Manu Mittal is a philologist who after her postgraduate education at the Peoples' Friendship University, Moscow, returning to India obtained MA in English and PhD in psycholinguistics. In 1985 she joined the Centre of Russian Studies, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, where, she is currently an Associate Professor.
She has researched, published as well as lectured in Indian and Russian Universities on various aspects of Russian language, literature and culture. She has also traveled widely looking for Indian-Central Asian links and the Indian connection to the Silk Routes. Her other books are in the Soul's Twilight: Remembering F.I. Tyutchev, and Beyond the Silk Route Indian and Central Asian Links through the Ages a revised and illustrated edition of which is to be released soon.
Besides academics, she volunteers time with Caring Foundation, an NGO committed to health, education, and community empowerment.