Speaker
Ms. Shubha Sarma
IAS Officer & Novelist
Ms. Shubha Sarma is a distinguished Indian Administrative Service officer and an accomplished author of contemporary English fiction, representing a rare blend of governance and creativity. Born and raised in Lucknow, she grew up in a culturally rich environment that continues to influence her writing. She studied History at Lady Shri Ram College for Women and holds a Master's degree in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, an academic grounding that has shaped the nuanced understanding of society reflected in both her administrative work and her fiction.
Her debut short story collection, Fly on the Wall & Other Stories (2013), received critical acclaim and was translated into several languages including Hindi, Odia, Hebrew, and Italian. Her novella The Awasthis of Aamnagri (2020) offers a nostalgic and insightful portrayal of middle-class family life, while her most recent novel, Mrs. Happily Single (2025), explores evolving social realities with sensitivity and depth. She also writes Hindi poetry and has been published by the Sahitya Akademi. Her writing is marked by strong characterisation, emotional depth, and keen observation of changing social dynamics, and her work has appeared in various anthologies, magazines, and literary forums.
Beyond her professional and creative pursuits, she is a yoga practitioner who enjoys travelling, swimming, and tending to her bonsai collection. She lives in Bhubaneswar with her family.