Teji Grover

Teji Grover is a Hindi poet, fiction writer, translator and painter. She is regarded as an important voice in Hindi poetry in the generations born after 1950. According to poet and critic Ashok Vajpeyi, "Teji Grover shapes her language away from the prevalent idiom of Hindi poetry. In her poetry language acquires a form which is unique..." Her poems have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages. Grover's fiction is known for its intertextual weaving and the seamless blending of dream and reality, the time past, present and future and the mythological and everyday in such a way that writing comes to predominate every thing else. As the Polish Hindi scholar Kamila Junik has written about her novel Neela (Blue), "All the characters write. All the events are being written. The existence is being written as well. There is no other world beyond writing." Through her numerous translations, Teji Grover has introduced some of the most significant modern Scandinavian writers and poets to the Hindi reader, such as Knut Hamsun, Tarjei Vesaas, Jon Fosse, Kjell Askildsen, Gunnar Björling, Hans Herbjørnsrud, Lars Amund Vaage, Edith Södergran, Harry Martinson, Tomas Tranströmer, Lars Lundkvist, and Ann Jäderlund, as also the controversial French writer Marguerite Duras. An abstract painter, Grover uses organic and natural colours; the latter she makes herself.

Teji Grover was born on 7 March 1955 at Pathankot, a small town in the state of Punjab in India. She taught English literature at MCM DAV College for Women at Chandigarh for over two decades before taking early retirement in 2003. Since then she has been a full-time writer and painter.

She is currently based in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

She has received the following awards and fellowships:

• Bharat Bhushan Agrawal Award for poetry (1989);
• Writer-in-Residence/Director, Premchand Srijanpeeth, Ujjain (1995-1997);
• Senior Fellow (Literature), Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, New Delhi (1995-1997); and
• Sayed Haider Raza (S. H. Raza) Award for poetry (2003).

• See, Bharat Bhushan Agrawal Award http://www.geocities.ws/indian_poets/hindi.html. See also, Poetry International, http://www.poetryinternationalweb.net/pi/site/poet/item/17742/27/Teji-Grover. Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• ^ http://pratilipi.in/teji-grover/. Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• See also, The Raza Foundation: Awards, http://www.therazafoundation.org/awards.php, accessed on 26 April 2015, and Poetry International http://www.poetryinternationalweb.net/pi/site/poet/item/17742/27/Teji-Grover, accessed on 17 April 2015.

Original work

Teji Grover's individual collections of poetry are:

• Yahan Kucch Andheri Aur Tikhi Hai Nadi (Bharati Bhasha Prakashan, Delhi, 1983);
• Lo Kaha Sambari (National Publishing House, New Delhi, 1994; ISBN 81-214-0537-8);
• Ant Ki Kucch Aur Kavitayen (Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2000); and
• Maitri (Surya Prakashan Mandir, Bikaner, 2008; ISBN 81-88858-51-X).

The second edition of the collection Lo Kaha Sambari was published by Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, in 2016 (ISBN 978-93-5229-362-9).

Her poems also figured in the following books:

• Jaise Parampara Sajate Hue (Parag Prakashan, Delhi, 1982), an anthology of poems by three fellow poets; and
• Teji aur Rustam Ki Kavitayen (ISBN 978-81-7223-879-7), a two-in-one, two-sided book of poems published by HarperCollins India in 2009.

Grover has published two books of fiction:

• a novel Neela (Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 1999; ISBN 81-7055-668-6); and
• a collection of short stories Sapne Mein Prem Ki Saat Kahanian (Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2009; ISBN 9350001136).

The second edition of her novel came out in 2016 (Vani Prakashan, New Delhi; ISBN 978-81-7055-668-8).

Grover has also published a collection of essays, memoirs and travelogues:

• Neela Ghar aur Doosri Yatrayen (Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2016; ISBN 978-93-5229-365-0).

Translations of Her Work

Teji Grover's poems have been translated into Indian and foreign languages including Marathi, English, Swedish, Polish, Norwegian, Catalan and Estonian. English translations of her poems have been included in the following anthologies:

• Penguin New Writing in India, ed. Aditya Behl and David Nicholls (Penguin Books India, New Delhi,1992; ISBN 0-14-023340-7);
• In Their Own Voice, ed. Arlene Zide (Penguin Books India, New Delhi, 1993; ISBN 0140156437 and 9780140156430);
• An Anthology of Modern Hindi Poetry, ed. Kailash Vajpeyi (Rupa & Co., New Delhi, 1998; ISBN 8171674305 and 9788171674305);
• The Tree of Tongues, ed. E. V. Ramakrishnan (Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, 1999; ISBN 8185952701);
• Love Poems from India, ed. Meena Alexander (Everyman's Library/Knopf, 2005; ISBN 0-14-303264-X);
• Speaking for Myself: An Anthology of Asian Women's Writing, eds. Sukrita Paul Kumar and Malashri Lal (Penguin Books India and India International Center, New Delhi, 2009; ISBN 9780143065333); and
• Home from A Distance, eds. Giriraj Kiradoo and Rahul Soni (Pratilipi Books, Jaipur, 2011; ISBN 9788192066592 ).

Her poems figure in the following anthologies in foreign languages:

• Swedish: Roster fraan Indien, eds. Birgitta Wallin and Tomas Lofstrom (Sveriges Forfattarforbund, Stockholm, 1997; ISBN 91-7448-994-1), and Innan Ganges Flyter In I Natten, eds. Tomas Lofstrom and Birgitta Wallin (Bokforlaget Tranan, Stockholm, 2009; ISBN 978-91-86307-07-3);
• Polish: Cracow Indological Studies, Volume VI, Literatura Indyjska W Przekladzie (Ksiegarnia Akademicka, Kraków, 2004; ISBN 83-7188-778-7);
• Catalan: Com espigues de blat amb vents de l'est, ed. Sameer Rawal (Cafe Central and Emboscall, Tordera in 2011; ISBN 978-84-92563-40-1); and
• Norwegian: Stemmer i Andre Hus, ed. Hanne Bramness (Cappelen Damm, Oslo, 2011; ISBN 978-82-02-36632-2).

Her poems have also appeared in a Marathi anthology of Hindi poetry: Sangini niwadak, Hindi stree kavita, ed. and trans. Chandrakant Patil (Manovikas Prakashan, 2012; ISBN 9789381636404).

The international literary journals in which the English translations of her poems have appeared include Poetry International Rotterdam, Rhino: The Poetry Forum, Chase Park, Modern Poetry in Translation, Hindi: Language, Discourse, Writing, Indian Literature, Paintbrush, Aufgabe and dialog.

The non-English international journals in which her poems have been published include Lyrikvannen (Swedish), Karavan (Swedish) and Sirp (Estonian).

Her novel Neela appeared in English translation, by Meena Arora Nayak, in the journal Hindi: Language, Discourse, Writing in 2000. Its Polish translation, by Kamila Junik, was published by Ksiegarnia Akademicka, Kraków, under the title Blekit (ISBN 978-83-7638-010-0) in 2009.

Two of her short stories, "Bhikshuni" and "Suparna", have also been translated into and published in English.

Translations by Teji Grover

Teji Grover has translated into Hindi the following works:

From the Norwegian

• Pan, a novel by Knut Hamsun, under the title Pāna OCLC 54782311, Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2002.
• Sult, a novel by Knut Hamsun, under the title Bhookh (ISBN 81-8143-215-0), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2004.
• Knut Hamsun's memoir Paa Gjengrodde Stier, under the title Ghas Dhanki Pagdandiyan (ISBN 978-93-5072-722-5), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2014.
• Hedda Gabler, a play by Henrik Ibsen (co-translated with Rustam Singh), under the title Hedda Gabler (ISBN 81-8143-622-9), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2006.
• Master Builder, a play by Henrik Ibsen (co-translated with Rustam Singh), under the title Master Builder (ISBN 81-8143-621-0), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2006.
• An anthology of ten contemporary Norwegian short stories, under the title Das Samkaleen Norwigee Kahanian (ISBN 978-81-8143-733-4), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2008.
• Fuglane, a novel by Tarjei Vesaas, under the title Parinde (ISBN 978-93-5072-215-2), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2012.
• Aliss at the Fire, a novel by Jon Fosse, under the title Aag Ke Paas Aliss Hai Yeh (ISBN 978-93-5229-363-6), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2016.

From the Swedish

• An anthology of 23 Swedish poets, under the title Barf Ki Khushboo (ISBN 81-7055-827-1) (co-edited with Lars Andersson), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, in 2001.
• A collection of poems by the Swedish poet Lars Lundkvist, under the title Tove Olga Aurora (ISBN 81-8143-301-7), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2006.
• A selection of poems of the Swedish poet Ann Jäderlund, under the title Pheeka Gulabi Rang (ISBN 81-88858-57-9), Surya Prakashan Mandir, Bikaner, 2008.

From the French

• La maladie de la mort, a novel by Marguerite Duras, under the title Mrityurog (ISBN 978-93-5000-296-4), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2010.

From the Latvian

• Life-Stories, a collection of short stories by Nora Ikstena, under the title Jeevan-Gathayen (ISBN 978-93-5229-404-6), Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2016.

Essays

From among Teji Grover's essays in Hindi, the following two essays have been translated into and published in English: "The Blue House" and "Looking at the Body of a Poem: The Journey of a Hindi Poet".

Further, the following essays were written and published originally in English:

• "A Poet Caged in the Act of Translation";
• "Weak Pink Color: Translating Ann Jäderlund on the Ghats of the Narmada";
• "A Necessary Poem";
• "The Fragrance of Delgadina’s Soul";
• "A Poet Bursting into Color"; and
• "Incessant Search for Languages: Some Thoughts on Hindi Poetry."

From among these essays, "A Necessary Poem", "The Fragrance of Delgadina’s Soul", "Weak Pink Color: Translating Ann Jäderlund on the Ghats of the Narmada" and "A Poet Caged in the Act of Translation" have been translated into and published in Swedish.

Another of her essays, "Song of the Cows: Translating Lars Amund Vaage's 'Cows' into Hindi", has been translated into and published in Norwegian as part of an anthology of essays on the Norwegian author Lars Amund Vaage's work.

Children's literature

Teji Grover has edited four books for children in Hindi, all published by Eklavya, Bhopal. These are:

• Doodh Jalebi Jaggagga (ISBN 978-81-87171-84-3);
• Kyon Ji Beta Ram Sahay (ISBN 978-81-87171-86-7);
• Apke Japani Haiku (ISBN 978-81-87171-79-9); and
• Mann Ke Laddoo (ISBN 978-81-89976-60-6).

Poetry readings and cultural visits

In 1999, Teji Grover read her poems at Bengt Berg's Book Cafe Heidruns in Torsby, Sweden. In 2008 she read her poems at the Baltic Center for Writers and Translators, Visby, Sweden, at their annual International Poetry Festival. In the same year, she read her poems in the Olav Hauge Centenary Festival at the poet's birthplace, Ulvik, in Norway. In 2011 she had readings of her poetry at Trondheim, Norway, during the IndiaFestival that was being held there. Further, in 2014 she read her poems at the Writers' House at Tallinn, Estonia.

In 1997, Teji Grover visited Sweden as part of a delegation of 10 Indian writers. Subsequently, she was one of the Indian collaborators of the Indo-Swedish Translation Project, 1998-2009. Under the aegis of this project she translated three volumes of poetry from the Swedish into Hindi (See, "Translations by Teji Grover" above.) In 2008, she lectured at the Book Fair at Gothenburg on her translation of the Swedish poet Ann Jäderlund's poetry into Hindi.

Exhibitions of her paintings

Teji Grover has held the following solo shows of her paintings:

• Earth Colors: At Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, in November 2010;
• Jo Nahin Hai: At Arpana Fine Arts Gallery, New Delhi, in January 2011; and
• Maitri: At Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, in November 2013.

Her paintings were also part of the following group shows:

• Palettes of Bhopal: At Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, in 2011; and
• Ensemble: At Kala Academy, Goa, in February 2012.

• See, Teji Grover and Rustam Singh, Teji aur Rustam Ki Kavitaen, selected poems of both poets, New Delhi: HarperCollins, ISBN 978-81-7223-879-7, Hindi-language. Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• See Innan Ganges flyter in i natten : indiska dikter översatta från Hindi, Malayalam och engelska http://www.adlibris.com/se/bok/innan-ganges-flyter-in-i-natten-indiska-dikter-oversatta-fran-hindi-malayalam-och-engelska-9789186307073. Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• See Poetry International Rotterdam, http://www.poetryinternationalweb.net/pi/site/poet/item/17742/27/Teji-Grover, accessed on 16 May 2015; Rhino 99: The Poetry Forum, p. 69; Chase Park, No. 7, pp. 47-51; Modern Poetry in Translation, New Series/No. 11 (Summer 1997), pp. 184-88, accessed on 16 May 2015); Indian Literature, No. 158 (November–December 1993), pp. 18-21, and No. 180 (July–August 1997), pp. 13-15; Paintbrush, Vol. XXIX (2002/2003), pp. 54-58; Hindi: Language, Discourse, Writing, Vol. 2, No. 2 (July–September 2001), pp. 31-42; Aufgabe, No. 13, pp. 32-40 (http://www.litmuspress.org/aufgabe-13/. Accessed on 17 April 2015); and dialog, No. 26 (Autumn 2014).
• See Lyrikvannen, No. 4 (2001) and No. 1 (2003); Karavan, No. 2 (2008); and Sirp, No. 1 (3521) (9 January 2015). Also see, Tuhandevärvine kivi DORIS KAREVA, http://www.sirp.ee/s1-artiklid/c7-kirjandus/tuhandevarvine-kivi/.
• See, Hindi: Language, Discourse, Writing, Vol. 1, No. 1 (April–June 2000).
• See, Hindi: Language, Discourse, Writing, Vol. 2, No. 2 (July–September 2001), pp. 69-74, and Pratilipi, http://pratilipi.in/2011/11/suparna-teji-grover/, accessed on 25 April 2015, respectively.
• See, Hindi: Language, Discourse, Writing, Vol. 2, No. 2 (July–September 2001), pp. 59-68, and Poetry International Rotterdam (1 August 2010), http://www.poetryinternationalweb.net/pi/site/cou_article/item/17820, accessed on 24 April 2015, respectively.
• Indian Literature, Vol. XL, No. 5 (September–October 1997), pp. 153-59.
• Pratilipi, http://pratilipi.in/2008/06/weak-pink-color-teji-grover/ Accessed on 24 April 2015.
• Pratilipi, http://pratilipi.in/2008/08/a-necessary-poem-teji-grover/ Accessed on 24 April 2015.
• Pratlipi, http://pratilipi.in/2009/07/the-fragrance-of-delgadina%E2%80%99s-soul-teji-grover/ Accessed on 24 April 2015.
• Pratilipi, http://pratilipi.in/2010/01/a-poet-bursting-into-color-teji-grover/ Accessed on 24 April 2015.
• ArtConnect, Vol. 4, No. 1 (January–June 2010, pp. 6-19. http://www.indiaifa.org/platforms/publications/vol-4-issue-1.pdf Accessed on 24 April 2015.)
• See, Lyrikvannen, No. 1, 2003, pp. 29-31; Karavan, No. 1, 2006, pp. 54-55; med andra ord, No. 55 (June 2008), pp. 4-10, http://www.oversattarcentrum.se/Content/files/mao%20nr%2055.pdf, accessed on 25 April 2015, and med andra ord, No. 79 (June 2014), pp. 10-15,respectively.
• See, Vaage, eds. Hanne Bramness and Jahn Holljen Thon, Forlaget Oktober, Oslo, 2012, pp. 231-44.
• See, 1999-09-25 - De 33:s Salong, http://www.heidruns.se/600/601.asp?id=1. Accessed on 27 April 2015.
• International poetry festival, Visby. http://www.bcwt.org/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=1962. Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• Ulvik Poesifestival 08, Program, 17–21 September (2008), p. 17.
• See, India 2011 NTNU, Section on Indian Poetry, http://www.ntnu.no/india-2011/?cat=11&lang=en. Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• Kirjanduslik kolmapäev: tuhandevärvine kivi http://www.kultuur.info/syndmus/kirjanduslik-kolmapaev-tuhandevarvine-kivi/ Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• See, LITTERÄRA MÖTEN MELLAN ÖST OCH VÄST: Svensk-indiska översättningsprojektet 1998–2009,Personregister: MEDARBETARE, http://u83402978.pwww.webhosting.telia.com/indbibl10ar.htm. Accessed on 26 April 2015. See also, sydasien, No. 4, 1997, pp. 17-19.
• See, LITTERÄRA MÖTEN MELLAN ÖST OCH VÄST: Svensk-indiska översättningsprojektet 1998–2009, http://u83402978.pwww.webhosting.telia.com/indbibl10ar.htm. Accessed on 26 April 2015.
• See,From Henriksdals ring to Hoshangabad. Ann Jäderlund in Hindi: India in Focus at the 2008 Gothenburg Book Fair, http://www.sasnet.lu.se/culture/göteborg-book-fair-2008. Accessed on 26 April 2015.
• 5th Pratilipi Event: An Exhibition of Teji Grover’s Paintings http://udaharan.pratilipi.in/2010/10/27/5th-pratilipi-event-an-exhibition-of-teji-grovers-paintings/. Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• See, Pen to Brush, Review of Jo Nahi Hai, solo show in Delhi http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/pen-to-brush/ and Lines of Poetry (an article about the show Jo Nahi Hai) http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/lines-of-poetry/article1019504.ece Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• Teji Grover’s painting exhibition begins today http://www.dailypioneer.com/story.php?section_url_key=state-editions&cat_url_key=bhopal&url_key=teji-grovers-painting-exhibition-begins-today. Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• Palettes of Bhopal, an exhibition opened by Hindu statesman Rajan Zed http://www.theindiapost.com/nation/rajasthan/jaipur/palettes-of-bhopal-an-exhibition-opened-by-hindu-statesman-rajan-zed/. Accessed on 17 April 2015.
• Naguesh Rao Sardessai, "Artistic Synthesis", an article about group show Ensemble, held in Kala Academy, Goa, The Navhind Times, Goa, 8 February 2012, p. 2, under Section BUZZ.