Jahnavi Barua is an Indian author of several novels and short story collections such as Next Door (2008), Rebirth (2010) and her third book, Undertow (2020). Her books appear on many university syllabi.
I would like to be seen as just a writer; if one has to consider geography, it is as someone with roots in Assam and Bangalore. “
Wiki/Biography
Jahnavi Barua belongs to Assam and now lives in Bangalore. Jahnavi Barua received her Bachelor of Medicine in Internal Medicine from Gauhati Medical College. She later studied creative writing in the UK.
family
Parents and siblings
Not much is known about her parents and siblings.
Janavi Barua’s grandparents
Janavi Barua’s parents
husband and children
On Tuesday, June 1, 1993, Jahnavi Barua married Baptu and they have a son.
Janavi Barua’s husband and son
Janavi Barua’s son
Profession
Next Door(2008)
In this book, the author uses themes of innocent desire, Assamese culture, and secret longings. The plot of this short story happens to take place in a remote area of Assam.
Rebirth(2010)
The book tells the story of Kaberi, a woman from a humble background in Assam, who has a chaotic arranged marriage to a wealthy man from Bangalore. This book depicts the sensitive bond between a mother and her unborn child. She said in an interview,
“Rebirth” is not an autobiography. Kaberi and I are from the same place – Assam – and we share a common interest in flowers, trees and flowering trees! —and the forest and its creatures, but our paths parted there. Carberry’s story, her journey, is her own. It’s hard to say exactly where I got the idea for Rebirth, but it slipped into my head as I looked at the women around me—their struggles, dreams, and aspirations. ”
Undercurrent(2020)
The story touches on various themes such as home, family, and belonging. “Undertow” tells the story of Loya, a 25-year-old girl who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Barua perfectly showcases the mother-daughter relationship in her story. In an interview, when asked about the inspiration for her third book, she said:
The themes of home, homecoming, identity and finding yourself have always been close to my heart. This led me to explore these themes in Undertow. By “home” and “identity” I don’t just mean the obvious places or areas where you belong, but also more personal things like who you are as a person, what you stand for and where you feel included. Accept and accept. So, at home. Another area of interest to me has always been the family and the complexities of this unique entity. In “Undertow,” I intertwined this thread with Loya’s search for home. ”
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- Her third book, Undertow, was shortlisted for the 2020 JCB Prize and the 2020 BLF Atta Galata Book Prize.
- Her book Rebirth (2010) was shortlisted for the Mann Asian Literary Prize (2011) and the Commonwealth Book Prize (2012).
- (2009) Frank O’Connor International Short Story Prize, longlist.
- In 2006, he won the second prize in the children’s novel category in the short story competition sponsored by Liansheng Publishing House.
- In 2006, Jahnavi Barua was awarded the Charles Wallace India Trust Creative Writing Fellowship.
- Jahnavi Barua won the 2021 AutHer Award for Best Writer in Fiction for “Undertow”.
Facts/Trivia
- The Brahmaputra River has always figured prominently in her storyline. In an interview, when asked about her relationship with the river, she said:
The Brahmaputra flows through Guwahati and indeed through the entire state of Assam and therefore throughout my life. As a child, I lived on a hill overlooking it, and its majestic beauty took a permanent place in my heart and soul. “
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education