Madhuri Vijay
Madhuri Vijay | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Occupation | Author |
| Language | English |
| Alma mater | Lawrence University, Iowa Writers' Workshop |
| Genre | Novel |
| Notable awards | Pushcart Prize, JCB Prize |
| Website | |
| madhurivijay | |
Madhuri Vijay is the author of The Far Field, which won the second JCB Prize for literature, India's most prestigious literary award.[1]
Early life
Vijay was born and grew up in Bangalore, India.[2][3][1][4] In 2009, she graduated from Lawrence University, where she studied psychology and English.[2] After graduation, she received a Watson Fellowship, which took her to South Africa, Malaysia, and Tanzania while studying people from India living in foreign lands.[2] Halfway through the fellowship, she left to attend the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.[1][2][3]
Writing
Her debut novel on Kashmir, The Far Field, won the JCB Prize for literature,[3] considered the highest literary award in India. In doing so, she beat out notable writers Perumal Murugan and Manoranjan Byapari.[1] Vijay said she was surprised that the book was even published in India, where publishers were reluctant to take it on due to the "current climate in the country."[1] She is also a recipient of the Pushcart Prize and has been longlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature.[1] Her writing has appeared in The Best American Nonrequired Reading, Narrative Magazine and Salon, among other publications.[1]
Personal life
As of 2019, Vijay lives in Hawaii,[2][4] where she teaches.[1][3]
Awards
- Watson Fellowship (2009)
- Pushcart Prize (2019)
- JCB Prize for Literature (2019)
- Tata Literature Live First Book Award (2019)
- Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction (2020), long-listed
- Crossword Book Award (2020)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "JCB winner Madhuri Vijay senses hostility towards fiction; says she thought her book won't release in India". Economic Times. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2020.(subscription required)
- ^ a b c d e Berthiaume, Ed (9 October 2019). "Lawrence experience inspires, informs Madhuri Vijay's path to "The Far Field"". Lawrence University News. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Madhuri Vijay bags Crossword Book Award for novel on Kashmir". Hindustani Times. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ a b Charles, Ron (8 January 2019). "A daughter searches for her mother's secrets in Kashmir but finds only more questions". Washington Post. Retrieved 7 August 2020.