Acclaimed bureaucrat, poet, artist, and filmmaker Sangeeta Gupta unveiled her compelling memoir Sigma Woman on Monday, April 14th, 2025, at the Civil Services Officers’ Institute (CSOI), Vinay Marg, New Delhi. The highly anticipated book launch was accompanied by a special showcase of her internationally travelled textile art exhibition, Adiyogi Shiv: A Journey in Cosmic Indigo which will be open for visitors to appreciate until April 20, 2025.
The event was a distinguished gathering of luminaries from the fields of literature, arts, and public service. The evening was graced by eminent Hindi author Mridula Garg, Kathak legend Shovana Narayan, and senior diplomat and former ICCR Director General Amrendra Khatua as chief guests – each of whom embodies the themes of grace, individuality, and fearless self-expression that resonate throughout Gupta’s memoir.
Spanning 350 pages and nearly eight years of reflective writing, Sigma Woman is a stirring personal narrative that speaks directly to adults, especially women and youth who are navigating their own complex journeys of ambition, identity, and resilience. Rooted in the genre of memoir, the book explores what it truly means to be a ‘Sigma’ personality – someone who is nonconformist, self-reliant, and unapologetically true to themselves.
“Failures and adverse situations have not broken me. I have faced them with courage and grit and always bounced back,” said Sangeeta Gupta. “A memoir is not just a summation of one’s life; it is a reflection of the journey, the struggles, and the lessons learned along the way.”
She added, “If my story can inspire even one person to believe in themselves and take charge of their destiny, the purpose of Sigma Woman is fulfilled.”
Sangeeta Gupta’s reflections go beyond autobiography, evolving into a powerful call to action for readers to embrace their individuality, cultivate resilience, and lead with heart. She believes that Sigma women are not born, they are shaped by experience. “Anyone can become one with the grit to chase dreams, the strength to rise after setbacks, and the heart to inspire,” she said.
Marking another artistic milestone, the launch was accompanied by the 19th edition of Sangeeta Gupta’s acclaimed travelling solo exhibition, Adiyogi Shiv: A Journey in Cosmic Indigo. This powerful body of textile work, originally inaugurated in Delhi in 2022, returned to the capital after captivating audiences at 18 prestigious venues across India and abroad.
The exhibition has been showcased at major Indian museums including Bihar Museum (Patna), Bharat Bhavan Museum (Bhopal), Salar Jung Museum (Hyderabad), and Allahabad Museum (Prayagraj). It has also travelled to campuses of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Gandhinagar, Mumbai, Delhi, and Patna.
Internationally, the cosmic indigo journey has reached Dhaka (Indian High Commission and Zainul Gallery, Dhaka University), London (High Commission of India), and Kraków and Rzeszów in Poland. Within India, the show has made notable stops in Jaipur, Baroda, Pondicherry and Auroville India Pavilion.
The Delhi edition offered a rare opportunity for art enthusiasts and CSOI members to witness these spiritual, meditative works especially those who missed the original Delhi showing at Bikaner House. The visual experience of Adiyogi Shiv served as a meaningful extension of the themes explored in Sigma Woman – strength, transcendence, and inner power.
This confluence of literary memoir and visual storytelling made the evening a celebration of an extraordinary woman who continues to defy labels and boundaries. With Sigma Woman and Adiyogi Shiv, Sangeeta Gupta invites us into her world—one shaped by solitude, resilience, and a relentless creative spirit.
