“Every time I write in Hindi, I feel I am sitting back in Mathura, among my people, my culture, my roots.”
India, a land of sons and daughters, has always been a beacon of pride, whose fragrance has transcended borders and brought glory to the nation in distant lands. In our “Calling India” column, we celebrate individuals whose roots remain in India, yet whose influence and contributions have spread far beyond. Among them is Dr. Shailja Saxena, a remarkable name whose legacy continues to inspire.
Roots and Education
Dr. Saxena, born in Mathura and now residing in Toronto, Canada, has significantly promoted India’s literary and cultural heritage internationally. She completed her M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Hindi at the University of Delhi and later earned a diploma in Human Resource Management from McMaster University. Her academic career started at Janaki Devi College, University of Delhi, from 1989 to 1998, where she also taught at Jesus and Mary College. Dr. Saxena is dedicated to promoting Hindi, distributing quality Hindi books, and teaching Hindi classes, including at the Arya Samaj Temple in Houston, Texas.
Global Literary Engagement
Dr. Saxena’s commitment to language and literature is evident from her active participation in international conferences. She presented papers at the International Hindi Conferences held in New York and New Jersey in 2014 and 2015, where her research and reflections on Hindi literature in Canada received wide appreciation. In Canada, she became one of the founding members and directors of the Hindi Writers’ Guild, the country’s most active Hindi literary organization. In 2020, she represented Canada at the Vishwarang program, and in 2021, she organized a presentation featuring 38 Canadian poets, a milestone for the Hindi literary diaspora.
Recognitions and Honors
Achievements naturally followed her dedication. In 2022, she received the World Hindi Award, and at the World Hindi Conference in Fiji, she was honored with the Maithili Sharan Gupt Samman. Earlier, during her academic years at Delhi University, she was awarded the Saraswati Samman and the Savitri Singh Memorial Gold Medal. In Canada, she was recognized with the Women Achiever Award by Dancing Damsels in 2018 and the Women Hero Award by Indo-Canadian Art and Culture in 2021.
Her literary contributions are equally noteworthy. In 2014, she published her first poetry collection titled Kya Tumko Bhi Aisa Laga?. Her short story collections include Hashiye Ulanghti Aurat: Pravas (2013) and Lebanon Ki Vo Raat (2022). Her work also featured in the 1992 anthology Hastakshar, which carried eight of her poems. Through her stories, she has highlighted the struggles, emotions, and identity crises faced by Indians living abroad. For instance, her story Uska Janareflects on how the lure of foreign lands often disrupts families, plunging them into loneliness and financial strain.
Versatility with Purpose
Dr. Saxena has made significant contributions as a translator, translating the film “New Moves” into Hindi and working on English papers and medical texts, including those on glaucoma. She has adapted and acted in stage performances of classics like “Andha Yug,” “Mitraon Marjani,” and “Rashmirathi.” Her writings often focus on the sensitive portrayal of women, highlighting their silent burden of cultural and social expectations. She reflects on gender dynamics, noting that women’s identity is imposed on them without a visible mark. Dr. Saxena also explores the paradox of migration, illustrating the allure of Western opportunities alongside the loneliness and cultural displacement they bring. Her narratives emphasise the unmatched peace, dignity, and belonging found in India, suggesting that the true melody lies in one’s homeland.
A Conversation with Dr. Shailja Saxena
Question: You have lived and worked both in India and abroad. What do you think is the biggest difference in the way Hindi literature is received?
Dr. Saxena: In India, Hindi is a living, breathing language part of daily life. Abroad, it is more of an emotional connection. For the diaspora, reading or writing in Hindi is like returning home for a while. That difference makes the literature even more precious outside India.
Question: Many of your stories explore the pain of migration. What draws you to this theme?
Dr. Saxena: Migration changes people in ways they don’t always expect. There is a silent struggle between opportunities and loneliness, between identity and assimilation. I have seen families break, individuals suffer, and yet I’ve also seen resilience. Writing about this is my way of giving voice to those unspoken realities.
Question: You have written extensively on women’s issues. How do you see the role of women evolving today?
Dr. Saxena: Women everywhere are questioning roles assigned to them. They want equality, respect, and recognition not just in words but in lived reality. Yet, the struggle continues especially for immigrant women who carry double burdens. My stories are small attempts to show their courage and their pain.
Question: What keeps you connected to India while living in Canada?
Dr. Saxena: Literature. Every time I write in Hindi, I feel I am sitting back in Mathura, among my people, my culture. Festivals, music, poetry, even food all of these are threads that keep me tied to India. For me, India is not just a country I left behind, it is the rhythm of my heart.
Question: What advice would you give to young writers of the Indian diaspora?
Dr. Saxena: Write honestly. Don’t try to please everyone. Let your language, your experiences, your dual identities flow into your writing. If you stay true to your emotions, your words will travel across borders and connect with hearts.
Dr. Shailja Saxena’s journey from Mathura to Toronto, from classrooms in Delhi to international conferences, from poetry to translation and theatre represents the resilience and versatility of Indian talent abroad. She has not only enriched Hindi literature globally but also preserved and projected Indian culture in lands far away. Through her achievements, she stands as a shining example of what it means to carry India within one’s heart, no matter where life leads.
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