Geetanjali Shree is an acclaimed Indian author, born in 1957, who writes in Hindi. She was previously known as Geetanjali Pandey but adopted her mother's first name, Shree, as her last name. Originally from the Indian city of Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, she now resides in New Delhi. Shree is celebrated for her contributions to Hindi literature, having written several short stories and three novels.
Her first short story, Bel Patra, was published in the literary magazine Hans in 1987. This was followed by a collection of short stories titled Anugoonj in 1991. However, it was her novel Mai, published in 2000, that brought her significant recognition. Mai, which focuses on three generations of women and the men in their North Indian, middle-class family, has been translated into multiple languages, including Serbian, Korean, German, Urdu, French, and English. The English translation of Mai, done by Nita Kumar, won the Sahitya Akademi award for translation.
Shree's literary career is not limited to fiction. She has also written a critical work on Premchand, a renowned Indian writer known for his works in Hindi and Urdu. Her second novel, Hamara Shahar Us Baras, is set in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition, a significant event in recent Indian history. Despite her success and contributions to Hindi literature, Shree remains a humble figure, committed to her craft and the enrichment of her literary heritage.