ABSTRACT
In this essay, the writer reminiscences about his first encounter with Mahasweta Devi and their subsequent collaborations in activist campaigns and projects. He recalls their first interaction in the 1980s, when she had returned the fee for her stories in English translation, published in his journal. The essay recounts his later encounters with her from 1990 onwards, their first meetings in Bengal, and her travel to Gujarat for the Elwin lecture. In an anecdotal mode, the writer narrates the beginning of their friendship, highlighting her simplicity and magnetic personality, which drew people to her. He also speaks of their activist collaboration as part of the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Rights Action Group; their travels across India and encounters with political authorities; and the links she developed with Tejgarh, Baroda and Chharanagar in Gujarat. In spite of Mahasweta Devi’s immense popular appeal, the writer detects an enigmatic solitariness in her personality that masks her inner self.
