Shyamolie Singh, a second year student at Lady Shri Ram College for Women recently won an essay competition in the capital, organized so as to ‘’initiate a dialogue about South Asian Writing’’ in the new generation by the DSC prize, a highly acclaimed international prize for South Asian Literature. Singh’s entry titled ‘Changing Identities in contemporary South Asian Literature’ is said to be a beautiful piece, seconded by Bhavna Singal’s entry – a student of Gargi College. Four Delhi University colleges sent entries by literature students for the competition – Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Hindu College, Jesus and Mary College and Gargi College.
Shyamolie has been awarded a certificate of merit and an all expense paid trip to the Jaipur Literature Festival, which is where she will be honoured on the 18th of January this year. The inspiration for her piece, she believes, came from being exposed to some path breaking South Asian literature over the years, and raising questions of identity in college, outside and in the media. She says, ‘’I think I was reading Shyam Selvaduari’s The Hungry Ghosts at that time, and I ended up quoting it in the essay itself because it talks about violence, myth and sexuality – a lot of identity intersection …probably influenced the direction of my piece.’’
After making the college proud with this literary honour, Shyamolie wishes to continue her tryst with literature at the masters’ level and join the Civil Services thereafter.
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