Noted writer-activist Mahasweta Devi passes away; Mamata mourns loss of 'personal guide'

Social activist and writer Mahasweta Devi passed away on Thursday at a private nursing home in Kolkata. The noted author had been in a critical condition for the last few days and was put on life support.

At the time of her death, she was 90.

The Ramon Magsaysay awardee had been suffering from various ailments. She had been put on non-invasive ventilation after her condition worsened.

The writer, who was honoured with the Jnanpith Award in 1996, had been undergoing treatment at a Kolkata hospital for about two months now.




She was born in 1926 in Dhaka in undivided Bengal. Her father, Manish Ghatak, was a renowned poet and novelist. Ghatak's youngest brother was noted film-maker Ritwik Ghatak.



Mahasweta's mother, Dharitri Devi, was also a writer and a social worker. Her initial schooling was in Dhaka, but after the Partition, she moved to West Bengal in India. She joined the Vishvabharati University in Santiniketan and completed her B.A. (Hons) in English. She also pursued her M.A. in English from Calcutta University.

Mahasweta Devi's first book, 'Jhansir Rani' (The Queen of Jhansi), was published in 1956. Over the years she had published collections of short stories and close to a hundred novels, primarily in Bengali. A regular contributor to many literary magazines, she also worked as an English lecturer at the Calcutta University.

Through her writings, she addressed the oppression of the tribals and the disadvantaged. Having worked with the Sandhals, Ledhas, Shabars and Mivelas, her writings are filled with their tales of plight and exploitation. Through her stories, she has tried to demand equality of human rights and education for the girl child.

Among her other masterpieces are 'Haazar Churasi Kimau', 'Rudali', 'Bioscopes' and 'Chatti Munda O Tan Ti' . 'Hazaar Churasi Kimau' has been translated into a film starring Jaya Bachchan as well.

India has lost a great writer. Bengal has lost a glorious mother. I have lost a personal guide. Mahashweta Di rest in peace

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 28, 2016

(With inputs from agencies)

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