Aravind Adiga
Encyclopedia
Aravind Adiga is an Indian writer and journalist. His debut novel
, The White Tiger
, won the 2008 Man Booker Prize
.
) on 23 October 1974 to Dr. K. Madhava Adiga and Usha Adiga, Kannadigas both of whom hailed from Mangalore
. His paternal grandfather was the late K. Suryanarayana Adiga, former chairman of Karnataka bank
. He grew up in Mangalore and studied at Canara High School
, then at St. Aloysius High School, where he completed his SSLC
in 1990. He secured first rank in the state in SSLC
. Incidentally his elder brother Anand Adiga secured 2 nd rank in SSLC and first rank in PUC in the state. After emigrating to Sydney
, Australia, with his family, he studied at James Ruse Agricultural High School
. He studied English literature at Columbia College
, Columbia University
in New York, where he studied with Simon Schama
and graduated as salutatorian
in 1997. He also studied at Magdalen College, Oxford
, where one of his tutors was Hermione Lee
.
. With pieces published in the Financial Times and Money
, he covered the stock market and investment, interviewing, among others, Donald Trump
. His review of previous Booker Prize winner Peter Carey's book, Oscar and Lucinda
, appeared in The Second Circle, an online literary review.
He was subsequently hired by TIME
, where he remained a South Asia
correspondent for three years before going freelance. During his freelance period, he wrote The White Tiger. He currently lives in Mumbai
, India.
, won the 2008 Booker Prize. He is the fourth Indian-born author to win the prize, after Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy
and Kiran Desai
. (V. S. Naipaul
, another winner, is of Indian origin, but is not an Indian citizen). The five other authors on the shortlist included one other Indian writer (Amitav Ghosh
) and another first-time writer (Steve Toltz
). The novel studies the contrast between India's rise as a modern global economy and the lead character, Balram, who comes from crushing rural poverty.
He explained that "the criticism by writers like Flaubert, Balzac and Dickens of the 19th century helped England and France become better societies".
Shortly after winning the prize it was alleged that Adiga had, the previous year, sacked the agent that had secured his contract with Atlantic Books at the 2007 London Book Fair
. In April 2009 it was announced that the novel would be adapted into a feature film. Propelled mainly by the Booker Prizer win, The White Tiger
's Indian hardcover edition has sold in excess of 200,000 copies.
, was released in India in November 2008 and in the US and UK in mid-2009. The book features 12 interlinked short stories.
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
, The White Tiger
The White Tiger
The White Tiger is the debut novel by Indian author Aravind Adiga. It was first published in 2008 and won the Man Booker Prize in the same year. The novel provides a darkly comical view of modern day life in India through the narration of its protagonist Balram Halwai...
, won the 2008 Man Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
.
Early life and education
Aravind Adiga was born in Madras (now ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
) on 23 October 1974 to Dr. K. Madhava Adiga and Usha Adiga, Kannadigas both of whom hailed from Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
. His paternal grandfather was the late K. Suryanarayana Adiga, former chairman of Karnataka bank
Karnataka Bank
Karnataka Bank Limited is a private sector banking institution based in the town of Mangalore in Karnataka, India. The Reserve Bank of India has designated Karnataka Bank as an A1+-class scheduled commercial bank....
. He grew up in Mangalore and studied at Canara High School
Canara High School
Canara High School is an educational institution in Mangalore which was founded by Ammembal Subba Rao Pai in 1891, the philanthropist who also founded Canara Bank. It is located in Dongerkeri area....
, then at St. Aloysius High School, where he completed his SSLC
SSLC
The Secondary School Leaving Certificate is a certification obtained by a student on successful completion of an examination at the end of study at the secondary schooling level in India.- Relevance of the SSLC :...
in 1990. He secured first rank in the state in SSLC
SSLC
The Secondary School Leaving Certificate is a certification obtained by a student on successful completion of an examination at the end of study at the secondary schooling level in India.- Relevance of the SSLC :...
. Incidentally his elder brother Anand Adiga secured 2 nd rank in SSLC and first rank in PUC in the state. After emigrating to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia, with his family, he studied at James Ruse Agricultural High School
James Ruse Agricultural High School
James Ruse Agricultural High School is one of four New South Wales Government agricultural high schools. It is a selective, co-educational public high school located at Carlingford, New South Wales, Australia...
. He studied English literature at Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York, where he studied with Simon Schama
Simon Schama
Simon Michael Schama, CBE is a British historian and art historian. He is a University Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University. He is best known for writing and hosting the 15-part BBC documentary series A History of Britain...
and graduated as salutatorian
Salutatorian
Salutatorian is an academic title given, in the United States and Canada, to the second highest graduate of the entire graduating class of a specific discipline. Only the valedictorian is ranked higher. This honor is traditionally based on grade point average and number of credits taken, but...
in 1997. He also studied at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, where one of his tutors was Hermione Lee
Hermione Lee
Hermione Lee, CBE is President of Wolfson College, Oxford and was lately Goldsmiths' Professor of English Literature in the University of Oxford and Professorial Fellow of New College. She is a Fellow of the British Academy and of the Royal Society of Literature.-Biography:Hermione Lee grew up in...
.
Career
Adiga began his journalistic career as a financial journalist, interning at the Financial TimesFinancial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
. With pieces published in the Financial Times and Money
Money (magazine)
Money is published by Time Inc. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement...
, he covered the stock market and investment, interviewing, among others, Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
. His review of previous Booker Prize winner Peter Carey's book, Oscar and Lucinda
Oscar and Lucinda
Oscar and Lucinda is a novel by Peter Carey which won the 1988 Booker Prize, the 1989 Miles Franklin Award, and was shortlisted for The Best of the Booker.-Plot introduction:...
, appeared in The Second Circle, an online literary review.
He was subsequently hired by TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, where he remained a South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
correspondent for three years before going freelance. During his freelance period, he wrote The White Tiger. He currently lives in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India.
Booker Prize
Aravind Adiga's debut novel, The White TigerThe White Tiger
The White Tiger is the debut novel by Indian author Aravind Adiga. It was first published in 2008 and won the Man Booker Prize in the same year. The novel provides a darkly comical view of modern day life in India through the narration of its protagonist Balram Halwai...
, won the 2008 Booker Prize. He is the fourth Indian-born author to win the prize, after Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy
Arundhati Roy
Arundhati Roy is an Indian novelist. She won the Booker Prize in 1997 for her novel, The God of Small Things, and has also written two screenplays and several collections of essays...
and Kiran Desai
Kiran Desai
Kiran Desai is an Indian author who is a citizen of India and a permanent resident of the United States. Her novel The Inheritance of Loss won the 2006 Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award...
. (V. S. Naipaul
V. S. Naipaul
Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad "V. S." Naipaul, TC is a Nobel prize-winning Indo-Trinidadian-British writer who is known for his novels focusing on the legacy of the British Empire's colonialism...
, another winner, is of Indian origin, but is not an Indian citizen). The five other authors on the shortlist included one other Indian writer (Amitav Ghosh
Amitav Ghosh
Amitav Ghosh , is a Bengali Indian author best known for his work in the English language.-Life:Ghosh was born in Calcutta on July 11, 1956, to Lieutenant Colonel Shailendra Chandra Ghosh, a retired officer of the pre-independence Indian Army, and was educated at The Doon School; St...
) and another first-time writer (Steve Toltz
Steve Toltz
-Life and works:Toltz attended Knox Grammar School, Killara High School and graduated from the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, in 1994. Prior to his literary career, he lived in Montreal, Vancouver, New York, Barcelona, and Paris, variously working as a cameraman, telemarketer, security...
). The novel studies the contrast between India's rise as a modern global economy and the lead character, Balram, who comes from crushing rural poverty.
He explained that "the criticism by writers like Flaubert, Balzac and Dickens of the 19th century helped England and France become better societies".
Shortly after winning the prize it was alleged that Adiga had, the previous year, sacked the agent that had secured his contract with Atlantic Books at the 2007 London Book Fair
London Book Fair
The London Book Fair is a large book-publishing trade fair held annually, usually in April, in London, England. The London Book Fair has grown in size and importance in recent years, and 23,000 publishers, booksellers, literary agents, librarians, media and industry suppliers from over 100...
. In April 2009 it was announced that the novel would be adapted into a feature film. Propelled mainly by the Booker Prizer win, The White Tiger
The White Tiger
The White Tiger is the debut novel by Indian author Aravind Adiga. It was first published in 2008 and won the Man Booker Prize in the same year. The novel provides a darkly comical view of modern day life in India through the narration of its protagonist Balram Halwai...
's Indian hardcover edition has sold in excess of 200,000 copies.
Between the Assassinations
Adiga's second book, Between the AssassinationsBetween the Assassinations
Between the Assassinations is the second book published by Aravind Adiga though it was written before his first book The White Tiger. The title refers to the period between the assassinations of Indira Gandhi in 1984 and her son, Rajiv Gandhi, in 1991...
, was released in India in November 2008 and in the US and UK in mid-2009. The book features 12 interlinked short stories.
Novels
- The White TigerThe White TigerThe White Tiger is the debut novel by Indian author Aravind Adiga. It was first published in 2008 and won the Man Booker Prize in the same year. The novel provides a darkly comical view of modern day life in India through the narration of its protagonist Balram Halwai...
: A Novel: Atlantic Books, LtdAtlantic BooksAtlantic Books is an independent British publishing house, founded by Toby Mundy in 2000. Atlantic Books won the Imprint and Editor of the Year award at the British Books Awards in 2005 and 2009. It also was Independent Publisher of the Year in 2009....
(UK), Free PressFree Press (publisher)Free Press is a book publishing imprint of Simon and Schuster. It was founded by Jeremiah Kaplan and Charles Liebman in 1947 and was devoted to sociology and religion titles. It was headquartered in Glencoe, Illinois, where it was known as The Free Press of Glencoe...
(US), 2008 - Between the AssassinationsBetween the AssassinationsBetween the Assassinations is the second book published by Aravind Adiga though it was written before his first book The White Tiger. The title refers to the period between the assassinations of Indira Gandhi in 1984 and her son, Rajiv Gandhi, in 1991...
: Picador (IND), 2008 - Last Man in Tower: Fourth Estate (IND), 2011
Short stories
- "The Sultan's Battery" (The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 18 October 2008, online text) - "Smack" (The Sunday TimesThe Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, 16 November 2008, online text) - "Last Christmas in Bandra" (The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, 19 December 2008, online text) - "The Elephant" (The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, 26 January 2009, online text)
External links
- Official website
- About Aravind Adiga
- TIME Magazine – Search Results for Aravind Adiga
- Articles by Aravind Adiga for The Second Circle, A Review of Contemporary Literature
- "Aravind Adiga in Conversation with Hirsh Sawhney", Brooklyn Rail, September 2008
- "Review of The White Tiger", The Telegraph
- "Novel About India Wins the Man Booker Prize", The New York Times, 14 October 2008
- Article by Aravind Adiga in The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...