Ismene Krishnadath

Ismene Shakuntal Debi Krishnadath (born 25 January 1956) is a Surinamese writer.

Biography Krishnadath was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, and, as a child, lived both there and in Utrecht, Netherlands. She studied education at Utrecht University. In 1975, when Suriname became independent, Krishnadath became the first person to apply for citizenship, and received one of the first passports; Krishnadath also writes for adults.

She received the inaugural State Prize for Children's Literature in 1993. In 2011 she was awarded the Henri Frans de Ziel Culture Prize for her commitment to literary life in Suriname.

For ten years, she chaired the Surinamese writers group Schrijversgroep '77.

Works For children De flaporen van Amar (1989) Nieuwe streken van koniman Anansi (1989) Lees mee (1989-91; in 4 parts) Bruine bonen met zoutvlees (1992) Het zoo-syndroom: een Anansiverhaal (1992) De vangst van Pake Djasidin (1992) Veren voor de piai (1992) Reken mee (1993) Seriba in de schelp (1996) De groene fles (1997) B'Anansi keert terug naar de eenentachtigste afslag (1997) De opdracht van Fodewroko (2001) De legende van Çakuntela van het Groene Continent (2004) Kook mee (2006; cookbook)

For adults Didaktische werkvormen voor het voortgezet onderwijs (1987; with D. Angel & M. v. Leeuwaarde) Paulo Freire; een bijdrage voor de Surinaamse onderwijsleerkrachten (1988; with D. Angel) Lijnen van liefde (1990; novel) Handleiding voor het onderwijzen (1990; with D. Angel) Vrouwenbundel (1993; anthology, editor) Satyem (1995, novel) Indo-ethnic roots and... [more]: Reflections on the non-ethnic orientation of Surinamese writers and their contribution in defining the concept of Caribbean identity (2008, essay)

She also contributed to the English anthology of Surinamese literature Diversity is Power (2007).