Who Is Vasantha Surya?

3 minute read
10 shares
Vasantha Surya biography

Vasantha Surya is a writer, poet, translator, and journalist whose work spans over five decades. Her contributions to Indian literature include poetry, translations, and articles which focus on social justice, gender, and education. Furthermore, Surya has translated significant Tamil literature into English and has written extensively for children! Read on to learn more about Vasantha Surya. 

Vasantha Surya Biography

Vasantha Surya’s literary journey is filled with poetry, translation, journalism, and children’s literature. 

  • Her poetic voice began early on, with her debut collection, “The Stalk of Time” in 1985 which was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Poetry Prize.
  • Thereafter, Surya’s next collection, “A Word Between Us,” made her well-known as a skilled poet.
  • Surya is passionate about bridging cultural divides and that thought shines through her translation work.
    • She has translated over six novels, short stories, and poems from Tamil to English.
    • Furthermore, this has been done in collaboration with publishers like Oxford University Press and Macmillan.
Vasantha Surya biography
Vasantha Surya. Source: Aleph Book Company.
  • She further expanded the literary sphere by translating “A Place to Live,” which is an anthology showing contemporary Tamil short fiction. 
  • Additionally, Surya’s translation extends beyond Tamil.
    • She has translated the works of German poets Rilke and Brecht into Tamil. 
    • Moreover, even translated “The Ballad of Budhni,” a captivating folk poem from Bundeli Hindi into English.
  • Surya’s dedication to nurturing young minds is apparent in her contributions to children’s literature.
    • “Mridu in Madras,” translated into Tamil by Prema Srinivasan in collaboration with Surya herself has captivated young readers in three volumes under the title “Medraasil Mirudu.” 
    • In addition, her serialised adaptation of the Ramayana in Chatterbox magazine sparked a love for mythology in children.
  • Surya’s work goes beyond fiction. For over four decades, her insightful and investigative articles and reviews have been in major Indian publications. These articles usually dive into critical issues like social and cultural change and education. 

Also Read – Amrita Pritam: Life, Poems & Awards

Books by Vasantha Surya

Furthermore, here are some books by Vasantha Surya from different genres: 

Books by Vasantha Surya
YearGenreBook
2023Short StoriesAn Order from the Sky
2022Poetry TranslationTo Plunge Within
2021Short StoriesThe Greatest Tamil Stories Ever Written
2005AnthologyA Place to Live
2005Children’s FictionMridu in Madras
2003PoetryA Word Between Us 
1985PoetryThe Stalk of Time
N.A.Children’s FictionRamayana (Chatterbox serialization)

FAQs

Who wrote Mridu in Madras and when?

Mridu in Madras was written by Vasantha Surya in the year 2005. 

Who wrote The Gift of Chappals?

Vasantha Surya wrote the Gift of Chappals. 

When was To Plunge Within written and by whom?

To Plunge Within was written by Vasantha Surya in 2022. 

Relevant Blogs

Debendranath Tagore: Life, Contribution & MoreAmrita Pritam: Life, Poems & Awards
Who is Raj Reddy?Who Was Amir Khusrau?
Chittaranjan Das: Overview, Career & LegacyWho is the Dalai Lama?
Dr. Verghese Kurien: The Father Of The White RevolutionLakshmi Sahgal: Life, Contributions & More

This was all about the biography of Vasantha Surya. If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page! 

Leave a Reply

Required fields are marked *

*

*