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| Contemporary Indian Writers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 1. Sunil Gangopadhyay: Sunil Gangopadhyay`s contribution in every genre of modern Bengali literature remains unparalleled. A prolific and versatile writer, he has authored several path breaking collections of poetry, novels, short stories, plays essays, many of which have been made into films. Founder of the seminal poetry journal Krittibas and the winner of several literary awards, namely the Ananda Puraskar, Bankim Puraskar and the Sahitya Akademi award, Sunil Gangopadhyay is presently the Vice president of the Sahitya Akademi. Sunil has written (and still writes) in many other genres including travelogues, children`s fiction, short stories, features, and essays. Among his pen names are: Nil Lohit, Sanatan Pathak, and Nil Upadhyay.
As in poetry, Sunil is known for his unique style in prose. Arjun, Pratidwandi, filmed by Satyajit Ray (English title: The Adversary), Aranyer Din-Raatri (The Days and Nights of the Forest, also filmed by Satyajit Ray), Abar Aranya (filmed by Gautam Ghosh), Ekaa ebong Koyekjon are some of his well known works of fiction. His historical fiction Sei Somoy (translated into English by Aruna Chakravorty as Those Days) received the Indian Sahitya Akademi award in 1985. Sei Somoy continues to be a best seller more than a decade after its first publication. The same is true for Pratham Alo (also translated recently by Aruna Chakravorty as First Light), another best selling historical fiction and Porb-Paschim, a raw depiction of the partition and its aftermath. He is also the winner of the Bankim Puraskar (1982), and the Ananda Puraskar (twice). 2. Mahasweta Devi: She is noted in recent decades for her works related to the  study of the rural tribal communities of West Bengal, women and dalits. She is also an activist who is dedicated to the struggle of tribal people in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In her elaborate Bengali fiction, she often depicts the brutal oppression of tribal peoples and the untouchables by potent, authoritarian high-caste landlords, lenders, and venal government officials. Her works include the following:
Hajar Churashir Ma (No. 1084`s Mother, 1975) Aranyer Adhikar (The Occupation of the Forest, 1977) Agnigarbha (Womb of Fire, 1978) Choti Munda evam Tar Tir (Choti Munda and His Arrow, 1980) Imaginary Maps, 1995 (translated by Gayatri Spivak) London & New York. Routledge Dhowli (Short Story) Breast Giver (1998) Dust on the Road Our Non-Veg Cow Bashai Tudu Titu Mir 3. Ashapurna Devi: Ashapurna Devi is a Jnanapeeth awardee and well-known writer. She grew up in Calcutta, where her father was an artist. Married at a young age, in a traditional Bengali family, Ashapurna could not finish her school education. But she had an inclination to literary activities. At home she read different Bengali magazines and books. Asha Devi wrote her first stories during 1930`s, for adolescents. Her first story was published in 1937, The Husband`s Lover, in which she touched the changing and contradictory expectations of men from women - as traditional, obedient wives and at the same time, as stimulating, glamorous lovers to show-off to others. She is known for her strong female characters. Her famous trilogy, Pratham Pratishuti, followed by Swarnlatha and Bukul Katha have covered the life-stories of three generations of women, over the changing rural and urban milieu in Bengal over twentieth century. In three books, once again Ashapurna touches on the contradictory expectations from women in contemporary Bengali society - at times oppressed and traditional follower of husband`s wishes, at times the apparently modern, good looking, well dressed companion. At the same time, she explores the inner desires and aspirations of her women characters, unfettered by expectations of the men and families. 4. Vempalli Gangadhar Molakala Punnami, this inspiring collection of stories of Vempalli Gangadhar delineating its characters from a rural background, speaks in earthy tones through the voices of those who depend on land and the vagaries of nature giving either misery or bounty. The stories are full of pathos of the deprived, both economically and emotionally. They have a distinct quality, which separates them from the run-of-the mill stories. The title story `Molakala Punnami`, is powerful with an unexpected ending. So also are stories such as `Moodu Padunla Vaana`, `Poola Chetulu`, `Mynam Bommalu`, `Sreeman Doravaariki` which penetrate into the subtle realities beneath the superficial realities of life. Gangadhar`s handling of the characters has a depth which will haunt the reader long after one has finished reading the stories. He sometimes comes across as a poet when he derives inspiration directly from nature, and within the framework of the story, spills his poetry in prose form.  5. K.M. Munshi: Besides being a politician and educationist, K.M. Munshi was also an environmentalist. He initiated the Van Mahotsav in 1950, when he was Union Minister of Agriculture and Food, to increase the area under forest cover. Since then Van Mahotsav a week long festival of tree plantation is organised every year in the month of July all across the country and lakhs of trees are planted.Munshi was also litterateur with a wide range of interests. He has enriched genres like the novels, short stories, biographies and autobiography. Munshi is specially known for his historical novels in Gujarati. His trilogy Patanni Prabhuta (The Greatness of Patan), Gujaratno Nath (The Ruler of Gujarat) and Rajadhiraj (The Emperor) is considered significant in the literature of Gujarat. His other works include Jay Somnath, Krishnavatara and Bhagavan Parasurama.
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