Kiran Nagarkar is a name without which, the contemporary Indian Literature cannot be aptly defined. A brilliant storyteller and an excellent stylist, Nagarkar has been one of the most significant representative of the new generation of Indian writers for the last 40 years.
A master of his craft, Nagarkar’s words contain a rebellious outrage against the existent socio-political scenario, in form of living metaphors. Each of his works, delve into the relation of a person with the prevalent social circumstancers, exploring the aspects of the abortive existence of nonconformistic individuals in an insensitive society. While doing so, Nagarkar never detaches from the simplicity and innocence of his central characters. His empathic and clear-sighted treatment of human nature, in equal measure to a coruscating jet black sense of humor combined with scathing irony is what brings Nagarkar and his works close to the heart of his readers.
His first novel Seven Sixes Are Forty Three, first published in Marathi as "Saat Sakkam Trechalis" in 1974, has set a milestone in postcolonial time of Indian Literature. It has been translated in over 40 languages and won the Hari Narayan Apte in 1975 for the best debut novel. The reluctance of audiences in the era of white collar Marathi Literature delayed the wide scale acceptance of the book to almost forty years past the publishing of it’s first edition.
Yet the span, didn’t leave him devoid of action and his share of controversies. Which includes the hue and cry by fundamentalist organisations against his play Bed Time Story. Based on the “Mahabharata” the most famous sacred epic of Hinduism next to the Ramayana, it is an intensely satirical take on India’s socio-political scenario in mid seventies. The play was never performed on the stage till 1995. Also his stinging reaction against the 1992-93 Bombay Riots, in the form of the play Kabiraache Kaay Karayache, faced a strong opposition from the saffron forces of fundamentalism and was held back from being staged.
By the time Nagarkar had converted a half written screenplay into a half written Marathi book and then into his first English novel. The sensitive, funny and utterly charming story of Ravan and Eddie. It is a chronicle of two boys , bound to each other by a same link of fate, yet made to set out on distinct journeys in laterally opposite directions of life. The book set amidst the heart of the city, in a bawdy chawl, it grows up with the solitary lives of Ravan and Eddie being a part of each of their adventures till there arises a final moment of confrontation. Ravan and Eddie was embraced lovingly by the Indian readers. But then a long wait of 6 years had followed, before the maestro came up with his next masterpiece.
In the year 2000, Nagarkar threw light upon a lost chapter in Indian History. This time he took a close look at the rather neglected and undiscovered life of Raja Bhoj Raj or in Nagarkar’s words Maharaj Kumar, the prince of Mewar and the sidelined husband of famous Indian saint Meerabai. Cuckold became a marvellous, exeedingly profound and brilliantly told piece of history interwinded with a lovestory. It won the Sahitya Akademi Award, the most important award in Indian Literary world. Not later than here, Kiran Nagarkar started his triumphal procession into the hearts of readers outside of India. World had begun to notice the gleam of a star named Kiran Nagarkar.
His latest novel, God’s Little Soldier deals with a subject Nagarkar is most passionate about. It traces the journey of Zia, a talented and intelligent young man, born into a rich, political liberal, Indian Muslim family. His extremist approach towards life and his strong belief, he is the god choosen one, takes him through transformations, from a enthusiastic, energetic child, to a Jihadi, to a Missionary and finally to an arms dealer who becomes a prey of his own Extremism and Fanatism. In the end Zia is an epitome of all Nagarkar is opposed to: Intolerance.
Throughout this journey, Nagarkar has been through a number of controversies for his courageous way of questioning ideologies and beliefs. Yet he emerges invincibly from each of them, as a bold and fearless voice of modern India.
Currently, as far as we are informed, Kiran Nagarkar is working on a new novel which is set in Mumbai again.
A master of his craft, Nagarkar’s words contain a rebellious outrage against the existent socio-political scenario, in form of living metaphors. Each of his works, delve into the relation of a person with the prevalent social circumstancers, exploring the aspects of the abortive existence of nonconformistic individuals in an insensitive society. While doing so, Nagarkar never detaches from the simplicity and innocence of his central characters. His empathic and clear-sighted treatment of human nature, in equal measure to a coruscating jet black sense of humor combined with scathing irony is what brings Nagarkar and his works close to the heart of his readers.
His first novel Seven Sixes Are Forty Three, first published in Marathi as "Saat Sakkam Trechalis" in 1974, has set a milestone in postcolonial time of Indian Literature. It has been translated in over 40 languages and won the Hari Narayan Apte in 1975 for the best debut novel. The reluctance of audiences in the era of white collar Marathi Literature delayed the wide scale acceptance of the book to almost forty years past the publishing of it’s first edition.
Yet the span, didn’t leave him devoid of action and his share of controversies. Which includes the hue and cry by fundamentalist organisations against his play Bed Time Story. Based on the “Mahabharata” the most famous sacred epic of Hinduism next to the Ramayana, it is an intensely satirical take on India’s socio-political scenario in mid seventies. The play was never performed on the stage till 1995. Also his stinging reaction against the 1992-93 Bombay Riots, in the form of the play Kabiraache Kaay Karayache, faced a strong opposition from the saffron forces of fundamentalism and was held back from being staged.
By the time Nagarkar had converted a half written screenplay into a half written Marathi book and then into his first English novel. The sensitive, funny and utterly charming story of Ravan and Eddie. It is a chronicle of two boys , bound to each other by a same link of fate, yet made to set out on distinct journeys in laterally opposite directions of life. The book set amidst the heart of the city, in a bawdy chawl, it grows up with the solitary lives of Ravan and Eddie being a part of each of their adventures till there arises a final moment of confrontation. Ravan and Eddie was embraced lovingly by the Indian readers. But then a long wait of 6 years had followed, before the maestro came up with his next masterpiece.
In the year 2000, Nagarkar threw light upon a lost chapter in Indian History. This time he took a close look at the rather neglected and undiscovered life of Raja Bhoj Raj or in Nagarkar’s words Maharaj Kumar, the prince of Mewar and the sidelined husband of famous Indian saint Meerabai. Cuckold became a marvellous, exeedingly profound and brilliantly told piece of history interwinded with a lovestory. It won the Sahitya Akademi Award, the most important award in Indian Literary world. Not later than here, Kiran Nagarkar started his triumphal procession into the hearts of readers outside of India. World had begun to notice the gleam of a star named Kiran Nagarkar.
His latest novel, God’s Little Soldier deals with a subject Nagarkar is most passionate about. It traces the journey of Zia, a talented and intelligent young man, born into a rich, political liberal, Indian Muslim family. His extremist approach towards life and his strong belief, he is the god choosen one, takes him through transformations, from a enthusiastic, energetic child, to a Jihadi, to a Missionary and finally to an arms dealer who becomes a prey of his own Extremism and Fanatism. In the end Zia is an epitome of all Nagarkar is opposed to: Intolerance.
Throughout this journey, Nagarkar has been through a number of controversies for his courageous way of questioning ideologies and beliefs. Yet he emerges invincibly from each of them, as a bold and fearless voice of modern India.
Currently, as far as we are informed, Kiran Nagarkar is working on a new novel which is set in Mumbai again.
