-
第10回(1988年) Winner
Raja Rao
ラジャ・ラオ
Raja Rao
プロフィール
- 性別
- 男性
- 生誕
- 1908-11-08 (Hassan, Kingdom of Mysore, British India (now Karnataka, India))
- 死没
- 2006-07-08 (Austin, Texas, United States) 97歳
- 国籍
- Indian, American
- 言語
- Kannada, French, English
- 宗教
- Hinduism
- 居住地歴
- Hassan, Karnataka, India → Hyderabad, India → Montpellier; Paris, France → Austin, Texas, United States
経歴
- 職業
- Writer, Professor
- 活動期間
- 1938年〜1998年
- 所属
- University of Texas at Austin (Professor), Sri Vidya Samiti (cultural organisation)
- 影響を受けた人物
- Mahatma Gandhi, Upanishads (Indian philosophy), French literature and European philosophy
- 影響を与えた人物
- Subsequent writers in Indian English literature
学歴
| 学校 | 学部 | 学科 | 学位 | 期間 | 国 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
受賞歴
| 年 | 賞名 | 対象作品 | 部門 | 主催 | 結果 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
受賞・候補エディション
作品
代表作
Kanthapura
1938年 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.
The Serpent and the Rope
1960年 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).
The Cat and Shakespeare: A Tale of India
1965年 Novel (metaphysical comedy)A metaphysical comedy that responds to philosophical questions raised in earlier novels, combining humour with metaphysical inquiry.
全著作
- 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)
作風・主題
- 文体
- Oral/folk narrative style reflecting local speechMetaphysical and philosophical prosePoetic prose with abundant vocabulary in English
- 頻出モチーフ
- Absence of mother and orphanhoodEast–West cultural encounterSpiritual quest
健康
-
Heart failure (cause of death)2006Died of heart failure at home in 2006; followed by preservation of his archive and memorial attention.
評価・遺産
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.
記念館・博物館
- Raja Rao Archive (University of Texas at Austin) Austin, Texas, United States
資料所蔵先
- Raja Rao archive held by the University of Texas at Austin
大衆文化への影響
- The Raja Rao Award (2000–2009) recognized contributions to South Asian diaspora literature.
引用
-
Women is the Earth, air, ether, sound, women is the microcosm of the mind.
出典: Interview / cited in writings (exact source unspecified)
豆知識
- 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.