Chandrakanta (1938- ) is a writer, born in Srinagar

Srinagar

Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. She has written many novels and stories in the Hindi

Hindi

Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...

 language including the epic Katha Satisar, which was awarded the Vyas Samman

Vyas Samman

The Vyas Samman is a literary award in India, first awarded in 1991 . It is awarded annually by the K.K. Birla Foundation and includes a cash payout of Rs 2.5 lakh ....

 prize in 2005.

To date, her published short stories number about 200. She has also published seven novels as well as poetical works. Her writing concerns socio-political issues and women's concerns in general. The Indian State of Kashmir constitutes the backdrop of most of her writings, especially terrorism and the repercussions of it, notably the mass exodus of the majority community of "Kashmiri Pandits".

Her magnum opus is Katha Satisar [2001]. She has been the recipient of several awards for her literary work. Her works havealso been translated in many Indian languages, and into English. Her novel Ailan Gali Zinda Hai has been translated for the first time in English by Manisha Chaudhry, published by Zubaan Books (an imprint of 'Kaali for Women', Penguin India) as A Street in Srinagar, The translation was shortlisted for the 2012 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature

DSC Prize for South Asian Literature

DSC Prize for South Asian Literature is a literary prize awarded annually to writers of any ethnicity or nationality writing about South Asia themes such as culture, politics, history, or people. It is for an original full-length novel written in English, or translated into English. The first award...

.

Chandrakanta lives in Gurgaon

Gurgaon

Gurgaon is the second largest city in the Indian state of Haryana. Gurgaon is the industrial and financial center of Haryana. It is located 30 km south of national capital New Delhi, about 10 kilometers from Dwarka Sub City and 268 km south of Chandigarh, the state capital...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

Awards and honors

• Jammu Kashmir Cultural Academy: Best Book Award
  • Arthantar (1982)
  • Ailan Galli Zinda Hai (1986)
  • O Son Kisri (1994)
  • Katha Satisar (2005)
• Haryana Sahitya Academy:
  • Apne Apne Konark (1997)
  • Abbu Ne Kaha Tha (2005)
• Ministry of Human Resources & Development, Govt. of India:
  • Baki Sab Khairiyat Hai (1983)
  • Poshnool Ki Wapasi (1989)
  • Badalte Haalat Mein (2003 – 2004)
• Hindi Academy, Delhi:
  • Katha Satisar (2002)
• Vyas Samman, K. K. Birla foundation, Delhi:
  • Katha Satisar, Novel (2005)
• Chandrawati Shukla Puraskar, Varanasi:
  • Katha Satisar, Novel (2005)
• Kalpana Chawla Excellence Award for excellence in Hindi Literature (2005)
• Richa Samman, Delhi for Hindi Literature (2006)
• DSC Prize for South Asian Literature
  DSC Prize for South Asian Literature
  DSC Prize for South Asian Literature is a literary prize awarded annually to writers of any ethnicity or nationality writing about South Asia themes such as culture, politics, history, or people. It is for an original full-length novel written in English, or translated into English. The first award...
  
  (2012), shortlist, A Street in Srinagar

Works

Novels and story collections

• Ailan Gali Zinda Hai
• Apne Apne Konark
• Badalte Haalat Mein
• O Sonkisri
• Arthantar
• Katha Satisar
• Antim Sakshya
• Yahan Vitasta Behti Hai
• Baki Sab Khariyat Hai
• Salakhon Ke Peeche
• Galat Logon Ke Beech
• Poshnool Ki Vapasi
• Dahleez Per Niyay
• Kothe Par Kaga
• Suraj Ugne Tak
• Kali Baraf
• Abbu Ne Kaha Tha
• Katha Nagar
• Anchalik Kahaniyan
• Prem Kahaniyan
• Charchit Kahaniyan
• Tanti Bai

Poetry

• Yaheen Kahin Aas Paas

Memoirs

• Hashiye Kee Ibaratein

External links

• http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060108/spectrum/book6.htm