Writer Profile/Biography: Mahasweta Devi
The noted Bengali writer and activist, Mahasweta Devi was born in a culturally advanced family in 1926
in Dhaka. Her parents, Manish Ghatak and Dharitri Devi were established novelists and social advocates. Mahasweta was conscious of the socio-political turmoil when she graduated from Shantiniketan in the year 1946.
Mahasweta got involved in student politics during the Bengal famine of 1943. She married Bijan Bhattacharya in 1946 and got a job in postal department. However, she was found guilty of communist alliance and lost her job. She took jobs like that of a teacher, saleswoman and monkey exporter. Her first book Jhansir Rani was about the rebellious deportment of Jhansi against British rule.
Mahasweta’s later novels written in late seventies dealt with tribal life and agrarian movements. The reform movements were generally centered around Naxalbari region in North Bengal. Many Bengali youths quitted their studies and joined the uprising by taking up arms against landlords. However, the movement was brutally suppressed.
Mahasweta’s novel Aranyer Adhikar was about the Munda rebellion under the charismatic leadership of Birsa Munda during 1895-1900. Her representation of the local dialect in the novel was an example of a savage treatment of the subject which was characteristic of her distinctive style. She was honoured with Sahitya Akademi Award for this historical biography on Birsa Munda. Her other notable short stories collections include Agni Garbha, Nairete Megh, Stanyadayini, and Chhoti Munda Evam Tar Tir.
Mahasweta also linked the exploitation of women with class and caste oppression and she referenced specific issues of abuse according to contextual demands of her stories. Her Hajar Churashir Ma is a radical representation of Naxalite movement and its effects on people. She received the Magsaysay Award in 1997. Many of her works have been translated into English by Gayatri Chakroboty Spivak and Shamik Bandopadhyay.
in Dhaka. Her parents, Manish Ghatak and Dharitri Devi were established novelists and social advocates. Mahasweta was conscious of the socio-political turmoil when she graduated from Shantiniketan in the year 1946.
Mahasweta got involved in student politics during the Bengal famine of 1943. She married Bijan Bhattacharya in 1946 and got a job in postal department. However, she was found guilty of communist alliance and lost her job. She took jobs like that of a teacher, saleswoman and monkey exporter. Her first book Jhansir Rani was about the rebellious deportment of Jhansi against British rule.
Mahasweta’s later novels written in late seventies dealt with tribal life and agrarian movements. The reform movements were generally centered around Naxalbari region in North Bengal. Many Bengali youths quitted their studies and joined the uprising by taking up arms against landlords. However, the movement was brutally suppressed.
Mahasweta’s novel Aranyer Adhikar was about the Munda rebellion under the charismatic leadership of Birsa Munda during 1895-1900. Her representation of the local dialect in the novel was an example of a savage treatment of the subject which was characteristic of her distinctive style. She was honoured with Sahitya Akademi Award for this historical biography on Birsa Munda. Her other notable short stories collections include Agni Garbha, Nairete Megh, Stanyadayini, and Chhoti Munda Evam Tar Tir.
Mahasweta also linked the exploitation of women with class and caste oppression and she referenced specific issues of abuse according to contextual demands of her stories. Her Hajar Churashir Ma is a radical representation of Naxalite movement and its effects on people. She received the Magsaysay Award in 1997. Many of her works have been translated into English by Gayatri Chakroboty Spivak and Shamik Bandopadhyay.
Few Popular Books of Mahasweta Devi are as follows:
The Queen of Jhansi, Hajar Churashir Maa, Aranyer Adhikar, Agnigarbha (Womb of Fire, 1978), Bitter Soil tr, Ipsita Chandra. Seagull, 1998. Four stories: Chotti Munda evam Tar Tir (Choti Munda and His Arrow, 1980),Imaginary Maps, Dhowli (Short Story), Dust on the Road, Our Non-Veg Cow, Bashai Tudu, Titu Mir, Rudali, Breast Stories, Of Women, Outcasts, Peasants, and Rebels, Ek-kori's Dream, The Book of the Hunter, Outcast, Draupadi
In Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics, Till Death Do Us Part, Old Women, Kulaputra, The Why-Why Girl, Dakatey Kahini
Films based on Mahasweta Devi's works
Sunghursh (1968, Rudaali (1993), Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998), Maati Maay (2006), based on short story, Daayen, Gangor. She had got many awards for her film and books. (Source: Wikipedia). View or Read More Books of Mahasweta Devi
The Queen of Jhansi, Hajar Churashir Maa, Aranyer Adhikar, Agnigarbha (Womb of Fire, 1978), Bitter Soil tr, Ipsita Chandra. Seagull, 1998. Four stories: Chotti Munda evam Tar Tir (Choti Munda and His Arrow, 1980),Imaginary Maps, Dhowli (Short Story), Dust on the Road, Our Non-Veg Cow, Bashai Tudu, Titu Mir, Rudali, Breast Stories, Of Women, Outcasts, Peasants, and Rebels, Ek-kori's Dream, The Book of the Hunter, Outcast, Draupadi
In Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics, Till Death Do Us Part, Old Women, Kulaputra, The Why-Why Girl, Dakatey Kahini
Films based on Mahasweta Devi's works
Sunghursh (1968, Rudaali (1993), Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998), Maati Maay (2006), based on short story, Daayen, Gangor. She had got many awards for her film and books. (Source: Wikipedia). View or Read More Books of Mahasweta Devi
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