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{{Short description|English-language Indian novelist}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Anita Nair
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1966|1|26}}
| birth_place = [[Shoranur]], [[Kerala]], India
|occupation = Writer
|caption = Anita Nair
|image = Anita-nair-portrait-wikipedia.jpg
|imagesize = 160px
|education =B.A (English Literature)
|known_for = ''[[The Better Man (novel)|A Better Man]]'', ''Mistress'', ''[[Lessons in Forgetting]]''
|alma_mater = [[NSS College, Ottapalam]], Kerala<br>
[[Virginia Center for the Creative Arts]]
|footnotes =
}}
'''Anita Nair''' (born 26 January 1966) is an [[Indian people|Indian]] novelist who writes her books in English. She is best known for her novels ''[[The Better Man (novel)|A Better Man]]'', ''Mistress'', and ''[[Lessons in Forgetting]]''.<ref name="Roy 2019">{{cite news |last1=Roy |first1=Devapriya |title=The Sisterhood |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/books/anita-nair-book-review-5575906/ |access-date=23 June 2021 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=9 February 2019}}</ref> She has also written poetry, essays, short stories, crime fiction, historical fiction, romance, and children's literature, including ''Muezza and Baby Jaan: Stories from the Quran''.<ref name="Roy 2019"/>

==Early life and education==
Nair was born in [[Shoranur]] in [[Palakkad]] district of [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/read/mundakkottukurussi-a-village-in-kerala-which-is-the-birthplace-of-neither-a-mahatma-nor-a-movement-is-home-to-me/article7561928.ece | title=A post office of my own |author=Anita Nair |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=21 August 2015 | accessdate=22 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kerala.com/ker_int/newinterview.php?recid=37 | title=Interview from Kerala.com | accessdate=21 July 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201175631/http://www.kerala.com/ker_int/newinterview.php?recid=37 | archive-date=1 February 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Nair was educated in [[Chennai]] (Madras) before returning to [[Kerala]], where she gained a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] in [[English language|English Language]] and [[Literature]].<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-anita-nair-author-461681.html My Secret Life: Anita Nair]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Career==
Nair was working as the creative director of an advertising agency in [[Bangalore]] when she wrote her first book, a collection of short stories called ''Satyr of the Subway'', which she sold to Har-Anand Press. The book won her a fellowship from the [[Virginia Center for the Creative Arts]]. Nair's second book was published by [[Penguin India]], and was the first book by an Indian author to be published by [[Picador (imprint)|Picador]] USA.

Among Nair's early commercial works were pieces she penned in the late 1990s for The Bangalore Monthly magazine (now called [https://bangalore.explocity.com/ Explocity Bangalore]), published by [[Explocity]] in a column titled 'The Economical Epicurean'.<ref>[http://connect.in.com/anita-nair/biography21743.html Anita Nair Biography]{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="culturebase1">{{cite web |author=culturebase.net |url=http://www.culturebase.net/artist.php?1354 |title=Anita Nair artist portrait |publisher=culturebase.net |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508114034/http://www.culturebase.net/artist.php?1354 |archive-date=8 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Thereafter followed Nair's novel ''[[The Better Man (novel)|The Better Man]]'' (2000) which was also published in Europe and the United States. In 2002, ''Ladies Coupé'' was elected as one of the five best in India. The novel is about women's conditions in a male dominated society, told with great insight, solidarity and humour.<ref name="culturebase1"/> Nair's novels ''[[The Better Man (book)|The Better Man]]'' and ''[[Ladies Coupé]]'' have been translated into 21 languages.

In 2002, appeared the collection of poems ''Malabar Mind'', and in 2003 ''Where the Rain is Born – Writings about Kerala'' which she has edited.

Nair has also written ''The Puffin Book of Myths and Legends'' (2004), a children's book on myths and legends. Nair has also edited ''Where the Rain is Born'' (2003).

Nair's writings about Kerala and her poetry has been included in ''The Poetry India Collection'' and a [[British Council]] Poetry Workshop Anthology. Her poems appeared in ''[[The Dance of the Peacock]]: An Anthology of English Poetry from India'',<ref name=brook>{{cite news|last1=Grove|first1=Richard|title=The Dance of the Peacock:An Anthology of English Poetry from India|url=http://hiddenbrookpress.com/Book-Indo-EnglishPoetry.html|accessdate=5 January 2015|issue=current|publisher=Hidden Brook Press, Canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929050126/http://hiddenbrookpress.com/Book-Indo-EnglishPoetry.html|archive-date=29 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> featuring 151 Indian English poets, edited by Vivekanand Jha and published by Hidden Brook Press, Canada.<ref name=press>{{cite web|last1=Press|first1=Hidden Brook|title=Hidden Brook Press|url=http://hiddenbrookpress.com|publisher=Hidden Brook Press|accessdate=5 January 2015}}</ref>

Nair has also written other books, such as ''Mistress'' (2003), ''Adventures of Nonu, the Skating Squirrel'' (2006), ''Living Next Door to Alise'' (2007) and ''Magical Indian Myths'' (2008). Nair's works also include many travelogues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.languageinindia.com/oct2009/chandradissertation.html |title=Language in India |publisher=Language in India |date=2009-10-10 |accessdate=2013-08-02}}</ref> With the play ''Nine Faces of Being'', she became a playwright, adapting the script from her book ''Mistress''<ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_author-anita-nair-s-story-taking-shape-on-stage_1493121 Author Anita Nair's story taking shape on stage]</ref> Her book ''[[Cut Like Wound]]'' (2012) introduced the fictional character Inspector Gowda. The second book in the series ''Chain of Custody'' was published in 2015.<ref name="Hrishikesh 2016">{{cite news |last1=Hrishikesh |first1=Sharanya |title=Book review: Chain of Custody by Anita Nair |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/z29AvAmCmbcBCT1SpdfDCJ/Book-review-Chain-of-Custody-by-Anita-Nair.html |access-date=23 June 2021 |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |date=4 August 2016}}</ref> Other works by Nair include ''The Lilac House'' (2012)<ref name="Kirkus 2012">{{cite news |title=THE LILAC HOUSE |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anita-nair/lilac-house/ |access-date=23 June 2021 |work=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |date=1 April 2012}}</ref> and ''Alphabet Soup for Lovers'' (2016).

Her sixth novel ''Idris: Keeper of The Light'' (2014) is a historical and geographical novel about a Somalian trader who visited Malabar in 1659 AD.<ref>[http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?290140 Idris: Keeper of The Light (2014)]</ref>

She has also written several audiobooks, including ''A Field of Flowers'' (2021) and ''Little Duck Girl'', narrated by [[Prakash Raj]].<ref name="Vijaykumar 2021">{{cite news |last1=Vijaykumar |first1=Vaishali |title=The 'myth' of the moral compass |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2021/jun/23/the-myth-of-the-moral-compass-2320016.html |access-date=23 June 2021 |work=The New Indian Express |date=23 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="Chhibber 2021"/> ''Twin Beds'' was voiced by [[Konkona Sen Sharma]] and [[Satyadeep Mishra]], and she voiced the audiobooks ''Why I Killed My Husband'' and ''Satyr of the Subway''.<ref name="Chhibber 2021">{{cite news |last1=Chhibber |first1=Mini Anthikad |title=Anita Nair's latest story 'Why I Killed My Husband' can be heard in her own voice |url=https://www.thehindu.com/authors/anita-nairs-latest-story-can-be-heard-in-her-own-voice/article34607335.ece |access-date=23 June 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=22 May 2021}}</ref>

In January 2022, Anita Nair was [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5JvoFn9gopfMXDBR3xMF5k?si=rKOae2YwQ8aol10ZPvVxAg interviewed for the podcast], The Literary City with Ramjee Chandran.

==Awards and recognitions==
* Arch of Excellence Award by the All India Achievers' Conference, New Delhi for Literature<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/anita-nair/article5379714.ece|title=Anita Nair|date=2013-11-23|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-05-25|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* 2007 LiBeraturpreis, finalist, Germany.<ref name="mistress">{{cite web|url=http://anitanair.net/novels/mistress/index.htm|title=Mistress- Synopsis and awards|accessdate=19 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923142249/http://www.anitanair.net/novels/mistress/index.htm|archive-date=23 September 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2008 FLO FICCI Women Achievers Award, for literature<ref name="kerala.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.kerala.com/ker_int/newinterview.php?recid=37|title=Kerala Interviews, Interview of the week|publisher=Kerala.com|accessdate=2013-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201175631/http://www.kerala.com/ker_int/newinterview.php?recid=37|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2009 Montblanc honored her with the launch of the Special Edition writing instrument in India; for her novel contribution to literature, enforcing cross cultural endeavors and enlightening experiences that have transcended an inexhaustible diversity of forms – barriers of language, cultures and identities.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Latest news about Anita Nair – Author of The Better Man & Ladies Coupe. Published by Penguin & Picador|url = http://www.anitanair.net/news.htm|website = anitanair.net|accessdate = 2015-12-14}}</ref>
* 2012 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] for her contribution to literature and culture<ref name=":0" />
* 2014 [[The Hindu Literary Prize]] shortlist for ''Idris Keeper of the Light''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/shortlist-of-the-six-novelists-of-the-hindu-prize-2014/article6471245.ece |title=Here's the shortlist |work=The Hindu |date=5 October 2014 |accessdate=24 December 2014}}</ref>
* 2015 Global Ambassador for Women for Expo May{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
* 2017 [[Crossword Book Award]], Jury Award, Children's category, ''Muezza and Baby Jaan''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scroll.in/latest/865564/josy-joseph-sujit-saraf-and-karan-johar-among-the-winners-of-this-years-crossword-book-awards |title=Josy Joseph, Sujit Saraf and Karan Johar among the winners of this year's Crossword Book Awards |work=Scroll.in |date=17 January 2018 |accessdate=19 January 2018}}</ref>
* 2020 [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]] appointment as a high-profile supporter<ref name="UNHCR 2020">{{cite news |title=Anita Nair named UNHCR's high profile supporter in India |url=https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2020/12/5fd8667d4/anita-nair-named-unhcrs-high-profile-supporter-in-india.html |access-date=23 June 2021 |work=[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]] |date=15 December 2020}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*''Satyr of the Subway & Eleven Other Stories'' 1997, {{ISBN|9780143099659}}, {{OCLC|77058678}}
*''[[The Better Man (novel)|The Better Man]]'' New Delhi ; London : Penguin Books, 1999. {{ISBN|9780140293203}}, {{OCLC|59457810}}
*''[[Ladies Coupé]]'' 2001. {{ISBN|9780099428978}}, {{OCLC|896652584}}
*''Malabar Mind – Poetry'' Calicut : Yeti Books, 2002. {{ISBN|9788188330003}}, {{OCLC|52326380}}
*''Where the Rain is Born – Writings about Kerala'' (Editor) 2003
*''Puffin Book of World Myths and Legends'' 2004
*''Mistress'' 2005. {{ISBN|9780144000333}}, {{OCLC|85772121}}
*''Adventures of Nonu, the Skating Squirrel'' 2006. {{ISBN|9788129108920}}, {{OCLC|70063316}}
*''Living Next Door To Alise'' 2007. {{ISBN|9780143333999}}, {{OCLC|922918137}}
*''Magical Indian Myths'' 2008. {{ISBN|9780143330042}}, {{OCLC|995509060}}
*''Goodnight & God Bless'' 2008. {{ISBN|9780670081516}}, {{OCLC|732686957}}
*''[[Lessons in Forgetting]]'' 2010. {{ISBN|9788172239046}}, {{OCLC|731240004}}
*''[[Chemmeen (novel)|Chemmeen]]''' (Translator) 2011
*''[[Cut Like Wound]] – Literary noir'' 2012. {{ISBN|9789350293805}}, {{OCLC|824683061}}
*''The Lilac House: a novel'' New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 2012. {{ISBN|9781250005182}}, {{OCLC|740628497}}
*''Idris – Historical novel'' 2014. {{ISBN|9789350297810}}, {{OCLC|899740186}}
*''Alphabet soup for lovers'', Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India: HarperCollins Publishers India, 2015. {{ISBN|9789351774822}}, {{OCLC|933430829}}
*''Chain of custody : an inspector Gowda novel'', Noida : Harper Black, 2016. {{ISBN|9789351778073}}, {{OCLC|954424570}}/
*''Eating Wasps'', Context, 2018<ref name="Kumar 2019">{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Sheila |title=Book review: 'Eating Wasps' by Anita Nair |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sunday-herald/sunday-herald-books/book-review-eating-wasps-anita-711344.html |work=Deccan Herald |date=6 January 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
She lives in [[Bangalore]] with her husband, Suresh Parambath<ref>{{Cite web|title = B'day bumps – Bangalore Mirror -|url = http://www.bangaloremirror.com/columns/code-560/Bday-bumps/articleshow/50068297.cms|website = Bangalore Mirror|accessdate = 2015-12-14}}</ref> and a son.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Author Anita Nair's Bangalore home is a bright and creative space : Home – India Today|url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/anita-nair-bangalore-home-living-room-interiors/1/177752.html|website = indiatoday.intoday.in|accessdate = 2015-12-14}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Anita Nair}}
* [http://www.anitanair.net/ Official site]
* [http://anitasattic.com/ Anita's Attic – A Creative Writing Mentorship program by Anita Nair ]

{{Authority control}}
{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nair, Anita}}
[[Category:Indian women dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Palakkad district]]
[[Category:English-language writers from India]]
[[Category:Indian women novelists]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Indian women children's writers]]
[[Category:Indian children's writers]]
[[Category:Indian women essayists]]
[[Category:Indian women poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Novelists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian women short story writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:Women writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Kerala]]

Anita Nair - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 11:55, 14 August 2023