Devi, Ashapurna (1909–1995)

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Devi, Ashapurna (1909–1995)

Indian novelist. Born Feb 8, 1909, in India; lived in Calcutta; died July 13, 1995.

The grande dame of Bengal literature, wrote mostly about lives of middle-class Bengalis; wrote over 175 novels, including Swarnlatha and Bukul Katha, and 30 short-story collections, as well as 47 children's books; conferred title Padma Shri by the president of India (1976); frequent contributor to Manushi. Won the Bengal government Rabindra Award (1966); was the 1st woman to receive the Sahitya Akademi Jnanpith Award (1977), for Pratham Pratisruti; given the Gyanpith Award.

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