MAHASHWETA DEVI (1926–2016)
Mahasweta Devi was an eminent Bengali writer, social activist, and public intellectual whose literary oeuvre and grassroots activism left an indelible mark on Indian literature and society. Widely translated into English and several other languages, her works highlight the plight, dignity, and resistance of India's marginalized communities—especially the tribal populations such as the Lodha and Shabar of West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. A committed leftist, Mahasweta Devi dedicated her life to advocating for the rights and empowerment of Adivasis, Dalits, and women,
intertwining literature with a deep sense of social justice.
Born on 14 January 1926 into a Bengali Brahmin family in Dacca, British India (now Dhaka, Bangladesh), Mahasweta Devi was raised in an intellectually vibrant environment. Her father, Manish Ghatak, a noted poet and novelist associated with the Kallol literary movement, wrote under the pseudonym Jubanashwa. Her mother, Dharitri Devi, was also a writer and social worker. She was the niece of the legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak, further rooting her upbringing in a rich tradition of art and activism.
Devi received her early education at Eden Montessori School in Dhaka and later at Mission Girls’ High School in Midnapore, West Bengal. She completed her undergraduate studies in English at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan—founded by
Rabindranath Tagore—and went on to obtain a master’s degree in English Literature from Calcutta University. In 1947, she married Bijon Bhattacharya, a renowned playwright and one of the founding members of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).
Over her prolific career, Mahasweta Devi authored more than 100 novels and over 20 collections of short stories, many of which bear testimony to her lifelong engagement with issues of class, caste, and gender oppression. Her first novel, Jhansir Rani (1956), a biographical narrative of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, marked the beginning of a powerful
literary journey. Among her most celebrated works are Hajar Churashir Maa, Aranyer Adhikar ,( Right to the Forest) and Rudaali which was adapted for a film and theatre.
She received in 1979 Sahitya Akademi Award (Bengali), 1986, Padma Shri for Social Work, 1996 Jnanpith Award , 1997 Ramon Magsaysay Award, 2006 Padma Vibhushan, 2011 SAARC Literary Award, 2014 Banga Vibhushan – the highest civilian
award from the Government of West Bengal, 2018 Mamoni Raisom Goswami National Award for Literature constituted by Asam Sahitya Sabha. Google commemorated her 92nd birth anniversary with a dedicated Doodle, celebrating her legacy as a fearless writer and activist.
Mahasweta Devi’s life remains a compelling example of how literature can serve as a powerful medium of resistance and change. Through her pen and public engagement, she championed the causes of the voiceless and challenged the conscience of the nation.
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