Siddharth Sanghvi

Born Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi
1977
Mumbai
Occupation writer
Language English-language
Notable work(s) The Last Song of Dusk (2004)

Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi (born 1977 [1]) is an Indian author in English-language whose notable books include, The Last Song of Dusk (2004) and The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay (2009).[2][3]

His book, The Last Song of Dusk (2005), made it to Man Asian Prize: 2009 Shortlist,[4] won the 2004 Betty Trask Award, one of UK’s most prestigious prizes for debut novels,[5][6] and Premio Grinzane Cavour 2005 (Italy) for the Best Debut novel.[7] This book was also theSan Francisco Chronicle Best Book of 2004, a 2006 IMPAC Dublin Literary Award Finalist and a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller.,[8] and translated into 10 languages.[9]

Contents

Early life and education

Born in Juhu, Mumbai in a Gujarati Sanghvi family, Siddharth's father is businessman, while his grandfather, Arvind Vasavada, a psychoanalyst and a Jungian scholar.[9]

He pursued his MA in International Journalism at the University of Westminster, London, where he specialised in Photography in 1999.[3]

Career

He wrote his first book "The Last Song of Dusk," at 22, but dropped it when the agent suggested some changes, thereafter he moved to Northern California, having an aunt and uncle in Berkeley, and enrolled in MS, Mass Communications at San Jose State University passing out in 2002; the book was finally published in 2004.[9][10][11]

Shanghvi has been compared to Salman Rushdie and Vikram Seth in his writing styles, especially for using settings of magical realism, and themes such as karma, love and sexuality extensively in The Last Song of Dusk.[6][12] His essay, Hello, Darling, appeared in 2008 anthology, AIDS Sutra: Untold Stories From India.[13]

His second book, The Lost Flamingos of Bombay (2009) which had events taken from the Jessica Lall murder case,[14] received mixed reviews,[15] and later he announced it to be his last.[16][17]

He divides time between Albany, California [9] and Mumbai.

Works

References

  1. ^ Siddharth Shanghvi Biography redroom.com.
  2. ^ Sekhar, Vaishnavi C (3 October 2004). "Mumbai meri muse: A hundred stories bloom". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Mumbai-meri-muse-A-hundred-stories-bloom/articleshow/871908.cms. 
  3. ^ a b "Never Too Young". Indian Express. Jan 11, 2004. http://www.indianexpress.com/storyOld.php?storyId=38971&pn. 
  4. ^ Siddharth Shanghvi Man Asian Literary Prize.
  5. ^ Past Winners: 2004 Betty Trask Award
  6. ^ a b "Q&A with Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi". Verve. Volume 12, Issue 3, Third Quarter 2004. http://www.verveonline.com/29/life/qna/excerpt.shtml. 
  7. ^ "Write choice". The Times of India. 10 February 2005. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1017458.cms. 
  8. ^ The Last Song of Dusk
  9. ^ a b c d Guthmann, Edward (June 26, 2006). "It took a bad move and then a broken heart before 'a bloody reject' would release 'Last Song of Dusk.' Now he's a literary rock star". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/26/SIDDHARTH.TMP. 
  10. ^ "Difficult Loves: First Novel Heavy on Sorrow and Scandal". SF Station. Jan 20, 2005. http://www.sfstation.com/the-last-song-of-dusk-by-siddharth-dhanvant-shanghvi-a962. 
  11. ^ "IN THE HEART OF SADNESS". The Telegraph (Kolkata). February 4, 2005. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050204/asp/opinion/story_4323861.asp. 
  12. ^ "Succumbing to temptation". Chennai, India: The Hindu. Apr 13, 2009. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/04/13/stories/2009041350860300.htm. 
  13. ^ "Siddharth Shanghvi writes on AIDS in India". San Francisco Chronicle. October 01, 2008. http://articles.sfgate.com/2008-10-01/entertainment/17135661_1_murad-homosexuality-india. 
  14. ^ "Famous Last Words". Indian Express. Feb 28, 2009. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/famous-last-words/428954/. 
  15. ^ "Mumbai in hyperbole: Self-indulgence, clichés and a wild prose style mar this novel set in maximum city". Live Mint. Feb 27 2009. http://www.livemint.com/2009/02/27204818/Mumbai-in-hyperbole.html. 
  16. ^ "My second book is my last: Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi". CNN IBN. Feb 26, 2009. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/my-second-book-is-my-last-siddharth-dhanvant-shanghvi/86304-40.html. 
  17. ^ "Lost with the flamingoes". MiD DAY. 2009-03-18. http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2009/mar/180309-Siddharth-Dhanvant-Shanghvi-author-The-Lost-Flamingoes-of-Bombay-novel-Bangalore-italk-people.htm. 

External links