Savita Singh

Celebrating the Voice of a Visionary Poet and Creative Theorist.

Prof. Savita Singh - Profile

Prof. Savita Singh, a distinguished feminist poet, political theorist, and academician, bridges the fields of political theory, creative writing, and feminist philosophy. She earned her MA and MPhil from Delhi University and completed her PhD at McGill University with a dissertation titled “Discourse of Modernity in India: A Hermeneutical Study,” later submitted to Delhi University.

At McGill University, she taught courses in political theory offered by Prof. Charles Taylor, James Tully, and Sam Noumoff. She later taught political theory at Delhi University as an associate professor before joining the School of Gender and Development Studies at IGNOU as its first director and professor, where she Coordinates MA and PhD programs in Gender and Development Studies, also a certificate Program in Gender and Science.

Literary Contributions

Prof. Savita Singh is an illustrious bilingual poet, crafting profound verses in both Hindi and English, with her oeuvre translated into an array of languages, including French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Catalonian, Bangla, Odia, Marathi, and Maithili. Her acclaimed poetry collections encompass:

Apne Jaisa Jeevan (A Life Like Its Own, Rajkamal Prakashan, 2001, 2023)
Neend Thi Aur Raat Thi (There Was Sleep, There Was Night, Radhakrishna Prakashan, 2005)
Swapna Samay (Dream Time, Radhakrishna Prakashan, 2013)
Khoyi Cheezon Ka Shoke (Requiem of Lost Things, Radhakrishna Prakashan, 2020, 2023)
Vasana Ek Nadi Ka Nam Hai (Desire is the Name of a River, Vani Prakashan, 2024)
Prem Bhi Ek Yatana Hai (Love is Also Grief, Radhakrishna Prakashan, 2024).

Her representative collection, Nayi Sadi Ke Liye Pachas Kavitayen (Fifty Poems for a New Century, Published by Vani Prakashan, 2012), showcases fifty of her most evocative works. She co-authored Rowing Together (Saath Chalte Hue, Published by Rajkamal Prakashan, 2011) alongside poet Sukrita and co-edited Seven Leaves One Autumn (Rajkamal Prakashan, 2011 ), a global collection of women’s poetry.

Her works are immortalized in esteemed anthologies such as:

Felsinschriften: Zeitgenossische Hindi,-Lyrik, Modern indische Literature, Band 7 edited by Monika Hortsmann und Vishnu Khare (Draupadi, Heidelberg, 2007).

Sangini, A collection of selected women poets writing in Hindi translated in Marathi by Chandrakant Patil (Manivikas publication, Pune, 2012)

As part of the project of Poets Translating Poets, Goethe Institute, Delhi and Mumbai, she translated two German poets, and they translated hers. The translations appeared in two volumes of poetry edited by Herausgegeben Von Martin Walde (Draupadi in collaboration with UNESCO, Hidelberg, 2016).

Singing in the Dark: A Global Anthology of Poetry Under Lockdown (Penguin, 2020), The Best Asian Poetry 2021 (Kitab International, Singapore, 2022), The Book of Bihari Literature (HarperCollins, 2022), The Yearbook of Indian Poetry in English (Hawakal Publishers, 2021, 2022), Rivers Going Home (Indian Novel Collective and Red River, 2022);

Scent of Rain: Remembering Jayant Mahapatra (Red River and Indian Novels Collective, 2024).

A selection of her poems translated into the French, Je Suis la Maison des Étoiles (I Am the House of Stars, Dastaan,Delhi, 2008), was republished by Editions Phloème, Paris, in 2022, with contributions from Medha Singh ( poems) and Divya Singh ( Painting).
In Hindi, she has been part of several notable anthologies of poems, including:

Adhunik Kavita Sanchayan 1950-2010 (Sahitya Akademi, 2016)
Kavita Sadi: Aadhunik Hindi Kavita Ka Pratinidhi Sanchayan (Rajpal & Sons, 2018)
Biswin Sadi ka Hindi Sahitya Vol.2 (Sahitya Akademy, 2025)

She also has two Odia translations, Jeur Rasta Mora Nijara (Timepass Publication, 2014) and Prem Be Eka Jantrana (Ethina Publications, 2022), a Bangla translation Hariye Jawa Jiniser Shoke (Khoyi Cheezon Ka Shoke, 2024) and a Marathi translation of the same book, Harvalela Vastuncha Shoke (Copper Coin Publication, Delhi, 2024)

Awards and Recognitions

Prof. Singh has received several accolades, including:

Kriti Samman Award (2001)
Raza Foundation Award (2006)
Hindi Academy Award (2017)
Mahadevi Varma Award (2017)
Eunice de Souza Award (2023)
Kedar Samman (2023).

Contributions to Political Theory

In political theory and philosophy, Prof. Singh’s notable works include:

Among her latest publications in feminist political theory, she contributed to The Routledge Companion to Indian Ethics: Woman, Justice, Bioethics and Ecology edited by Purushottam Bilimoria and Amy Rayner (Routledge, 2024)
Reality and Its Depths: A Conversation with Savita Singh and Roy Bhaskar, edited by Marvyn Hartwig (Springer, 2020)
Three Languages of the Discourse of Modernity in India, in Exploring Indian Modernities: Ideas and Practices, edited by Leila Choukroune and Parul Bhandari (Springer, 2018)
Walking on Dew: A Feminist Reading of Krishna Sobti’s Listen Girl!, in Krishna Sobti: A Counter Archive, edited by Sukrita Paul Kumar and Rekha Sethi (Routledge, 2022).
In the Genre of an Intellectual Memoir: Randhir Singh as a Marxist Theorist and a Revolutionary Teacher, in Politics : Essays: A Tribute to Randhir Singh, edited by Dhananjay Rai (Aakar Prakashan, Delhi, 2018)

She was awarded a postdoctoral Research fellowship by the Fondation Maison des Sciences, Paris, in 2016 to study Krishna Sobti’s novels Mitro Marjani and Eai Ladki (Listen Girl!). During her stay, she published papers in Hindi and English, creating a critical space for women’s writings.

Academic and Leadership Roles

Prof. Singh has served on various academic bodies of universities and government institutions and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Herbert Marcuse Society (USA). She is also the president of the Association of Creative Theory, Delhi.

Born in 1962

Savita Singh embarked on a journey that combines intellectual pursuit and creative excellence. She has been coordinating the annual Creative Theory Colloquium with Manindra Nath Thakur.

Education

After completing her Master’s and M.Phil from the University of Delhi She went to McGill University for PhD where she taught Political Theory courses as Research Assistant.

Litrary Career

Her literary career began during her studies in Montreal and London, where she published English poetry in prestigious journals like Critical Quarterly, Montreal Serai, and later in California Quarterly.

Fellowships and Awards

She was awarded an Erudite Scholar fellowship for the Residency Programme at the Women's Studies Centre, Cochin University of Science and Technology in 2022. The Kerala State Higher Education Council funded this Residency.

Translated Languages

Her work transcends boundaries, having been translated into multiple languages, such as French, German, Spanish, Dutch, and Catalonian.

Translations and Editorial

French collection was published by Editions Phloeme, Paris.
She has co-edited a representative collection of contemporary Women’s poetry in Hindi, Pratirodh Ka Stree Swar: Samkaleen Hindi Kavita in 2022. The bilingual collection ( English and Hindi) with Sukrita, Rowing Together
Her poems have been translated into Indian languages such as Bangla, Marathi, Odia, Maithili and many others.
She is co-editor of a volume of anglophone poetry by women across seven continents. Seven Leaves, One Autumn.

Book Collections Of Savita Singh

Her poems have been featured in numerous prestigious anthologies such as Singing in the Dark: A Global Anthology of Poetry Under Lockdown (Penguin,2020), The Best Asian Poetry 2021 (Kitab International, Singapore, 2022), and Scent of Rain: Remembering Jayant Mahapatra (Red River, 2024). She has also contributed translations to Poets Translating Poets (Goethe Institute) and has participated in various anthologies of Hindi poetry, including Adhunik Kavita Sanchayan 1950-2010 (Sahitya Akademi, 2016) and Kavita Sadi: Aadhunik Hindi Kavita Ka Pratinidhi Sanchayan (Rajpal & Sons, 2018).

Experience the Power of Poetry in Her Own Voice

Savita Singh’s poetry comes alive on her official YouTube channel, where her profound verses are delivered with the depth and emotion only she can bring. Through her readings, she invites you to explore the essence of her poetic journey, offering a window into her thoughts, feelings, and creative process.

On her channel,you’ll find:

Poetry Readings

Savita’s timeless works are narrated by her, adding a personal touch to every verse.

Insights into Her Creative World

Hear her thoughts on life, literature, and the inspirations behind her poetry.

Celebration of Language and Emotion

Xperience the magic of her words as they transcend boundaries and touch the soul.

Reviews

Here are some heartfelt words from those who have been touched by Savita Singh’s profound poetry and literary work:

Prachi

"Savita Singh’s poetry is a journey into the depths of the human soul. Her words resonate long after you’ve read them, leaving a profound impact."

Ansh

"Her ability to blend intellectual thought with raw emotion is unmatched. Every poem feels like a personal conversation with the poet herself."

khushi

"Savita Singh’s work is a treasure for the literary world. Her feminist voice is both powerful and inspiring, and her words transcend boundaries of language and culture."

Rahul

"Savita Singh’s poetry is timeless. It speaks to the heart, the mind, and the soul, making her one of the greatest poets of our time."

Aarti

"Watching her poetry readings on YouTube was a transformative experience. Hearing her voice adds a new dimension to her already impactful words."

Get In Touch With Her

We would love to hear from you! Whether you have questions about Savita Singh’s works, want to know more about her poetry collections, or wish to collaborate on literary or academic projects, feel free to reach out.