Neelakshi Singh (born 17 March 1978) is an Indian Novelist and short-story writer in Hindi language. She won Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee Young Writers Award, Kalinga Book of the year award 2021 & Valley of Words Award 2022.
Career
Neelakshi Singh was born at Hajipur in Bihar on 17 March 1978. She graduated from Benaras Hindu University in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Since 2002, she is an employee with the State Bank of India.
Singh’s short story collections “Parinde ka Intezaar saa Kuchh” and “Jinki Muthhiyon me Surakh Thaa” have been praised by literary critics. The title story of her Parinde collection stands as a classic story in contemporary Indian literature. Her novel “Khela” won KLF book of the year award 2021, Prof O.P. Malviya & Bharti Devi Samman 2021 and Valley of Words Award 2022. Her non-fiction title- “Hukum Desh ka Ikka Khota” won the first Setu Pandulipi Samman 2022. Her latest book “Baraf Mahal” is Hindi translation of classic Novel “The Ice Palace (Nynorsk: Is-slottet)” by the legendry Norwegian author Tarjei Vesaas (first published in 1963)
She was the main protagonist of the documentary film “Through the Eyes of Words” directed by Shweta Merchant, produced by NHK, Japan.
Publications
Story Collection
- Parinde ka Intzaar Sa Kuchh. New Delhi: Bhartiya Jnanpith. 2005. ISBN 81-263-1113-4.
- Parinde ka Intzaar Sa Kuchh. New Delhi: Setu Prakashan Pvt Ltd. 2022. ISBN 978-93-95160-06-3.
- Jinki Mutthiyon Mein Surakh Tha. New Delhi: Bhartiya Jnanpith. 2012. ISBN 978-93-263-5004-4.
- Jinki Mutthiyon Mein Surakh Tha. New Delhi: Setu Prakashan Pvt Ltd. 2022. ISBN 978-93-93758-08-8.
- Jise Jahan Nahin Hona Tha. Allahabad: Sahitya Bhandar. 2014. ISBN 978-81-7779-313-0.
- Ibtida Ke Aage Khali Hi. Panchkula: Aadhar Prakashan Pvt Ltd. 2016. ISBN 978-81-7675-553-5.
Novel
- Shuddhipatra. New Delhi: Bhartiya Jnanpith. 2008. ISBN 978-81-263-1632-8.
- Shuddhipatra. New Delhi: Setu Prakashan Pvt Ltd. 2022. ISBN 978-93-93758-22-4.
Her first novel ‘Shuddhipatra’ considered to be ahead of its time, is a sweeping, captivating read that weaves through lines between three generations.
- Khela. New Delhi: Setu Prakashan Pvt Ltd. 2021. ISBN 978-93-89830-57-6.
Her latest novel ‘Khela is literary fiction that brings some unconventional themes to the reader like structures of power, politics of oil, international conflicts, religion and above all shades of resistance of an ordinary individual This is a book about a quest, and a miracle that grows out of it. A lyrical composition that endure the test of time.
Non-Fiction
- Hukum Desh Ka Ikka Khota. New Delhi: Setu Prakashan Pvt Ltd. 2023. ISBN 978-93-95160-89-6.– This book has traces of autobiography and memoir along with shades of special kind of novelistic aspect. This non- fiction title transcends the conventionally recognized boundaries of genre.
Translation by Singh
- Baraf Mahal. New Delhi: Setu Prakashan Pvt Ltd. 2024. ISBN 978-81-19899-26-5.-Singh has translated The Ice Palace (novel) by the legendry Norwegian author Tarjei Vesaas into Hindi.
Awards
- 2022 – Valley of Words Award 2022- Khela Novel
- 2022 – Setu Pandulipi Samman
- 2021 – Kalinga Book of the Year Award 2021- Khela Novel
- 2021 – Prof O.P. Malviya and Bharti Devi Samman 2021- Khela Novel
- 2005 – Bhartiya Bhasha Parishad Yuva Puraskar
- 2004 – Katha Award
- 2004 – Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee Young Writers Award
- 2002 – Ramakant Smriti Puraskar
Translations
She is read in many Indian languages, and translations of her fictions featured in English and German collections