Kavita Mahajan facts for kids

Kavita Mahajan (born September 5, 1967 – died September 27, 2018) was an Indian writer and translator. She wrote in the Marathi language. She is well-known for her popular novels like Brr (2005), Bhinna (2007), and Kuhoo (2011). She also wrote a non-fiction book called Graffiti Wall (2009). In 2011, she won an award for translation from the Sahitya Akademi, which is India's National Academy of Letters.

Early Life and Education

Kavita Mahajan was born in the city of Nanded, which is in Maharashtra, India. Her father, S.D. Mahajan, used to be the secretary of Marathi Vishwakosh, a large Marathi encyclopedia project. Her grandfather, Tryambak Vasekar, was a famous painter.

Kavita Mahajan's Writing Career

Kavita Mahajan wrote about important social topics. She often focused on helping people gain more freedom and fighting against unfair treatment.

Novels and Their Messages

Mahajan's book Brr is a collection of stories. It talks about women who became leaders (called sarpanch) in their villages after a new local government system, Panchayati Raj, was started. The book shows their experiences and challenges.

Her novel Bhinna tells the stories of people whose lives were changed by HIV/AIDS. Both Brr and Bhinna explore how different groups and systems work. They look at how local governments operate, how some non-profit groups (NGOs) might have problems, and the complex ways people relate to each other. Mahajan's writing often focused on political, social, and money-related issues, rather than just love stories or family life.

In 2011, Mahajan released her novel Kuhoo (Marathi: कुहू). This book explored the connection between humans and nature. It was special because it was sold as a 'multimedia novel'. It came with a DVD that had nature sounds, sights, and even some animated parts to go along with the story.

Poetry and Translations

Kavita Mahajan also wrote poetry. One of her poetry collections is called Dhulicha Awaz. She was given the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize in 2011. She won this award for her translation of Rajai, a collection of 17 short stories by Ismat Chughtai. Mahajan translated these stories from Urdu into Marathi.

Children's Books

Mahajan also wrote books for younger readers. In 2011, she published a collection of short stories for children called Joyanache Ranga (Marathi: जोयानाचे रंग). This book won her the Shashikalatai Agashe Award for Children's Literature in 2013.

In 2016, she spoke at an event and shared her thoughts: "I am a woman and before that I am a human being. If all are human beings, why is there discrimination? That is a question, which has haunted me from my childhood." This shows her strong belief in equality.

Death

Kavita Mahajan passed away on September 27, 2018. She died from pneumonia at the Chellaram Diabetes Hospital. She is survived by her daughter.