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As a writer and human activist, the expansive contribution of Mahasveta Devi is truly an inspiration to all of us. She is one of the most prolific Bengali writers of modern times with numerous books that include plays, short stories and novels written in her native Bengali language. Her commendable writing has even made her a recipient of a number of awards including the Padma Shri in 1986, Jnanpith Award in 1996, Magasaysay Award for literature in 1997 and most recently the Officier DesArts et Des Lettrea in 2003. But there is more to Mahasveta Devi than the awards as her writing gives voice to the silent and her social activism hope where there is so much despair.

Mahasweta Devi was born into a literary family on January 14, 1926 in the city of Dacca (now part of modern day Bangladesh), but she and her family soon moved to West Bengal, India. Although she began her career as a teacher and journalist after completing a master's degree in English literature from Calcutta University, Mahasweta Devi soon embarked on a distinguished literary career with the publication of her first book Jhansir Rani (The Queen of Jhansi) in 1956. The book is a fictional depiction of the life of the legendary Rani Laxmibhai, who had fought fearlessly against the British colonial rulers during the revolt of 1857. It is a historical tale of courage and resistance where the past comes alive through the various characters potrayed and yet sensitively captures a turbulent time of nationalistic struggle for freedom.

It is just one of the many amazing works of Mahasveta Devi that has enthralled readers for years. The writings elude a sense of compassion for human suffering and vulnerability, but at the same time she depicts the strength and courage of the human spirit which rises against all odds through her powerful and effective characterization and imaginative stories. Most often these stories centre on the lives of the marginalized tribal communities and landless labourers like her remarkable novel Chatti Munda O Tar Tir (Chotti Munda and his Arrow) written in 1980. It is a thought-provoking novel which looks at tribal issues in relation to national identity and human rights. The book moves beautifully through the multifaceted societal and economic changes in India from the British rule to the turbulence of 1970s, exploring along the way what these changes have meant for marginalized communities through the life of its main protagonist Chotti. It is a story of struggle and disappointment and yet somewhere in it all is there is that rare flicker of optimism for liberation. Another book The Glory of Sri Sri Ganesh translated by Ipsita Chanda, Mahasweta Devi brings in a whole new dimension to the societal and economic changes in India by addressing the issue of low-caste and landless labourers within the context of rural development in post-independent India. The narrative is made interesting with a blend of acidic humour and intricate style that is open to interpretation.

Thus, A large part of Mahasweta Devi's writing is inspired by the status of the tribal communities of Bengal and Bihar. Her work is a valuable documentation of these communities that have been marginalized and remain forgotten to a great extent in the developmental process. Mahasweta Devi translates her perception of society through the lives of her well-etched characters as they journey through the harshness of life, struggling to maintain their dignity amidst the indifference they face along the way. Her writings in this genre reflect a lot of her own work as a social activist with the Komadic tribes, non-tribal poor and people generally isolated by mainstream society.

Mahasweta Devi's writing has also been greatly influenced by The Naxalite movement of the late 1960's and early 1970's. It was a leftist movement that came to be popularly called the Naxalbari movement and began as a rural rebellion against landlords and moneylenders by grieved tribal members and landless labourers. But the movement soon gained momentum as it spread through the city and students joined the uprising against the existent bourgeois system. In her book Hajar Churashir Ma (Mother of 1084), Mahasweta Devi's brings a sense of understanding and rationality to one of Bengal’s most turbulent times through her protaginist Sujata Chatterji, a traditional, passive, upper middle class woman devastated by the death of her favourite son Brati. In order to cope with her loss, Sujata tries to understand Brati’s political ideology and commitment to the Naxalbari movement that led to his ultimate demise. But what began as a journey to find rationality to a tragedy ends as a self-discovery of a woman making it a poignant tale of politics and human relations.

There is so much to write about Mahasweta Devi and yet the words never seem enough to capture the spirit of a woman whose work reflect the grim reality of the world we live in and yet remains optimistic and hopeful. She is a marvellous writer with a social conscience, who uses the power of words to stir emotions and awaken our thoughts to not only think about making a difference but also actually doing it.

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