Neustadt International Prize for Literature
1 appearances
-
Edition 10 (1988) Winner
Raja Rao
ラジャ・ラオ
Raja Rao
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1908-11-08 （Hassan, Kingdom of Mysore, British India (now Karnataka, India)）
- Died
- 2006-07-08 （Austin, Texas, United States） age 97
- Nationality
- Indian, American
- Languages
- Kannada, French, English
- Religion
- Hinduism
- Residence History
- Hassan, Karnataka, India → Hyderabad, India → Montpellier; Paris, France → Austin, Texas, United States
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Professor
- Active Years
- 1938-1998
- Affiliations
- University of Texas at Austin (Professor), Sri Vidya Samiti (cultural organisation)
- Influenced By
- Mahatma Gandhi, Upanishads (Indian philosophy), French literature and European philosophy
- Influenced
- Subsequent writers in Indian English literature
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nizam's College (Osmania University) | — | English and History | BA | 1920年代 | India |
| University of Montpellier | — | French language and literature | — | 1929–1932頃 | France |
| Sorbonne (University of Paris) | — | Literature / comparative studies (Indian influence on Irish literature) | — | 1930年代初期 | France |
| University of Madras | — | English and History | BA | 1920年代 | India |
Nizam's College (Osmania University)
English and History
Degree:
BA
Period:
1920年代
Year of Graduation:
1927
Country:
India
Studied after matriculation
University of Montpellier
French language and literature
Period:
1929–1932頃
Country:
France
Moved to France to study French
Sorbonne (University of Paris)
Literature / comparative studies (Indian influence on Irish literature)
Period:
1930年代初期
Country:
France
Explored Indian influence on Irish literature
University of Madras
English and History
Degree:
BA
Period:
1920年代
Year of Graduation:
1929
Country:
India
Won Asiatic Scholarship and went to study abroad
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Sahitya Akademi Award | The Serpent and the Rope | — | Sahitya Akademi | 受賞 |
| 1969 | Padma Bhushan | — | — | Government of India | 受賞 |
| 1988 | Neustadt International Prize for Literature | For his body of work | — | Neustadt Foundation | 授与 |
| 2007 | Padma Vibhushan | — | — | Government of India | 追授/受賞 |
Sahitya Akademi Award
1963
Work:
The Serpent and the Rope
Organization:
Sahitya Akademi
Result:
受賞
Padma Bhushan
1969
Organization:
Government of India
Result:
受賞
Neustadt International Prize for Literature
1988
Work:
For his body of work
Organization:
Neustadt Foundation
Result:
授与
Padma Vibhushan
2007
Organization:
Government of India
Result:
追授/受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Kanthapura
1938 Novel (nationalist)Set in the South Indian village of Kanthapura, the novel depicts the impact of Gandhian ideas and the independence movement on village life. Narrated by the old woman Achakka in a folk-epic style, it addresses caste and social change.
GandhismCasteVillage society
The Serpent and the Rope
1960 Novel (semi-autobiographical, metaphysical)A semi-autobiographical novel recounting a search for spiritual truth between Europe and India. The title's metaphor contrasts illusion (the serpent) and reality (the rope).
MetaphysicsEast–West encounterSpiritual quest
The Cat and Shakespeare: A Tale of India
1965 Novel (metaphysical comedy)A metaphysical comedy that responds to philosophical questions raised in earlier novels, combining humour with metaphysical inquiry.
MetaphysicsPhilosophical inquiryHumour
Bibliography
- Kanthapura (1938)
- The Serpent and the Rope (1960)
- The Cat and Shakespeare: A Tale of India (1965)
- Comrade Kirillov (1976)
- The Chessmaster and His Moves (1988)
- The Cow of the Barricades (1947)
- The Policeman and the Rose (1978)
- The Great Indian Way: A Life of Mahatma Gandhi (1998)
- The Meaning of India (essays, 1996)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Oral/folk narrative style reflecting local speechMetaphysical and philosophical prosePoetic prose with abundant vocabulary in English
- Recurring Motifs
- Absence of mother and orphanhoodEast–West cultural encounterSpiritual quest
Health
-
Heart failure (cause of death)2006Died of heart failure at home in 2006; followed by preservation of his archive and memorial attention.
Legacy
Raja Rao is regarded as a major figure in Indian English literature, praised for his metaphysical concerns and deep engagement with Gandhian thought and Indian philosophy. Works like The Serpent and the Rope influenced readers and scholars worldwide; his legacy is preserved through academic study and archival collections.
Museums
- Raja Rao Archive (University of Texas at Austin) Austin, Texas, United States
Archives
- Raja Rao archive held by the University of Texas at Austin
In Popular Culture
- The Raja Rao Award (2000–2009) recognized contributions to South Asian diaspora literature.
Quotes
-
Women is the Earth, air, ether, sound, women is the microcosm of the mind.
Source: Interview / cited in writings (exact source unspecified)
Trivia
- Eldest of nine siblings (seven sisters and one brother).
- His mother died when he was four; absence of mother recurs as a motif in his work.
- The Raja Rao Award was established in his name in 2000 and was awarded until 2009.