The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

Mahasweta Devi (14 January 1926 - 28 July 2016) was a Bengali writer and activist. She wrote over 100 novels and 20 short story collections. Some of her major works include:

Mother of 1084
Breast Stories
The Queen of Jhansi
In The Name of the Mother
Dust on the Road: The Activist Writings of Mahasweta Devi
After Kurukshetra
Chotti Munda and His Arrow

Many of her works are published by Seagull: https://www.seagullbooks.org/our-auth...

I haven't read Devi but thought I'd add a thread for her here. Has anyone read her work?

I haven’t, but I’d like to after seeing her books in Seagull’s catalog.

David, you still have about 93 novels to link to her introductory post. :)

David - I have read one of her books - Queen of Jhansi, which I believe was her first. She was a fierce and uncompromising voice that championed the oppressed and spoke truth to power. She certainly has not lost her relevance in Modi’s India. I look forward to reading more of her work. Some have compared the author Ambai ( who writes in Tamil) to her. It is sad that fewer non-English Indian authors are known outside of India (or even across regions). They are often the ones who’s works, like Devi’s, are radical and more creative. That is why I was so excited at Tomb of Sand winning the International Booker this year.

I agree, Arun. I would love to read more translated Indian writers.