Her poetry has appeared in prominent literary journals such as Setu and The Holistic Pine. For Ashima, literature extends beyond the act of writing and forms an integral part of her creative practice. Alongside writing poetry, she conducts Poetry and Creative Writing Workshops for aspiring writers, offering emerging authors a space to explore their ideas, strengthen their craft and find their individual voices.
Ashima has continued to broaden her academic and literary horizons as she pursues her PhD in English Literature, specializing in Performance Poetry. As a writer and Spoken Word Artist, she explores the relationship between written poetry and live performance, tracing how a poem evolves when it moves from the pages of a book to the stage. Her academic research and creative practice come together through this exploration of poetry as both written literature and performed art. Recently, Ashima was nominated for the Global Digi Awards for Women 2025, where she was recognized for her efforts to generate empowerment through literature.
Ashima won the Beacon of Hope Award for writing poetry to spread mental health awareness. She also won the Bharat Literature Award 2025 for her literary contributions. In the academic sphere, she currently serves as an Assistant Professor at KES Shroff College Mumbai, where she teaches Communication Skills in the Department of Information Technology and Data Science.
Ashima has also conducted podcasts as part of the KES Shroff Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems. She believes that education is a reminder of the importance of remaining connected to one’s roots. KES Shroff College Mumbai seeks to introduce its students to the language, knowledge and scope of Indian Cultural Roots. As part of this initiative, podcasts are conducted around the importance of Indian regional languages, with students invited to reflect on the lessons they have learned from Lord Krishna and the role the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita play in their lives.
Ashima’s entry into podcasting came through the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems at KES Shroff College, an opportunity for which she remains grateful. She acknowledges the continued support of her Department of Information Technology and Data Science, which she describes as her backbone in the initiatives she undertakes for students. She is also grateful to Dr. Lily Bhushan, Director General, KES Shroff, and Dr. Vishesh Shrivastava, Vice Principal, KES Shroff, for placing their faith in her journey and supporting her initiatives.
Through her work as an author, poet, spoken word artist, educator and researcher, Ashima Syal continues to explore the many dimensions of literature. Her journey reflects a sustained engagement with poetry, performance, communication and education, while her work with students and aspiring writers extends that engagement beyond the page. Her pursuit of Performance Poetry further adds an academic dimension to her literary practice, positioning her work at the intersection of writing, performance and contemporary literary expression.
