Ambarish Mishra

Ambarish Mishra (born 24 December 1955) is an Indian journalist. He is also a noted writer and poet. After a brief stint in All India Radio, Mumbai, he joined print media in 1979. He has worked with number of esteemed newspapers and periodicals such as `Clarity’, `Bombay’, `The Sunday Observer’, `The Daily’, `The Indian Post’ and `Independent’. He has been a Special Correspondent with `The Times Of India’, Mumbai, since 1990.
Early life
Ambarish Mishra was born in Mumbai to Shri Jaydeo and Smt. Vandana Mishra. His father, late Shri Jaydeo Mishra was a renowned writer. His mother Smt. Vandana Mishra (nee Sushila Lotlikar) is respected theatre artist (Mee Mithachi Bahuli is her autobiography in Marathi)
Career
After a brief stint in broadcast journalism at the All India Radio, Mumbai between 1975 and 1979, Mishra joined print media in 1979. He worked with number of esteemed newspapers and periodicals such as `Clarity’, `Bombay’, `The Sunday Observer’, `The Daily’, `The Indian Post’ and `Independent’. He has been a Special Correspondent with `The Times of India’, Mumbai, since 1990. He has extensively reported on state administration, state legislature, the socio-political issues of Maharashtra and theatre, cinema, Indian classical music and literature as well.
Under the guidance of renowned humorist-playwright P. L. Deshpande, scholar Dr. Kumud Mehta and musicologist Dr Ashok Ranade he briefly worked on the National Centre for the Performing Arts’ (NCPA’s) Ford Foundation project on contemporary Indian theatre. He also taught journalism at K.C. College and N. L. College in Mumbai.
He started writing in Marathi, and has contributed to prestigious literary journals such as `Satyakatha’, `Mouj’, `Manoos’ and mainstream Marathi newspapers such as `Maharashtra Times’ and `Loksatta’.
His first book, a collection of pen sketches of prominent vocalists, artistes and film personalities was published in 1997. The book, aptly titled, `Shubhra Kaahi Jeevaghene’, won the prestigious Maharashtra state government’s award for best literary work, and also the Maharashtra Foundation award.
His second book is a compilation of essays on Mahatma Gandhi. `Gangemadhye Gagan Vitalale’ assesses Gandhiji’s role in the freedom movement and reiterates his relevance to contemporary times. `Gangemadhye Gagan Vitalale’ won, again, the state government’s award for best literary work, and also a couple of awards, for instance, the Nashik Sarvajanik Vachanalay and awards from the literary organizations of Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur and Sholapur.
`Majyya Jeevanachee Patakatha’ is his third book. This is the Marathi translation of legendary Hindi film actor Balraj Sahani’s Hindi autobiography. The book traces the life and times of a great actor and his contribution to the post-Independent Hindi cinema.
`Alakh’ is a collection of his Marathi poems, a fair mix of lyrics and free verse. `Alakh’ is a personal testimony to life’s bitter-sweet memories, with a strong metaphysical sub-text.
`Sundar Tee Dusari Duniya’ is a journey through the key phases of Hindi cinema. The book is an anecdotal account of the early days of Hindi cinema, the trials and tribulations of masters who told an endearing tale on celluloid, notwithstanding paucity of resources and lack of technology.
He had the privilege of interviewing prominent Indian personalities, including M S Subbalakshmi, Lata Mangeshkar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Bismillah Khan, among others. Also had the privilege of covering key Indian leaders such as Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Bal Thackeray among many others. He has witnessed and has recorded for his readers crucial events that have shaped post-1975 India.
He has also planned, scripted and compered a number of stage shows and music concerts for the Y. B. Chavan Centre and other cultural institutions.
Awards & Recognitions
* Maharashtra State Government Award for best literary work
* Maharashtra Foundation Award
* Nashik Sarvajanik Vachanalay Award
* G.N. Dandekar Award 2012
Literary accomplishments
* Shubhra kaahi jeevaghene
* Gangemadhe Gagan Vitalale
* Alakh (book of poems)
* Sundar tee Dusari Duniya
* Majhya Jeevanachi Patakatha (Marathi translation of legendary Hindi film actor Balraj Sahani’s Hindi autobiography)
* Devadi (Marathi translation of legendary writer Gulzar’s short stories)
* Mirza Ghalib (Marathi Translation of Gulzar's book Mirza Ghalib

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