Shivani (writer)

Shivani (writer) Biography

Gaura Pant, better known as Shivani was a well-known fiction writer and novelist from Hindi literature. For her contribution to Hindi literature, government of India honoured her with Padma Shri in 1982. In fact many of her family members and close relatives are Padma award winners. Her daughter - Mrinal Pande, a well-known writer and TV personality, Mrinal’s father-in-law B. D. Pande and his brother-in-law uncle Vinod Chandra Pande (both civil servants and former governors) and Mrinal’s brother-in-law, Lalit Pande are all Padma award winners. As a writer Gaura rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, when many of her novels were serialized in Hindi popular magazines. Krishnakali – is among her celebrated novels.

Gaura Pant was born on 17 October 1923 in Rajkot, Gujarat. Her father, Ashwini Kumar Pande was a teacher with princely state of Rajkot while her mother was a Sanskrit scholar, and the first student of Lucknow Mahila Vidyalaya. Later her father became the Diwan with the Nawab of Rampur. Her childhood days were spent in different places where her father work, and it left a major mark in her writings and thoughts. She had two siblings and they studied at Viswabharati established by Tagore. She remained there for 9 years.

Shivani's first story was published in the Hindi Children's magazine 'Natkhat', at the age of twelve. She turned to serious writings during her stay in Shantiniketan. Her grandfather was a Sanskrit scholar and a founding member of Banaras Hindu University. After her studies in Shantiniketan, she stayed with her grandfather. In the early 1950s she took the penname Shivani, and the first story published under this name was 'Main Murga Hun'. 'Surangma', 'Rativilaap', 'Mera Beta', and 'Teesra Beta' and 'Kariye Chima' were her major novels, which have been adapted to miniscreen or silver screen.

Published: November 27, 2018

Updated: November 27, 2018