Surinder Neer

Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Surinder Neer is a writer from Kashmir. She is fluent in Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri and Urdu ​​as well as Punjabi, Hindi and English. She currently works for the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

Neer's mother used to narrate folk tales with great interest. That experience instilled in her the urge to write stories. She was also inspired by her maternal uncle, a writer and poet. He gave her the pen-name, ‘Neer.’ She publicly recited her first short story, 'Akhran di Aabru,' at Tagore Hall, Srinagar. Neer says, "It was there that the writer Baljit Singh Raina was so moved by my words that he made me his partner in life and literature."

Neer has produced three novels: 'Shikargah,' 'Maya' and 'Chashme Bul Bul.’ She also wrote three short story collections: 'Dastak Di Udeek,' 'Khul Ja Sim-Sim' and 'Taboo.' She is the recipient of numerous literary awards including 'Eminent Punjabi Writer of Jammu and Kashmir' from Punjabi University (Patiala), and 'Best Book Award' from Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Language.