As I See It: Changing World in Evolving Poetry

Meenakshi Hooja (b 1952) taught Political Science at the University of Rajasthan before joining the Indian administrative Service in 1975. Having served on many important positions in Government of India and Governmentof Rajasthan, she retired in 2012 as Chairman Board of Revenue for Rajasthan. From January 2013 to June 2017 she was Member Central Administrative Tribunal at Jodhpur and Jaipur Bench.

In 1999-2000 she was, for an Academic Year, Visiting Fellow at the Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford, U. K. In, 1987 she had spent 4 months studying Rural Development Management at Institute of Local Government, University of Birmingham, U.K. Her initial education till Masters level was at University of Rajasthan following schooling at Maharani Gayatri Devi School, Jaipur.

From 2002 to 2006, Mrs. Hooja was a member of the International Editorial Board of a Global Dialogue on Federalism in the 21st Century, coordinated by the Forum of Federations Canada.

Meenakshi writes on various themes related to Development, Governance and Administration. In addition to about 70articles, papers, comments and book reviews she has the following books to her credit:In the Shadow of theGulf; Case Studies in Poverty Alleviation In Kerala (1989, co-author), Policies and Strategies for Tribal Development (2003, author),Continuity and Change in Rajasthan’s Panchayati Raj, (monograph, 2005, co-author), Democratic Decentralization and Planning, (2006 co-author), and Panchayati Raj, Participation and Decentralization, (2009, co author).

Mrs. Hooja has been writing poems in both Hindi and English for over 25 years, her first published collection of Hindi Poems Keh Na Sake Jo Roobaroo (2003)received Government of Rajasthan cash award certificatefor original creative writing in 2004. A revised and enlarged edition of this volume came out in 2005. Her second book of Hindi poemsYeh Safarwas published in 2004, and a brief bookletEish Vandna in 2005. Her third book of Hindi poems Tune kya Pilayee Sanam came out in 2009.

In 2009 she received an “Excellence in World Poetry Award” from International Poets Academy Chennai for her English poems, many of which have been published in various magazines in India.

In 2012 her book of English Poem Outpourings was published which also won her the Government of Rajasthan cash award. Meenakshi Hooja presently lives in Jaipur with her family, pursuing her academic, social and creative interests.