Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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| Born | Chitralekha Banerjee 1956 (age 68–69) Calcutta, West Bengal, India |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Calcutta (BA) Wright State University University of California, Berkeley (PhD) |
| Genre | Poetry, short stories, novels; fantasy, young adult, magical realism, historical fiction |
| Notable works | Arranged Marriage: Stories Mistress of Spices Sister of My Heart The Palace of Illusions One Amazing Thing The Conch Bearer The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming Independence |
| Notable awards | American Book Award PEN Josephine Miles Literary Award |
| Spouse | Murthy |
| Children | 2 |
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, born Chitralekha Banerjee in 1956, is an author, poet, and professor. She was born in India and later became an American citizen. She teaches writing at the University of Houston.
Her book of short stories, Arranged Marriage, won an important award called the American Book Award in 1996. Some of her novels, like The Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart, have even been made into movies. One of her short stories, The Word Love, was also turned into a film.
Divakaruni's stories often take place in India and the United States. They frequently explore the lives of people who have moved from South Asia to America. She writes books for both kids and adults. Her stories cover many different types of writing, including realistic stories, historical tales, magical realism, and fantasy.
Contents
Early Life and School
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni was born in Calcutta, India. She earned her first college degree from the University of Calcutta in 1976. That same year, she moved to the United States.
She continued her studies at Wright State University, where she earned a master's degree. Later, she received her PhD in English from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1985.
Her Career Journey
While studying in graduate school, Divakaruni worked many different jobs to support herself. She was a babysitter, a store clerk, and even sliced bread in a bakery. She also worked as a lab assistant and helped in a dining hall.
After finishing her studies, she taught at colleges in California. Today, she lives and teaches in Texas. She is a professor of creative writing at the University of Houston.
Divakaruni also helps her community. She helped start Maitri in 1991, which is a helpline for South Asian women. She is also involved with Daya, a similar group in Houston. She has also worked with Pratham Houston, an organization that helps bring reading skills to children in India who don't have many opportunities.
Her Books and Poems
Divakaruni started her writing journey by writing poetry. Some of her poetry books are Black Candle and Leaving Yuba City.
Her first collection of stories, Arranged Marriage, won several awards. These included the American Book Award and the PEN Josephine Miles Award. She has written many popular novels, such as The Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart, Queen of Dreams, and The Palace of Illusions.
She also wrote a fantasy series for young adults called The Brotherhood of the Conch. These books are set in India and use Indian culture and old stories. The first book, The Conch Bearer, was nominated for an award in 2003. The second book, The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming, came out in 2005. The last book in the series, Shadowland, was published in 2009.
Her novel The Palace of Illusions was a best-seller in India for over a year. This book tells the famous Indian epic story, The Mahabharata, from the point of view of a character named Draupadi.
Divakaruni's writings have appeared in well-known magazines like The Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker. Her stories have also been chosen for important collections like Best American Short Stories. Her books have been translated into 29 different languages around the world.
Books on Screen and Stage
Many of Divakaruni's works have been adapted into other forms of media.
Movies and TV Shows
Her novel The Mistress of Spices was made into a movie in 2005. It was directed by Paul Mayeda Berges. Her novel Sister of My Heart was turned into a TV series in India.
In 2018, producers bought the rights to make The Palace of Illusions into a film. As of 2021, her novel One Amazing Thing was also being considered for a Bollywood movie.
Plays and Opera
A story from her collection Arranged Marriage, called Clothes, was adapted into a play. This play was performed several times.
In 2013, Divakaruni wrote the story for a short opera called River of Light. This opera was about the life of an Indian woman living in Houston. It was first performed in 2014.
The Palace of Illusions was also made into a play called Fire and Ice: Draupadi's Story. A Bollywood movie based on The Palace of Illusions, starring Deepika Padukone, was also being planned.
Awards and Recognitions
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni has received many awards for her writing:
- 1996: American Book Award for Arranged Marriage
- 1996: PEN Josephine Miles Literary Award for Arranged Marriage
- Bay Area Book Reviewers' Award for Arranged Marriage
- 1997: Pushcart Prize for Leaving Yuba City: New and Selected Poems
- 2003: Pushcart Prize for The Lives of Strangers
- 2007: Distinguished Writer Award from the South Asian Literary Association
Her Family Life
Divakaruni lives in Houston with her husband, Murthy. They have two sons, Anand and Abhay. She has even used her sons' names for characters in her children's novels.
See also
In Spanish: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni para niños
- List of Indian Americans
- Indian English literature
- List of Asian American writers
