About Jaan Kaplinski
Jaan Kaplinski (22 January 1941 – 8 August 2021) was an Estonian poet, philosopher, politician, and culture critic, known for his focus on global issues and support for left-wing/liberal thinking. He was influenced by Eastern philosophical schools (Taoism and especially Buddhism). He worked as a translator, editor, and sociologist and as an ecologist at the Tallinn Botanic Garden. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. == Early life and education == Kaplinski was born 22 January 1941 in Tartu to Polish teacher Jerzy Kapliński and Estonian dancer Nora Raudsepp-Kaplinski. Kaplinski studied Romance languages and linguistics under Kallista Kann at the University of Tartu, graduating as a French philologist in 1964. == Career == Kaplinski worked as a translator, editor, and sociologist, and ecologist at the Tallinn Botanic Garden. === Political career === From 1992 to 1995 Kaplinski was a member of the Riigikogu (the Estonian parliament). He was originally a candidate on the Centre Party list, but soon became an independent representative. Since 2004 he was a member of the Estonian Social Democratic Party.
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