David Chariandy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Chariandy
Chariandy in 2019
Born	David John Chariandy 1969 (age 55–56) Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Novelist and academic
Alma mater	Carleton University York University
Period	2000s–present
Notable works	Soucouyant (2007); Brother (2017)

David John Chariandy, born in 1969, is a Canadian writer and university professor. He teaches English literature at the University of Toronto. His book, Brother, won several awards in 2017. These include the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.

About David Chariandy

David Chariandy's parents moved to Canada in the 1960s. They came from Trinidad. David was born in 1969 in Scarborough, Ontario. His father has South Asian roots, and his mother is African. They were working-class immigrants. His last name shows his Tamil and South Indian family background.

David Chariandy studied at two universities. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Carleton University. He also got a PhD from York University. For many years, he lived in Vancouver. He taught English at Simon Fraser University. In 2024, he became a Professor at the University of Toronto.

In his books, David Chariandy explores important ideas. He writes about what "home" means for immigrants. He also writes about their children. These children grow up in a new country. But they still feel connected to their family's original home. David Chariandy is married and has two children.

Stories About Scarborough

David Chariandy's novels often take place in Scarborough. This is an area in eastern Toronto, Ontario. Scarborough is known for having many immigrant families. Sometimes, it has been unfairly seen as a place with a lot of crime. However, facts do not support this idea.

Chariandy once told the Toronto Star newspaper:

If I’m honest, I always wanted to write a story that evoked the complexities of growing up young and Black in Scarborough...Throughout my entire life growing up in Scarborough and returning to it even as a young adult, I always felt so discomforted by the negative stories of Scarborough that would circulate in the newspapers and tabloids and sometimes by word of mouth, among people who really didn’t know Scarborough that well.

His books show the real Scarborough. They talk about challenges people face. But they also tell a bigger story. This story is about the lively and strong community there. It's a story you don't always see in news headlines.

I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You

David Chariandy wrote a non-fiction book called I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You: A Letter to My Daughter. He was inspired to write it after a difficult experience. This happened when he was with his young daughter. Later, the Quebec City mosque shooting in 2017 also inspired him.

Books Become Movies

Chariandy's novel Brother won the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize in 2017. This book was made into a film. Filming started in 2021. Clement Virgo directed the movie. The film, also called Brother, was shown for the first time at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. It won 12 Canadian Screen Awards in 2023.

His first novel, Soucouyant, is also being made into a movie. Ian Harnarine is set to direct it.

Awards and Recognitions

In 2019, David Chariandy won the Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction. He shared this award with Danielle McLaughlin. This prize is for writers who use the English language. It helps them focus on their writing without money worries. The award gave him $165,000 to support his work.