Vishnu Pandya | |
|---|---|
 Pandya in 2017 | |
| Born | 14 September 1945 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | M.A. L.L.B. |
| Known for | Journalist, writer, historian, columnist |
| Spouse | Dr. Arti Pandya |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2017) |
| Signature | |
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Vishnu Pandya is a journalist, biographer, poet, novelist, writer and political analyst from Gujarat, India.[1] He has been the chairman of Gujarat Sahitya Akademi since 2017. Pandya writes articles on politics, history and historical places which are carried by several Gujarati newspapers and magazines, are among the most widely read columns in the State.[2][3][4][5] He has been active in journalism for the last 40 years. Along with column writing in a Gujarati daily, he serves as General Secretary of Vishwa Gujarati Samaj.[6]
Pandya was born in Manavadar in Junagadh State (now in Junagadh district of Gujarat). He was educated at Bahauddin College, Junagadh. His father had worked in South Africa before his return to India after World War II. He was the District officer – Education in Manavadar.
He married Arti Pandya. She died on 24 January 2018.[7]
Pandya started his career with Sadhana weekly, later became an editor of it at the age of 22.[8][9] He was honored by the All Indian Newspapers Editor for protest on censorship during the Indian Emergency. He managed to publish the magazine and wrote against the censorship. He was appointed the chairman of the Gujarat Sahitya Akademi in May 2017.[10]
Pandya as a Journalist :
Pandya as a Lecturer
Pandya is teaching journalism in various colleges and universities of Gujarat at post graduate level, namely :
His writing has various subjects from political criticism and analytic to history research. He has written many biographies. Apart from these writings he is actively contributing to journalism, having written many books on the field of journalism. To this date he has written 101 books.
Books on Journalism
Criticism on Political Issues
Biographies
History Research
Essays
Pandya was imprisoned during Indian emergency of 1975–76. At that time his first book, Haheli nu Aakash (હથેળીનું આકાશ), was appreciated by the Gujarat Government and won a prize, but Pandya did not accept the prize.[citation needed] He received Narmad Suvarna Chandrak from Narmada Sahitya Sabha for historical writing in 1991.[citation needed] He was awarded Padma Shri in 2017 for literature and history.[13] In 2019, he was awarded a D.Lit. by Gujarat University.[14]
