Hembram Bakhul at 12:19, 5 July 2021

2021-07-05T12:19:21Z

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{{short description|Indian writer (born 1983)}}
'''Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar''' (born 1983) is an Indian writer.

==Life==
Ethnically, Shekhar is a [[Santal people|Santhal]], one of India's [[Adivasi]] groups; this background is reflected in his fiction.<ref>Ziya Us Salam, '[http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/a-santhal-suppressed/article9873860.ece A Santhal Suppressed]', ''Frontline'' (13 October 2017).</ref> His stories are rich in "fine details that add to the deep dimensions" and "open to us a world we have deliberately dismissed" <ref>{{cite web |url=https://scroll.in/article/772558/the-tribal-world-strikes-back-at-indian-writing-in-english-through-a-doctor |title=The tribal world strikes back at Indian writing in English through a doctor |work=Scroll |author=Binoo K. John |date=November 30, 2015 |accessdate=August 15, 2018}}</ref> and contain "a surplus of understanding that comes from a kind insider-outsider."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/tlsafHsKkGsFvOzNRp6eGM/Faith-in-the-local.html |title=Faith in the local |work=Livemint |author=Sumana Roy |date=October 17, 2015 |accessdate=August 15, 2018}}</ref> Indeed, he characterised his first novel as "the first full-fledged Santhal novel written in English, and published by a mainstream publisher."<ref>Sujit Prasad, '[https://antiserious.com/i-am-a-santhal-and-my-opinion-too-should-matter-hansda-sowvendra-shekhar-8b8d226e7153 “I Am a Santhal, and My Opinion Too Should Matter,” says Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar]', ''antiserious.com'' (16 August 2017) [repr. from the ''Boston Coffee House Magazine'' 2014].</ref> Born in [[Ranchi]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/books-and-more-hansda-sowvendra-shekhar-is-a-dedicated-doctor-and-writer-2053574 |title=Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar is a dedicated doctor and writer |work=DNA |author=Kaartikeya Bajpai |date=January 18, 2015 |accessdate=August 15, 2018}}</ref> Shekhar grew up in [[Ghatshila]] and [[Chakulia]] and went to school in [[Musabani]].<ref>Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, '[https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/read/not-just-one/article7460270.ece Not just one]', ''The Hindu Business Line'' (24 July 2015)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/aZ43AhlrXibH0u9vem9p5K/Ghatsila-A-nostalgists-map.html |title=Ghatsila: A nostalgist's map |work=Mint Lounge/Livemint |author=Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar |date=April 23, 2016 |accessdate=August 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://indianquarterly.com/black/ |title=Black |work=The Indian Quarterly |author=Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar |date=April–June 2018 |accessdate=August 13, 2018}}</ref> His parents used to work with [[Hindustan Copper]] in [[Ghatshila]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/playing-with-fire-5334097/ |title=Playing with Fire: Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar on his first children's book |work=The Indian Express |author=Paromita Chakrabarti |date=September 2, 2018 |accessdate=September 2, 2018}}</ref> By profession, he is a medical doctor and is employed as a medical officer with the government of [[Jharkhand]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scroll.in/article/772558/the-tribal-world-strikes-back-at-indian-writing-in-english-through-a-doctor |title=The tribal world strikes back at Indian writing in English through a doctor |work=Scroll |author=Binoo K. John |date=November 30, 2015 |accessdate=August 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>Sudipta Datta, '[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hansda-sowvendra-shekharfighting-a-ban/article19525262.ece Who is Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, fighting a ban]', ''The Hindu'' (19 August 2017).</ref> based in 2017 in [[Pakur]].<ref>Ziya Us Salam, '[http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/a-santhal-suppressed/article9873860.ece A Santhal Suppressed]', ''Frontline'' (13 October 2017).</ref>

Though Shekhar writes primarily in English, he also translates from Santhali to English <ref>{{cite web |url=https://scroll.in/article/838374/eight-melancholic-introspective-poems-by-parimal-hansda-on-being-a-santhal-today |title=Eight melancholic, introspective poems by Parimal Hansda on being a Santhal today |work=Scroll |author=Parimal Hansda |date=August 20, 2017 |accessdate=August 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.asymptotejournal.com/nonfiction/shibu-tudu-memories-of-the-kirta-dangra/ |title=Memories of the Kirta Dangra |work=Asymptote |author=Shibu Tudu |accessdate=August 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.asymptotejournal.com/nonfiction/shibu-tudu-memories-of-the-kirta-dangra/santhali/ |title=Memories of the Kirta Dangra (Santhali) |work=Asymptote |author=Shibu Tudu |accessdate=August 12, 2018}}</ref> and Hindi to English.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/i-am-from-the-earth/article19690085.ece |title=I am from the Earth |work=The Hindu |author=Manish Mundra |date=September 16, 2017 |accessdate=August 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usawa.in/in-translation/baba-crows-and-black-smoke.html |title=Baba, Crows and Black Smoke |work=Usawa literary Review |author=Ranendra |date=August 2, 2018 |accessdate=August 12, 2018}}</ref>

==Works==
* ''[[The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey]]'' (New Delhi: [[Aleph Book Company]], 2014) {{ISBN|9789382277323}}
* ''[[The Adivasi Will Not Dance: Stories]]'' (New Delhi: [[Speaking Tiger|Speaking Tiger Books]], 2015) {{ISBN|9789385288647}}
* ''[[Jwala Kumar and the Gift of Fire: Adventures in Champakbagh]]'' (featuring illustrations by Krishna Bala Shenoi)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.goodbooks.in/version2/2019/03/19/jwala-kumar-and-the-gift-of-fire-adventures-in-champakbagh/ |title=Jwala Kumar and the Gift of Fire: Adventures in Champakbagh |work=Goodbooks |accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref> (New Delhi: Talking Cub - an imprint of Speaking Tiger - 2018) {{ISBN|9789387693975}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://speakingtigerbooks.com/books/jwala-kumar-and-the-gift-of-fire/ |title=Jwala Kumar and the Gift of Fire |work=Speaking Tiger Books |accessdate=August 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://theduckbillblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/21/new-indian-kids-and-ya-books-in-august-2018/ |title=New Indian Kids’ and YA Books in August 2018 |work=The Duckbill Blog |author=Duckbill Books |date=July 21, 2018 |accessdate=August 12, 2018}}</ref>
* ''My Father's Garden'' (New Delhi: Speaking Tiger, 2018) {{ISBN|9789388326223}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/those-accusing-me-of-objectifying-women-were-all-bullying-women-219818 |title='Those accusing me of objectifying women were all bullying women' |work=The Telegraph, Kolkata |author=Prasun Chaudhuri |date=April 1, 2018 |accessdate=August 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speakingtigerbooks.com/books/my-fathers-garden/ |title=My Father's Garden |work=Speaking Tiger Books |accessdate=February 22, 2019}}</ref>
* ''Who's There?'' (featuring illustrations by Anupama Ajinkya Apte) (Chennai: Duckbill Books - an imprint of [[Penguin Random House]] India - 2020) {{ISBN|9780143450788}}<ref>{{cite web |url= https://penguin.co.in/book/uncategorized/whos-hook-books/ |title=Who’s There? |work=Penguin Random House India |accessdate=April 22, 2020}}</ref>
* ''Sumi Budhi and Sugi'' (featuring illustrations by Joanna Mendes) (Bengaluru: [[Pratham|Pratham Books]], 2020)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/117435-sumi-budhi-and-sugi |title=Sumi Budhi and Sugi |work=Pratham Books StoryWeaver |accessdate=April 22, 2020}}</ref>

==Awards==
For his debut novel, ''[[The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey]]'', Shekhar won the 2015 [[Yuva Puraskar]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/awards/yuva_samman_suchi.jsp |title=List of Yuva Puraskar winners (2011-2017) |work=Sahitya Akademi |author=Sahitya Akademi |accessdate=August 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805114428/http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/awards/yuva_samman_suchi.jsp |archive-date=August 5, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Sudipta Datta, '[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hansda-sowvendra-shekharfighting-a-ban/article19525262.ece Who is Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, fighting a ban]', ''The Hindu'' (19 August 2017).</ref> was shortlisted for the 2014 [[Hindu Literary Prize]]<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 |author= |date=October 5, 2014 |accessdate=December 24, 2014}}</ref> and the 2014 [[Crossword Book Award]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scroll.in/article/718215/meet-the-contenders-the-crossword-book-award-2014-shortlists-for-fiction-and-non-fiction |title=Meet the contenders: the Crossword Book Award 2014 shortlists for fiction and non-fiction |work=Scroll |author=Arunima Mazumdar |date=April 4, 2015 |accessdate=August 12, 2018}}</ref> longlisted for the 2016 [[International Dublin Literary Award]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dublinliteraryaward.ie/nominees/the-mysterious-ailment-of-rupi-baskey/ |title=The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey |work=International Dublin Literary Award |accessdate=August 12, 2018}}</ref> and jointly won the 2015 Muse India Young Writer Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/shahnaz-bashir-s-the-half-mother-declared-winner-of-muse-india-award/204796.html |title=Shahnaz Bashir’s The Half Mother declared winner of Muse India award |work=Greater Kashmir |author=GK News Network |date=December 21, 2015 |accessdate=August 12, 2018}}</ref> ''[[The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey]]'' was named by ''[[The Hindu]]'' in December 2019 as one of the ten best fiction books of the decade.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thehindu.com/books/best-fiction-books-of-the-decade/article30410721.ece |title=Best fiction books of the decade |work=The Hindu |date=December 28, 2019 |accessdate=January 5, 2020}}</ref>

For his second book, ''[[The Adivasi Will Not Dance: Stories]]'', Shekhar was shortlisted for the 2016 [[Hindu Literary Prize]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/Shortlist-for-The-Hindu-Prize-2016-announced/article16072933.ece |title=Shortlist for The Hindu Prize 2016 announced |work=The Hindu |author= |date=October 16, 2016 |accessdate=September 13, 2017}}</ref>

''[[Jwala Kumar and the Gift of Fire: Adventures in Champakbagh]]'' is Shekhar's first book for children.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/hansda-sowvendra-shekhar-on-writing-his-first-childrens-book-depicting-small-town-india-in-fiction-4927971.html |title=Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar on writing his first children's book, depicting small-town India in fiction |work=Firstpost |author=Kanishka Gupta |date=August 9, 2018 |accessdate=August 13, 2018}}</ref> This book features illustrations by Krishna Bala Shenoi.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.goodbooks.in/version2/2019/03/19/jwala-kumar-and-the-gift-of-fire-adventures-in-champakbagh/ |title=Jwala Kumar and the Gift of Fire: Adventures in Champakbagh |work=Goodbooks |accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref> It was shortlisted for a 2019 Neev Book Award in the category Junior Readers<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.neevliteraturefestival.org/book-awards/ |title=Neev Literature Festival 2019 Book Awards |work=Neev Literature Festival |accessdate=October 6, 2019}}</ref> and a 2019 [[Crossword Book Award]] in the children’s books category.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/crossword-book-award-women-writers-sweep-fiction-shortlist/1679397 |title=Crossword Book Award: Women writers sweep fiction shortlist |work=Outlook |accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref>

His fourth book, a novel entitled ''My Father's Garden'', has been called "rich and surprising"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/my-fathers-garden-by-hansda-sowvendra-shekhar-something-rich-and-surprising/article26148348.ece |title='My Father's Garden by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar: Something rich and surprising |work=The Hindu |author=Keshava Guha |date=February 2, 2019 |accessdate=February 18, 2019}}</ref> and "[packing] more emotion, detail and narrative heft than...books four times its size."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thewire.in/books/book-review-the-simple-prose-of-my-fathers-garden-cuts-like-a-knife |title=The Simple Prose of My Father's Garden Cuts Like a Knife |work=TheWire |author=Saudha Kasim |date=February 7, 2019 |accessdate=February 18, 2019}}</ref> ''My Father's Garden'' was shortlisted for the [[JCB Prize]] for Literature 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/article/939289/jcb-prize-2019-shortlist-an-acknowledgement-that-indian-fiction-is-now-raw-brutal-and-angry |title=JCB Prize 2019 shortlist: An acknowledgement that Indian fiction is now raw, brutal and angry |work=Scroll |author=Scroll Staff |date=October 4, 2019 |accessdate=October 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thehindu.com/books/madhuri-vijays-debut-novel-the-far-field-wins-2019-jcb-prize-for-literature/article29868835.ece |title=Madhuri Vijay’s debut novel ‘The Far Field’ wins 2019 JCB prize for Literature |work=The Hindu |author=Press Trust of India |date=November 3, 2019 |accessdate=November 28, 2019}}</ref>

==Controversy==
On 11 August 2017, the government of [[Jharkhand]] banned ''[[The Adivasi Will Not Dance: Stories]]'' and summarily suspended Shekhar from his job, on the grounds that the book portrayed Adivasi women and Santhal culture in a bad light.<ref>Sudipta Datta, '[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hansda-sowvendra-shekharfighting-a-ban/article19525262.ece Who is Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, fighting a ban]', ''The Hindu'' (19 August 2017).</ref> The key complainants appear to have been the ruling party in Jharkhand, the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]; the opposition party, [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]]; and an academic at [[Jamia Millia Islamia]].<ref>Ziya Us Salam, '[http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/a-santhal-suppressed/article9873860.ece A Santhal Suppressed]', ''Frontline'' (13 October 2017).</ref> The government's actions were widely criticised.<ref>Sanjay Srivastava, '[https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/what-the-ban-on-the-adivasi-will-not-dance-tells-us-about-india-s-political-life/story-gPtXIRpKwDcwl0zTEgEdVN.html What the ban on The Adivasi Will Not Dance tells us about India’s political life]', ''Hindustan Times'' (14 August 2017).</ref><ref>Ruchir Joshi, '[http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/the-reader-will-not-dance/article19482115.ece The reader will not dance]', ''The Hindu'' (13 August 2017).</ref><ref>'[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/dubbed-porn-book-on-tribals-banned-in-jharkhand/articleshow/60041186.cms Dubbed 'porn', book on tribals banned in Jharkhand', ''The Times of India'' (13 August 2017).]</ref><ref>'[https://thewire.in/171820/jharkhand-book-ban-condemned/ Writers, Activists Condemn Banning of ‘The Adivasi Will Not Dance’ in Jharkhand]', ''The Wire'' (29 August 2017).</ref> The ban on ''[[The Adivasi Will Not Dance: Stories]]'' was removed in December 2017<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scroll.in/latest/861308/four-months-after-ban-jharkhand-finds-nothing-objectionable-in-hansda-shekhars-book-on-adivasis |title=Four months after ban, Jharkhand finds nothing objectionable in Hansda Shekhar’s book on Adivasis |work=Scroll |author=Scroll Staff |date=December 13, 2017 |accessdate=September 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jharkhand-govt-finds-nothing-objectionable-in-santhal-writers-book-ban-could-be-lifted-sowvendra-shekhar-hansda-4981307/ |title=Jharkhand: Govt finds nothing objectionable in Santhal writer’s book, ban could be lifted |work=The Indian Express |author=Prashant Pandey |date=December 14, 2017 |accessdate=September 2, 2018}}</ref> and Shekhar's suspension was removed and he was reinstated into his job in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indianculturalforum.in/2018/08/17/suspension-on-writer-hansda-sowvendra-shekhar-revoked/ |title=Suspension on Writer Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar Revoked |work=Indian Cultural Forum |author=ICF Team |date=August 17, 2018 |accessdate=September 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/playing-with-fire-5334097/ |title=Playing with Fire: Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar on his first children's book |work=The Indian Express |author=Paromita Chakrabarti |date=September 2, 2018 |accessdate=September 2, 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7752926.Hansda_Sowvendra_Shekhar |title=Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar on Goodreads |accessdate=August 13, 2018}}
* {{cite web |url=https://independent.academia.edu/HansdaSowvendraShekhar |title=Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar on Academia |accessdate=August 13, 2018}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shekhar, Hansda Sowvendra}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Bengali writers]]
[[Category:English-language poets from India]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Adivasi writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Poets from Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Novelists from Jharkhand]]

Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar - Revision history

Hembram Bakhul at 12:19, 5 July 2021