readersdigest.co.in 91mazon Westland has acquired
the rights to 14 of his books—
novels, short stories and
memoirs. These will be translated
and published in English and
seven languages over the next three
years. This has provided succour to
Byapari and eased his financial stress
somewhat. While he used to spend
12 arduous hours, every day, as a cook
at a local school for the deaf until last
year, now he has found a relatively
comfortable office job there.
Byapari lives with his wife and son
Manik in Mukundapur, on the south-
ern edge of Kolkata, and is currently
busy rebuilding his old home, which
is a dream come true. His daughter,named after Mahasweta Devi, is mar-
ried and a working woman. Manik is
settling into a career. “I am grateful to
Manju for everything—she kept our
hearth burning, while I fought my
battles,” says Byapari.
Today, Byapari travels around
the country captivating audiences
in literary forums everywhere. At
home he can be seen most often
typing energetically into his laptop,
his incandescent rage staying alive
in defiance and courage. “From a
person, I have become a subject. I
want to take my story far and wide.
Many, many people can get the
energy to fight their battles, that way,”
says the writer, warrior.(Clockwise from left) Byapari at his writing desk; receiving the 2019 Gateway
LitFest Writer of the Year award from film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan;
speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival, 2018Extraordinary LivesTO
P^ L
EF
T:^
SU
BIR
HA
LD
AR
/IN
DI
A^ T
OD
AY