Anita Agnihotri, born in 1956, is one of the distinctive voices in contemporary Bengali literature. A senior IAS officer, she has discharged her professional duties with as much sincerity and responsibility as she has to her writing. Both her poetry and prose are distinguished by a delicate but acutely observed response to nature, genuine commitment to social issues and a love of people who have faced existential difficulties with dignity and grace. Her works have been translated into all major Indian languages and German and Swedish.