13th Yudhvir Memorial Award
Mr. Narendra Rai Srivastava
For his outstanding contribution to Art and Deccani Poetry by Padmashri Jagdish Mittal, Eminent Artist & Critic
Citation
Shri Narendra Rai Srivastava is a versatile artist. He is at home in the worlds of painting, music and letters. He is particularly well known for his satirical and humorous poetry. He is also a Sitarist.
Rai has full understanding of the materials he uses for his paintings and the metaphors he uses in his poetry. A very different way of looking at the world, complete command over pictorial elements and authority on lucid and at the same time powerful Deccani Language has given more depth to his paintings and more teeth to his poetry, respectively.
Rai’s lively sketches of well known international painters, who have inspired the artists of the whole world, in his book REKHANKIT REKHAYEN, itself speaks of his gratitude towards the pioneers and his simplicity. Vinayakrao Vidyalankar Rashtrothan Sahitya Samiti’s award to his collection of poetry ANDHERON KE KHILAF is a proof of his powerful pen. Whereas Rai’s NYOCHCHAVAR, the collection of poems paying rich tributes to the KARGIL martyrs, shows his love towards the mother-land, his ROCK paintings echoes his love towards the mother-earth. His Sitar Vadan on the occasion of Vishnu Digambar Paluskar Sangeet Samaroh is an example of his virtuosity in music.
Although Rai is unsparing in his attack on present day politicians and his lament on the collapsing social fabric through his powerful and humourous poetry, he is not a pessimist. Attracting the children with APDI KI TUPDI rhymes and teaching the drawing shows his optimism and the confidence in future generation.
The trustees of the Yudhvir Foundation have great pleasure in conferring on Shri Narendra Rai the 13th Yudhvir Memorial Award for his outstanding contribution to Art and Deccani Poetry.
While doing so, they wish him long life, good health and greater glories in his great mission.
