Susham Bedi (1 July 1945 – 20 March 2020) was an Indian author of novels, short stories and poetry. She was a professor of Hindi language and literature at the department of Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures (MEALAC) at Columbia University, New York. She wrote predominantly about the experiences of Indians in the South Asian diaspora, focusing on psychological and 'interior' cultural conflicts. Unlike other prominent Indian American novelists she wrote mainly in Hindi rather than in English. She has been widely translated into English, French, Dutch and other languages by artists, academics, and students.
Bedi began her writing career in high school and college, entering local competitions and writing articles and stories for magazines. She also worked as an actress and commentator on Indian television in the late-1960s and 1970s.
She attended Delhi University and Panjab University in India and taught Hindi literature. Her PhD dissertation was published in 1984 as Innovation and Experimentation in Contemporary Hindi Drama by Parag publications in India.
From 1974 to 1979 she wrote for The Times of India as one of their correspondents from Brussels, Belgium. In 1979 she came to the United States with her husband.
Academia
Bedi was involved in exploring questions of identity, authenticity, and transformation, in her cultural criticism and academic work, and these themes are reflected as well in her fiction writing. She was the author of eight major Hindi language novels, as well as collections of Hindi short stories and poetry. These have been widely translated and have been the subject of academic dissertations and debates on the South Asian diaspora experience.
She was also involved in Hindi language pedagogical research and developed original reading and listening comprehension materials in Hindi. Many of these materials are available on the internet. Her "Using Authentic Materials in the Language Classroom: A Case in Hindi" was included in the anthology Teaching and Acquisition of South Asian Languages (University of Pennsylvania Press).
From 1990 to 1991, she contributed to a BBC weekly program, Letters from Abroad, in which she discussed day to day issues about life in New York.
Fiction writing
Her most well-known novel is Havan (1989), which was translated into English by David Rubin and published by Heinemann International under the title The Fire Sacrifice in 1993. Her novels and short stories often feature female protagonists who are in the process of negotiating new identities which are neither fully old nor new, often finding identity and strength in the impurities in their lives. Bedi's narrative focus tends to be on the negotiative and transformative process itself, the pain and tragedy of cultural loss, but also the sense of hope and opportunity in forging new and stronger identities if one is willing to endure the transformative process. Her works are thus located squarely in the South Asian diaspora and immigrant experience.
Shabdon Ki Khirkiyan (Words as Windows), (Poetry collection) Delhi, National Publishing House, 2006.
Nava Bhum Ki Ras-katha (Epic of the New Land), Delhi: National Publishing House, 2002.
Gatha Amerbel Ki (Song of the Amerbel), Delhi: National Publishing House, 1999.
Itar, (The Other), Delhi: National Publishing House, 1998.
Chiriya Aur Cheel (The Sparrow and the Kite: Short Story Collection), Delhi: Parag, 1995.
Katra Dar Katra (Drop by Drop), Chandigarh: Abhishek, 1994.
Lautna, (Returning), Delhi: Parag, 1992.
Havan (The Fire Sacrifice), Delhi: Parag, 1989.
Cultural and critical works
Hindi Basha Ka Bhumandalikaran (The Globalization of Hindi), Samsamyil Prakashan, 2012.
Kahan Hai Mera Gher (What is Home to me?). Vaagarth 113, Calcutta, Dec. 2004
Diaspora me Hindi sahitya (Hindi Literature in the Diaspora: State and Direction). Bhasha 42,5, Delhi, Mar-April 2003, pp 105–112.
"Quest for Identity: Grappling for the Literary Self in the Diaspora" Hindi: Language, Discourse and Writing. Volume 1 Issue 2. July–September 2000.
Hindi Natya Prayog Ke Sandarbh Men (Innovation and Experimentation in Hindi Drama), Delhi: Parag, 1984.
Pedagogy
"Bhasha Shikshan: Anubhav, Soch aur Chunotiyan ( Teaching Language: Experience, Thoughts and Challenges)". ANYATHA 1, Austin, USA, June 2004
"Two Sides of a Coin: Heads and/or Tails" Hindi: Language, Discourse and Writing. Volume 2 Issue 4. January–March 2002.
"Using Authentic Materials in the Language Classroom: A Case at Hand." Published in the anthology The Learning and Acquisition of South Asian Languages, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1995.
"Culturally Authentic Situation Cards for the Teaching and Testing of South Asian Languages: Hindi." Published by Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning, New Haven, 1992.
"Sunna-Samajhna: Listening Comprehension in Hindi (2 volumes and 2 videotapes: Volume I: Novice and Intermediate, Volume II: Advanced)." Published by ACTFL, Yonkers, NY, 1992.
"Authentic Materials for Developing Reading Comprehension in Hindi (2 volumes: Volume I: Novice and Intermediate, Volume II: Advanced)." Published by ACTFL, Yonkers, NY, 1991.
References
^Luxoflux. True Crime: New York City. Activision. Scene: Pause menu credits, 4:29:49 in, VOICE TALENT.
^सम्मानित कथाकार और उपन्यासकार सुषम बेदी का निधन
Sources
Asian American Novelists: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook edited by Emmanuel S. Nelson. The entry for "Susham Bedi" includes critical appraisals, biography, bibliography, and list of recent writings on or about Susham Bedi's work.
External links
Susham Bedi faculty page at Columbia University, with links to online writings and translations
SAWNET entry for Susham Bedi - South Asian Women's NETwork
January 27, 2023
susham, bedi, july, 1945, march, 2020, indian, author, novels, short, stories, poetry, professor, hindi, language, literature, department, middle, eastern, asian, languages, cultures, mealac, columbia, university, york, wrote, predominantly, about, experiences. Susham Bedi 1 July 1945 20 March 2020 was an Indian author of novels short stories and poetry She was a professor of Hindi language and literature at the department of Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures MEALAC at Columbia University New York She wrote predominantly about the experiences of Indians in the South Asian diaspora focusing on psychological and interior cultural conflicts Unlike other prominent Indian American novelists she wrote mainly in Hindi rather than in English She has been widely translated into English French Dutch and other languages by artists academics and students Susham BediBorn 1945 07 01 1 July 1945Firozpur Punjab British IndiaDied20 March 2020 2020 03 20 aged 74 OccupationsNovelist actress academicShe was an actress in India in the 1960s and early 1970s In the United States she appeared on such shows as True Crime New York City Third Watch and Law amp Order Special Victims Unit and in movies such as The Guru 2002 and ABCD 1999 Contents 1 Career 1 1 Early years 1 2 Academia 1 3 Fiction writing 1 4 Acting 2 Personal life 3 Awards and recognition 4 Bibliography 4 1 Novels and short stories 4 2 Cultural and critical works 4 3 Pedagogy 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksCareer EditEarly years Edit Bedi began her writing career in high school and college entering local competitions and writing articles and stories for magazines She also worked as an actress and commentator on Indian television in the late 1960s and 1970s She attended Delhi University and Panjab University in India and taught Hindi literature Her PhD dissertation was published in 1984 as Innovation and Experimentation in Contemporary Hindi Drama by Parag publications in India From 1974 to 1979 she wrote for The Times of India as one of their correspondents from Brussels Belgium In 1979 she came to the United States with her husband Academia Edit Bedi was involved in exploring questions of identity authenticity and transformation in her cultural criticism and academic work and these themes are reflected as well in her fiction writing She was the author of eight major Hindi language novels as well as collections of Hindi short stories and poetry These have been widely translated and have been the subject of academic dissertations and debates on the South Asian diaspora experience She was also involved in Hindi language pedagogical research and developed original reading and listening comprehension materials in Hindi Many of these materials are available on the internet Her Using Authentic Materials in the Language Classroom A Case in Hindi was included in the anthology Teaching and Acquisition of South Asian Languages University of Pennsylvania Press From 1990 to 1991 she contributed to a BBC weekly program Letters from Abroad in which she discussed day to day issues about life in New York Fiction writing Edit Her most well known novel is Havan 1989 which was translated into English by David Rubin and published by Heinemann International under the title The Fire Sacrifice in 1993 Her novels and short stories often feature female protagonists who are in the process of negotiating new identities which are neither fully old nor new often finding identity and strength in the impurities in their lives Bedi s narrative focus tends to be on the negotiative and transformative process itself the pain and tragedy of cultural loss but also the sense of hope and opportunity in forging new and stronger identities if one is willing to endure the transformative process Her works are thus located squarely in the South Asian diaspora and immigrant experience Acting Edit Bedi appeared on True Crime New York City credited as Sushami Bedi 1 Third Watch and Law amp Order Special Victims Unit and in movies such as The Guru 2002 and ABCD 1999 Personal life EditShe died on 20 March 2020 at the age of 74 2 Actress Purva Bedi is her daughter Awards and recognition EditIn 2007 she was awarded 100 000 rupees by Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan for her contributions to Hindi language and literature In January 2006 she was honored by Sahitya Academy in Delhi for her contributions to Hindi literature Bibliography EditNovels and short stories Edit Maine Nata Tora I Broke the Ties Bhartiya Gyanpith 2009 Sarak ki Laya Rhythm of the Road second short story collection National Publishing House 2007 Portrait of Mira National Publishing House Delhi 2006 Morche Battlefronts novel Delhi Vani Prakashan 2006 Shabdon Ki Khirkiyan Words as Windows Poetry collection Delhi National Publishing House 2006 Nava Bhum Ki Ras katha Epic of the New Land Delhi National Publishing House 2002 Gatha Amerbel Ki Song of the Amerbel Delhi National Publishing House 1999 Itar The Other Delhi National Publishing House 1998 Chiriya Aur Cheel The Sparrow and the Kite Short Story Collection Delhi Parag 1995 Katra Dar Katra Drop by Drop Chandigarh Abhishek 1994 Lautna Returning Delhi Parag 1992 Havan The Fire Sacrifice Delhi Parag 1989 Cultural and critical works Edit Hindi Basha Ka Bhumandalikaran The Globalization of Hindi Samsamyil Prakashan 2012 Kahan Hai Mera Gher What is Home to me Vaagarth 113 Calcutta Dec 2004 Diaspora me Hindi sahitya Hindi Literature in the Diaspora State and Direction Bhasha 42 5 Delhi Mar April 2003 pp 105 112 Quest for Identity Grappling for the Literary Self in the Diaspora Hindi Language Discourse and Writing Volume 1 Issue 2 July September 2000 Hindi Natya Prayog Ke Sandarbh Men Innovation and Experimentation in Hindi Drama Delhi Parag 1984 Pedagogy Edit Bhasha Shikshan Anubhav Soch aur Chunotiyan Teaching Language Experience Thoughts and Challenges ANYATHA 1 Austin USA June 2004 Two Sides of a Coin Heads and or Tails Hindi Language Discourse and Writing Volume 2 Issue 4 January March 2002 Using Authentic Materials in the Language Classroom A Case at Hand Published in the anthology The Learning and Acquisition of South Asian Languages Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press 1995 Culturally Authentic Situation Cards for the Teaching and Testing of South Asian Languages Hindi Published by Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning New Haven 1992 Sunna Samajhna Listening Comprehension in Hindi 2 volumes and 2 videotapes Volume I Novice and Intermediate Volume II Advanced Published by ACTFL Yonkers NY 1992 Authentic Materials for Developing Reading Comprehension in Hindi 2 volumes Volume I Novice and Intermediate Volume II Advanced Published by ACTFL Yonkers NY 1991 References Edit Luxoflux True Crime New York City Activision Scene Pause menu credits 4 29 49 in VOICE TALENT सम म न त कथ क र और उपन य सक र स षम ब द क न धनSources EditAsian American Novelists A Bio Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook edited by Emmanuel S Nelson The entry for Susham Bedi includes critical appraisals biography bibliography and list of recent writings on or about Susham Bedi s work External links EditSusham Bedi faculty page at Columbia University with links to online writings and translations Susham Bedi at IMDb SAWNET entry for Susham Bedi South Asian Women s NETwork Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Susham Bedi amp oldid 1102535045, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
