Devangana Mishra

Devangana's writing and art spans genres of poetry, prose, academia and art across

politics, love, gods, science and feminism

Devangana's Works

About Devangana Mishra

Devangana Mishra is a writer & the author of a book of poetry, Desierto Florido and a verse novel, 26, Kamala Nehru Ridge, Civil Lines, Delhi. Her next book of prose and poetry, set in Mumbai, 'May I Bombay You?' should be out by fall, 2025.

Devangana also runs a foundation for autism out of low income schools of Mumbai, called Brain Bristle. She was awarded the Elise Todden Scholarship for academic excellence at Teachers’ College, Columbia University, New York and was a Fellow at the Outcomes and Opportunities Department & helped run the Teachers College Reading and Writing program for the University.

Ever since then she’s led teams and written mindfulness curriculums and alternate curriculums for autism, inclusion & team manifestos for some of the biggest schools and organizations. Like, the School at Columbia, New York; The Jakarta Intercultural School, Indonesia; the Harbour School, Hong Kong and then with her move to India, the last being Teach For India.

Devangana was a representative at the World Economic Forum, 2020 and she now spends her day running her foundation for autism, Brain Bristle and writes prose, poetry and art for causes that affect her in her everyday life.

Repository

You can find some of Devangana's writing work below and her art work on her Instagram Handle or listed on Saachi Art.

Art Work Listing

Desierto Florido, A Glimpse Into a Million Corners

Desierto Florido was Devangana's first attempt at going independent in the world of the arts after a decade and a half of working under the umbrellas of large organisations world over. This small book of poetry contains figments and imaginations from lives told and untold, stories imagined and spoke, all turned to poetry and art as best she could as she wrote under the dark blanket of COVID in 2020-2021.

Rohan Mishra: "Intense, Immersive and Imaginative. Devangana is a star author to look out for. Highly recommended !! Her talent is very relatable".

On Amazon

26, Kamala Nehru Ridge, Civil Lines, Delhi

26, Kamala Nehru Ridge, Civil Lines, Delhi is Devangana's first verse novel. It is set in pre-independence India, beginning in 1937 from a time before partition was officially announced to 1947, to a time when the face of Delhi had drastically changed its demography and lines of divide. Each verse is written for Zara, a young muslim girl, born in a small affluent muslim Mallik family, her dreams, her devotion, her hopes, her marriage to a Hindu man, her journey to keep her family where they belonged, Civil Lines, Delhi, India. Despite its crumble and fall. Over the 40 verses of this book, Devangana has tried to use art, poetry, verse and dance to transport you through politically, culturally and economically changing tides and times in India and beyond.

Some Reviews:

Saikat Majumdar, Author and Creative Writing Professor, Ashoka University:

Devangana is really very talented! The images are beautiful, and they get more beautiful towards the end. The image opposite the poem A second hiccup is breathtaking. The poems are also very well-crafted. I love her evocation of everyday life, particularly of food. Her use of family names, and certain unusual grammatical choices, such as the second person, also creates an atmosphere of quotidian intimacy. Her sense of poetic craft is keen!

Shaheen Mistri, CEO, Teach For India: 'I loved reading Devangana's verse novel, succinct, well written and does a great job of storytelling meeting beautiful poetry and art'

Jairaj Singh, Senior Editor, TOI: written with great flourish, imagination and whimsy, Devangana's work makes for an extremely poignant read. The writer has the soul of a poet and an unquenchable thirst for exploring lands lost in half dreams.

Jordan Shapiro, author and thought-leader on global policy, education, game-based learning and parenting: ' My favourite thing about Devangana's verse novel is the descriptive details. effortless, lyrical, melodic, a joy to read.

On Amazon