Janice Pariat is an Indian Poet and Writer, who is slowly making her stand in the new Indian literature, which has identified herself from the northeastern background, linguistic magic realism, and cultural introspection in her writings. At present, Pariat is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing and History of Art at Ashoka University Sonepat, Haryana. Janice Pariat with her work in the field of educational and professional has firmly established herself as a leading figure in contemporary Indian literature.
In this article, we will read about Janice Pariat’s Biography, her family details including her writing like Everything the Light Touches: A Novel Janice Pariat.
| Janice Pariat Biography | Janice Pariat is a writer from Northeast India, with a background in art and literature, recognized for her award-winning works in fiction and poetry. |
Contents
Janice Pariat Synoptical View
| Date of Birth | – |
| Place of Birth | Jorhat, Assam, India |
| Education | BA in English Literature, from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi UniversityMA in History of Art, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of LondonMA in English and Communications, University of Westminster, London |
| Associations | Assistant Professor of Creative Writing and History of Art, Ashoka UniversityFounder and Editor of Pyrta, an online literary journal |
| Janice Pariat Age | Approximately in her mid to late 30s (exact age not publicly available) |
| Nicknames | – |
| Epithets | Often recognized as the “Voice of Northeast India in Contemporary Literature” |
| Prominent Acchivements | 2013: Sahitya Akademi Young Writer Award for Boats on Land 2013: Crossword Book Award for Boats on Land 2023: Sushila Devi Award for Best Fiction for Everything the Light Touches Longlisted for the JCB Prize for Literature for Everything the Light Touches |
| Height | – |
| Hometown | Shillong, Meghalaya |
| Janice Pariat Email id | janice.pariat@ashoka.edu.in |
| Janice Pariat Parents | – |
| Janice Pariat Instagram | janicepariat |
| Janice Pariat Husband | samuel.sawian |
Early Life and Education
Janice Pariat was born in Jorhat, Assam, and brought up in Shillong, Meghalaya; the cultural colors of the northeastern region have shaped Pariat’s literary studies. Her education was received at Loreto Convent, Shillong, and The Assam Valley School. She received his initial higher education at St.Stephen’s College, Delhi University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Later she completed History of Art from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and another Master’s in English and Communications from the University of Westminster.
- Schooling: Loreto Convent, Shillong, and The Assam Valley School, Assam.
- Bachelor’s Degree: BA in English Literature, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University.
- Master’s Degrees:
- MA in History of Art, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
- MA in English and Communications, University of Westminster, London.
Career Highlights and Contributions to Indian Literature
Pariat has been equally eclectic in her professional career as in her education as she has written poetry, short stories, and novels and in addition, has been a practicing literary columnist. She is also known for writing cultural features, book reviews, and art critiques that have been published in some of India’s leading broadsheets and magazines including The Hindu, The Indian Quarterly, The Caravan, and Verve Magazine. Her regular literary feature ‘Paperwallah,’ published monthly in The Hindu has developed a faithful following.
She is the Chief Editor of Pyrta an online Literary Journal she started in 2010 which hosts many voices and genres of writers.
| Janice Pariat New Book: Everything the Light Touches (2022) is her latest book, longlisted for the JCB Prize for Literature. |
Literary Style and Influences
In her first collection of prose, Boats on Land, Janice Pariat engages with the metamorphoses of the northeastern region of India in three centuries, roots of myth, folklore, tradition, and history. Her works have constantly been aligned with the magical realism genre which was brought to limelight by writers such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez and more recently Haruki Murakami. Reviewers have said that her stories are ‘revealing and innovative’ and Jeet Thayil, an Indian poet said about her giving historical perspective and imagination as if it was the easiest thing to do.
| Janice Pariat Poems | Pariat’s poems have appeared in various journals including The Yellow Nib and Prairie Schooner. |
Key Works and Bibliography
Pariat’s major publications include a mix of novels, poetry, and short stories. Below is a comprehensive overview:
- Everything the Light Touches: A Novel: Janice Pariat’s 2022 novel delves into connections with nature, inspired by diverse characters’ journeys across various landscapes.
- Boats on Land Janice Pariat: Janice Pariat’s debut collection of short stories, acclaimed for its magical realism and cultural insight into Northeast India.
| Also Read about : Manav Kaul (The Versatile Artist, one of the most Celebrated Indian Writer, Actor and Playwrights of Modern time). |
| Title | Type | Publisher and Year |
|---|---|---|
Boats on Land by Janice Pariat | Short Stories | Boats on Land (2012) won the Sahitya Akademi Young Writer Award and the Crossword Book Award for fiction. |
| Seahorse: A Novel | Novel | Random House India, 2014 |
| The Nine-Chambered Heart | Novel | HarperCollins India, 2017 |
| Everything the Light Touches | Novel | HarperCollins, 2022 |
Pariat’s short stories, such as “The Stone Pilers” (The Indian Quarterly, 2019) and “The Last Touch” (Verve Magazine, 2018), showcase her exploration of human connections, place, and memory.
Recognition and Awards
Pariat has been honored with several other awards for her work. Her first work, Boats on Land, was the winner of the Sahitya Akademi Young Writer Award and the Crossword Book Award for fiction in 2013 becoming the first to achieve this feat in Meghalaya in the English language. Below is a list of her awards and recognitions:
| Award | Year | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Sahitya Akademi Young Writer Award | 2013 | Boats on Land |
| Crossword Book Award for Fiction | 2013 | Boats on Land |
| Sushila Devi Award | 2023 | Everything the Light Touches |
| Longlisted for JCB Prize for Literature | 2023 | Everything the Light Touches |
Contribution to International Literary Scene
Recently, Pariat has been writing for international magazines too, such as the Time Out Delhi and the Caravan, as well as the Internazionale, an Italian publication. Her poetry has also been featured in The Yellow Nib: This year’s anthology Modern English Poetry by Indians, edited by Sudeep Sen, and this year’s Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry.
| Janice Pariat Books in Berlin: Not documented; however, her books may be available in Berlin bookstores, particularly those with international or English-language sections. |
Major Themes and Literary Significance
The use of history and Myanmarese folk and magical realism is another aspect of Pariat’s that can be notably identified. Her works depict postcolonial hyphenated identities, colonialism, and human bondage. Her writings are based on various geographical contexts within the northeastern part of India, and they focus on the environment and culture in people’s lives.
There are very few electronic literature writers from India who have captured the spirit of independent India as boldly as Janice Pariat has in the relatively recent past. Her achievements and the works she was releasing prove her role not only in empowering Indian women but also in becoming an example for anyone in the world who dares to tell their own story.
