Sara Aboobacker

Sara Aboobacker (30 June 1936 – 10 January 2023) was an Indian Kannada writer of novels and short stories, and a translator.

Early life and education

Sara was born in Kasaragod, Kerala on 30 June 1936, She was one of the first girls in her community of Muslim families in Kasaragod to be educated, graduating from a local Kannada school. She was married after school, and went on to have four sons. Aboobacker once stated that her desire to further her education was constrained by community norms that restricted female access to higher education, and that she was only able to obtain a library membership in 1963. Her writing style is direct and simple, and she has stated that she prefers a realist approach to literature, prioritizing the expression of social concerns over stylistic embellishments. In 2019, a district court ruled in favour of Aboobacker in a suit she had filed for copyright infringement against the makers of the film Byari. The film had won the Swarna Kamal Award at the 59th National Film Festival in 2011. The District Court found that it was based primarily on Aboobacker's book, Chandragiriya Theeradalli and that the producers had not obtained her permission to adapt the book for their film.

Her novel, Vrajagalu (1988) is currently being made into a film produced by Devendra Reddy, titled Saaravajra. The film stars actress Anu Prabhakar Mukherjee as the protagonist, Nafisa, and traces her life from childhood to old age, as she navigates marriage, and divorce within the Muslim community in Kasargod.

As a translator

Aboobaker has translated into Kannada books by T. V. Eachara Warrier, Kamala Das and B. M. Suhara.

Awards and honours

Aboobacker has received a number of awards for her contributions to literature.

In 1984, she received the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award. In 1987, she received the Anupama Niranjana Award. From 1990 to 1994, she served as president of a local writers' association, the Karavali Lekhakiyara mattu Vachakiyara Sangha. In 1995, she received the Kannada Rajyotsava Award. In 1996, she received the Rathnamma Heggade Mahila Sahitya Award. Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award in 2001 by the Government of Karnataka In 2006, she received the Nadoja Award from Hampi University for her contributions to literature. In 2008, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Mangalore University. In 2012, Nrupatunga Award for her contribution to Kannada literature.

Literary works

Novels

1981 - Chandragiriya Teeradalli (Bengaluru: Patrike Prakasana, 1981. This was translated into English by Vanamala Vishwanatha as Breaking Ties (1982) 1985 - Sahana (Bengaluru: Chandragiri Prakashana) 1988 - Vajragalu (Bengaluru: Navakarnataka Prakasana) 1991 - Kadana Viraama 1994 - Suliyalli Sikkavaru (Bengaluru: Chandragiri Prakashana, 2013) 1997 - Tala Odeda Doniyali (Directorate Of Kannada And Culture) 2004 - Panjara

Short story collections

1989 - Chappaligalu (Bengaluru: Chandragiri Prakashana) 1992 - Payana 1996 - Ardha Ratriyalli Huttida Kusu 1999 - Kheddah 2004 - Sumayya 2007 - Gaganasakhi

Translations (from Malayalam to Kannada)

1992 - Manomi by Kamala Das 1998 - Bale by B.M. Sohara 2000 - Naninnu Nidrisuve by P. K. Balakrishnan 2009 - Dharmada Hesarinalli by R.B. Srikumar

Non-fiction

2010 - Hottu Kanthuva Munna (an autobiography)