Krishna Sobti

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Krishna Sobti (Hindi: कृष्णा सोबती) (b. February 18, 1925-) is a Hindi fiction writer and essayist, who won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1980 for her novel Zindaginama^{[1] [2]} and in 1996, was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, the highest award of the 'Akademi' ^[3].

She is most known for her 1966 novel Mitro Marajani, an unapologetic portrayal of the a married woman's sexuality. She was also the recipient of the first Katha Chudamani Award, in 1999, for 'Lifetime Literary Achievement', apart from winning the Shiromani Award in 1981, Hindi Academy Award in 1982, Shalaka Award of Hindi Academy Delhi ^[4] and in 2008, her novel “Samay Sargam” wa selected for Vyas Samman, instituted by the K. K. Birla Foundation ^[5].

Considered, the grande dame of Hindi literature ^[6], Krishna Sobti was born in Gujrat, now in west Pakistan; she also writes under the name Hashmat and has published Hum Hashmat, a compilation of pen portraits of writers and friends. Her other novels are Dara se bichuri, Surajmukhi andhere ke. Some of her well-known short stories are Nafisa, Sikka Badal gaya, Badalom ke ghere. Sobti eka sohabata includes her major selected works. A number of her works are now available in English and Urdu ^[7].

In 2005, "Dil-o-Danish", translated into "The Heart Has Its Reasons" in English by Reema Anand and Meenakshi Swami of Katha, won the 'Crossword Award' in the Indian Language Fiction Translation category ^[8].

[edit] Translations

• To hell with you Mitro! (Mitro Marjani)
• Memory's Daughter (Dar Se Bichudi)
• Listen Girl (Ai Ladki)
• Zindaginamah -Zinda Rukh (Urdu)
• The Heart Has Its Reasons (Dil-O-Danish) ^[7]

[edit] Further reading

• Indian Women Novelists, edited by R.K. Dhawan. New Delhi, Prestige Books, 1995, (18 Volms.) ISBN 81-85218-40-4. (Vol. XVII, 10-12) [1]

[edit] References

1. ^ Sahitya Akademi Awards Sahitya Akademi Award Official website.
2. ^ Krishna Sobti at The Library of Congress
3. ^ List of Fellows Sahitya Akademi Award Official website.
4. ^ Profile www.abhivyakti-hindi.org.
5. ^ Vyas Samman for Sobti’s novel “Samay Sargam” The Hindu, Feb 01, 2008.
6. ^ Uniquely Sobti The Hindu, Sept 18, 2005.
7. ^ ^{a b} Author page
8. ^ Another award in her kitty The Hindu, New Delhi, March 29, 2006.

[edit] Works online

• The Moving Finger - Story
• Ai Ladki - Story
• Krishna Sobti works in Hindi, at The Library of Congress
• Phone Baj Raha Hai - Memoir (Hindi)
• Krishna Sobti: Musing on the Creative Process

[edit] External links

• An Interview with Krishna Sobti