Mahasweta Devi may have passed away on July 28, but her unflagging endeavour to chronicle the oppressed immortalised her long ago in the hearts of the downtrodden (“Mahasweta Devi, writer and social activist, passes away” and “Indefatigable chronicler of the oppressed”, July 29).
Devi will go down in history as a woman who dedicated her life to the rights and welfare of the oppressed in India. Hers was a powerful voice against the exploitation of tribals by the government on the pretext of industrialisation. It was remarkable that her commitment towards safeguarding the interests of the marginalised did not waver even when she grew old.
Praveen N.V.S., Chennai
An era has ended with the death of Mahasweta Devi. We have lost a powerful voice of the voiceless. The themes of her stories all reflect her untiring and uncompromising crusade for the rights of the oppressed. What Mother Teresa did for the poor with her hands and prayers, Devi did for the exploited with her pen and voice. Like the works of Mulk Raj Anand and Nayantara Sahgal, Devi’s political novels were for and about the common people. Problems in her personal life did not deter her from travelling like a minstrel on foot and fighting for denotified tribals.
And who can forget her words eulogising India at the Frankfurt book fair: “Dil is always Hindustani… My country, torn, tattered, proud, beautiful, hot, humid, cold, sandy, shining India. My country.” May her soul rest in peace.
M. Somasekhar Prasad,Badvel, Andhra Pradesh
In the passing away of Mahasweta Devi, a light has gone out from the lives of the oppressed. As one of the finest writers of our generation, Devi’s work stood out for its clarity, simplicity, and humaneness. She left an indelible mark on the minds of readers and theatre lovers, and it is only fitting that her work has been translated into so many Indian languages. That she was able to write over 120 books is an incredible feat in itself. Accolades like the Sahitya Akademi, Jnanpith and Magsaysay awards only further prove her mettle.
N.J. Ravi Chander,Bengaluru
