekhar Basu, better known as Parashuram, was a Bengali writer, humorist, chemist, freedom fighter and lexicographer. Even as a child he was scientifically inclined and ended up graduating in chemistry and law. He worked as a chemist and wrote humorous pieces, eventually graduating to novels that received great appreciation from no less than Tagore. He is well-known for Chalantika, a monolingual Bengali dictionary. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1956. Some works by him include Anandibai Ityadi Galpa, which won him the Sahitya Akademi Award for Bengali literature in 1958.

Books by him here: Amazon.in : Rajshekhar Basu

Nathuram Premi (1881-1960)

Image of Nathuram Premi from Wikipedia — Nathuram Premi

Nathuram Premi was a writer, teacher, publisher, poet, editor, linguist in Jain and Hindi literature and a social reformer. He was a clerk in Mumbai and ended up starting his own publishing house and bookstore Hindi Granth Ratnākar Kāryālay which published writers like Munshi Premchand and Rabindranath Tagore.

Kesari Balakrishna Pillai (1889–1960)

Akathoot Balakrishna Pillai, better known as Kesari Balakrishna Pillai, was the founder of the newspaper Kesari and a Malayalam literary critic of great standing. His career as a lawyer did not take off and he moved instead to write for a popularly weekly. He ran his own publication Kesari for four years until he was close. He was well-known for his incisive mind and he introduced world literature and progressive arts to the Malayalee audience. One of his famous works is Outlines of the proto-historic chronology of Western Asia. Some of his books mentioned here: Kesari A. Balakrishna Pillai Books (keralasahityaakademi.org)

Jigar Moradabadi (1890 – 1960)

Image of Jigar Moradabadi from Wikepedia — Jigar Moradabadi

Ali Sikandar, also known as Jigar Moradabadi, was an Indian Urdu poet and ghazal write. He started his career as a traveling salesman but later put to use his education in Arabic, Persian and Urdu to write poetry. He belonged to the classical school of ghazal writing and was a mentor to the famous lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award Award in 1958 for his poetry collection Atish-e-Gul.

You can see some of his work here: All writings of Jigar Moradabadi | Rekhta

Acharya Chatursen Shastri (1891 –1960)

Black and white Image of Acharya Chatursen Shastri — Acharya Chatursen Shastri

Acharya Chatursen Shastri was a Hindi writer and ayurvedic physician. He was born in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. It was while he worked at a dispensary that he began writing and became recognized for his stories. The book that bought him into the spotlight was Satyagraha Aur Asahyoga (Civil Resistance and Non-cooperation). Many of his nuanced historical fictions have been adapted into feature films (take his novel Dharamputra which adapted into the Hindi film, Dharmputra (1961) by Yash Chopra. It also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi). He has also written fiction and essays and some of his writing is centered on Ayurveda- 72 books in all. You can find many of his books at the Amazon Store.

Bal Krishna Sharma Naveen (1897 –1960)

Born in Madhya Pradesh, Bal Krishna Sharma dabbled in Hindi poetry and politics from a young age. He was an Indian freedom activist and post-independence he became an active politician. Some of his anthologies include Kumkum, Rashmirekha, Apalak, Kwasi, Vinoba Stavan and Urmila and his prose Balkrishna Sharma Gadya Rachanavali was published in five volumes.

Kothainayaki Ammal (1901–1960)

Kothainayaki Ammal was a feminist, singer, author of detective fiction and freedom fighter. Her husband and friend were instrumental in her achieving great literary heights as she had married when only a child and was unschooled. Social reform was dear to her and her plays were a reflection of this sentiment. Besides plays, she wrote 115 novels and established a printing press. Many of her novels were adapted into movies.

Sudhindranath Dutta (1901- 1960)

Black and white image of Sudhindranath Dutta from Wikepedia — Sudhindranath Dutta

Sudhindranath Dutta was a well-known Bengali Indian poet, essayist, lecturer, journalist and critic. He studied literature and law and started a literary magazine called Parichay, besides writing for other prominent literary magazines as well. Sudhindranath is one of the most notable poets after the Tagore-era in Bengali literature. Some of his works include Tanvi (1930), Orchestra(1935), Uttar Falgunee (1940), Sangbarto (1953) Signet Press, and others. Some of his poems here.

Sushila Samad (1906 – 1960)

Sushila Samad was an Adivasi Hindi poet, journalist, editor, publisher and freedom fighter. She completed her BA Honors. She edited and published a magazine with social intent and was the only known tribal freedom fighter at the time. Her works include two poetry collections: Prallap (1935) and Sapne Ka Sansar (1948).

Krishnalal Shridharani (1911-1960)

Black and white image of Krishnalal Shridharani — Krishnalal Shridharani

Krishnalal Shridharani was an Indian poet, playwright, journalist and freedom fighter. He studied sociology, economics and journalism at various institutions in India and the US. : His work on Gandhian philosophy was well-known in the US. Other books include The Adventures of the Upside-Down Tree (1959), Story of The Indian Telegraph (1953), The Journalist in India (1956), Smiles From Kashmir (1959) and The Mahatma and the World (1946). He was awarded the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak in 1958.

One of his books is available here.

C. J. Thomas (1918-1960)

Image of C. J. Thomas from Wikepedia — C. J. Thomas

C. J. Thomas or C. J as he was known, was an Indian playwright and literary critic of Malayalam literature. He was born in Kerala and after his schooling, he trained to become a priest though he quit the vocation. C. J trained to become a priest and also had a stint with studying law but could not sustain it. He also taught and worked for a while at the All India Radio. He authored 11 plays and is famous for introducing modernism to Malayalam theater. He was best known for his plays- Aa Manushyan Nee Thanne, Avan Venndum Varunnu and 1128-il Crime 27. He is also remembered for his book designing skills and translations.

Some books by the author are available here.

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India Public Domain 2020: Ten Indian authors whose works entered the public domain in 2020

Every year on 1st of January, copyright of a number of creative works expires and they enter the public domain in India and in other countries of the world. We have been compiling a list of Indian authors whose work enters the public domain over the years. You can find the lists from earlier years here: 2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.

The criteria for this year is that the author died in the calendar year 1959 and the work was published before his death. In case the work was published after the author’s death, it will only come out of copyright after 60 years from the date of publication. Once the work enters the public domain, it means that most of the works are now free to be republished, translated, and converted to different formats.

Govind Sakharam Sardesai (1865–1959)

Govind Sakharam Sardesai was popularly known as Riyasatkar Sardesai and was a Padma Bhushan winner. He was born in a middle-class family and after receiving a college education, he worked as a personal secretary to Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III and tutor to the princes. He was a historian from Maharashtra and under the Maharaja’s patronage, he wrote a number of books including the eight-volume Marathi series Riyasats which told the thousand-year history of India, three volumes of Musalmani Riyasat and two volumes of British Riyasat. Another book he authored was a three-volume series called New History of the Marathas. Sardesai’s scholarship is remarkable. He was responsible for editing 35,000 documents in Marathi, English, Gujarati and Persian and he then published 45 volumes of Peshwa daftar.

Haricharan Bandopadhayaya (1867–1959)

Haricharan Bandopadhayaya was a scholar and lexicographer best known for his 5-volume Bangiya Sabdakosh (Bengali dictionary). Rabindranath Tagore personally got him to Shantiniketan and it was at his request that Bandopadhyaya began to compile the dictionary, a task that took forty years to complete! He also wrote books such as Sanskrit Pravesh, Pali Pravesh, Byakaran Koumadi, Hints on Sanskrit Translation and Composition, Kobir Katha, Rabindranather Katha, etc. He was the recipient of several awards such as the Sarojini Basu Gold Medal, Sisir Kumar Memorial Prize from the University of Calcutta and Desikottama from Visva Bharati.

Abdur Razzaq Malihabadi (1875–1959)

Abdur Razzaq Malihabadi was a journalist and was primarily known as the autobiographer of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He was born in Malihabad in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He studied in UP and did his doctorate in Saudi Arabia. He worked at All India Radio heading Arabic Department in New Delhi. He was close to the Saudi monarchy. He wrote against the British Raj. His books Zikar-e-Azad and Azad Ki Kahani Khud Azad Ki Zubani were posthumously published.

R. Rangaraju (1875–1959)

R. Rangaraju was a bestselling Tamil novelist from Madras Presidency, British India. He is considered as one of the pioneers of Tamil fiction writing. He was born in Paalayamkottai. He started writing detective novels in 1908. His novels had social reformist themes like the emancipation of women and thievery in mutts. His novels had many reprints and sold as much as 70,0000 copies Some of books are Rajambal, Chandrakantha, Mohanasundaram, Anandakrishnan, Rajendran, Varadharaja, Vijayaragavan and Jeyarangan.

Dil Shahjahanpuri (1875–1959)

Dil Shahjahanpuri was the pen name of Zameer Hasan Khan, the famous Urdu ghazal writer. He was born in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh and was the disciple of the Urdu poet, Amir Meenai. Two collections of his ghazals have been published: Naghma e Dil and Tarana e Dil.

Barindra Kumar Ghosh (1880–1959)

Barindra Kumar Ghosh or Barin Ghosh as he was better known was an Indian revolutionary and journalist. He was Sri Aurobindo’s younger brother and one of the founding members of Jugantar, a revolutionary outfit in Bengal. He studied in Deoghar and received military training in Baroda. Barin Ghosh was sentenced to death in the Alipore Bomb Case but the sentence was reduced to life imprisonment, and he was deported to the Cellular Jail in Andaman. Once he was released, he took to journalism and formed an ashram in Kolkata. Aurobindo had led him toward the revolutionary movement and the same brother now had turned into a spiritual icon. He started an English weekly, The Dawn of India and was the editor of the Bengali daily Dainik Basumati.

Some of his books include Dvipantarer Banshi, Pather Ingit, Amar Atmakatha, Agnijug, Rishi Rajnarayan, The Tale of My Exile and Sri Aurobindo.

Narayana Panickar (1889–1959)

Narayana Panickar was an Indian essayist, playwright, translator, lexicographer, novelist and historian of Malayalam. He was born in Alappuzha district in Kerala. He studied at Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam and worked as a teacher.

He has written over 100 books but is best known for Kerala Bhasha Sahithya Charthram, a six-volume comprehensive history of Malayalam literature up to 1954 and Navayuga Bhasha Nighantu, a lexicon. He also wrote novels and translated Tamil and Bengali classics. He was a Sahitya Akademi winner in 1955.

Muhammad Ilyas (Elias) Burney (1890–1959)

Professor Elias Burney was the first head of the Department of Economics at Osmania University in Hyderabad, India. He published about 40 books in Urdu, Persian, Arabic and English.

His most famous work is Qadiani Muzhab, a book on the Ahmadiyya religion. One of his books called Urdu Hindi Rasmulkhat (Scripts) was a comparative study of Urdu and Hindi scripts. Another interesting book in English is My Life and Experiences.

Dhiraj Bhattacharya (1905–1959)

Primarily known as an actor and theater personality in Bengali and Hindi, Dhiraj Bhattacharya also wrote books including a two-part autobiography and a few short books like Jakhan Police Chilam, Jakhan Nayak Chilam, Mahua Milan, Sajano Bagan and Mon Nie Khela.

Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram (1930–1959)

Pattukottai Kalyanasundaranar was an Indian poet and a popular Tamil lyricist best remembered for his lyrics for M. G. Ramachandran’s movies.

India Public Domain 2019: Seven Indian authors whose works entered public domain in 2019

Over the years (2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) Pothi.com has compiled a list of Indian authors whose work has entered public domain at the beginning of this year. The criteria for this year’s names is that the author died in the calendar year 1958 and the work was published before his death. In case the work was published after the author’s death, it will only come out of copyright after 60 years from the date of publication.

We have collected the data from various sources including Wikipedia and other online sources, some which we will be linking here. The information provided is not foolproof, so if you notice any errors or are aware of other writers who died in 1958 and whose names have not been mentioned here, please let us know.

When an author enters public domain, it means that most of his works are now free to be republished, translated, and converted to different formats. This way the long-gone author breathes life again and gains new readership. Help us in our quest to conserve our rich literary culture.

Bhamidipati Kameswara Rao (1897-1958)

He was an exponent of Telugu comedy drama, an educationist and genius, also christened ‘Hasya Brahma’. His humorous plays were inspired by French writer Moliere, many of whose plays he adapted into Telugu, and Gurajada Appa Rao’s works, whose use of spoken regional dialect made a mark on him. He also wrote original prahasanas. His works have been compiled in Bhamidipati Kameswararao Rachanalu-Vols.1 and 2.Other works includeThyagaraja Atmavicaram and Bataa khani. According to his biographer Patanjali Sastry, “Though he wrote comedies, he remained an introvert and never smiled even when some one cracked a joke.” informs Patanjali Sastry. Bhamidipati was greatly influenced by Gurajada Appa Rao’s works, especially for its modernity and use of spoken regional dialect.

Sir Jadunath Sarkar CIE (1870 – 1958)

He was a prominent Indian Bengali historian who specialized particularly in the life and times of Aurangazeb. He was also the Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University. He was honored by Britain with a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire CIE and knighted in 1929. Published works by Sarkar include The India of Aurangzib (1901). His five-volume History of Aurangzib was a labour of ove that lasted twenty-five years. It took another twenty-five years to finish his four-volume Fall of the Mughal Empire in 1950. His single-volume works include Chaitanya: His Pilgrimages and Teachings (1913) and Shivaji and His Times (1919).

Mafizuddin Ahmed Hazarika (1870-1958)

He was a prominent poet belonged to the Jonaki era of Assamese Literature. He was popularly known as ‘Jnan Malinir Kobi’ among the people of Assam. He’s been called a ‘symbol of national integration’ and a person with great secular thoughts. Some of his poetic works include Jnan Malini and Totwo Parijaat.

Taraknath Das (1884 –1958)

He was an anti-British Bengali Indian revolutionary and internationalist scholar. He discussed his plans with none less than Tolstoy. He was a professor of political science at Columbia University and a visiting faculty in several other universities. He founded the Indian Independence League. He set out for Japan with the project of a vast study on Japanese Expansion and its significance in World Politics which appeared as a book in 1917 with the title, Is Japan a menace to Asia?

Teja Singh (1894-1958)

He was a writer, translator, Principal and scholar based in Punjab who pioneered the Singh Sabha literary movement. He learnt Gurmukhi, Urdu and Persian from his local gurdwara and mosque, while grazing livestock and doing household work. After his initiation into the Khalsa fold and his formal education, he became more and more anti-British. He worked at Khalsa college, Amritsar and wrote several essays about Sikhism. Some of his books include Growth of Responsibility in Sikhism (1919), Highroads of Sikh History (1935) and A Short History of the Sikhs (1950). He wrote his autobiography Arsi and compiled English-Panjabi and Panjabi-English Dictionaries. He was also part of creating an M.A. course in Panjabi, which he taught himself.

Vallathol Narayana Menon (1878 – 1958)

This Keralite writer also called Mahakavi was one of the triumvirate poets of modern Malayalam, along with Kumaran Asan and Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer. His knowledge of Sanskrit was sound and from a very young age he wrote poems which were published. It was the Mahakavya Chitrayogam based on a story from the Kathasaritsagara that shot him into the literary foreground. Shortyly after the publication of his eleven volume work commenced. Vallathol wrote on a variety of themes including the injustices that people faced, Christian symbolism, romance, Hindu mythology and his own personal health issues. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan title, India’s third highest civilian award, in 1954. He founded the Kerala Kalamandalam and revitalised the traditional Keralite dance form known as Kathakali. Many of his books are available at Amazon. Some of them include Abhivadyam, Achanum Makalum, Badhiravilapam, Bandhanasthanaya Anirudhan, Bapuji, Bhaval Sthotramala, Sahitya Manjari – 11 Volumes and many others.

Vidyagauri Nilkanth (1876-1958)

She was one of the first two women graduates of Gujarat and she was an Indian social reformer, educationist, and writer. Along with her husband, she wrote many articles, books and jointly edited a magazine. She was immersed in social causes such as providing adult education and educating women, even widows and dropouts. She founded Lalshanker Umia Shanker Mahila Pathshala, which was later affiliated to SNDT (Karve) University. She was a prolific writer and contributed to women’s magazines such as Gunsundari, Streebodh, and Sharada. With her sister, she translated R.C. Dutt’s book, The Lake of Palms.

India Public Domain 2018: 17 Indian authors whose works entered public domain in 2018

We have a tradition at Pothi.com. Over the years (2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), we have compiled a list of Indian authors whose work has entered public domain at the beginning of this year. The criteria for this year’s names is that the author died in the calendar year 1957 and the work was published before his death. In case the work was published after the author’s death, it will only come out of copyright after 60 years from the date of publication.

We have collected the data from various sources including Wikipedia and other online sources, some which we will be linking here. The information provided is not foolproof, so if you notice any errors or are aware of other writers who died in 1957 and whose names have not been mentioned here, please let us know.

Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957)

This distinguished Punjabi poet is considered as the orchestrator of the Sikh literary Renaissance. He dabbled with lyrics when he was young and went on to invest his energies in pamphleteering. His work is a treatise on renunciation, piety and sacrifice. Rana Surat Singh is a famous poem he composed. Vir Singh played an important part in the renewal of Punjabi literary tradition by merging it with ideas he picked up from English. Some of his major creative works such as Sri Guru Nanak Chamatkar and Sri Guru Kalgidhar Chamatkar were originally serialized. He was an exponent of the romance and philosophy; some of his books are Sundari, Bijay Singh, Satwant Kaur, Subhagji da Sudhar Hathin Baba Naudh Singh. He also dabbled in shorter poems and lyrics. He was honored with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1955 and the Padma Bhushan Award in 1956. More about this prolific writer and creator of The Punjab & Sind Bank here.

Aleixo Clemente Messias Gomes (1873-1957)

Better known as Prof. Messias Gomes, this secondary school teacher, writer and Goan journalist was the author of several works on historical themes and co-founder of the daily O Heraldo, the first daily to be published in Portuguese India. More here.

Brajendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury (1874-1957)

This Zamindar was a patron of the Indian national education movement and was also a renowned classical music maestro who hailed from Gouripur, Bengal. Marxism and the Indian Ideal and Indian Music & Mian Tansen are two books by him.

Jagadish Gupta (1886-1957)

An Indian poet, novelist and short story writer, Jagadish Gupta was one of the major exponents of modern Bengali literature. His style was original and he dealt with realistic and psychological themes. His stories and poems had been published in periodicals like Bharati, Bijoli, Uttara, Kali-Kalam, Prabasi, Bharatbarsha, Sonar Bangla and Kallol. Some of his other notable works include Asadhu Siddhartha, Kashyap o Surabhi, Binodini, Udaylekha, Meghabrito Ashani, Dulaler Dola, Nishedher Patabhumikay, Loghu Guru, etc. In 1954, the Government of India granted him a ‘Distinguished Man of Letters Allowance’. Read this.

S Shripad Mahadev Mate (1886-1957)

Mate was was a Marathi writer, educator and a social reformer from Maharashtra, India. The Dalits dubbed him Mahaar Mate as he worked against caste discrimination. Some of his works include Rasvanthichi Janm Katha, Santh-Panth-Thanth, Upekshithanche Antarang, Parasuram Charitra, etc. More details here.

Karmegha Konar (1889-1957)

Also known as Chennaa Pulavar, Konar was a popular Tamil poet and educator. He was the Chairman of the Tamil department at The American College in Madurai.

Narahari Dvarkadas Parikh (1891-1957)

Parikh was a writer, Indian independence activist and social reformer from Gujarat, India. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, he was associated with Gandhian institutes throughout his life. He wrote biographies like Mahadevbhainu Purvacharit on Mahadev Desai, Sardar Vallabhbhai Part 1-2 on Vallabhbhai Patel and Shreyarthini Sadhana on Kishorelal Mashruwal. He also edited works of his associates and translated some works. Manav Arthshastra is his work on human economics. His writings on economics education, politics and Gandhian thought include Manav Arthshastra, Samyavad and Sarvoday, Vardha Kelvanino Prayog, Yantrani and Maryada, etc. Read more about him here.

Venkata Krishna Rao, Bhavaraju (1895- 1957)

He studied law, was the founder-secretary of the Andhra Historical Research Society and edited its journal. He organized the 900^th celebration of the coronation of the King Raja Raja Narendra, patron of Telugu’s best adikavi. His publications include History of the Early Dynasties of the Andhradeshas (200-625 AD) and a sequel of this work called History of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, which was posthumously published by the Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi. He wrote numerous historical monographs in Telugu including Rajaraja Narendradu, Prachina Andhranauka Jivanamu, Andhradeshamuvidesha Yatrikulu. Some of his historically themed stories have been published in the Telugu journals of the time. Read an encyclopedic entry on him here.

Nanduri Venkata Subba Rao (1895–1957)

This famous Telugu poet who practised law was the author of the famous work Yenki Patalu (an anthology of songs on a woman called Yenki) that ended up influencing eminent writers and thinkers like Adavi Bapiraju, Sri Sri, Chalam, Devulapalli and Krishna Sastry. More here.

Ram Babu Saxena (1897-1957)

This polyglot civil servant from Uttar Pradesh was learned in English, Persian and Urdu literature. He wrote a book in English called Modern Urdu Poetry. Only the Urdu translation of his work History of Literature by Muhammad Askari is available.

Bose Sunirmal (1902-1957)

He was a pioneer of Bengali juvenile literature, his output consisting of poetry, rhymes, stories, drama, and travelogues. He wrote prolifically in journals of the time like Prabasi, Sandesh, Ramdhanu, Alpana, Kishor, Asia, etc. Some of his books are Chhanabada, Bade Maja, Hai Chai, Marener Dak, Sahure, etc.

J. Friend-Pereira (1907-1957)

He was an Anglo-Indian academic and author. Some of his poetry publications include Mind’s Mirror. He contributed to journals in India like the Modern Review and the New Review, besides translating works on the Islamic philosopher Avicenna as well as poetry from French and Latin.

Bhuvaneshwar (1910-1957)

He was a pioneer of the western style one-act play in Hindi and was heavily influenced by Ibsen, Shaw, Lawrence, Freud. His first piece Shyama (Ek Vaivahik Vidambana) was published in 1933. Some of his works includShaitan, Ek Samyahin, Samyavadi, Pratibha ka vivaah, Rahsya romanch. He also wrote plays that dealt with other dimensions besides relationships such as Mrityu, Hum Akele Nahin Hey, Sava Ath Baje, Strike, Usar, Roshni aur Aag, Kathputlian, Photographer ke Saamne, Tambe ke Kire, Itihaas ke kenchul, etc. His plays including Azadi ki Ninu, Jerusalem, Sikandar, Akbar, and Chengiz Khan have also dealt with historical themes.

Mahadevan or Devan (1913-1957)

Devan is a popular Tamil writer, a veteran Charles Dickens of the south, known for his witty and humorous stories. He worked as a teacher and also as a sub-editor at Ananda Vikatan That way Devan resembled Charles Dickens. He explored various genres of writing including the short story, novel, travelogue, drama and reporting. One of his novels, Justice Jagannathan has been translated into English. Some of his novels are Mythili, Malathi, CID Chandru, etc. Unlike other authors, there are various commentaries on this author. Check out the wiki entry.

Bakulesh (1919-1957)

Bakulesh is the pen name of Ramji Arjun Gajkandh. Born in a Gujarati Kutchhi family, this journalist and writer composed stories about the common man. His style has been described as poetic and down to earth. Recently a collection of his short stories called Bakuleshni Vartso was published. Other works include Kharan Pani and Kadavnan Kanku.

Krishan Nair (?-1957)

He was a Malayalam scholar and critic and author of Kavya Jivitha Vrtti(vols 1& 2), a treatise on Indian poetics and commentaries of attakathas.

Lala Laxman (?- 1957)

This satirist was inspired by the writer and satirist Habibullah. His compositions have the element of Shahrashob (which is an Urdu genre of writing that deals with unrest for socio-political reasons and is a kind of lamentation for urbanity).

India Public Domain 2017: 18 Indian authors whose works entered public domain in 2017

In keeping with our tradition (2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), we have compiled a list of Indian authors whose work has entered the public domain at the beginning of this year. The criteria for a particular work to enter public domain this year is for the author to have died in the calendar year 1956 and the work to have been published before his death. If the work has been published after the author’s death, it will only come out of copyright after 60 years from the date of publication.

We collected the data from various sources including Wikipedia, books on the history of Indian literature (brought out by the Sahitya Akademi) and other online sources. While the sources for individual photos and pieces of information have not been attributed, we would like to acknowledge all these sources here. Many of the sources are linked below.

There are bound to be mistakes in this data. So please point out anything you notice. If you know of more Indian authors who died in 1955 and hence have entered public domain this year, do let us know and we will add it to the list for your reference.

Why should you as a writer or someone who loves books care? An author entering public domain means that most of his works are now free to be republished, translated, and converted to different formats and introduced to a new audience in any way you can imagine. It is possible to digitize these works and conserve them forever. So dig into the list and find some gems. And when you find one, let the whole world know.

Dakshinaranjan Mitra Majumder (1877–1956)

He was a celebrated Indian writer in Bengali of fairy tales and children’s literature. His major contribution to Bengali literature was the collection and compilation of Bengali folk and fairy tales in four volumes – Thakurmar Jhuli (Grandmother’s Bag of Tales), Thakurdadar Jhuli (Grandfather’s Bag of Tales), Thandidir Thale (Maternal-Grandmother’s Bag of Tales) and Dadamashayer Thale (Maternal-Grandfather’s Bag of Tales).

Amarlal Hingorani (1907-1956)

A Sindh short story writer known for his realistic portrayal of characters. His famous story is ‘Ado Abdul Rehman’ which was included by the UNESCO on one of its publications.

Anantram Kandukuri (Karuna Kumara) (1901-1956)

A famous Telugu writer of short stories, first to treat rural life as themes. He was also an actor of mythological roles.

Bal Sitaram Mardhekar (1909 – 1956)

B.S. Mardhekar was a writer-poet, critic and novelist who is also known as the Father of Modernism in Marathi poetry. Born in Maharashtra, he studied in Pune and London, and worked at All India Radio. His earlier collection of poems, Shishiragam, was a product of Ravi Kiran Mandal poetry which was sentimental and lyrical. But his later avant-garde poetry altered his reputation. Works by him include Anakhi Kahi Kavita, and novels like Pani and Ratrica Divas. Mardhekar was influenced by Marathi bhakti poetry, the poetry of T. S. Eliot and W. H. Auden.

Baishnaba Pani (1882–1956)

He was an Odia jatra writer and arranger. He incorporated mythology and contemporaray issues in his fiction. He is credited with writing 600 works, including 150 yatras, 19 farces, 65 anthologies of lyrics, etc.

Har Datt Sharma (1890-1956)

A Dogri poet, author of Dogri Bhajanmala (1936).

Makhmur Dihlavi, Fazl-I Ilahi (1900-1956)

A well-known Urdu poet, his famous work is Kulliyat-I Makhmur.

Manik Bandyopadhyay (1908-1956)

One of the major Bengali novelists and short story writers, he produced 36 novels and 177 short stories in his short lifespan. His earliest works reflect the impact of Freudian ideology. When he became a Communist, the sentiment reflected in his writing. His works include Putul Nacer Itikatha (1936), Padmanadir Majhi (1936), Jiyanta(1950), and Sahartali.

Mohammad Mobin (pseudonym Kaifi Chiryakoti) (1890-1956)

His important work is Jayahiri-I sukhan, va’ni, Urdu shu’ara ke kalam ka intikhab (4 volumes-1935-1939), a selection of poems by various poets. His own poems were collected in Parah hai Jigar and Nashter-i-gham (1927).

Munsif Nachiket Drupadlal (pseudonym Ketan Munsi) (1930-1956)

A Gujarati short story writer, some of whose works are Andhari Rate (1952) and Svapnano Bhangar (1953).

Pandit Godavarish Misra (1886-1956)

A major Oriya poet, dramatist and novelist, he wrote a number of ballads and lyrical poems. Although he belonged to a conservative Brahmin family, Mishra was a socialist. He was also a competent editor. He published magazine Lokamukha from Banapur in 1924. He also used to write for the Eastcoast (An English paper) published by Shashi Bhusan Rath. He was awarded a doctorate in literature from Utkal University. He used literature as a weapon to promote patriotism. His works include Alekhika, Kalika, Kisalaya, Gitayana, Purusottama Deva, Mukunda Deva, 1817 and Arddha Satabdira Odisa O Tahinre Mo Sthana.

Qazi Mohammad Abdul Ghaffar (1888-1956)

He was a journalist and a political activist. His publications include Ajib and Tin paise ki chokri.

Sitaramacandra Rao, Oddiraju (1887-1956)

Along with his brother, these scholars have made a substantial contribution to the Telugu language in the Nizam state.

Sobharaj Fani (1883-1956)

A poet and essayist in Sindhi, especially known for his historical essays on about eighty towns and cities of Sindh. Some of his write-ups include Khyali Jhalka, Chita Phulawari, Roohani Tijala, Tarjuma-e-Gulistan (translation of Gulistan from Persian).

Vavilla Venkateswara Shastri (1885-1956)

He rendered many services for the development of Telugu studies by bringing out innumerable journals and publications.

Virumal Begraj (1874-1956)

This Deshbhakta was one of the first nationalist authors in Sindhi to go to jail during the freedom struggle. His famous work is Munhinji Jail Yatra (1923).

Yaganah Changezi (1883-1956)

He was an Urdu poet who published several volumes of poems with Mirza Yas. Yagana has four collections of poems to his credit: Nishtar-i- Yaas (1914), Tarana (1933), Aayat-i-Wijdani (1927) and Ganjina (1948), besides his works in prose, which include Ghalib-Shikan.

Zafar Ali Khan, Maulvi (1873-1956)

He was an Urdu poet and prose writer; founder and publisher of the Zamindar of Lahore, he wrote satirized poetry. His publications include Khayaban-I Faris, poems like Chamanistan and Nigaristan, and novels like Haqiqatva afsanah and Tilismi hur.

India Public Domain 2016: 21 Indian authors whose works entered public domain in 2016

In keeping with our our tradition (2012,2013, 2014, 2015), we have compiled a list of Indian authors whose work has entered public domain at the beginning of this year. The criteria for a particular work to enter public domain this year is for the author to have died in calendar year 1955 and the work to have been published before his death. If the work has been published after the author’s death, it will only come out of copyright after 60 years from date of publication.

We collected the data from various sources including Wikipedia, books on the history of Indian literature (brought out by the Sahitya Academy) and other online sources. While the sources for individual photos and pieces of information have not been attributed, we would like to acknowledge all these sources here. Many of the sources are linked below.

Barada Charan Gupta (?-1955): He was a geologist and writer. He was a member of the Sabujpatra group of writers in colonial Bengal, a group who advocated free thinking and rationalism, and showcased Cholitobhasha, or Standard Colloquial Bengali dialect. Gupta’s contributions to Sabujpatra have been published with a foreword by Rabindranath Tagore. He had also authored a subsequent book.

Bokhud Dehlvi (1863-1955): He was a disciple of Dagh Dehlvi and educated in sher-o-shayari. His sense of linguistic nuances and worthy colloquialisms make him much appreciated. His compositions include Guflar-e-Bekhud and Shahsavaar e Bekhud.

Brijmohan Dattatriya Kaifi (1866-1955): An Urdu litterateur, he is famed for Kaifiyah, a book about the Urdu language and literature and stylistic issues, and Urdu hamari zuban, an essay in defence of Urdu.

Benudhar Rajkhowa (1872-1955) was a prominent writer, poet and dramatist from Assam. He was also an editor of the Bijuli magazine for while and wrote for a leading Assamese magazine at the time. His books include Duryodhanar Urubhanga and Daks Yajna. He also composed poetry and was a playwright and translator. In his satiical plays, he advocated feamle education and criticized the consequences of polygamy.

Khwaja Hasan Nizami (1873-1955): A ver popular Urdu novelist, his famous works include a historical novel called Tamanchah bar rukhsar-i-yazid and stories based on the rebellion of 1857 called Angrezon ke qisse.

Maula Bakhash Kushta (1876-1955): Even though Maula Bakhash Kushta did not receive a formal education, he became a Punjabi and Urdu poet of great fame. He wrote Kissas and ghazals in classical Urdu.

Karunanidhan Bandyopadhyay (1877-1955): This Bengali poet wrote poems revolvoing around the idea of Bhakti. Santi Jal, Dhan Durba and Rabindra-arati are some of his works.

Dinabandhu Jha (1878-1955): Known as called Mahavaiyakarana, he composed the greatest treatise on Maithali grammar called Mithila Bhasa Kosa , and Dhautupatha, a dictionary of verbal roots.

Jnanadabhiram Barua (1880-1955): He was a freedom fighter, writer, dramatist, and translator of Assamese. His works include Venishor Saud, Pancharatna, Dodair poja, and Bialator Sithi (Letters from Abroad), and Mor Katha, an autobiographical book.

Aslam Jairajpuri (1882- 1955): He was an Islamic scholar and professor of Arabic and Persian at the Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Milia Islamia. His famed work includes Talimat-e-Qur’an and History of Qur’an. Some of his works include Tarikh-ul-Ummat, Risala Mehjob-al-Arth, Novadrat, Fateh Misr , Hayat-e-Hafiz, Hayat-e-Jami, and many others.

Iqbal Ahmed Khan (1884-1955): He was a famous Urdu poet, writing under the pen name Suhail. He donned many hats- Islamic scholar, lawyer, educationist, nationalist and a politician. His work has been featured in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Urdu Literature.

S.G. Shastri (1890-1955) : He was one of the major translators of Kannada. He even adapted Eurpean plays like Ibsen’s Doll’s House.

Samad Mir (1893-1955?): This Kashmiri poet used the idea of Sufi mysticism, folklore and personal experience in his poems. Akanandun is his famed work.

Shankar Dattatraya Javdekar (1894–1955) also known as Acharya Javdekar was a Marathi writer, freedom fighter and journalist. He combined socialist and Gandhian thinking in his book Sarwodaya and Samajwad; his other works include Lokamnya Tilak Wa Mahatma Gandhi and Adhunik Bharat.

Ramnath Biswas (1894 – 1955) started out as a manager at a swadeshi company. This is where he learnt to drive a car as well as a bicycle. He joined a revolutionary group and so was expelled, after which he enlisted as a soldier in World War I and began a life of traveling. Biswas traveled around the globe on his bicycle, raking up 51,000 miles. After a life of travel, he moved to Kolkatta and began to publish his travelogues with Anandabazar Patrika. He has written over 30 books including a book called Tour Round The World Without Money.

Ramnarayan V.Pathak (1887-1955): This eminent Gujarati writer and critic incorporated Gandhian and socialist views into his writing. His work Avatikal is a scientific look at socialism in the Indian context. His Brhat Pingal is a great work of prosody. He wrote essays and poems as well.

Rupnarayan Sinha (1904-1955): One of the pioneers of Nepali language, Sinha is well-known for his ornamental prose style. Bhramar is one of his best works.

Yashavant Pandya (1905-1955): This Gujarati playwright has written several plays including Padada Pachal, Saratna Ghoda and Yasavant Pandyanan Balnatako. Like many Gujarati writers of his time, he wrote maninly one-act plays.

Maharaja Bodhchandra Simha (1908-1955): This Manipuri poet and the last king of Manipur wrote Singel Nacom.

Asrar ul Haq Majaz (1911 – 1955): He was an Indian Urdu poet remembered for his romantic and revolutionary poetry in Urdu. The maternal uncle of the music composer Javed Akhtar, Majaz’s flair for Urdu made him a favorite at Aligarh Muslim University and later at All India Radio. He died of alcoholism and a broken heart in Lucknow. Some of his important works are Naya Adab, Parcam, Shab-e-taab, Aahang and Saaz-e-Nau.

Saadat Hasan Manto (1912 – 1955) is perhaps the most celebrated South Asian author. He wrote prolifically, his master genre being the short story, of which he has written 22 collections. His brazen honesty and treatment of sex won him much fame and adulation, though he was tried for obscenity thrice in British India and later on in Pakistan. He wrote about hypocrisy and the destruction of the moral edifice. Some of his best stories include Toba Tek Singh, Thanda Gosht, Kali Salwaar, Khol Do and many others. His publications include Do drame, Ao, Tin Auratein, Chugad, Khali Botlen Kholi Dubbe, Titanda Goshi, Namrood ki Khudai, Gorki Ke Afsane, and Phansi. He died in Lahore.

India Public Domain 2015: 13 Indian authors whose works entered public domain in 2015

Cross Posted on InstaScribe Blog

In keeping with our our tradition (2012,2013, 2014), we have compiled a list of Indian authors whose work has entered public domain at the beginning of this year. The criteria for a particular work to enter public domain this year is for the author to have died in calendar year 1954 and the work to have been published before his death. If the work has been published after the author’s death, it will only come out of copyright after 60 years from date of publication.

There are bound to be mistakes in this data. So please point out anything you notice. If you know of more Indian authors who died in 1954 and hence have entered public domain this year, do let us know and we will add it to the list with your reference.

Cornelia Sorabji(1864-1954)

Cornelia_Sorabji

She was India’s first woman lawyer. Born to a Christian, Parsi family in Nasik in 1866, Cornelia Sorabji had an illustrious career that spanned nearly sixty years. Sorabji’s writing reflects colonial India and her life as a woman and as a lawyer. Her stories like those in Love and Life behind Purdah (1902) deal with the lives of women in the zenana and draw on the need for engagement and social reform. She was an active advocate of children and women as is evident in her books Sun-Babies: Studies in the child life of India and Between the Twilights : Being studies of India women by one of themselves (1908).

V.V. Srinivasa Aiyangar (b.1871-1954) This doyen of the Madras Bar used his expertise in writing the farcical to create a book called Dramatic Divertissements(2 volumes were published by 1921). This work is a series of playlets that exposes the weaknesses of the urban South Indian middle class: Blessed in a wife, The Point of View, The Surgeon General’s Presumption, Vichu’s Wife.

Lalcand Amard’inomal Jagatiani (1885-1954) At the age of 26, this versatile Sindhi author was the first Hindu to write a biography of Hazrat Muhammad entitled Muhammad Rasul Allah (1911), a work which won critical acclaim. Along with Bherumal Mahrichand and Jethmal Parsrum, he was a formidable doyen of Sindhi literature. He taught for a while at the Sind Madrasatul Islam where he studied Islam. His knowledge had no barriers- he was adept at the Vedas, Upanishad, Islamic philosphy, Theosophical Society literature, the Sindhi Sufi mystic thought (his work Sunharo Sacal published in 1916 deals with the work of Sacal Sharmast, a Sindhi Sufi poet) besides the poetic works of Tagore and the philosophies of Marx and Lenin as well as Gandhian ideals. He wrote sixty books including novels, essays, short stories and plays. His fiction Coth Jo Candu (1909) is well-known.

Kota Venkatachalam (1885-1954): A Telugu scholar, he is most known for his work Brahmanda Srsti Vijnanam(1949), an analysis of the Sanskrit puranas in nationalistic terms.
kota venkatachalam 1

(Source: http://sobhanaachala.blogspot.in/2014/04/blog-post_22.html)

Garuda Sadashiva Rao (1874-1954): He was a popular Kannada playwright. This actor and supporter of the freedom movement wrote a new chapter in the history of professional theatre in India. He founded Sivasuta Prasadika Nataka Mandali (1907) and Dauatreya Nataka Mandali (1916). Garuda Sadashiva Rao has a famous story associated with him – he wrote a play about Jesus Christ and discussed it with his veteran friends- Karanth and Padukone Ramanand Rao. Although they were unable to stage it initially on religious grounds, it was a Christian scholar from Dharwad called Uttangi Channappa who supported the play, which later on went to become a success. The veteran dramatist also wrote many other plays including Sri Rama Paduka Pattabhisheka (1929) and Yaccama Nayaka (1949).

Rayasam Venkata Sivudu (1874?- 1954?): He was a writer and social reformer. He was most well known for his Telugu short stories titled under Cithrakta manjari.He wrote novels and biographies, and was the editor of Zanana Patrika, a magazine for women.

Lala Dhani Ram Chatrik (1876-1954): Known as the founder of Punjabi poetry.this much revered poet was the first to standardize the typeset for Gurumukhi script. He is famous for the use of traditional Punjabi poetic genre Kissa- famous works include Kaser Kiari(1940) and Navam Jahan(1945). His work rings of realism and imagery straight out of the Punjabi countryside.

1706521_b_2628

(Source: http://www.poemhunter.com/dhani-ram-chatrik/)

Nalappatu Narayana Menon(1887-1954)- He was a noted Malayalam poet and translator, famous for his elegy to his wife titled Kunnunirthulli(1924). It was so popular a poem that many fans were disheartened when he did marry a second time fifteen years after the death of his first wife. Nalapat was a formidable writer alongside his companion Vallathol.

His best known work includes Paavangal, a translation of Victor Hugo‘s Les Misérables.It has been said that Mahatma Gandhi advised this stalwart to rewrite Les Miserables as a transliteration, supplanting the characters and the plot in the Kerala milieu. Yet, it was not to be and Nalapat created a translation that triggered off a social revolution in the the Southern state of Kerala.

Narayanamenon_Nalappat

(Source: http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/Nalappat/Html/NalappatPage.htm)

Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai (1892-1954): He was a very popular Gujarati writer in the 1930s and his writing primarily dealt with middle class life in Gujarat. He was influenced by Gandhian ideals and communism. His well-known novels are Divyacaksu(1932), Purnima(1932),Bharelo Agni(1935), Gramalakshmi in four volumes( astory of rural resurgence), Apsara(1933-1949)and Gai Kal(1950) ( a part of his autobiographical writing). Desai’s plays such as Samyukta (1915) were successful.

Teja Singh (1894-1954). A major Punjabi prose writer and educator, he introduced the litewrary essay in Punjabi on western models. Navian Socan(1949) and Sabiacar(1952) are his collections of essays. His autobiography Arsi is considered his best work and his Anglo-Punjabi dictionary is still considered useful.

Tejasingh

(Source: http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Professor_Teja_Singh)

Jibananda Das(1899-1954): Considered to be the most significant poet of the subcontinent after Tagore, Jibananda Das was often called the loneliest poet. He was a recluse and true to his introvert behavior, his poetry resonated with pain, seriousness and an interesting mix of the self-absorption leading to the knowledge of experience. He taught in various colleges in Kolkata. His poetic career began with Jhara Palak (Fallen feathers) in 1928. In his subsequent volumes of poetry, he cast off tradition and delved into complex metaphors and striking language that the more contemporary audience enjoyed.

Besides poetry, Jibananda Das has written essays, short stories and novels as well. Although he initially started his career with descriptions of the rural world, the later part of his short life was spent in analysing depression and loneliness, and the complexities of relationships.

Jibanananda_Das_border_reoved

Some of his works include Dharsar Pandulip(The Faded Manuscript-1936), Mahaprathibi(The Great Earth-1944), Satti Tarar Timir(The darkness of the seven stars-1948), Banalata Sen(1952) and Satti Tarar Timir(1954).

Prabhat Chandra Adhikari (1900-1954) An Assamese poet famous for his collection called Dohavali.

Harinder Singh Rup (1907-1954). A major Punjabi poet, he wrote in neo-classical style. His Vars or collections were traditional poems imbued with a modern world view. His famed works include Nave Pandh (1945), Dunghe Vahin (1947) Punjab dian varam(1942) and Manukh di var(1952).

India Public Domain 2014: 22 Indian authors whose works entered public domain in 2014

copyright-leaf — Copyright Leaf logo courtesy http://laurelrusswurm.wordpress.com/

Continuing our tradition from previous years (2012 & 2013), we have compiled a list of Indian authors whose work has entered public domain at the beginning of this year. The criteria for a particular work to enter public domain this year is for the author to have died in calendar year 1953 and the work to have been published before his death. If the work was published after the author’s death, it will only come out of copyright after 60 years from date of publication.

We collected the data from variety of sources including Wikipedia, books brought out by Sahitya Academy on history of Indian literature and other online sources. While the sources for individual photos and pieces of information have not been attributed, we would like to acknowledge all these sources here. Many of the sources are linked below.

There are bound to be mistakes in this data. So please point out anything you notice. If you know of more Indian authors who died in 1953 and hence have entered public domain this year, do let us know and we will add it to the list with your reference.

Why should you as a writer or someone who loves books care? An author entering public domain means that most of his works are now free to be republished, translated, converted to different format and to be introduced to a new audience in any way you can imagine. It is possible to digitize them and conserve them forever. So dig into the list and find out some gems. And when you find one, let the whole world know.

Akhoy Kumar Mozumdar (1864-1953)

An Indian lecturer and writer of the New Thought Movement in the United States during the first half of 20th-century.

Many of his works are available online.

Akali Kaur Singh (1890-1953)

A Sikh scholar and religious preacher. “Besides the Guru Shabad Ratan Prakash (1923), Akali Kaur Singh published in 1929 an index of Bhai Gurdas’s works. Among his other publications were Kavi Sainapati’s Sri Gur Sobha (1925) and a standard breviary or missal of daily Sikh prayers, Gutkta Pramanik Nitnem (1927)., His Buddhibaridh Hitopadesh Ratnakar was a Gurmukhi transcript of Panchtantra, a Sanskrit classic. His original works include Sukh Sagar arthat Ghar da Vaid, a treatise on Ayurvedic system of medicine and Istri Sankat Mochan, a forceful plea for the social uplift of women (1925).” Source

Abdullah Yusuf Ali (1872-1953)

An Indian Islamic scholar who translated the Qur’an into English. His translation of the Qur’an is one of the most widely known and used in the English-speaking world.

Translation & Commentary of Holy Qur’an

Balijepalli Lakshmikantham (1881-1953)

A famous Telugu dramatist, actor and freedom fighter. Famous work is Harischandra (Satya Hariscandriyamu, 1924).

Girindrasekhar Bose (1887-1953)

An early 20th-century psychoanalyst, the first president (1922–1953) of the Indian Psychoanalytic Society. Some of his works are on Google Books.

Ghulam Ali Rahim Bakhsh Masroor (1892-1953)

Popularly known as Faqir Ghulam Ali Masroor, he was a famous Sindhi poet. Heer Ranjha contains his poems in masnavi form.

Hakim Syed Karam Husain (1870-1953)

A prominent Unani practitioner from Tijara, Alwar and an Urdu poet. His pen name was Natiq. He wrote many books on Unani medicine.

Halasangi Chennamallappa (1903-1953)

Also known as Madhura Chenna. A major Kannada poet of navodaya school. Collection of poems: Nanna Nalla, 1933 . Some of his books were also made available in Braille by Kannada Book Authority.

K. N. Kesari (1875-1953)

Started Grahalakshami, a monthly magazine for women. He wrote his memoirs in Telugu titled Chinnanati Mutchatlu.

Lakshmikant Mohapatra (1888-1953)

An oriya writer known for his lyrical poems and balles-letters. Jivana Sangita is a collection of meta physical poems and Kanamamun is a novel. He wrote the famous hymn to Orissa, ‘Bande Utkal Janani’. He also wrote satirical parodies of poems.

M R Srinivasamurthy (1892-1953)

Kannada scholar, novelist and playwright. Rangannana Kanasina Dinagalu 1949

Pharamaji Khabarada (-1953)

Parsi poet. Wrote in narrative poetry and sonnets in Gujarati.

Ram Narayan Mishra (-1953)

Hindi Poet. founder member of Nagari Pracharini Sabha. Works include Bhartiya Shishtachaar, Humaare Pramukh Sahityakaar.

Safia Akhtar (-1953)

Wife of Jan Nisar Akhtar and sister of Majaz. Her letters were published in 2 volumes in 1955, 2 years after her death. English translation of her last few letters.

Shahadat Hussain(1893-1953)

A Bengali poet and writer.

Suravaram Pratapa Reddy (1896-1953)

A social historian from the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. He wrote a social history of the Telugu people, Andhrula Saanghika Charitra, which was first published in 1949 and has since gone through many editions. It was the first Telugu language book that to win the best national book award (Kendra Sahitya Academy Puraskaram).

Syed Sulaiman Nadvi (1884-1953)

An eminent Indian historian, biographer, littérateur and scholar of Islam. Some of his works are available online.

Tiruvengimalai Sesha Sundara Rajan (1880-1953)

An Indian doctor, politician and freedom-fighter. His autobiography is available online.

Thakurjoo Sapru (1878-1953)

A Kashmiri shivabhakt poet of Nirgunavad School.

Umesh Chandra Chaudhury (1898-1953)

Assamese poet. Pratidhvani, 1939 is collection of poems.

V. Kalyanasundaram (1883-1953)

A Tamil scholar, essayist and activist. He is esteemed for the strong humanism of his essays, the analytical depth of his commentaries on classical Tamil literature and philosophy, and the clear, fluid style of his prose.

V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar (1896-1953)

A historian, Indologist and Dravidologist from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He wrote many standard textbooks. Scanned copy of War in Ancient India is available online. Other books are also available.

32 Indian authors coming out of copyright in 2013

Continuing our tradition from last year, we present the list of Indian authors whose work has entered public domain on 1st Jan, 2013. The criteria for entering public domain this year is for the author to have died in calendar year 1952.

The data has been collected from variety of sources including Wikipedia, books brought out by Sahitya Academy on history of Indian literature and other online sources. There are bound to be mistakes in this data. So please point out anything you notice. If you know of more Indian authors who died in 1952 and hence have entered public domain this year, do let us know and we will add it to the list with your reference.

Abdur Rahim (judge) (1867-1952)

A judge and politician in British India, and a leading member of the Muslim League.

Books

The Principles Of Muhammadan Jurisprudence

Accha Rai Rasik (1928-1952)

A noted writer of humorous prose from Darjeeling.

Books:

Saptakoshi (1955)
Rasik Rachnavali (1928)

Balwantrai Thakor (1869-1952)

Prof. Balwantrai Thakore is considered one of the greatest pioneers of the Pandit yug in Gujarati poetry. Some of his poetry is available online (in Gujarati script).

Bani Kanta Kakoti (1894-1952)

A prominent literary figure, critic and scholar in Assamese language with his immense contribution to the language in terms of literature, linguistics, cultural anthropology and comparative religion. A profile of Banikanta Kakoti.

Books

Assamese: Its Formation and Development ( 1941)
Purani Axhomiya Xhahitya ( 1940)
Life and Teachings of Shankardeva
Vishnuite Myths and Legends ( 1952)
Kalita Jaatir Itibritta

Adavi Bapi Raju (1895-1952)

A famous Telugu novelist, poet, playwright, painter and art director. A profile in the Hindu.

Books

Narayanarao (Novel)
Narudu
Gona Ganna Reddy (Novel)
Ansumathi

Some books are available here.

Beni Madhab Das (1866 – 1952)

An erudite Bengali scholar, a renowned teacher. He presided over the All-India Theistic Conference at Kakinada, now in Andhra Pradesh, in 1923. His presidential speech was later published in a booklet entitled Modern Theistic Movement in India. His collection of essays, Pilgrimage Through Prayers, was a critically acclaimed publication.

Brajendranath Banrejee

Bengali literary historiographer. His main contribution to Bengali literature is his biographies of Bengali writers who were involved in the social and literary movements of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Books available on Google Books.

Chelannat Achutha Menon (1894-1952)

A prolific Malayalam writer. He was the Head of the Malayalam Department in University of Madras. He wrote seven farces, two short story collections, a collection of poems, a novel and three collections of essays.

Garimella Satyanarayana (1893-1952)

A Poet and Freedom Fighter of Andhra Pradesh, India. He made Telugu song a powerful instrument of mass-movement. He also translated ‘Kural and Nalayiram from Tamil.

Books

Swaraajya geetamulu (1921)
Harijana paatalu (1923)
Khandakaavyalu, baalageetaalu (1926)
Telugu translation of the Economic Conquest of India by Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya.

Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor (1885-1952)

A renowned poet of the J&K Kashmir Valley. He is especially noted for introducing a new style into Kashmiri poetry and for expanding Kashmiri poetry into previously unexplored thematic realms. In addition to his poems in Kashmiri, Mahjoor is also noted for his poetic compositions in Persian and Urdu. A profile and translation of many of his poems. English translations are not out of copyright.

Ghulam Bhik Nairang (1876-1952)

Also known as Meer Nairang, was a distinguished lawyer, a poet and a prominent Indian Muslim leader. Migrated to Pakistan after partition.

Kishorlal Mashruwala (Gujarati Wikipedia) (1890-1952)

An eminent Gandhian thinker who wrote in Gujarati. A biographer, essayist and translator.

Books:

Ram Ane Krsna (1923)
Isu Khrust (1925)
Buddha Ane Mahavir (1926)
Sahajanand Swami (1926)
Kelavanina Paya (1925)
Kelavnivivek (1949)

Mohammad Yunus (1884-1952)

The first Prime Minister (Premier) of Bihar province in British India. After a heart attack on 29 December 1944 he started writing poetry during his illness, especially during his long stay in Mussoorie in 1945. Marsiya on the death of Birbal Lal Son of Justice Manohar Lal, Payam-e-Muhabbat on Hindu Muslim Unity and Kalam-e-Yunus which is his message to young generation are some of his famous poetical work.

Mohitlal Majumdar (1888-1952)

A renowned Bengali author, was born at Kanchrapara village in Nadia district, India. Mohitlal started as a poet, but later became better known as a literary critic. One of the first Bengali poets to pose a challenge to Tagore by criticizing his literary canons. A profile and some poetry.

Books:

Svapan Pasari (1922)
Smara Garal (1936)

M. P. Paul (1904-1952)

A scholar and a well-known literary critic of Malayalam. He was among the torchbearers of the progressive literature movement (purogamanasaahitya prasthaanam) in Kerala.

Narayana Rao Chilukuri (1890-1952)

Well-known lexicographer, historian and scholar. Published “aandhra Bhaashaa caritraM” (1937) and a revised version of Sankaranarayana’s English-Telugu Dictionary, etc.

Books listed on Google Books.

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952)

Born Mukunda Lal Ghosh, an Indian yogi and guru who introduced many westerners to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his book, Autobiography of a Yogi.

Rashid Jahan (1905-1952)

An Urdu writer who inaugurated a new era of Urdu literature written by women. She wrote short-stories and plays and is perhaps best remembered for her involvement with the explosive Angarey (1931), a collection of groundbreaking and unconventional short stories written by young writers in Urdu like Sajjad Zaheer and Ahmed Ali.

Surendranath Dasgupta (1887-1952)

A scholar of Sanskrit and philosophy.

Amir Ahmad Alavi (1879-1952):

Urdu critic

Mathnaviyat (1936) – A discussion of Masnavis from 1857
Tadhkira-i-Rind – A biographical account of Rind

Charuchandra Datta

Principal of Visvabharati College. Retired from ICS. Books available on Google Books.

Jalandhar Deb

Kabiruddin ‘Kalim’ (1870-1952)
An Indian author, writer and social activist during the period of the Bhopal State.

Kartar Singh Kalaswalia (1882-1952)
Famous for his rendition of Sikh history in verse. Writer of many Kissas.

Kaveripatna Sidhanatha Venkataramani (1891-1952)
A novelist, short-story writer and essayist in English and Tamil.

Books:

Murugan The Tiller (1927)
Kundan The Patriot (1932)

Books available on Archive.org

K. Godavarma (1902-1952)
Linguist. Worked on Malayalam. Books listed on Google Books.

Maharaja Srischandra Nandy
Bengal Rivers and Our Economic Welfare

Mufti Kifayatullah Dehlavi (1875-1952)
A Muslim scholar of Islam.

Ramadhin Mishra
A well-known journalist, essayist and critic.

Shaikh Abdul Qadir Sarfaraz
An Urdu prose writer, biographer and educationist.

Sir Mahomed Khan Dehlavi

Vahengbam Yumjao Sinha
A Manipuri grammarian & author. Wrote Longi Vayel in 1949, a grammar of Manipuri.