Nirmal Verma

Nirmal Verma (Devanāgarī: निर्मल वर्मा; 3 April 1929 – 25 October 2005) was a Hindi writer, novelist, activist and translator. He is credited as being one of pioneers of 'Nayi Kahani' (New Story) literary movement of Hindi literature, wherein his first collection of stories, 'Parinde' (Birds) is considered its first signature.

In his career spanning five decades and various forms of literature, like story, travelogue and essays, he penned five novels, eight short-story collections and nine books of non-fiction, including essays and travelogues

Biography

Nirmal Verma was born on 3 April 1929 in Shimla, where his father worked as an officer in the Civil and Serbices Department of the British Indian Government. He was the seventh child among his eight siblings. One of his brothers is one of India's greatest artists Ram Kumar.

He wrote his first story for a students' magazine in the early 1950s. He a completed a Masters of Arts in History from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University. Thereafter he started teaching in Delhi and writing for various literary magazines.