Creative writing professor Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni was honored by the Literacy Advance of Houston last Friday for her contributions to the literary community.
Divakaruni, who was a poet before becoming a novelist, has won several awards, including the Pushcart Prize, the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award as well as recognition from the Gerbode Foundation Award, among other accomplishments.
"Women in particular respond to my work because I’m writing about them," Divakaruni said on her Web site. " I want people to relate to my characters, to feel their joy and pain."
One of her novels, The Mistress of Spices was made into a film in 2006, with actors Aishwarya Rai and Dylan McDermott leading roles.
The Literacy Advance of Houston is the city’s oldest literacy organization that has been teaching adults, to read and write and communicate in English since 1964.
The organization held the 11th Champions of Literacy banquet honoring Divakaruni and other members of the Indo-American community for their efforts.
"The reason why we partnered with the Indo-American community is because we know that they put a very high value (on) family values and education," Community Development Associate of Literacy Advance Jen Walters said. "Especially when it comes to literacy skills."
