Amit Chaudhuri
Amit Chaudhuri
================
Full Name and Common Aliases
--------------------------------
Amit Chaudhuri is a British-Indian novelist, essayist, poet, and academic.
Birth and Death Dates
-------------------------
Born on November 6, 1962, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, India. Still alive as of my knowledge cutoff.
Nationality and Profession(s)
---------------------------------
Nationality: Indian-British
Profession: Novelist, Essayist, Poet, Academic
Early Life and Background
------------------------------
Amit Chaudhuri was born into a Bengali family in Calcutta. His father, Biren Chaudhuri, was a poet and scholar of Sanskrit literature. Amit's early life was marked by exposure to the rich cultural heritage of Bengal, including its language, literature, and music.
Chaudhuri moved to London with his family at the age of 12, where he attended school. He developed an interest in English literature during this period, which later influenced his writing style and subject matter.
Major Accomplishments
---------------------------
Amit Chaudhuri has made significant contributions to the literary world through his innovative writing style and exploration of complex themes. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
Publishing numerous novels, including The Immortals, Afternoon Raag, and The Slow Man.
Receiving the Betty Trask Award for A New World in 1988.
Being shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1993 for Afternoon Raag.Notable Works or Actions
-----------------------------
Chaudhuri's works often explore themes of identity, culture, and belonging. Some of his notable works include:
The Immortals, which reimagines the lives of Rabindranath Tagore and his contemporaries.
Afternoon Raag, a novel that explores the complexities of Indian identity in Britain.
The Slow Man, a collection of short stories that delve into the human condition.
Chaudhuri has also been involved in various academic pursuits, including teaching creative writing at universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. His essays and articles have been published in prominent literary journals and newspapers.
Impact and Legacy
-------------------------
Amit Chaudhuri's work has had a significant impact on contemporary literature, particularly in the areas of postcolonial and diasporic studies. His innovative style and exploration of complex themes have influenced a new generation of writers.
Chaudhuri's legacy extends beyond his literary contributions. He has been recognized for his efforts to promote cross-cultural understanding and appreciation through his writing and teaching.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
---------------------------------------------
Amit Chaudhuri is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful commentary on the complexities of identity, culture, and belonging. His work continues to resonate with readers from diverse backgrounds, offering a nuanced perspective on the human experience.
Through his writing, Chaudhuri has created a unique literary voice that bridges the gap between East and West, tradition and modernity. His legacy serves as a reminder of the power of literature to transcend borders and cultures, fostering greater understanding and empathy among people from diverse backgrounds.
Quotes by Amit Chaudhuri
This is what’s beautiful about staying in a club or hotel: you’re invisible, as is your neighbour.
The city was still... Soon the machinery would start working again, not out of any sense of purpose, but like a watch that is wound daily by someone’s hand. Almost without any choice in the matter, people would embark upon the minute frustrations and satisfactions of their daily lives. It was in this moment of postponement that the azaan was heard, neither announcing the day nor keeping it a secret.
When one remembers a scene from the past in which one is with a loved one who is now dead, it is not like a memory at all, but like a dream one is having before his death, a premonition. In this dream which preceded death, the person is tranquil and happy, and yet, without reason, you know he is to die. When we recall the dead, the past becomes a dream we are dreaming foretelling death, though in our waking moments we cannot properly interpret it or give it significance.
Her hair is troublesome and curly... It falls in long, black strands, but each strand has a gentle, complicated undulation travelling through it, like a mild electric shock or a thrill, hat gives it a life of its own; it is visually analogous to a tremolo on a musical note.
History is not the annals; it’s what happens around us when we’re unaware it’s history.
The myth of the Pujas is a simple one – full of rural sweetness. ... The Pujas are, in part, an ever-returning homage to that magical sense of being rescued, so indispensable to children.
The intention (of the puja pandals) is not so much to entertain as to disorient and astonish; to tap into the Bengali’s appetite for the bizarre, the uncanny.
Calcutta has still not recovered from history: people mourn the past, and abhor it deeply.
the world’s cheapest small car, Tata’s Nano, worth only $1500. This toy-like ill-fated vehicle, whose destiny it was to look as if it had been prematurely brought into the world, more foetus than car, and whose birth was near abortive and then indefinitely delayed, this car, when it finally took to the road, turned out to have an engine that at times exploded mysteriously. Until 2009, it was seen to be Bengal’s quirky but irreplaceable mascot for development.