Nina Sibal (1948 – 2000) was an Indian diplomat and writer, known for her prize-winning novel Yatra and other English-language fiction as well as for her work in the Indian Foreign Service.
She was born in Pune[1] to an Indian father and Greek mother.[2] After an MA in English at Delhi University (in Miranda House) she lectured there for three years. She also qualified in law and studied French. In 1972 Sibal joined the Indian Foreign Service and started work at the United Nations in New York City. Later she told a journalist that this threw her into "the deepest culture shock".[2] Other postings included Cairo and three years as deputy director-general of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. In 1992 she became India's permanent delegate to UNESCO in Paris, and went to New York in 1995 to be director of its liaison office there.[3]
She was married to the lawyer and politician Kapil Sibal with whom she had two sons. While both spouses pursued demanding careers they maintained a "transcontinental" marriage according to politician, diplomat and writer Shashi Tharoor.[4] She died from breast cancer[4] in New York in June 2000.[5] A Nina Sibal Memorial Award was endowed by her husband. The All India Women's Education Fund Association gives the award annually to an individual who plays a leading role in an organisation using innovative methods to help disabled and disadvantaged children.[6]
WritingEdit
Sibal's fiction was noticed in 1985 when her short story What a blaze of glory won an Asiaweek short story competition.[1] It was later included in an anthology called Prize Winning Asian Fiction published in 1991.[7]
Yatra, a novel published in 1987, covers more than a century in the life of a Sikh family. Their movements over time reflect the title: "Yatra" means journey or pilgrimage.[1] Critics comment on the book's magical realism, especially with respect to one character's changing skin colour, and make comparisons with Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children.[1] The author uses mythical elements in her story.[8] Themes include the Chipko movement, the history of the Punjab, the origin of Bangla Desh, and the heroine's search for a father.[9] The novel can be criticised for being too crowded with multiple themes,[1] but overall it was generally well received. It won the 1987 International Grand Prix for Literature in Algiers.[1]
The Secret Life of Gujjar Mal, Sibal's collection of short stories, was published in 1991. The stories are set in a variety of different countries, some of them disguised with fictional names: Mulgary echoes Bulgaria during the cold war, for example.[2] These settings are not used simply as political or colourful backgrounds but are intertwined with the lives and emotions of the characters.[2] As well as the title story the collection contains six other stories: By his death, Swimming, The face of Dadarao, Fur boots, Sanctuary and The man who seeks enlightenment.[10]
Her 1998 novel, The Dogs of Justice, is set in Kashmir and tells the story of a rich Muslim girl. It was less well-received than Sibal's previous two books, with one critic saying it did not live up to the promise of the earlier works.[1]
^ abcdefgShyamala A. Narayan, "Sibal, Nina" in Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English, eds Eugene Benson, L. W. Conolly, Routledge, 2004, p 1473.
^ abcdMaya Jaggi in The Guardian, 22 October 1991: "Maya Jaggi finds out why diplomat-cum-writer Nina Sibal feels her worlds are not so far apart".
^. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
^ abShashi Tharoor, The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Cell Phone: Reflections on India,, the Emerging 21st-century Power, Penguin, 2007, p. 254.
^"Nina Sibal dead"[dead link], The Hindu, 1 July 2000.
^Nina Sibal Memorial Award, All India Women's Education Fund.
^Leon Comber (ed.), Prize Winning Asian Fiction, Times Books, 1991.
^Chandra Nisha Singh, Radical Feminism and Women's Writing: Only So Far and No Further, Atlantic, 2007,
^Ray and Kundu, Studies in Women Writers in English, Volume 3, Atlantic, 2005, p. 224.
nina, sibal, 1948, 2000, indian, diplomat, writer, known, prize, winning, novel, yatra, other, english, language, fiction, well, work, indian, foreign, service, born1948punedied2000occupationindian, foreign, servicenationalityindianalma, materdelhi, university. Nina Sibal 1948 2000 was an Indian diplomat and writer known for her prize winning novel Yatra and other English language fiction as well as for her work in the Indian Foreign Service Nina SibalBorn1948PuneDied2000OccupationIndian Foreign ServiceNationalityIndianAlma materDelhi UniversityGenresShort story novelSpouseKapil Sibal Contents 1 Biography 2 Writing 3 Works 4 See also 5 ReferencesBiography EditShe was born in Pune 1 to an Indian father and Greek mother 2 After an MA in English at Delhi University in Miranda House she lectured there for three years She also qualified in law and studied French In 1972 Sibal joined the Indian Foreign Service and started work at the United Nations in New York City Later she told a journalist that this threw her into the deepest culture shock 2 Other postings included Cairo and three years as deputy director general of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations In 1992 she became India s permanent delegate to UNESCO in Paris and went to New York in 1995 to be director of its liaison office there 3 She was married to the lawyer and politician Kapil Sibal with whom she had two sons While both spouses pursued demanding careers they maintained a transcontinental marriage according to politician diplomat and writer Shashi Tharoor 4 She died from breast cancer 4 in New York in June 2000 5 A Nina Sibal Memorial Award was endowed by her husband The All India Women s Education Fund Association gives the award annually to an individual who plays a leading role in an organisation using innovative methods to help disabled and disadvantaged children 6 Writing EditSibal s fiction was noticed in 1985 when her short story What a blaze of glory won an Asiaweek short story competition 1 It was later included in an anthology called Prize Winning Asian Fiction published in 1991 7 Yatra a novel published in 1987 covers more than a century in the life of a Sikh family Their movements over time reflect the title Yatra means journey or pilgrimage 1 Critics comment on the book s magical realism especially with respect to one character s changing skin colour and make comparisons with Salman Rushdie s Midnight s Children 1 The author uses mythical elements in her story 8 Themes include the Chipko movement the history of the Punjab the origin of Bangla Desh and the heroine s search for a father 9 The novel can be criticised for being too crowded with multiple themes 1 but overall it was generally well received It won the 1987 International Grand Prix for Literature in Algiers 1 The Secret Life of Gujjar Mal Sibal s collection of short stories was published in 1991 The stories are set in a variety of different countries some of them disguised with fictional names Mulgary echoes Bulgaria during the cold war for example 2 These settings are not used simply as political or colourful backgrounds but are intertwined with the lives and emotions of the characters 2 As well as the title story the collection contains six other stories By his death Swimming The face of Dadarao Fur boots Sanctuary and The man who seeks enlightenment 10 Her 1998 novel The Dogs of Justice is set in Kashmir and tells the story of a rich Muslim girl It was less well received than Sibal s previous two books with one critic saying it did not live up to the promise of the earlier works 1 Works EditYatra the journey Women s Press 1987 ISBN 9780704350090 The secret life of Gujjar Mal and other stories Women s Press 1991 ISBN 9780704342712 The Dogs of Justice Orient Blackswan 1998 pp 334 ISBN 978 81 7530 021 7 See also EditList of Indian writers Tapan Kumar Pradhan Mandakranta SenReferences Edit a b c d e f g Shyamala A Narayan Sibal Nina in Encyclopedia of Post Colonial Literatures in English eds Eugene Benson L W Conolly Routledge 2004 p 1473 a b c d Maya Jaggi in The Guardian 22 October 1991 Maya Jaggi finds out why diplomat cum writer Nina Sibal feels her worlds are not so far apart Miranda House obituary Archived from the original on 10 May 2017 Retrieved 7 August 2016 a b Shashi Tharoor The Elephant the Tiger and the Cell Phone Reflections on India the Emerging 21st century Power Penguin 2007 p 254 Nina Sibal dead dead link The Hindu 1 July 2000 Nina Sibal Memorial Award All India Women s Education Fund Leon Comber ed Prize Winning Asian Fiction Times Books 1991 Chandra Nisha Singh Radical Feminism and Women s Writing Only So Far and No Further Atlantic 2007 Ray and Kundu Studies in Women Writers in English Volume 3 Atlantic 2005 p 224 Stanford University Library Portals nbsp Biography nbsp India nbsp Literature Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nina Sibal amp oldid 1156297813, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
