Mahasweta Devi is a renowned Bengali authoress who has been acclaimed internationally for her literary works. A unique characteristic of her works is that they are based on thorough research. Her down to earth description of events and characters has set her apart among writers.
adjhujhuihcghMahasweta Devi Early life
Mahasweta Devi was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1926. Her father Manish Ghatak was a novelist and poet, and her mother Dharitri Devi too was a writer and social worker. Being born in a family of social workers and litterateurs she was inspired to write since her youth.
She did her elementary schooling in Dhaka, and subsequently completed her high school and bachelor’s degree course from Visva-Bharati in Shantiniketan. After completing her Honours degree course in English she did her Masters in the same language from Calcutta University. Thereafter she started her professional career as journalist and teacher.
adjhujhuihcghLiterary Works of Mahasweta Devi
Mahasweta Devi published her first novel Jhansir Rani – The Queen of Jhansi, in 1956. The novel is based on Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi who fought for her motherland against the British rulers. Among her famous works are the following:
- Aranyer Adhikar -Published in 1977, this novel is based on the life of Santhal leader Birsa Munda.
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- Hajar Churashir Maa - This novel of Mahasweta Devi is based on the Naxalite movement that initiated in Naxalbari area of North Bengal and spread throughout the state in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The movement started off as a revolt of the landless laborers and tribal people against moneylenders and landlords. This novel has been made into a Hindi feature film, Hazaar Chaurasi ki Ma by Govind Nihalani.
- Bashai Tudu - Bashai Tudu was a tribal revolutionary peasant who fought for the landless farm laborers during crisis.
- Breast-Giver – This is the story of Jashoda, a Brahmin woman, whose husband loses his legs in an accident and she has to take up the job of a nurse in a rich family.
- Old Women – This is a heart rendering story of two women Dulali and Andi. The former is haunted by forbidden love, and the latter is a victim of indifference and apathy.
Writer Mahasweta Devi has many of her novels and short stories translated into other Indian and foreign languages. Her other works include Nairitey Megh, Titu Mir, Imaginary Maps, Budhan, Amrita Sanchay, Andhanmalik, Our Non-Veg Cow (a collection of children's stories).
Mahasweta Devi has been honored with the Jnanpith Award (the highest literary award in India) in 1996 and the Magsasay Award in 1997. Prior to that she had won the Sahitya Academy Award in 1979 and was honored with the Padmashree in 1986. Mahasweta Devi in addition to being a revered author is also a social activist who has all along supported the causes of tribal development and helped in the socio-economic betterment of the underprivileged class.
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