Vandana Kumar
| Vandana Kumar | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born
Birth Place Nationality Occupation |
January 6, 1970
New Delhi, India Indian Indian author, poet |
Vandana Kumar (born January 6, 1970) is an Indian author, poet, French teacher, translator, cinephile, Indie-film producer, and recruitment consultant based in New Delhi. She is known for her contributions to poetry and literature, as well as her work in independent cinema.
Early life and education
Kumar was born in New Delhi, but spent her childhood in Kolkata. Her father, Romesh Chandra Kumar, who worked as an executive at Dunlop India Limited, was a significant influence in her life, exposing her to literature, cinema, and music from India and around the world.
Kumar completed her schooling in Kolkata, Gurugram, and New Delhi. She graduated from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, with a degree in History, followed by a B.Ed. She later studied French at the Alliance Française in New Delhi, obtaining a Diplôme en Langue Française.
Career
Kumar's career has been diverse, spanning several fields:
- Taught History in prominent Delhi schools
- French teacher for over 19 years
- Author and poet since 2014
- Indie film producer
- Recruitment consultant
- Career guidance expert in poetry
As an Indie film producer, Kumar has been associated with films like "Ek Betuke Aadmi Ki Afrah Raatein," which premiered at the Toulouse Film Festival.
Literary works
Kumar began writing poetry in 2014 following her father's death. Her works have appeared in numerous print and online publications, including:
- The Grey Sparrow Journal
- Madras Courier
- Borderless Journal
- Outlook magazine
Her debut poetry collection, "Mannequin Of Our Times," was published in February 2023.
Awards and recognition
- Panorama International Book Award, 2023
- Mighty Pens Awards, 2023
- Pushcart Prize nominee, 2023
- Guest of Honor, Panorama International Literature Festival, 2024
Notable participations
- Only Indian participant among 40 poets in the INĐIJA PRO POET 2023 festival in Serbia
- Jury member for the 'All India Poetry Competition' organized by 'Cocoa-Butter'
- Co-editor of Cocoa-Butter's debut print anthology, 2021