(Late) Hemraj Gokuldas Nagwanee
[Late] Hemraj Gokuldas Nagwanee, widely known as Hem Nagwanee, was born on 3 February 1931 in Naushero Feroz, District Nawabshah, Sind [Pakistan]. Holding postgraduate degrees in Arts and Education [M.A., B.Ed.], he later settled in New Delhi and remained deeply engaged with Sindhi literature and media.
Sindhi drama was his second love, and he earned recognition for his natural, spontaneous, and understated acting style. He was closely associated with the popular television production "Aukha Pandha Pahar Ja" along with Jeevan Gursahaney, which was repeatedly telecast on Doordarshan in Mumbai, Delhi, and Calcutta. A freelance journalist and co-editor of Sindhi Ekanki published by the Central Sahitya Akademi, he was admired as “humour personified” for his subtle and refined stage presence.
Key Facts
- Birth Date: 3-2-1931
- Place of Birth: Naushero Feroz, Dist.Nawabshah,
Sind (Pakistan) - Academic Attainments: M.A., B.Ed.
- Permanent Address: New Delhi, India.
- Occupation: He was in Central Govt. Service, at New Delhi
As Dramatist
He wrote / adopted and directed 12 One-Act Plays and 2 full length plays. A few most significant amongst them were:
- Gamtoo Doctor [Fake Doctor], 1956.
- Kako Bahilani-a-Waro [Uncle who belong to Bahilani], 1954.
- Subuh Na Aayo [Morning never came], 1977.
- Suraj Ji Akhreen Kiran Taeen [upto last ray of Sun], 1978.
- Aashiq Zahir Piyak, [True love feeds on poison].
Note:
- Sr. No. 1 to 3 were One Act Plays.
- Sr. No. 4 to 5 were full length Plays.
Recognition By Way Of Awards / Honours
Apart from being writer and successful director of number of One-act and full-length plays, he was an outstanding actor. Stage and Hem Nagwanee were made for each other. He has worked in more than 100 Sindhi dramas staged all over the country. Humour was his speciality. He received awards for the best performance at all India Sindhi Drama competition, organised by Akhil Bharat Sindhi Boli & Sahit Sabha. Among others, Hem received awards for the following One-Act Plays:
- Ker Achho Ahe [Some one is expected], in 1966 at Bangalore.
- Dodo Chanesar [Rulers of Sindhi in medieval period], at Mumbai 1974.
- Uljhan [Confusion] at Baroda 1976.
- Mukhe Kunwar Khape [I need a wife] at Delhi 1969.
Additional Information
- He was actively associated with ‘Aukha Pandha Pahar ja’ [Difficult terrain of love] along with Jeevan Gursahaney. This was telecast by Door Darshan at Mumbai, Delhi & Calcutta repeatedly.
- He was also free-lance Journalist and was co-editor of Sindhi Ekanki, selection of one Act Plays in Sindhi published by Central Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
Finale
For Hem Nagwanee, Sindhi drama was his second love. He had tasted it from the fountain of Sindhi literature of poetry. Natural, spontaneous and subdues in his acting, he never made loud and elaborate gesture on stage. In short, he was 'humour personified'.