JAIDEV TANEJA
Akademi Award: Overall Contribution to Performing Arts (Theatre)

Born in 1943 in the town of Okara in the former Montgomery district of western Punjab, now in Pakistan, Shri Jaidev Taneja obtained his Master's degree and PhD in Hindi literature at the University of Delhi. He is renowned critic of Hindi theatre, who has made significant contributions to its study with a substantial body of published work over a period of forty years. His writing has taken many forms-newspaper articles, interviews, previews, reviews, research papers and major books on Hindi theatre.

Unlike most academics, Shri Jaidev Taneja has stressed the connection between the literary and performative aspects of drama from the start of his career. His doctoral work on Mohan Rakesh, with special reference to text and performance, was the first of its kind. Procedding further in his research, Shri Taneja has published well-documented studies of individual plays such as Lehron ke Rajhans: Vividh Ayam, and Andha Yug: Path aur Pradarshan, covering their theatrical productions in several languages. He has compiled and edited Mohan Rakesh's letters and scattered writings in five volumes, and has edited a concise encyclopaedia of contemporary theatre artists of India titled Rangkarmi Kosh: Bharat ke Adhunik Vanshaj. Shri Taneja has also produced smaller works on B.V. Karanth, Manohar Singh, and B.M. Shah. His other books include Rang Sakshatkar, Mohan Rakesh: Rangshilp aur Pradarshan, Adhunik Bharatiya Rang Paridrishya, and Aaj ke Rang Natak. He has contributed articles in books edited by other scholars. He has taught Hindi literature at ARSD College, Delhi University, and also drama at post-graduate level at the University's South Campus for many years.

Shri Taneja has been honoured for his work by many organizations. The Hindi Academy of Delhi has conferred on him its Sahitya Kriti Samman in 1988, and its Sahityakar Samman in 2008. The Sahitya Kala Parishad of Delhi bestowed on him teh Parishad Samman in 2001.

Shri Jaidev Taneja receives Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his overall contribution to theatre.