{{Short description|Indian poet and author (born 1969)}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox writer | name = Neelam Saxena Chandra | image =Neelam Chandra Saxena.jpg | imagesize = 200px | caption = Neelam Saxena | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1969|06|27}} | birth_place = Nagpur, Maharashtra, India | occupation = Writer, author, bureaucrat | language = English, Hindi | nationality = Indian | alma_mater = Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology <br>Hislop College | genre = Poetry, fiction | notableworks = | spouse = Prafulla Chandra | children = Simran Chandra | awards = <br>Radio City Freedom Awards | website = {{URL|neelamsaxenachandra.com}} | portaldisp = }}
'''Neelam Saxena Chandra''' (born 27 June 1969) is an Indian poet and author.<ref name="dailybhaskar"/><ref>{{cite news|title=रोजमर्रा की घटनाओ ने लिखवाई कविताएँ: नीलम|url=http://epaper.navodayatimes.in/1187605/The-Navodaya-Times-Main/Navodaya-Times-Main#page/9/2|publisher=Navodaya Times|date=April 27, 2017|location=New Delhii|language=Hindi|archive-date=26 December 2018|access-date=2 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226111732/http://epaper.navodayatimes.in/1187605/The-Navodaya-Times-Main/Navodaya-Times-Main#page/9/2|url-status=dead}}</ref> She has written novels, short stories, children's stories, and poetry in English and Hindi.
==Biography== Chandra has authored four novels, a novella, five collections of short stories, 25 collections of poetry, and 10 books for children. She has received several awards including the ''"Rabindranath Tagore International Award"'' in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xpresspublications.com/3rd-rabindranath-tagore-award---2014 |title=3rd Rabindranath Tagore Award – 2014 |publisher=Xpress Publications |date= |access-date=April 8, 2014 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215712/http://www.xpresspublications.com/3rd-rabindranath-tagore-award---2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Rainbow Hues (2014): A wonderful mingling of creativity and scholarship with a social message|url=http://www.merinews.com/article/the-rainbow-hues-2014-a-wonderful-mingling-of-creativity-and-scholarship-with-a-social-message/15910683.shtml|newspaper=Merinews|date=25 October 2015|access-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119214729/http://www.merinews.com/article/the-rainbow-hues-2014-a-wonderful-mingling-of-creativity-and-scholarship-with-a-social-message/15910683.shtml|archive-date=19 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spectralhues.com/books/author-interview/2013/12/exclusive-interview-neelamsaxena-chandra/ |title=Exclusive Interview with Neelam Saxena Chandra|publisher=Spectral Hues |date=25 December 2013 }}</ref><ref name="forbesindia.com">[http://forbesindia.com/article/special/forbes-india-celebrity-100-nominees-list-for-2014/39097/1 Forbes India Celebrity 100 Nominees List for 2014], Forbes India, 12 December 2014</ref> given by Xpress Publications. She was awarded a prize in a poetry contest organized by the Consulate General of the United States, Mumbai, on the topic ''Poetry for Social Change''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/pnedisability2010.html |title=2010 Programs and Events | Consulate General of the United States Mumbai, India |publisher=Mumbai.usconsulate.gov |date= |access-date=2014-04-08 |archive-date=7 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407090110/http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/pnedisability2010.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The song ''Mere Sajan Sun Sun'', for which she was the lyricist<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auRmXTmVwrY |title="Mere Saajan Sun Sun" – Shankar Tucker ft. Shweta Subram |publisher=YouTube |date= 5 March 2012|access-date=2014-04-08}}</ref> won a 'Popular Choice Award' in the Folk Fusion category at the Radio City Freedom Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.planetradiocity.com/rcfa/winners.php |title=Radio City Freedom Awards |publisher=Planetradiocity.com |date=30 May 2013 |access-date=2014-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013735/http://www.planetradiocity.com/rcfa/winners.php |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref name="urbanasian.com">{{cite news|url=https://urbanasian.com/whats-happenin/2012/03/exclusive-interview-with-lyricist-neelam-chandra/|title=*Exclusive* Interview with Lyricist, Neelam Chandra |date=9 March 2012 }}</ref><ref name="dailybhaskar">{{cite news|title=इस लेडी ऑफिसर की कलम बनी पैशन, दुनिया में हुई फेमस, जीते कई अवॉर्ड|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/UP-LUCK-story-of-author-neelam-saxena-chandra-5259703-PHO.html|access-date=27 February 2016|publisher=Daily Bhaskar|location=Lucknow}}</ref> She was shortlisted for the IPR Annual Award 2020.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.indianpoetryreview.com/annual-poetry-award-results-2020 | title=IPR Award 2020 }}</ref>
She is an IES Officer (1992 batch), and has also served as Joint Secretary of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).<ref>{{cite news|title=Latest appointments & DoPT orders (Sept 15, 2015)|url=http://www.indianmandarins.com/latest-appointments-dopt-orders-sept-15-2015-updated-1030-pm/|publisher=Indianmandarins|date=September 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Deputation of IRSEE Officers to Union Public Service Commission|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/irpersonel/Deputation_Orders/DO_E(O)II_170915.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Railways (India)|access-date=29 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Neelam Saxena Chandra at LBF|url=http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/en/2017-Exhibitors/Company-Content/?coId=233733|publisher=London Book Fair|access-date=29 April 2017}}</ref> She served as Executive Director of Pune Metro<ref>{{cite news|title=Deputation of IRSEE officers to Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/irpersonel/Deputation_Orders/2017/DO_E(O)II_280917.pdf|agency=Government of India|publisher=Ministry of Railways|date=September 28, 2017}}</ref> and now serves as Assistant Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM) of Pune Division.
== Awards and recognition == *2014: Rabindranath Tagore International Poetry Award from Xpress Publications: Kerala, India.<ref name="dailybhaskar"/> *Lyricist of ''Mere Sajan Sun Sun'' which won a 'Popular Choice' award at the Radio City Freedom Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merrybrains.com/author-interview-neelam-saxena-chandra/ |title=The latest whole novel was completed in two months straight: Interview with Neelam Saxena Chandra |publisher=Merry Brains |date=12 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119210824/http://www.merrybrains.com/author-interview-neelam-saxena-chandra/ |archive-date=19 November 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *2014: Featured in Forbes India Celebrity 100 Nominees long list 2014.<ref name="forbesindia.com"/><ref name="dailybhaskar"/> * 2018: Humanity International Women Achievers Awards by Aditya Birla Hospital.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pune women achievers celebrated |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/pune-women-achievers-celebrated/story-RWPa2hux3b9eedJuv6XfDL.html |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=March 13, 2018}}</ref> * 2018: Soninder Samman for contribution in Hindi Literature.<ref>{{cite news |title=लेखकांनी आत्मचिंतन करावे |url=https://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/maharashtra/pune-news/the-authors-have-to-make-self-reliance/articleshow/64046226.cms |publisher=Maharashtra Times |date=May 6, 2018 |language=Marathi |archive-date=28 November 2018 |access-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128080729/https://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/maharashtra/pune-news/the-authors-have-to-make-self-reliance/articleshow/64046226.cms |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==See also== {{Commons category}} {{portal|Biography|Poetry|Children's literature}} * List of Indian writers * List of Indian poets * List of Hindi-language authors * List of Indian women writers * List of children's literature writers
{{-}} ==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160111171555/http://neelamsaxenachandra.in/ Official website] * [http://www.millenniumpost.in/my-daughter-gave-birth-to-the-story-teller-in-me-178202?NID=351425 ‘My daughter gave birth to the story-teller in me’] on ''Millennium Post'' * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_0IE1uxYA0 Neelam Saxena Chandra's Interview] on ''DD National''
{{authority control}} {{Portal bar|Biography|India|Literature}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandra, Neelam Saxena}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Writers from Nagpur Category:English-language Indian poets Category:Indian women children's writers Category:Indian children's writers Category:Novelists from Maharashtra Category:Indian women short story writers Category:20th-century Indian short story writers Category:20th-century Indian novelists Category:20th-century Indian poets Category:Women writers from Maharashtra Category:Poets from Maharashtra Category:20th-century Indian women poets Category:20th-century Indian women novelists