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Ruskin Bond: Tale Of A Storyteller

A favorite of an entire generation and beyond, Ruskin Bond and his imagination have never failed to keep a child hooked on his books like candy. His books are often reminiscent of his own childhood. Filled with mystic tunes of Mussoorie, his stories are a real treat for us.

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Stories 2023

Mahasweta Devi: A Saga Of Vigor And Compassion

She was an ardent fighter, but her arms did not consist of swords and shields. She had a pen in her hand that wrote prolific pieces. A woman of vigor andpassion, she knew that her contribution to literature would one day make her stand out from the crowd, quite literally. She was Mahasweta Devi, a woman who went on to change history through her thoughtful literary pieces.

Stories 2023

Partition Through the Window of Indian Literature

The partition of India in 1947 has been a major theme in Indian literature. Notable works like "Train to Pakistan" by Khushwant Singh, "Ice-Candy Man" by Bapsi Sidhwa, and "The Shadow Lines" by Amitav Ghosh explore the human consequences of partition and its aftermath, capturing the intense emotions and struggles of a divided nation. Partition continues to be a relevant theme in contemporary Indian literature.

Stories 2023

The Underrated Brother of the Tagore Family: Dwijendranath Tagore

The scattered pages of an unfinished poem, the scribbling of a pen’s nib on the paper furiously, and a messy poet’s dreamy inspiration sprinkled like a charm all over the Joransanko Thakur Bari, where Dwijendranath Tagore wrote.

Stories 2023

A Woman Setting Literature Free: The Story of Ismat Chugtai

A distinct and unique person, Ismat Chughtai was always certain of what she wanted in her life. Firm in her decisions and lucid in her writings, she changed the world around her and the world that was born from her pen. Only a few have such abilities. Her story stands tall in those of the Progressive Writers of her time.

HAPPENED IN 2023

Mamoni: From Depression to Expression

Her loose curly hair, kohl eyes, and big bindi were the distinctive style of Mamoni Raisom Goswami whose works left a lasting impression on the people of Assam. She became a voice for the oppressed and questioned the different practices and rituals of the society which created a stir. Undoubtedly, she was a very distinctive woman who never shied away to voice her opinions. She found solitude through her writings

Stories 2023

A Story of Setback: Angarey, an Urdu Book

The Urdu anthology ‘Angarey’ written by four authors Sajjad Zaheer, Ahmad Ali, Mahmudduzzar and Dr Rashid Jahan became one of the most controversial books in 1932 after it was banned by the Government of United Provinces in the following year. Despite being the beginning of the Progressive Writers Movement, ‘Angarey' is heinously criticized, especially by the Muslim Community for criticizing the norms, practices, and myths of the Muslim Community.

Stories 2023

Progressive Writers’ Movement in Other Languages

Although the inception of the Progressive Writers’ Movement can be traced back to Urdu literature, it was not limited to one language. The founders of the movement made sure that parallel movements in different languages took place by visiting diverse regions and talking to writers and poets whose expertise was in Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, and many more.

Stories 2023

How Telugu Literature became, what we know today

Writings in Telugu can be traced back to the 10th century. Telugu literature flourished in the 16th century under the Vijayanagar empire. In the 19th century, new literary experiments were made in the form of novels, borrowing from Western influences. The history of Telugu literature is diverse and unique.

Stories 2023

Srirangam Srinivasa Rao: Voice of the Common Man

At a time when people mostly preferred reading classical and traditional mythology, a legend was born who introduced the world to contemporary problems that affected the daily life of common people.

Stories 2023

Let’s Talk About Literature Over a Plate of Chinese Food

It is the year 1934, and the air is filled with the determination for freedom. Plans were being articulated all over the Indian subcontinent, decisions are being made, and non-violent processions were being led. There is only one demand- poorna swaraj, or complete independence. While the freedom fighters burned the midnight oil, a group of progressive writers discussed the fate of Urdu literature in unfree India.

Stories 2023

Umashankar Jethalal Joshi: A Touchstone For Literary Taste

“Drink (the cup of) beauty, Heart will, then, flow singing automatically.” Climbing up to Mount Abu, the highest peak in the Aravalli mountain range, Joshi watched the moon and its reflection in the Nakki Lake. The autumnal full moon and the lake inspired Joshi to compose his first-ever published poetry after a pleasant excursion to the mountaintop. After this trip, his pen never ceased to amaze the readers.

Stories 2023

Sajjad Zaheer: The Man Behind the Embers

The Progressive Writers’ Movement (PWM), launched by a group of anti-imperialist and left-oriented intellectuals, emerged as a highly radical movement in the 1930s. It sought to influence the masses with their writings, advocating equality and fighting against social injustice and backwardness. Among the many influential writers of the time was Sajjad Zaheer, one of the pioneers of the PWM. He is most commonly associated with the Urdu literary work Angaaray, which became instantly controversial when it was published. However, it also paved the way for Urdu realism as well as for the All-India Progressive Writers’ Association as a platform for radical political thinkers in India.

Stories 2023

Madhavikutty’s transformation to Kamala Surrayya

Despite her death almost a decade ago, Kamala Surrayya, the outspoken poet, the enigmatic mistress of words—still has a certain allure for readers. Kamala opened out to a generation about a topic that was taboo at the time. Kamala was clearly a pioneer in her day, defying all traditions.

Stories 2023

The Immortal Mahanayak: Uttam Kumar

The boy who stole millions of hearts, particularly those of Bengalis, lived a life full of controversies but never failed to entertain his audience; it feels as if he was born to be onscreen and in the hearts of every Bengali. This is the story of a middle-class boy who aspired to reach the pinnacle of success, which he ultimately did. Today he is remembered as 'Uttam Kumar- the Mahanayak', one of Bengali cinema's most illustrious legends.

Stories 2023

Sukumar Ray: A World Where Cats Wink

Growing up as an ardent fan of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, most of you must have wondered if there was someone in India who could recreate this magic. You might come across a writer who wrote Haw-Jaw-Baw-Raw-Law, the Indianized version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Let's see how this man created one of the most delightful pieces of Indian Literature through his imagination and magic.

Stories 2023

An Era From The Post-Colonial Times: Progressive Writer's Movement

A group of Indian students began their discussions in “The Cafes and Garrets in Bloomsbury.” Little did they know that these intellectual conversations would soon bring about a literary revolution, with progressivism as one of its leading principles. However, as gloriously as it started, it abruptly ended due to various political reasons.

Stories 2023

पाथेर पांचाली का पहले शब्द से फाइनल कट तक का दिलचस्प सफ़र

### पाथेर पांचाली बिभूति भूषण बंदोपाध्याय का पहला उपन्यास था और वही सत्यजीत रे की पहली फ़िल्म भी बनी. यह कहानी इतनी पसंद आई कि इसके दो भाग और बने और तीनों फ़िल्में ‘द अपु ट्रायलोजी’ के नाम से प्रसिद्द हुई.

Stories 2023

Jayanta Mahapatra: A search for self

A doyen of Indian English poetry, a religiously celebrated poet, an ardent worshipper of the motherland, a stooping man who dare return his Padmashree Award for moral asymmetry in the country- Jayanta Mahapatra, an insight into his self introspecting life.

Stories 2023

Mulk Raj Anand: The Glory Of India's Past

Among the many jewels that emerged from India, the legacy of Mulk Raj Anand is fascinating and inspiring. The young boy from Peshawar who moved to England made a mark for himself by doing what he loved and practising what he believed in until the end of his days. Anand was one of the founders of the Progressive Writer's Movement, and his life is a glorious reminder of people who belong to India's past.

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literature

Mahasweta Devi: A Saga Of Vigor And Compassion

Partition Through the Window of Indian Literature

The Underrated Brother of the Tagore Family: Dwijendranath Tagore

A Woman Setting Literature Free: The Story of Ismat Chugtai

Mamoni: From Depression to Expression

A Story of Setback: Angarey, an Urdu Book

Progressive Writers’ Movement in Other Languages

How Telugu Literature became, what we know today

Srirangam Srinivasa Rao: Voice of the Common Man

Let’s Talk About Literature Over a Plate of Chinese Food

Umashankar Jethalal Joshi: A Touchstone For Literary Taste

Sajjad Zaheer: The Man Behind the Embers

Madhavikutty’s transformation to Kamala Surrayya

The Immortal Mahanayak: Uttam Kumar

Sukumar Ray: A World Where Cats Wink

An Era From The Post-Colonial Times: Progressive Writer's Movement

पाथेर पांचाली का पहले शब्द से फाइनल कट तक का दिलचस्प सफ़र

Jayanta Mahapatra: A search for self

Mulk Raj Anand: The Glory Of India's Past

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