View source for Rohinton Mistry

{{short description|Indian-born Canadian writer}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| birth_name = Rohinton Mistry
| honorific_suffix = [[Order of Canada|CM]]
| image = 
| imagesize = 200px
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1952}}
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], India
| occupation = Novelist
| nationality = Canadian
| period = 
| spouse = Freny Elavia
| genre = Historical fiction, [[Postcolonial Literature]], [[Literary realism|Realism]], Parsi Literature Minor Literature [[Indian literature]]
| notableworks = ''[[Such a Long Journey (novel)|Such a Long Journey]]''; ''[[Family Matters (novel)|Family Matters]]''; ''[[A Fine Balance]]''
| website = 
| alma_mater = [[University of Bombay]] <br />[[University of Toronto]]
}}
'''Rohinton Mistry''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM}} (born 1952) is an [[India]]n-born [[Canadians|Canadian]] writer. He has been the recipient of many awards including the [[Neustadt International Prize for Literature]] in 2012. Each of his three novels was [[List of winners and shortlisted authors of the Booker Prize|shortlisted]] for the [[Booker Prize]]. All have been set in India, told from the perspective of [[Parsis]], and explore themes of family life, poverty, discrimination, and the corrupting influence of society.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Tom|date=2000|title=Mistry, Rohinton|url=https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/postcolonialstudies/2014/06/11/mistry-rohinton/|access-date=May 19, 2021|website=Postcolonial Studies @ Emory}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Rohinton Mistry was born in [[Bombay]], India, to a [[Parsi]] family.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gupta|first=Nidhi|date=January 2014|title=The Making of the Novelist: Rohinton Mistry|url=http://www.mitpublications.org/yellow_images/1387359850_logo_3%20The%20Making%20of%20the%20Novelist%20Rohinton%20Mistry.pdf|journal=MIT International Journal of English Language & Literature|volume=1|issue=1|pages=1|access-date=19 February 2018|archive-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422010043/http://mitpublications.org/yellow_images/1387359850_logo_3%20The%20Making%20of%20the%20Novelist%20Rohinton%20Mistry.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> His brother is the playwright and author [[Cyrus Mistry (writer)|Cyrus Mistry]]. He earned a BA in Mathematics and Economics from [[St. Xavier's College, Bombay]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=St. Xavier's College alumni write open letter opposing invitation to Aditya Thackeray to attend college event|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/aditya-thackeray-st-xaviers-college-mumbai-alumni-shiv-sena-xaviers-college-invitation-150-years-anniversary-celebrations-rohinton-mistry-such-a-long/294150|access-date=2020-07-21|website=www.timesnownews.com|date=4 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

He emigrated to Canada with his wife-to-be Freny Elavia in 1975 and they married shortly afterwards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Angela |date=2002-04-27 |title=The Guardian Profile: Rohinton Mistry |url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/apr/27/fiction.books |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> He worked in a bank for a while, before returning to academia at the [[University of Toronto]] where he obtained a BA in English and Philosophy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themanbookerprize.com/prize/authors/58 |title=The Man Booker Prize |publisher=The Man Booker Prize |access-date=16 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124175338/http://www.themanbookerprize.com/prize/authors/58 |archive-date=24 January 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/rohinton-mistry|title=Rohinton Mistry - Literature|website=literature.britishcouncil.org|language=en|access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref>

==Career==
{{Update|section|date=October 2021}}
While attending the [[University of Toronto]] (Woodsworth College) he became the first to win two [[Hart House (University of Toronto)|Hart House]] literary prizes for stories published in the ''[[Hart House Review]]'', and ''Canadian Fiction Magazine''{{'}}s annual Contributor's Prize for 1985.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grandy|first=Karen|date=July 7, 2015|title=Rohinton Mistry {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/rohinton-mistry|access-date=2021-06-09|website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}</ref>

Three years later, [[Penguin Books]] Canada published his collection of 11 [[short story|short stories]], ''[[Tales from Firozsha Baag]]''. It was later published in the United States as ''Swimming Lessons and Other Stories from Firozsha Baag''. The book consists of 11 stories set within an apartment complex in modern-day Bombay. This volume contains the oft-anthologized story, "Swimming Lessons".<ref name="bindu">Malieckal, Bindu (2000). "Rohinton Mistry". In Nelson, Emmanuel Sampath (Ed.), ''Asian American Novelists: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook'', pp. 219–28. Greenwood Publishing Group. {{ISBN|0-313-30911-6}}.</ref>

His second book, the novel ''[[Such a Long Journey (novel)|Such a Long Journey]]'', was published in 1991. It won the [[Governor General's Award]], the [[Commonwealth Writers Prize]] for Best Book, and the [[W.H. Smith]]/[[Books in Canada First Novel Award]].<ref name=bindu/> It was [[shortlist]]ed for the [[Booker Prize]] and for the [[Trillium Award]]. It has been translated into German, [[Swedish (language)|Swedish]], [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], [[Danish language|Danish]] and Japanese. It was adapted for the 1998 film ''[[Such a Long Journey (film)|Such a Long Journey]]''. The content of the book caused controversy at [[Mumbai University]] in 2010 due to language used against [[Bal Thackeray]], leader of [[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]], a political party from [[Maharashtra]], as well as some remarks about [[Marathi people|Maharashtrians]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/the-relevant-passages/267551|title=The Relevant Passages|website=Outlook India|date=19 October 2010 |access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref> The book was prescribed for the second year Bachelor of Arts (English) in 2007–08 as an optional text, according to University sources. Later, Dr. Rajan Welukar, [[University of Mumbai]]'s Vice-Chancellor (V-C) used emergency powers in the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, to withdraw the book from the syllabus.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/19/mumbai-university-removes-mistry-book|title=Mumbai University drops Rohinton Mistry novel after extremists complain|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=2010-10-19|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-11-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

His third book, and second novel, ''[[A Fine Balance]]'' (1995), won the second annual [[Giller Prize]] in 1995, and the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' Book Prize for Fiction in 1996. It was selected for [[Oprah's Book Club]]<ref>New, William H. (2003). ''A History of Canadian Literature'', (3d ed.), p. 326. McGill-Queen's University Press. {{ISBN|0-7735-2597-1}}.</ref> in November 2001. It won the 1996 Commonwealth Writers Prize and was shortlisted for the 1996 Booker Prize.<ref>Faber and Faber paperback edition 1997</ref>

''[[Family Matters (novel)|Family Matters]]'' (2002) is a consideration of the difficulties that come with ageing, to which topic Mistry returned in 2006 with the short fiction ''The Scream'' (published as a separate volume, in support of World Literacy of Canada, with illustrations by [[Tony Urquhart]]). Mistry's literary papers are housed at the Clara Thomas Archives at [[York University]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Canadian literary papers {{!}} Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections|url=https://www.library.yorku.ca/web/archives/finding-aids/canadian-literary-papers_intro/|access-date=2021-05-19|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2002, Mistry cancelled his United States book tour for his novel ''Family Matters'' after he and his wife were targeted by security agents at every airport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Author-is-singled-out-but-not-in-a-good-way-2710661.php|title=Author is singled out, but not in a good way|website=SFGate|date=19 December 2002|access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2392847.stm|title=Author cancels US tour over 'profiling'|date=3 November 2002|newspaper=BBC|access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
*1983 – Hart House Literary Contest, "One Sunday"
*1984 – Hart House Literary Contest, "Auspicious Occasion"
*1985 – Annual Contributors' Prize, ''Canadian Fiction Magazine''
*1991 – [[Booker Prize]], shortlist, ''Such a Long Journey''
*1991 – [[Governor General's Award]], ''Such a Long Journey''
*1991 – [[Commonwealth Writers Prize]], ''Such a Long Journey''
*1991 – [[W.H. Smith]]/[[Books in Canada First Novel Award]], ''Such a Long Journey''
*1991 – [[Trillium Award]], ''Such a Long Journey''
*1995 – [[Giller Prize]], ''A Fine Balance''
*1995 – [[Los Angeles Times]] Book Prize for Fiction, ''A Fine Balance''
*1996 – [[Commonwealth Writers Prize]], ''A Fine Balance''
*1996 – [[Booker Prize]], shortlist, ''A Fine Balance''
*2002 – [[Booker Prize]], shortlist, ''Family Matters''
*2002 – [[James Tait Black Memorial Prize]], shortlist ''Family Matters''
*2004 – [[International Dublin Literary Award]], shortlist, ''Family Matters''
*2010 – Elected [[Royal Society of Literature|Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-01 |title=Mistry, Rohinton |url=https://rsliterature.org/fellows/rohinton-mistry/,%20https://rsliterature.org/fellows/rohinton-mistry/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Royal Society of Literature |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*2012 – [[Neustadt International Prize for Literature]]<ref name=parsi>[http://parsikhabar.net/books/rohinton-mistry-wins-neustadt-prize-2012/4548/ Rohinton Mistry wins Neustadt Prize 2012] – "Parsi Khabar"</ref><ref name=rohinton>[https://archive.today/20130209143120/http://www.worldliteraturetoday.com/events-news/critically-acclaimed-indian-canadian-writer-rohinton-mistry-wins-2012-neustadt%23.UMlhXDP6lu0 Critically acclaimed Indian-Canadian writer Rohinton Mistry wins 2012 Neustadt International Prize for Literature] – ''World Literature Today''</ref>
*2016 – Appointed as a [[Member of the Order of Canada]] (CM) in the [[2016 Canadian honours]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Order of Canada Appointments|url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=16283&lan=eng|website=The Governor General of Canada His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston|publisher=[[Governor General of Canada]]|access-date=31 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mr. Rohinton Mistry |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-4568 |website=[[Governor-General of Canada]]|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
* [[Brampton Arts Walk of Fame]], [[Brampton]], Ontario

==Selected works==
===Novels===
*''[[Such a Long Journey (novel)|Such a Long Journey]]'' (1991)
*''[[A Fine Balance]]'' (1995)
*''[[Family Matters (novel)|Family Matters]]'' (2002)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lessons to learn from the book Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry{{!}} Kaitholil.com |url=https://kaitholil.com/blog/Lessons-to-learn-from-the-book-Family-Matters-by-Rohinton-Mistry |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=kaitholil.com}}</ref>

===Short stories and chapbooks===
*''[[Tales from Firozsha Baag]]'' (1987), also published as ''Swimming Lessons and Other Stories from Firozsha Baag'' (1989)
*''Searching for Stevenson'' (1994)
*''The Scream'' (2006)

==See also==
* [[List of Canadian writers]]
* [[List of Indian writers]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://atom.library.yorku.ca/index.php/rohinton-mistry-fonds Rohinton Mistry archives] held at the [[Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections]], [[York University Libraries]], [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]].
* [https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/rohinton-mistry/?p=auth73 Rohinton Mistry] biographical and critical information by James Proctor

{{Commonwealth Writers' Prize: Best Book Winners}}
{{Amazon.ca First Novel Award}}
{{Giller Prize}}
{{Engel/Findley Award}}
{{Neustadt International Prize for Literature}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|India|Canada|Literature}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mistry, Rohinton}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Canadian writers of Asian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian male novelists]]
[[Category:Governor General's Award–winning fiction writers]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:English-language Indian writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:Parsi people from Mumbai]]
[[Category:People from Brampton]]
[[Category:University of Toronto alumni]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:Parsi writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Writers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Novelists from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian male writers]]
[[Category:Gujarati writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Parsi descent]]
[[Category:Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature]]