(Late) Shri Guno Samtaney
(Late) Shri Guno Samtaney, born on 14 July 1933 in Hyderabad, Sind (Pakistan), was a distinguished Sindhi writer and retired Joint Secretary of the Government of Maharashtra. A B.A. (Hons.) graduate, he resided in Jogeshwari, Mumbai, and was recognized as one of the leading writers of the second generation of post-partition Sindhi literature, alongside Mohan Kalpana and Lal Pushp.
Though his literary output was modest, the quality of his writing was highly acclaimed. Among his three published works, one was a novel and the other two collections of short stories. He received several prestigious honors, including a National Award from the Sahitya Akademi and the Gaurav Puraskar from the Government of Maharashtra. Beyond writing, he played significant roles in literary organizations as Secretary of the Maharashtra Rajya Sindhi Sahitya Academy and General Secretary of the Akhil Bharat Sindhi Boli Ain Sahit Sabha, earning him the affectionate title of “the gentleman writer”.
Key Facts
- Birth Date: 14-7-1933
- Place of Birth: Hyderabad, Sind (Pakistan)
- Academic Attainments: B.A. (Hons)
- Permanent Address: 16/74, Ashiyana, Oshiwara,
Jogeshwari, Mumbai – 400 102 - Occupation: Retired Joint Secretary,
Govt. of Maharashtra
Significant Literary Achievements / Contributions
- ‘Wapas’ (Return), Novel.
- ‘Aparajita’ (Unconquered), Short Story.
- ‘Abhiman’ (False Pride), Short Story.
In addition, several of his short stories and poems were published in popular Sindhi magazines and dailies.
Recognition By Way Of Awards / Honours
During his lifetime, Guno received several Awards/Honours. We are however unable to trace the record except the following:
- Award for his Short Stories Collection ‘Aparajita’, 1972 (At New Delhi by Sahitya Akademi, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India).
- ‘Gaurav’ Puraskar for outstanding literary contributions (At Mumbai by Govt. of Maharashtra).
Additional Information
- Guno remained Secretary of Maharashtra State Sindhi Sahitya Academy from its inception till 1995.
- Many of his short stories were translated into other Indian languages, a few of which found their way to the UNO Library.
He expired in August 1997.
Finale
Guno was one of the trio of the leading writers of the second generation of post-partition Sindhi writers; the other two being Mohan Kalpana and Lal Pushp. He was one of the foremost fiction writers. Quantity wise his ouput may not be impressive, but qualitywise his writings are considered of high mark. His distinct style and language have been widely appreciated.
Out of his three published works, one is a novel and the other two are collections of his short stories. He received two prestigious awards one coveted National Award from the Central Sahitya Akademi, Govt. of India and Second Gaurav Puraskar from the Govt. of Maharashtra for his literary excellence.
He had joined the Govt. service and retired from the high post of joint secretary of Govt. of Maharashtra. He was appointed Secretary to the Maharashtra Rajya Sindhi Sahitya Academy and was also General Secretary of the Akhil Bharat Sindhi Boli Ain Sahit Sabha, the premier organisation of the Sindhi writers, artists, educationist and other intellectuals.
He was popularly known as the gentleman writer.