Mena Kasmiri Abdullah
Mena Kasmiri Abdullah | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1930 Bundarra, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Author, poet |
| Years active | 1950s– |
| Known for | Narratives on Indian immigrant families in Australia |
Mena Kasmiri Abdullah (born 1930) is an Australian author and poet whose works have appeared extensively in publications such as The Bulletin, Quadrant, Coast to Coast, along with various Australian anthologies. She is particularly recognized for her narratives focusing on Indian immigrant families and the complexities they face while adapting to new cultural environments.
Life
Abdullah was born in 1930 in Bundarra, New South Wales, to parents who had immigrated from India. Her upbringing took place on her family’s sheep station located in northern New South Wales. She completed her education at Sydney Girls High School and subsequently served as an accountant at the CSIRO for four decades. In 1953, her portrait painted by Fred Martin was shortlisted as a finalist in the Archibald Prize competition.
Writing career
Drawing inspiration from Australian bush ballads, Abdullah began crafting poetry that was published in The Bulletin during the 1950s. Her literary efforts sought to enhance awareness of the Indian immigrant experience within Australia, making her one of the pioneering voices to represent this viewpoint. While working at CSIRO, she connected with Ray Mathew, who motivated her to submit stories to The Bulletin. Collaboratively, they released a collection titled The Time of the Peacock (1965), which sensitively explores Indian family life in rural Australia, capturing themes of displacement and happiness through poetic storytelling.
Short story collections
- The Time of the Peacock (1965), co-authored with Ray Mathew
Poetry
- The Red Koran (1955)
- The Red Wattle (1959)
- Chuppaty Chap (1955)
- The Prison (1956)