Dr J Bhagyalakshmi, journalist and media consultant, sharing her time between New Delhi and her hometown Madanapalle, Chittoor Dist, AP), is a well-known poet and short story writer in English and Telugu, besides being a translator. She has contributed to children’s literature substantially. She has over fifty publications including original writings and translations. Of these there are twelve poetry collections – including Anyway, Carry Your Shell (2017), five short story collections and one literary criticism.

She maintains a column ‘Oka Chinnamaata’ in Swati, a leading Telugu weekly, besides writing to various other journals of note. Her poetry has been appraised by way of a chapter (Anguish, Devotion, and Femininity: A Study of Bhagyalakshmi’s Poetry) in the book Femininity – Poetic Endeavours written by Dr VVB Rama Rao.

Formerly of Indian Information Service, Bhagyalakshmi edited reputed magazines like Indian and Foreign Review, Communicator and Yojana, several books on various themes including volumes of selected speeches and writings of eminent people. She taught at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, and headed the Department of Publications. She also held the post of Director (Media) in the Ministry of Rural Development.

She got several awards and honours, the major ones being Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Prize, PS Telugu University Keerti Puraskaram, Jyeshta Literary Award, Katha Award, RK Narayan Award by Authors Guild of India, Pratibha Puraskar by Delhi Telugu Sangham, Visishta Vyakti Puraskaram by Siddhartha Kala Peetham, Grihalakshmi Swarna Kankanam by Kesari Kuteeram and the Best Writer Pratibha Puraskaram by PS Telugu University.

Email: jbhagyalakshmi43@yahoo.in

(Uploaded on Sep 21, 2017)