Ajay Navaria

Ajay Navaria, 37, is the author of a collection of short stories (Patkatha aur anya Kahaniyan, 2006) and the novel (Udhar Ke Log, 2008). Navaria has been involved with the premier literary journal Hans as a guest editor for special issues. He was bestowed with the Sahitiyik Kriti Award in 2008 by the Hindi Academy, Delhi. Navaria teaches ‘Hindu Ethics’ at Jamia Milia Islamia University, Delhi. Unlike the first generation of Dalit writers who were preoccupied with autobiography as a form, Navaria has expanded the boundaries of dalit writing with his explorations of issues of identity and sexuality, in the process creating “casteless characters”. As a piece on him in Tehelka noted: “Navaria is one of the first dalit writers to write without any traces of nostalgia for the village left behind.” A collection of his short stories translated into English by Laura Brueck is due from Navayana by mid-2011.