New Delhi: Google today paid tribute to
eminent Bengali writer-activist Mahasweta Devi on her 92nd
birth anniversary with a doodle depicting her contribution to
literature and her work with the tribal community.
The Padma Vibhushan awardee was best known for her works
including "Hajar Churashir Maa", "Chotti Munda Evam Tar Tir",
"Rudali", and "Jhansir Rani".
With over 100 novels and over 20 short stories
collections, Mahasweta Devi's work primarily focused on social
issues and common people.
Born in 1926 in Dhaka to well-known poet Manish Ghatak
and Dharitri Devi, also a writer and social worker, she grew
up in a political and literary environment.
After graduating in Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English
from the Patha-Bhavana Vishvabharati University, Santiniketan,
she also completed her Master's degree in English from
Calcutta University.
For her work in the literary field, she received Sahitya
Akademi Award for "Aranyer Adhikar" in 1979, Jnanpith Award in
1996, Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1997 and was shortlisted for
Man Booker International Prize in 2009.
Apart from her literary work, Devi was also known for her
social work for the rights of tribal communities in West
Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
She had also taken active part in Nandigram agitation and
headed the movement against the earlier CPI (Marxist)
government's industrial policy.
She was awarded Padma Shri for social work in 1986, Padma
Vibhushan in 2006 and Banga Bibhushan in 2011.
Devi passed away in July, 2016 following a heart attack
and other age-related illnesses.
PTI
