Nissim Ezekiel

Indian poet, dramatist, critic, broadcaster, and social commentator Nissim Ezekiel was raised in the Marathi-speaking Bene Israel Jewish community of Bombay. He studied literature and philosophy and, after a brief time in England, began to publish poetry, influenced by writers Ted Hughes and Philip Larkin. He wrote defiantly in English and taught that language at Mumbai University and Mithibai College. He also helped found the literary monthly Imprint and was a contributing editor and art critic for the Times of India and Poetry India. Ezekiel’s work earned him the Padma-Shri, India’s highest civilian honor.