Tete-a-tete with Dr. Nandini Sahu — Erudite Folklorist, Best-selling Writer & Academician

Prof Nandini Sahu

Prof. Nandini Sahu, Vice Chancellor of Hindi University, West Bengal, emerges as a formidable voice in contemporary Indian English literature. In this engaging conversation with award-winning writer Ramendra Kumar, she discusses her journey from a childhood steeped in Odishan culture to becoming an accomplished academic and creative writer. A triple gold medalist and recipient of prestigious awards, Prof. Sahu shares insights about her bestselling works, including Sita and Shedding the Metaphors, while reflecting on her inspirations and vision for the future.

Ramendra Kumar, award winning writer, performance storyteller and inspirational speaker with more than 50 books to his name, talks to Prof. Nandini Sahu about the many coloured hats she dons, with aplomb.

Ramendra Kumar: What were your growing-up years like?

Nandini Sahu: My childhood was deeply rooted in the cultural ethos of Odisha. I grew up in a household where literature, folklore and tradition thrived. My parents instilled in me the values of knowledge and perseverance. The vibrant oral traditions, mythological stories and indigenous tales that surrounded me left an indelible mark on my consciousness. My growing-up years were a blend of academic rigor, cultural immersion and an insatiable curiosity for storytelling. The experiences of those formative years have deeply influenced my writing and research in folklore and creative literature.

Ramendra Kumar: How did you begin your amazing journey into the field of creativity?

Nandini Sahu: Creativity has always been an intrinsic part of me. From my early years, I was drawn to the lyrical beauty of words. Poetry, storytelling and folklore fascinated me, and I found solace in capturing my thoughts in the black and white. The transition from an ardent reader to a writer was seamless. Literature became my way of navigating the world, articulating emotions and challenging established narratives. My academic pursuits further refined my creative expression, allowing me to blend folklore, mythology and contemporary concerns into my creative as well as work. Creativity is not something you begin; it is something you are born into. It rises like the first dawn in your consciousness, demanding to be seen, to be felt, to be written.

For me, it began when words became my refuge and my rebellion. I wrote because silence was unbearable, because the world needed to be retold through the eyes of those often unheard. My journey into creativity was not a choice—it was an inevitable explosion of thought, rhythm and raw emotion. My most recent book, Hindu Studies: Foundations and Frameworks involves a multidisciplinary approach, amalgamating academic disciplines like theology, philosophy, history, sociology, anthropology, literature and art history to study the diverse traditions, texts, practices and beliefs in Hinduism.

The universe has been kind to me, my work has been taken seriously by academia. Eminent scholars have been doing research on my books and writing books on my writings. Please allow me to mention two such books here, published in 2024—Dialogues with Nandini Sahu by Prof. Tapan Basu and The Creative World of Nandini Sahu edited by Dr. Vipan Kumar where some of the best brains of the country have contributed research papers on my writings. Also, I am elated to share with you that apart from designing the country’s first MA programme in Folklore and Culture Studies (with near-about 20000 printed pages, open access), I have also designed a BA course on Indian Knowledge Systems, which will be open access material by the end of this month.

Dialogues with Nandini Sahu

Ramendra Kumar:  Please take us through your professional career – the different milestones.

Nandini Sahu: My professional journey has been an amalgamation of academia, teaching, research, creative writing, administration and leadership. I started as an educator, delving into the study of literature, folklore and mythology.

Over the years, my research and literary contributions earned recognition. Becoming a Professor of English and a folklorist was a defining milestone. My books, including poetry collections, critical anthologies and creative fiction as well as non-fiction, have been well-received by scholars and readers alike.

The critical turning point of my academic and literary pursuits led me to my current role as the Vice Chancellor of Hindi University, West Bengal, where I am committed to fostering interdisciplinary scholarship, language studies and literary excellence.

My milestones are marked not by accolades but by the lives I have touched—the students I have mentored, the readers who have found themselves in my words, and the research that has given voice to forgotten legacies. With every book, every lecture, every challenge, a milestone has been etched in my journey.

Ramendra Kumar: You have written and edited several books which have topped the bestseller charts as well as won huge critical acclaim. One such book is Sita. I am sure our readers would love to know more about this masterpiece.

Nandini Sahu: Sita is an exploration of the unheard voices in mythology. The epic Ramayana is often retold from a male-centric perspective, but I sought to reimagine Sita’s narrative. My book is an attempt to deconstruct and reconstruct her journey, presenting her as an empowered individual rather than a mere archetype of sacrifice and patience. Through lyrical poetry and evocative storytelling, I have tried to give her agency, allowing readers to perceive Sita beyond the traditional confines of mythology.

The book resonated deeply with readers and critics alike because it challenges stereotypes while staying rooted in the cultural fabric of our heritage. Sita is not just a book; it is an act of reclamation and recuperation. I took Sita’s name and gave it wings, freeing her from the margins where history tried to confine her. I lived Sita’s life while I wrote the long narrative poem in a trance, a spell.

She never is the silent follower of Lord Ram; she is fire, she is wisdom, she is the unshackled voice of every woman who has been muzzled, fabricated, distorted, misrepresented. This book is my letter to ‘Sitaness’ in every Sita who refused to disappear in the footnotes of history. It is not a retelling; it is a resurrection.

Sita (A Poem)

Ramendra Kumar: Shedding the Metaphors is yet another gem from your literary repertoire. Can you share a bit about this book?

Nandini Sahu: Shedding the Metaphors, a collection of my stories, is a deeply personal and introspective collection that dismantles the layers of linguistic ornamentation often associated with poetry.

The book is a raw and honest expression of human emotions, struggles and resilience. It explores themes of identity, existential angst, gender and societal paradigms. My intention was to strip literary narratives down to the essence—without unnecessary embellishments—making literature accessible yet profound. It was my way of questioning conventional literary and fictional expressions and embracing a more organic, heartfelt mode of storytelling.

Shedding the Metaphors is the book where I peeled off layers of construction, where I let words breathe in their most naked form. It is literature without adornment, emotions without filters, truth without disguise. In this collection, I refused to hide behind embellishments—I let words bleed, I let them speak, I let them defy the boundaries of structure and expectation.

This book is my rawest offering to the world. The stories cover themes like human character, nature, senior citizens, love and intimate relationships, incest, gender, girl child, political satires, LGBTQ, religion and much more.

There are more than 45 research articles by eminent scholars on this particular collection within just one year of its publication. I feel so welcome in the world of fiction! Though I have been a celebrated poet, I always enjoyed writing fiction—and the critical acclaim of Shedding the Metaphors encourages me to write more fiction (of course, poetry is my first love!).

Shedding the Metaphors

Ramendra Kumar: Who have been your inspirations in your creative pursuits?

Nandini Sahu: Inspiration, for me, has always been multifaceted. My father had always been my inspiration; he wanted me to be a poet and a professor. The literary giants like Rabindranath Tagore, Prem Chand, Fakir Mohan Senapati, Virginia Woolf, Pablo Neruda, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Khaleel Gibran, Haruki Murakami, Ghalib, Jayanta Mahapatra, Manoj Das, Ashapurna Devi, Mahasweta Devi, and many more, have profoundly influenced my worldview.

However, my greatest inspiration comes from the everyday lives of women, the folk narratives I have studied, and the stories of resilience that exist in marginalized communities. Folklore, with its raw and unfiltered storytelling, has been my greatest muse. Additionally, my students and readers also inspire me; their interpretations and perspectives challenge me to constantly evolve as a writer.

Ramendra Kumar: You have had a tough life, faced many challenges, and conquered several peaks of excellence. What keeps you going?

Nandini Sahu: I consider challenges as opportunities. Resilience and an unshakable belief in my purpose have been my driving forces. Challenges, whether personal or professional, have only strengthened my resolve. Literature has been my sanctuary, offering both refuge and rebellion. The responsibility of amplifying unheard voices, challenging oppressive narratives, and contributing to knowledge systems keep me motivated.

As a Vice Chancellor, I see education as an instrument of transformation, and this realization fuels my commitment to academia and literature every single day. Fire keeps burning because it must. My struggles have been my forge, shaping me into the steel that refuses to bend. The words of a writer are their footprints on time, and I refuse to walk silently. I keep going because every challenge is another story waiting to be told, another truth waiting to be unveiled.

Literature, academia and leadership are not just roles for me—they are responsibilities, and I carry them with unwavering resolve. I am a lover, elementally so. My love for life and humanity never allowed me to create negativity around my character, though I have had a ‘tough life’, as you rightly point out!

Ramendra Kumar: You have accomplished so much at such a young age. Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

Nandini Sahu: The pursuit of knowledge and creativity is a continuous journey. Ten years from now, I see myself further enriching the literary and academic landscape—mentoring young minds, fostering a robust research environment, and continuing my creative pursuits. I hope to see my work making a tangible impact on education, literature and gender discourse.

I also envision greater global collaborations in folklore studies, bringing indigenous narratives to the forefront of academic discourse. Time is a river, and I am both its voyager and its versifier. Ten years from now, I see myself still creating, still breaking barriers, still amplifying voices that deserve to be heard. I want to build bridges between academia and creativity, between past and future, between tradition and its upheaval.

I see a future where literature breathes more freely, where forgotten folktales written, documented are transferred to progeny, and where young minds are fearless in their mien.

Ramendra Kumar: What is your advice to young writers?

Nandini Sahu: Advice—none. Requests to the upcoming bright youth are way too many.  Write with honesty and conviction. Do not succumb to trends or external validations. Read extensively, travel, and observe life keenly.

Literature is not just about storytelling; it is about giving voices and creating signatures. Be fearless in your expression, challenge conventions, and stay true to your artistic genres. Most importantly, never stop learning; growth is the essence of creativity. Write with the ferocity of a storm and the tenderness of a lullaby. Write because the world needs your truth, your vision, your defiance.

Read everything possible, everything available. Observe life as if you are the universe’s sole witness. Do not chase applause—chase authenticity. Words are the most powerful weapons; wield them with wisdom, with courage, with an unrelenting spirit. And most importantly—never stop writing, because the world will always need storytellers who dare.

The Creative World of Nandini Sahu

 About Prof. Nandini Sahu

Prof. Nandini Sahu, Vice Chancellor, Hindi University, West Bengal, the Amazon Bestselling Author, is a major voice in contemporary Indian English literature. She has accomplished her doctorate in English literature under the guidance of the Late Prof. Niranjan Mohanty, Prof. of English, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan. She has been widely published in India, the U.S.A, the U.K., Africa, Italy, Australia, and Pakistan.  Apart from numerous other literary awards, she is a triple gold medalist in English literature; she received the gold medal from the Hon’ble Vice President of India for her contributions to English studies in India in 2019. She received the prestigious Michael Madhusudan Academy Award, 2024 and Lifetime Achievement Award (SAFE), 2024. She is the author and editor of twenty-one books: The Other Voice, Recollection as Redemption, The Post-Modernist Delegation to English Language Teaching, The Post Colonial Space: Writing the Self and the Nation, Silver Poems on My Lips, Folklore and the Alternative Modernities (Vol. I), Folklore and the Alternative Modernities (Vol. II), Sukamaa and Other Poems, Suvarnarekha, Sita(A Poem), Dynamics of Children’s Literature, Zero Point and Selected Poems of Nandini Sahu (Winter-2020), Selected Poems of Nandini Sahu(Spring-2021), Re-reading Jayanta Mahapatra, A Song, Half & Half, Shedding the Metaphors, Collected Poems of Nandini Sahu, Collected Poems of Niranjan Mohanty and Hindu Studies: Foundations and Frameworks. She is the Former Director, School of Foreign Languages, Professor of English at Indira Gandhi National Open University [IGNOU], New Delhi, India, is currently the Vice Chancellor, Hindi University, West Bengal. Her areas of research interest cover Indian Literature, New Literature, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Hindu Studies, American Literature, Folk Literature, Children’s Literature, and Critical Theory. She is the Chief Editor/Founder of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Literature and Language (IJLL), a bi-annual peer-reviewed journal in English. Professor Sahu has designed multiple academic programs on Folklore and Culture Studies, American Literature, Postcolonial Literature, British Poetry, Children’s Literature, and Indian Philosophical Thoughts for IGNOU and many other universities.

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About the Author

Ramendra Kumar ( 120 Posts)

Ramendra Kumar (Ramen) is an award-winning writer, performance storyteller and inspirational speaker with 49 books. His writings have been translated into 32 languages and included in 26 textbooks and many anthologies in various countries. Ramen has written across all genres ranging from picture books to adult fiction, satire, poetry, travelogues, biographies and on issues related to parenting and relationships. His writings have been published by the major publishing houses in India. His books brought out by National Book Trust (NBT), India have notched up sales of more than 4.9 lakh copies in just one year. Ramen has been invited to several international literary festivals as well as Indian events such as Jaipur Litfest and seminars organised by Sahitya Akademi and IGNOU. The author has won a total of 41 awards in the competition for writers of children’s literature organised by Children’s Book Trust (CBT) over the years, which is among the highest by any writer. Ramen was chosen as the ‘Author and Storyteller of the Year’ (2022), on ‘Talking Stories’, London, UK’s number one Radio Programme dedicated to the art of storytelling. He was nominated as a Jury Member for the Best Children’s Author Category of The Times of India’s ‘Women AutHer’ Awards, 2020. Ramen was also selected as a mentor for the Scholastic Writers Academy. An alumnus of the prestigious Hyderabad Public School (HPS), Ramen is an Engineer & an MBA. He and his inspiration, his wife Madhavi, were General Managers at SAIL, when they took Voluntary Retirement to pursue their respective passions. Their children are bonsai celebrities in their own right. While Ankita is a youth icon and a travel blogger with an Instagram following of 296 K, Aniket creates cool Apps and designs covers for his dad’s books. Ramen is now a Cancer warrior and an inspiration to many. His website is www.ramendra.in and he has a page devoted to him on Wikipedia.
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