Mahasweta Devi, Writer, Activist
Writer, Activist

Mahasweta Devi

Born 14 January 1926 · Bangladesh — Died 28 July 2016

Authored Hajar Churashir Maa highlighting tribal struggles in India.

Mahasweta Devi was an Indian Bengali language writer and activist. Her notable literary works include Hajar Churashir Maa, Rudali, and Aranyer Adhikar. She was a leftist who worked for the rights and empowerment of the tribal people of West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh states of India. She was honoured with various literary awards such as the Sahitya Akademi Award, Jnanpith Award and Ramon Magsaysay Award along with India's civilian awards Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Mahasweta Devi’s first novel was based on firsthand field research involving collecting folk songs and oral histories directly from Jhansi locals in the mid-1950s.

The Story

1
In 1956, Mahasweta Devi published her first novel 'Jhansir Rani' after touring the Jhansi region to collect local folk songs and stories, immersing herself deeply in the historical and cultural fabric of her subject.
2
🌲 By the 1960s, she began living among tribal communities such as the Lodha and Shabar across West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, documenting their stories and struggles against exploitation by landlords and state forces.
3📚 In 1964, she started teaching English at Vijaygarh Jyotish Ray College, an institution for working-class women, where she combined education with activism and journalism to raise awareness about marginalized groups.
4🏆 Her 1977 novel 'Aranyer Adhikar' won the Sahitya Akademi Award and depicted the life of tribal leader Birsa Munda, spotlighting indigenous resistance within post-Independence India.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Mahasweta Devi was born in 1926 in Dhaka, now Bangladesh, but moved to West Bengal after the Partition, reflecting the upheaval that shaped her early life and later activism.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Dhaka, Bengal Province
Mahasweta Devi was born into a literary family in Dhaka, then part of British India (now Bangladesh).
1926
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Publication
Publication of 'Jhansir Rani'
Her first novel, based on the Rani of Jhansi, was published after extensive field research in the Jhansi region.
1956
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Career
Teaching at Vijaygarh Jyotish Ray College
Started teaching English at a college for working-class women in Kolkata, engaging with education and activism.
1964
🏅
Award
Sahitya Akademi Award for 'Aranyer Adhikar'
Received the prestigious literary award for a novel depicting tribal leader Birsa Munda’s struggles.
1977
🏅
Award
Ramon Magsaysay Award
Honored for her activism and literature focusing on tribal rights and social justice in India.
1997
🕊️
Death
Death of Mahasweta Devi
Passed away leaving behind a legacy of literature and activism for India's marginalized communities.
2016
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Her uncle was the legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak, linking her to a family deeply engaged in artistic and political movements of Bengal.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 1964, she taught at Vijaygarh Jyotish Ray College, an institution specifically dedicated to working-class women, bridging education and grassroots empowerment.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

She collaborated with scholar Ganesh N. Devy to campaign for recognition of tribal languages, highlighting her commitment beyond literature to linguistic justice.

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"Their crime is they dared to dream…The right to dream should be the first fundamental right of people."

— Mahasweta Devi

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
#JLF 2013: Talking, Writing- Conversations with Mahasweta Devi
More from this archive
#JLF 2013: Talking, Writing- Conversations with Mahasweta Devi
01
#JLF 2013: Talking, Writing- Conversations with Mahasweta Devi
CONVERSATION - MAHASWETA DEVI
02
CONVERSATION - MAHASWETA DEVI
IN CONVERSATION - MAHASWETA DEVI
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IN CONVERSATION - MAHASWETA DEVI
Mahasweta Devi GFP Interview
04
Mahasweta Devi GFP Interview
VTS_01_3.flv
05
VTS_01_3.flv
A Tribute to Mahasweta Devi- Condolence Meeting on 2 August 2016 at New Delhi
06
A Tribute to Mahasweta Devi- Condolence Meeting on 2 August 2016 at New Delhi
महाश्वेता देवी | Writer & Activist | जनजातियों का उत्थान और विकास
07
महाश्वेता देवी | Writer & Activist | जनजातियों का उत्थान और विकास
Mahasweta Devi | Kitab Ki Duniya
08
Mahasweta Devi | Kitab Ki Duniya
#JLF 2013: Inaugural Session- 'O To Live Again!'
09
#JLF 2013: Inaugural Session- 'O To Live Again!'
Mahasweta Devi on Singur
10
Mahasweta Devi on Singur

🌱 What changed because of them

Mahasweta Devi’s work brought tribal and marginalized voices into mainstream Indian literature, influencing policy discussions on tribal rights and inspiring new activism groups like the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Right Action Group. Her literary and activist efforts contributed to greater recognition of tribal languages and cultures within India’s socio-political discourse.

💬 Social Buzz

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