https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

IAS Officer Neha Bansal Becomes the Voice of Unheard Women with ‘herstory’!

IAS officer Neha Bansal has launched her first book, ‘herstory’, which is an anthology of poetry She has included 39 mini narratives in her book, one each from thirty-nine years of her life Her poems highlight a range of feminine issues – biases and dogmas - that are prevalent in society, from body shaming to colour-based discrimination
Indian Masterminds Stories

Coming up with her first book and becoming the voice of many women in the process, IAS officer Neha Bansal’s herstory is about womankind, the feminine experience, and bringing the female experience which is generally silenced to the fore. An anthology of poetry, the book is the voice to those women who are either sidelined or do not speak up for myriad reasons, be it the modern woman, ancient woman, mythological woman, or the women from all walks of life. 

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Ms. Neha Bansal, who is the Commissioner of Food safety, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, spoke candidly about her book, which has been published by Sahitya Akademi.

Ms. Neha Bansal with Dy. CM Manish Sisodia

THE BOOK

herstory is all about the feminine experience and giving a voice to it. “Women are generally sideline as they are the second sex. This book is the voice to different characters and their internal stories. Undoubtedly, women get a chance to speak, but there are women in mythology or in our history who haven’t spoken their bit. They have always been perceived from the male gaze,” Ms. Bansal said. 

Some reviews of book on Good Read and Amazon

In this book, the officer has tried to incorporate every range of feminine experience, though she says that she still must have missed out quite a few. “I have put 39 mini narratives in my book, one each from thirty-nine years of my life.” 

A POET WAS BORN 

“I took up English literature in my graduation. All the Hindi and English reader books had some really beautiful poems in them. Back in those days, I used to think that someday my written poems will also be read to the school children,” the officer recalled. 

In Sahitya Akademi, for a recital in festival of letters

In 1999, Ms. Bansal’s college organised an on-the-spot poetry reading competition. The topic was ‘colour’, and Ms. Bansal interpreted colour as racial discrimination and received the first prize. “That’s when a poet was born inside me. I wrote at least 10-20 poems in my college days. Gradually, I started writing stories in the form of poetry. I intentionally started writing on women-based themes so that thematically I could come up with an anthology.”

FAVOURITE POEM 

On being asked which is her favourite poem out of the 39 mini narratives in her book, she said that the mythology-based poems are the ones. “I have written about Hidimba, Mandodari, Ahalya, Yashodha, Draupadi, Urmila, and Surpnakha from Ramayana. I have been told again and again that these are the most beautiful poems that I have written.” 

Ms. Bansal has also written on body shaming and feminist issues. She added that one such personal favourite is on the parameter of beauty. “It is personally favourite to me because I feel that body shaming, colour-based discrimination is very rampant in our society. It is high time that we moved from the look-oriented perception of people to how they really are.” 

She says that these are the voices of the different women from all walks of life, be it modern women, ancient women, mythological women, women who have everything, women who don’t have anything, women who are migrant laborers, women who are sleeping on the sidewalks, women who are very fortunate and many more like this.

MESSAGE TO READERS AND WRITERS 

Ms. Bansal advises writers to be brave and sensitive to things that are not said. They should be the voice of people who do not speak up. “Writers should be brave to say whatever they want to say without worrying about criticism.”

IAS Neha Bansal Reciting her poetry at Sahitya Akademi

She added that the words should come naturally from within, comparing the flow of words to leaves that come on a tree. “Writing poetry is a difficult process. It’s like giving birth. And as a writer, I would love to appeal to people to please buy and read my book, and, also, review it.”

Excerpt from one of her poems: 

Bandini: The Story of Women in Prison Forgotten by their Families

I am hardly Devaki,

celebrated for the auspicious

womb that carried the divine. 

But incarcerated in these four 

lime-washed walls…

Links to buy her book, herstory:

http://sahitya-akademi.org.in/?product=herstory

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09VGPNSLQ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_29TZJMXZE24VF8CZ680C


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
_REI-EXPO-2025
Renewable Energy India Expo 2025 Set to Drive Innovation, Partnerships, and Sustainability in India’s Clean Energy Sector
IOB_Strengthens_Vigilance_Awareness_Campaign_
IOB Hosts Walkathon in Chennai to Promote Vigilance and Integrity for Vigilance Awareness Week 2025
BEML_and_VSCB_Member_Organisations_Organise_Walkathon_
BEML Walkathon in Bengaluru Promotes Integrity, Transparency During Vigilance Awareness Week 2025
Sariska Tiger ST-2303
Rising Tiger Presence in Lakhimpur’s Maheshpur Range Sparks Fear Among Villagers, Urging Stronger Forest Department Action
Coal-Production-resized
NCC Ltd Secures ₹6,828.94 Crore Contract with Central Coalfields for Major Coal Extraction Project in Jharkhand
Indore police arrest
MP Administration Shows Swift Action: Man Who Molested Australian Women Cricketers Arrested Within Hours in Indore, CM Yadav Orders Strict Action
ONGC_resized
PESB Calls for Applications for Director (Finance) Position at ONGC; Vacancy to Open on May 1, 2026
IAF MRFA project
India and Brazil Set to Finalize Landmark Defence Barter Deal: Tejas Fighters and Prachand Helicopters for C-390 Aircraft
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
_REI-EXPO-2025
Renewable Energy India Expo 2025 Set to Drive Innovation, Partnerships, and Sustainability in India’s Clean Energy Sector
IOB_Strengthens_Vigilance_Awareness_Campaign_
IOB Hosts Walkathon in Chennai to Promote Vigilance and Integrity for Vigilance Awareness Week 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT