Jaya Madhavan

2021-07-20T15:59:25Z

115.99.67.154: /* Other interests */Typo correction

{{short description|Indian illustrator and writer (born 1972)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox writer 
| image = JAYA MADHAVAN.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| name = Jaya Madhavan
| caption =
| pseudonym =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1972|10|1}}
| birth_place = [[Chennai]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Author
| nationality =
| period = 1998 to Present
| genre = Novelist, comics, columnist, poet
| subject =
| movement =
| notableworks = [[Kabir The Weaver Poet]], [[Sita and the Forest Bandits]], [[Loony Life]]
| influences =
| influenced =
| website = {{URL|jayamadhavan.blogspot.com/}}
}}

'''Jaya Madhavan''' (born 1 October 1972) is an Indian author, poet, ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' columnist and comic creator. She is a winner of The [[Children's Book Trust]]'s All India Competition for Writers of Children's Books.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indiahabitat.org/hyva/2010/Jury-HYVA-2010.htm |title=HABITAT YOUNG VISIONARY AWARD 2010 |access-date=12 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415061907/http://www.indiahabitat.org/hyva/2010/Jury-HYVA-2010.htm |archive-date=15 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated2>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tulikabooks.com/authors.htm |title=Tulika Books Authors |access-date=9 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119045412/http://tulikabooks.com/authors.htm |archive-date=19 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Biography ==
Jaya Madhavan was born in Chennai, India. She studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya (KVCLRI) and studied literature at Queen Marys College Chennai, She is an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi and completed her MA in English Literature in 1994. She is an M.Phil Degree holder from University of Madras. Jaya is also a certified yoga instructor from Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram and a mental health professional by qualification and practice. She is a visiting faculty at the prestigious National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and Bangalore.  Jaya (also known as Neelayathakshi Jaya) currently lives in Chennai with her two children,<ref>[https://archive.today/20120707011215/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-16/mumbai/28352869_1_film-festival-festival-coordinator-film-screenings Music, film festival will spread Kabir's message – Times Of India]</ref> she is the granddaughter of [[Seetha doraiswamy|Seetha Doraiswamy]].<ref>[http://jayamadhavan.blogspot.com/ Loony Life! (Award Winning Column)]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=4263 |title=And The Granny Goes To... |access-date=12 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718115936/http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=4263 |archive-date=18 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Work ==
Jaya is a YA fiction writer, poet and a columnist. Her first novel, ''[[Sita and the Forest Bandits]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/cbt15-Sita%20%26%20the%20Forest%20Bandits%20-%20Jaya%20Madhavan.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401054323/http://arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/cbt15-Sita%20%26%20the%20Forest%20Bandits%20-%20Jaya%20Madhavan.pdf |archive-date=1 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Sita and the Forest Bandits|url=https://silo.pub/contemporary-english-language-indian-childrens-literature-representations-of-nation-culture-and-the-new-indian-girl-childrens-literature-and-culture.html}}</ref> was awarded the first prize in the Children Book Trust's All India Competition for Writers of Children's Books in 2001 and was subsequently published by Children's Book Trust, New Delhi. Jaya's retelling of a folk tale was awarded in the folk tale category and included in the Golden Treasury of short stories published by the Children's Book Trust.  One of her short articles published in The Hindu has been included in the NCERT English textbook with permission.

Her second book for young adults ''[[Kabir The Weaver Poet]]'' is a research backed novel<ref>niranjana.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/kabir-the-weaver-poet</ref> reaching the Top 15 reading list for young adults<ref>[http://dialabook.in/blog/mid-summer-reads-for-young-adults/ 15 Midsummer Reads for Young Adults ]</ref><ref>http://www.saffrontree.org/2011/01/kabir-weaver-poet.html</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=World Kid Lit|title=Top 15 YA reads|url=https://worldkidlit.wordpress.com/2016/09/17/jaya-bhattacharji-rose-on-indian-literatures-translations-are-a-must/}}</ref> and was published by [[Tulika Publications]]<ref name="autogenerated2" /> in 2006. '''''Kabir The Weaver-Poet <ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Kabir the Weaver Poet|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4960545-kabir}}</ref>''''' '''''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Tulika Publishers|title=Discussing Kabir|url=http://tulikapublishers.blogspot.com/2011/01/discussing-kabir.html}}</ref>''''' <ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=DT Next|title=Akath Kahani|url=https://www.dtnext.in/Lifestyle/Culture/2017/11/16035352/1052308/Three-sisters-to-bring-to-fore-Saint-Kabirs-work.vpf?TId=112137}}</ref> is a labour of love born of a two-year research of Kabir's songs and dohas. The book has a 4.8 star rating on Goodreads <ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Kabir the Weaver Poet on Goodreads|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4960545-kabir}}</ref> and is a celebrated YA fiction that was selected by the CBSE as part of its curriculum.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Kabir the Weaver Poet|title=CBSE ACADEMIC|url=http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Circulars/2012/English%20_List_PRH_3_2012.pdf}}</ref>  It has been selected among the 15 top YA fiction for age 12–21.

To share the spirit of Kabir, Jaya along with her two sisters performs '''Akath Kahani''' <ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Deccan|first=Herald|title="Akath Kahani" review|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/234898/three-sisters-kabir.html}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last=Times of India|title=Akath Kahani|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/celebrating-the-life-of-kabir-through-song-story-and-dance/articleshow/61644549.cms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=The Hindu|title=Akath Kahani|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/the-kabir-chronicles/article3380183.ece}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|last=The Hindu|title=Akath Kahani review|url=https://thehinduimages.com/details-page.php?id=160076466&highlights=ACTIVITY%20SESSION}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web|title=Auroville Radio - Akath Kahani|url=https://www.aurovilleradio.org/akatha-kahani-untellable-story/}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Empire of Enchantment|date=October 2018|title=Kabir the Weaver Poet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rTdtDwAAQBAJ&q=jaya+madhavan+The+Hindu&pg=PA318|isbn=9780190914394}}</ref> a unique immersive song-spoken word-dance presentation that has won rave reviews and showcased in many stages including Prithvi theatre as part of  Kabir festival in Mumbai and Sufi festival in Orissa, Auroville Kabir festival and in other parts of India. Jaya was invited to speak at the 8th edition of Kala Ghoda festival in Mumbai.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|last=Times of India|title=Kala Ghoda Festival|url=http://www.kalaghoda.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/complete_schedule1.htm}}</ref>  

Jaya ran a very popular weekly humour column called "Loony Life" for ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' <ref name=":12">{{Cite web|last=Indian Express|title=Loony Life column|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/voices/2009/nov/29/of-rainy-days-and-the-feuds-that-keep-us-warm-108495.amp}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web|last=The Indian Express|title=Loony Life column|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2009/jun/28/lazyboys-and-two-mountains-of-generosity-62871.html}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web|last=The Indian Express|title=Loony Life|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/voices/2009/dec/14/filling-the-desk-with-dolls-of-devis-loony-life-112832.html}}</ref><ref name=":15">{{Cite web|last=The Indian Express|title=Loony Life|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/voices/2009/oct/11/ribbon-pakoda-replaces-satin-ribbons-91805.html}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite web|last=The Indian Express|title=Loony Life|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2009/jul/12/diary-of-a-prisoner-being-tortured-into-healthiness-67299.html}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite web|last=The Indian Express|title=Loony Life|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2008/nov/22/the-taste-of-freedom-1510.html}}</ref> which enjoyed a huge readership. Every fortnight her ''[[Antidep]]'' comic strip<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|title=Antidep comic strip|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/82155343/My-Komic-Strip}}</ref> (created along with her sister) could be seen in ''The New Indian Express''{{'}}s Saturday Zeitgeist feature.<ref name="autogenerated3" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=High Grossing Indian Novels|url=http://www.eurekabookstore.com/book-details-isbn-8181461681.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426050305/http://www.eurekabookstore.com/book-details-isbn-8181461681.html|archive-date=26 April 2012|access-date=12 December 2011}}</ref>

Jaya's third novel '''''Sita and the twin ghosts''''' was published as a year long series by Gokulam Children's magazine, which Jaya illustrated herself.  

Jaya's poems have been published by Unisun in their anthologies ('''''The Peacock's cry,<ref name=":19">{{Cite book|title=Peackocks Cry|oclc=70129440}}</ref> I, me, myself, Timescapes, Mosaic <ref name=":20">{{Cite web|last=Deccan Herald|title=I, Me, Myself|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/43687/thoughts-breathe.html}}</ref>''''' etc.), Muse India and the ''South Asian Literary Journal''.<ref>[http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2011/oct/241011-Features-How-to-set-yourself-free.htm Discussion with Authors (Including Jaya Madhavan)]</ref>  Two of her published poems were selected to be translated into Croatian and published in the book '''''Afternoon showers: an Anthology of Modern Indian Women Writers''''' <ref name=":21">{{Cite web|title=Sensa - 50 Indian Poets translated to Croatian|url=https://www.sensa.hr/clanci/nagradni-kviz/osvojite-knjigu-popodnevni-pljuskovi}}</ref> brought out by the Croatian Ministry of Culture.  Fifty Indian women poets were chosen for this anthology and Jaya among them.

Jaya's short stories for children have regularly appeared in Chatterbox children's magazine, Gokulam children's magazine, The Hindu's Young World, Children Book Trust's collection of short stories, Unisun's collection of short stories etc. Her short story for adults ‘The Monarch butterfly’ won the second prize in '''British council- Unisun's national competition for writers of short stories 2005''' and was selected by Shashi Deshpande for the collection title '''''Winners <ref name=":22">{{Cite book|title=The Monarch Butterfly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GIYcUh7qq0C&q=jaya+madhavan+The+Hindu&pg=PA144|isbn=9788188234110|last1=Mathew|first1=Mary|last2=Mathew|first2=Annie Chandy|year=2005}}</ref>''''', published by Unisun, Bangalore. Her short stories '''‘Curse of the bird’ <ref name=":23">{{Cite web|last=Hindu|title=Stories|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/04/18/stories/2002041806310400.htm}}</ref><ref name=":24">{{Cite web|title=The Curse of the bird|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/lounge/the-spooky-and-the-real/articleshow/22197993.cms}}</ref><ref name=":25">{{Cite web|last=The Indian Express|title=Curse of the Bird Review|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2009/mar/09/reading-into-normal-paranormal-stories-31569.html}}</ref><ref name=":26">{{Cite web|website=New Indian Express|title=Curse of the Bird|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2009/mar/09/reading-into-normal-paranormal-stories-31569.html}}</ref>''' and the '''‘Other brother’''' was also showcased in the collection of paranormal stories published by Unisun, Bangalore titled '''''Curse of the bird'''''. The collection was named after Jaya's story that appeared in the collection.  Jaya also won the second prize for her children's story ‘Siddharth becomes a big brother’ which was subsequently published in Unisun's collection of short stories for children titled '''''Monsters under the bed and other stories <ref name=":27">{{Cite web|last=New Indian Express|title=Monsters under the bed|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2010/may/03/for-the-children-162243.html}}</ref>'''''.

Jaya's articles have appeared in numerous national dailies and journals including The Hindu, The Hindu's literary review, The Hindu's World of Women special supplement, The New Indian Express, the Sunday Express and the Times of India, Outlook Traveller <ref name=":28">{{Cite web|title=Outlook Traveller|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/books-and-more-read-this-before-you-set-out-to-see-god-1063473}}</ref>  to name a few.

==Other interests==

Jaya is a theatre person and a singer. She learnt Carnatic Music from Vidushi Rama Ravi while studying at JNU, New Delhi. Jaya particularly loves singing Kamakshi Navaratnam and other compositions of Sri Uthukkadu Venkata Subbaiyar, along with her mother and music teacher N.Visalakshi. Jaya has translated compositions of the late 17th century poet Uthukkadu Venkata Subbaiyar into English. Jaya was part of the theatre group Kulavai and has performed in various parts of Tamil Nadu as part of street theatre. Her M.Phil dissertation was on Indian theatre with particular reference to plays of Girish Karnad. Jaya acted in the film "Raindrops on tin roof", a PUNE FTII film that was showcased in many film festivals. Jaya loves painting using walls as a canvas and believes art is the bridge to meet unmet developmental needs.

==Select bibliography==

*'''''Sita and the Forest Bandits''''', CBT, {{ISBN|9788170119777}}
*'''''Kabir The Weaver-Poet''''', Tulika books, {{ISBN|9788181461681}}
*'''''The Peacock's Cry''''', Unisun Anthologies, {{ISBN|9788188234233}}
*'''''The curse of the bird and other paranormal stories''''', Unisun Publications, 2009, {{ISBN|9788188234547}}
*'''''Winners''''', Unisun Publications, 2005, {{ISBN|9788188234110}}

== References ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Madhavan, Jaya}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Writers from Chennai]]
[[Category:Women writers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian children's writers]]
[[Category:Indian women children's writers]]

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Jaya Madhavan