History of Meena Alexander in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 17, 2024

Meena Alexander was an accomplished Indian American poet, scholar, and writer. She was born in Allahabad, India, but her upbringing took place in both India and Sudan. Later in life, she settled in New York City, where she distinguished herself as a Distinguished Professor of English at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center.

February 1951: Birth of Meena Alexander

Meena Alexander was born in Allahabad, India in February 1951.

1969: Meena Alexander Graduates from Khartoum University

In 1969, Meena Alexander completed her bachelor's degree in English and French from Khartoum University.

1970: Meena Alexander Experiences a Breakdown

In 1970, at age 19, Meena Alexander experienced a nervous breakdown, losing her ability to read for over a month and retreating to the countryside to recover.

1973: Meena Alexander Completes PhD

At age 22, Meena Alexander earned her PhD in British Romantic literature from the University of Nottingham in 1973.

1974: Meena Alexander Begins Lecturing at Miranda House

Meena Alexander became a lecturer in the English Department at Miranda House, University of Delhi in 1974.

1975: Meena Alexander Takes on New Roles at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Central Institute of English

In 1975, Meena Alexander started working as a lecturer in English and French at Jawaharlal Nehru University, and as a lecturer in English at the Central Institute of English at the University of Hyderabad.

1977: Meena Alexander Transitions to Lecturer at University of Hyderabad

Meena Alexander continued her career as a lecturer at the University of Hyderabad from 1977 onward.

1979: Publication of The Poetic Self: Towards a Phenomenology of Romanticism

In 1979, Meena Alexander published her first academic study, "The Poetic Self: Towards a Phenomenology of Romanticism," which was based on her dissertation.

1979: Meena Alexander Marries and Moves to New York City

Meena Alexander married David Lelyveld, a historian, in 1979 and moved with him to New York City.

1980: Meena Alexander Begins as Assistant Professor at Fordham University

Meena Alexander joined Fordham University as an assistant professor in 1980.

1980: Meena Alexander Publishes "Stone Roots"

Meena Alexander published her poetry collection "Stone Roots" in 1980.

1986: Meena Alexander Publishes "House of a Thousand Doors: Poems and Prose Pieces"

Meena Alexander's collection "House of a Thousand Doors: Poems and Prose Pieces" was published in 1986, featuring a compilation of earlier poems, works from her 1980 collection "Stone Roots", previously published journal pieces, and new material.

1987: Meena Alexander Moves to Hunter College

In 1987, Meena Alexander transitioned to an assistant professor position in the English Department at Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY).

1989: Publication of Women in Romanticism

Meena Alexander published her second academic study, "Women in Romanticism: Mary Wollstonecraft, Dorothy Wordsworth and Mary Shelley," in 1989.

1989: Meena Alexander Promoted to Associate Professor

Meena Alexander was promoted to associate professor at Hunter College in 1989.

1990: Meena Alexander Starts Lecturing at Columbia University

Beginning in 1990, Meena Alexander also took on a lecturer position in writing at Columbia University.

1991: Publication of Nampally Road

In 1991, Meena Alexander published her first novel, "Nampally Road," which was selected as an Editor's Choice by the Village Voice Literary Supplement.

1992: Meena Alexander Publishes Essay "Is there an Asian American Aesthetic?"

In her 1992 essay, "Is there an Asian American Aesthetic?", Meena Alexander explored the concept of an "aesthetic of dislocation" and the influence of American identity on her artistic work.

1992: Meena Alexander Becomes Professor at Hunter College

Meena Alexander became a full professor at Hunter College in 1992.

1993: Publication of Fault Lines

Meena Alexander published her autobiographical memoir, "Fault Lines," in 1993.

1993: Fault Lines Selected as a Best Book of 1993

Meena Alexander's memoir, "Fault Lines," was chosen by Publishers Weekly as one of the Best Books of 1993.

1996: Meena Alexander Publishes "The Shock of Arrival: Reflections on Postcolonial Experience"

Meena Alexander published "The Shock of Arrival: Reflections on Postcolonial Experience" in 1996, a book combining poetry and prose.

1997: Publication of Manhattan Music

Meena Alexander published her second novel, "Manhattan Music," in 1997.

1998: Member of the Jury for the Neustadt International Prize for Literature

In 1998, Meena Alexander served as a Member of the Jury for the Neustadt International Prize for Literature.

1999: Meena Alexander Appointed Distinguished Professor at Hunter College

Meena Alexander achieved the esteemed position of Distinguished Professor of English at Hunter College in 1999.

2002: Meena Alexander Publishes "Illiterate Heart"

Meena Alexander published one of her best-known poetry collections, "Illiterate Heart", in 2002.

2002: PEN Open Book Award and Imbongi Yesizwe Poetry International Award

Meena Alexander's poetry collection "Illiterate Heart" won the 2002 PEN Open Book Award. In the same year, she was also awarded the Imbongi Yesizwe Poetry International Award.

2003: Publication of Expanded Edition of Fault Lines

An expanded second edition of Meena Alexander's memoir, "Fault Lines," was published in 2003. This edition included new material that addressed her previously-suppressed memories of childhood sexual abuse by her maternal grandfather and her reflections on the September 11 attacks.

2004: Meena Alexander Releases "Raw Silk"

In 2004, Meena Alexander released her poetry collection "Raw Silk", which included poems responding to the September 11 attacks and its aftermath.

2005: Publication of Indian Love Poems

Meena Alexander edited and published the anthology "Indian Love Poems" in 2005.

2006: Meena Alexander Discusses American English

In 2006, Meena Alexander shared her perspective on American English, finding it liberating and influential on her thinking.

2009: Distinguished Achievement Award from the South Asian Literary Association

In 2009, Meena Alexander received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the South Asian Literary Association for her contributions to American literature.

2009: Meena Alexander Reflects on Moving to the United States

In 2009, Meena Alexander reflected on her experience of moving to the United States in the late 1970s, noting the unexpected challenges of racism and her shifting identity as a person of color.

2009: Publication of Passage to Manhattan

In 2009, the book "Passage to Manhattan: Critical Essays on Meena Alexander," edited by Lopamudra Basu and Cynthia Leenerts, was published. This book provided critical analysis of Alexander's work.

2009: Meena Alexander Publishes "Poetics of Dislocation"

Meena Alexander released "Poetics of Dislocation" in 2009, another book featuring both poetry and prose.

2013: Address at Yale Political Union

In 2013, Meena Alexander addressed the Yale Political Union with a speech titled "What Use Is Poetry?" This speech was later published in a slightly revised form in World Literature Today.

2014: Discussion of Literary Influences

In 2014, Meena Alexander discussed the influence of John Donne, John Berryman, Emily Dickinson, and Matsuo Bashō on her poetic work.

2015: Recognition as One of the Finest Poets of Contemporary Times

In 2015, The Statesman described Meena Alexander as "undoubtedly one of the finest poets of contemporary times."

2016: Word Masala Award

Meena Alexander received a Word Masala award from the Word Masala Foundation in 2016.

November 2018: Death of Meena Alexander

Meena Alexander died in New York on 21 November 2018, at the age of 67, due to endometrial serous cancer.

2018: Publication of Name Me A Word

Meena Alexander edited and published the anthology "Name Me A Word: Indian Writers Reflect on Writing" in 2018.

2020: Publication of In Praise of Fragments

In 2020, Meena Alexander's poetry collection "In Praise of Fragments" was published posthumously. This collection includes some work previously published in journals or staged as performances, as well as new material.

May 1, 2024: Google Doodle Honoring Meena Alexander

On May 1, 2024, Meena Alexander was honored with a Google Doodle to commemorate the first day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.