Kanya D'Almeida

Last updated
Kanya D'Almeida
Born Colombo, Sri Lanka
Occupationauthor, writer, journalist
NationalitySri Lankan
Alma mater Hampshire College
Columbia University
Notable awards Commonwealth Short Story Prize (2021)

Kanya D'Almeida is a Sri Lankan author, writer and journalist. [1] [2] She won the 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for her short story I Cleaned The. [3]

Career

She obtained her MFA in fiction from the Columbia University's School of the Arts in Massachusetts, USA. She studied English and Political Science at the Hampshire College. [4] [5] After completing her Bachelor's degree, she pursued her career in journalism and worked as journalist for about ten years. [6]

During her career as a freelance journalist, she covered the most human rights issues in Sri Lanka, Mexico and the United States and her journalism work has appeared in Al Jazeera , TruthOut, Alternet and The Margins. [7] She revealed that she learnt the art of creative writing from veteran American writer and professor Victor LaValle when she was pursuing her higher studies in the US. [6]

She also pursued her interest in writing short stories often based on the mental illnesses encountered by women in the society. Her fiction stories have also appeared in the Jaggery and The Bangalore Review. [8] [9] She also hosts the podcast, The Darkest Light which critically analyse about the birth and the motherhood in Sri Lanka. [10]

In May 2021, she was adjudged as the regional winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize from Asia. [11] [12] Her short story I Cleaned The was also shortlisted as one of the 25 short stories for the overall 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. The short story was based on the dirty work which includes the domestic labour, human waste and abandonment. [13]

On 30 June 2021, she was officially announced as the overall winner of the 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize during an online ceremony by the Commonwealth Foundation. [14] [15] [16] She also became the first Sri Lankan to win the Commonwealth Short Story Prize and only the second person from Asia to win the award. [17] [18]

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References

  1. ↑ "Kanya D'Almeida - Author". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  2. ↑ ""I Am Shocked More Women Don't Act Out": Kanya D' Almedia - The Debrief w/Roel Raymond". roar.media. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  3. ↑ "I Cleaned the –". Granta. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  4. ↑ "'I had to unlearn to find my writing voice'". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  5. ↑ "Hampshire College Alum Kanya d'Almeida 06F Wins the 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize".
  6. 1 2 "'I had to find new ways of telling old and difficult stories'". The Morning - Sri Lanka News. 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  7. ↑ "Kanya D'Almeida". War Resisters League. 2015-03-18. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  8. ↑ "Kanya gets a step closer to big prize". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  9. ↑ "Sri Lankan Writer and Hampshire Alum Kanya d'Almeida 06F Shortlisted for 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize".
  10. ↑ "Kanya D'Almeida from Sri Lanka wins Commonwealth Short Story Prize". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  11. ↑ "Alumna Kanya D'Almeida '18 Named Regional Winner for 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize". Columbia - School of the Arts. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  12. ↑ "Sri Lanka's Kanya D'Almeida is Asia Winner of 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  13. ↑ "Sri Lanka's Kanya D'Almeida shortlisted for 2021 Commonwealth short story prize | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  14. ↑ "Kanya D'Almeida wins 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  15. ↑ "2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Regional Winners". Commonwealth Writers. 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  16. ↑ "Gibson wins 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, Pacific region". Books+Publishing. 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  17. ↑ "Kanya D'Almeida from Sri Lanka wins Commonwealth Short Story Prize". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  18. ↑ "Kanya D'Almeida becomes first Sri Lankan to win Commonwealth Short Story Prize". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
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