Ashok Kumar Sinha

Ashok Kumar Sinha (born 7 January 1962, Bhojpur district, Bihar) is an Indian civil servant, author, and cultural administrator. He currently serves as Additional Director of Bihar Museum, Patna, one of India's foremost state museums. A member of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) cadre, he previously served as Director of the Upendra Maharathi Crafts Research Institute, Patna, and as Chief Executive Officer of the Bihar State Khadi and Village Industries Board. He has authored over 36 books in Hindi spanning fiction, poetry, short stories, travel writing, and art criticism, and has received multiple government and literary awards for his contributions to Hindi literature and the preservation of Bihar's traditional folk arts and handicrafts.

Early life and education

Ashok Kumar Sinha was born on 7 January 1962 in Gram Chandi, Bhojpur district, Bihar, India. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree with Honours in Economics from Magadh University, Bodh Gaya, Bihar.

Career

Sinha joined government service as a member of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) cadre. Over his career he has held several senior administrative positions in the Government of Bihar relating to arts, crafts, and cultural heritage.

Upendra Maharathi Crafts Research Institute

Sinha joined the Upendra Maharathi Crafts Research Institute (Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan), Patna, as Deputy Director on 1 August 2011, serving until 3 October 2019. He was subsequently appointed Director of the institute, serving from 4 October 2019 to 31 January 2022. The institute is named after Upendra Maharathi, the Padma Shri–winning artist who revived several of Bihar's traditional crafts. In this role, Sinha worked to research and promote Bihar's traditional arts and crafts, including Madhubani painting, Tikuli art, Manjusha scroll painting, and Sikki grass weaving.

Bihar State Khadi and Village Industries Board

Concurrently with his final months as Director of the Upendra Maharathi Institute, Sinha also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Bihar State Khadi and Village Industries Board, Patna, from February 2021 to January 2022, working to promote traditional handloom and cottage industry enterprises across Bihar.

Bihar Museum

Sinha joined Bihar Museum, Patna, as Additional Director in December 2022, a position he continues to hold. Bihar Museum, designed by Pritzker Prize laureate Fumihiko Maki and opened in 2015, is situated on Bailey Road, Patna. It is widely recognised as one of India's most technically advanced state museums, with collections tracing Bihar's civilisational history from 400,000 BC to the present day, including the celebrated Didarganj Yakshi.

In January 2023, Sinha extended Bihar Museum's visiting hours to 7 pm from 15 January, making it one of the few state museums in India to offer evening access to visitors.

India Today Conclave 2025

In March 2025, Sinha represented Bihar Museum at the India Today Conclave in New Delhi, one of India's foremost public affairs and thought leadership forums. He participated in a session titled 'Transforming India: Bastar Foods, Bihar Museum and Churu's Gurukul', examining grassroots cultural and social transformation across India alongside senior figures from government and civil society.

Literary works

Sinha has authored over 36 books in Hindi across multiple genres including fiction, poetry, short stories, travel writing, and art criticism. His work engages with themes of Bihar's social fabric, folk traditions, and cultural memory. He has also authored and edited books on Bihar's arts and crafts, published in association with the Upendra Maharathi Crafts Research Institute and Bihar Museum.

Notable works include:

• Batohi, Sun Lo Hamari Baat (novel, 2007)
• Pita (narrative poetry, 2008)
• Sooraj Naya, Puraani Dharti (novel, 2008)
• Bairi Paiswa Ho Ram (short story collection, 2014)
• Bharat Ki Aitihasik Dharohar Yatra (travel writing, 2016)
• Main Kahta Aankhin Dekhi (travel memoir, 2017)
• Mawali Ki Betiyaan (short story collection, 2020)
• Man To Panchhi Bhaya (travel memoir, 2020)
• Bihar Ke 25 Mahanayak (biography collection, 2022)
• Desh Pardesh (travel memoir, 2024)

Art and craft books include:

• Bihar Ke Hastashilp (2017)
• Bihar Ke Kalajayee Shilpkar (2018)
• Naaz-e-Mithila Painting (2021)
• Bihar Ke Padmashri Kalakar (2024)
• Aansuon Ke Saath Rangon Ka Safar (2025)

Awards and recognition

Sinha has received multiple awards recognising his contributions to Hindi literature, folk arts administration, and cultural heritage:

• Sudeergh Hindi Seva Sammaan — Vikramshila Hindi Vidyapeeth, Gandhinagar
• Mohanlal Mahto Viyogi Puraskar — Cabinet Secretariat (Rajbhasha Division), Government of Bihar, 2014–15
• Raajbhasa Sammaan — Government of Bihar
• Dinkar Senior Award for Art Writing — Arts, Culture and Youth Department, Government of Bihar, 2019–20; named after Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
• Nai Dhara Rachna Samman (2024)

External links

• Official website of Ashok Kumar Sinha
• Ashok Kumar Sinha — Outlook India author profile
• Bihar Museum official website

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