Poetries in India have a long history that stretch back to the ancient times – and, this art is very much rooted into our culture! The number of poets in India is only increasing and so are the lovers of poetries; which is perhaps why, we today, have organizations like the Poets Corner Group and remarkable festivals like The Delhi Poetry Fest. Today, I have with me the Managing Editor of the Poets Corner Group and the Founder of The Delhi Poetry Fest, Mr Yaseen Anwer.
Welcome to Spectralhues, sir.
An engineer by profession, when did you first realise that the passion of writing poetries was pulling you deeper?
I would start answering thereby correcting the query itself. I did not complete my Engineering, so never could it be shaped as my profession. I got my cue while I was quite small, probably 14 years old. I wrote my first poem in the year 2004, titled ‘DEATH’, but took my writing habit seriously when I hit my 21st year. So, to be precise in my second year of Engineering I heard my call, and then dropped out of my course in the final year for I could not withhold my interest in the subjects. Engineering was not my thing, my realisation was pretty late, but occurred before I could sink any further.
How would you describe the art of writing or composing poetry?
Understanding the art of writing Poetry may in itself be called an art. Poetry is the instantaneous flow of overwhelming thoughts, and thoughts vary. They vary from one mind to another, from one heart to another. Perception is subjective, and so is the art of writing Poetry. Some poets we have known as meticulous, paying too much attention to the art of it, while many were and are too abstracted and thus elusive in their approach.
Relationship between a poet and poetry is more or less like a mother giving birth to a child. After its birth, child is individual in its own right though always reflecting its former. Such is the relation between the two.
How are the poets of today’s era different from those of the earlier era?
Referring to the previous question, I would reiterate that Poetry as an art would differ from one individual to another, and here we are talking about two or more eras involving several of those. As the world has witnessed its renaissance from time to time thus has the poetry.
Poetry speaks volume about the time and place it has been written. Poetry has been a revelation, time and time again. From befuddling beauties to great political periods, Poetry has discussed all. To provide an unbiased and singular view on any subject, it tends to pick up the metaphors, the appropriate analogies, which take birth in accordance with the environment and the outlook toward the same. Haven’t we seen forms of poetry and stances on those forms taking birth, dying, and then reviving?
How has the world of poetries and poets evolved? What are the changes that you’ve noticed all these years?
As has the structure of poetry, so have the poets evolved. Its call is being welcomed more generously now than in the previous era. Indeed poetry is getting a wider stage and more audience, and when we talk logically, commercialisation may seem fine and fitting for today’s scenario however I personally despise the use of this term. More books on poetry are being published. Encouragement, recognition and adulation are becoming an integral part of the poet fraternity. Though with this enhancement, the strict form of poetry seems to have diluted, but it has paved way for liberal poetry. And thus more poets can be read, and the flavours are earnestly delightful and sumptuous.
What all things are the poets inspired by?
A poet can be inspired by anything and everything; there are poets who take inspiration from nature, mundanity of life, ordinary or exquisite things happening around, smiling faces, troubled eyes, survival of joys and pains simultaneously, etc. Children playing in the park, a beggar on the road, a homeless elderly person, anything can work as an inspiration for a poet. In my opinion, a poet is much like a sponge, ready to absorb every motion and emotion. As far as I am concerned, social issues always strike me hard, hard enough to make me mull and write.
What were your feelings when you were awarded ‘Young Poets Award 2012’ by Indian Poetry Society?
I always feel that I was lucky enough to be awarded with this award, but trust me when I say, I know many better, deserving poets around. Yes, receiving an award would always foster positive attitude in a person. There is no better encouragement than being recognized for your endeavor. But then, award or no award, I will stay a poet till my last breath.
Tell us about the Poets Corner Group and the Delhi Poetry Festival, both established by you.
I started Poets Corner in June 2011, and my colleague, Dolly Singh, joined Poets Corner Group as a co-founder around October 2012. We have about 22,000 members. Apart from me and Dolly, we have our editorial team with Madhumita Ghosh and Aseem Ahmad Abbasee on board, managing English and Hindi editing sections respectively, anda dedicated team of six members whichlooks after the day to day work at Poets Corner, namely, Aparna Pathak, Neha R Krishnan, Nazre Imam, Sadia Khan, Soumya Vilekar and Parul Rastogi.It is one Poetry group, out-and-out serving the purpose of promoting and celebrating Poetry among the masses, esp. the youth of India.
Delhi Poetry Festival (DPF), the largest poetry festival held in India, is being organized by Poets Corner every year; to not only celebrate the very presence of established poets in the literary world and the renowned names of our Bollywood industry, but also to bring together the aspiring poets from every possible bay, those having inherited the beauty of Poetry in their souls, and wishing to nourish and flourish it.
Delhi Poetry Festival officially took-off in 2013 as one of the ventures of Poets Corner, and since then has been held annually, aiming at reviving the dying art of Poetry in the ethos of heritage rich city of Delhi. We believe that Poetry has no bars and thus, Delhi Poetry Festival is a multilingual event. We have so far successfully organized two seasons and third one is in the pipeline.
Lastly, what would be your insightful message for those fascinated by poetries and engrossed in the art?
Stay engrossed and let the poetry bloom in you. When in full bloom, its fragrance would never leave your hand and the hearts of those reading you.
Sir, our readers have a few questions for you:-
How you define being a poet – a good one and a great one? -[Author J Alchem]
I would say there is no good or bad, and even great poet. A poet writes to express the unsaid thoughts, and here the style differs. No two poets would write alike. And how a poet and his poetry is conceived and loved makes him good or great. Readers have a diverse love, diverse taste, and thus they are distributed like on a pie-chart. The share is the deciding factor, you see. Still,I would never encourage naming any old or contemporary poet to draw the comparison, because that would not be fair to the art of Poetry. Poetry in itself is the greatest form of meditation and connection with your maker. Let it remain like that.
Why did you chose the genre of poetry and how do you help new talented poets in getting a platform for their work? – [Rachna Bansal Gupta]
To say it honestly, I have no reason to share for choosing Poetry over any other thing one could or would choose. I love it and it makes me happy. My lifeline, may be.
Poets Corner has many ventures and each one of them caters differently or to a different age group. Let me elaborate it by listing some of the ventures.
New Leaf (founded by Dolly Singh) caters to school students.New Leaf has conducted workshops in the near past, and also has got into publishing 3 anthologies featuring more than 75 school going Poets.
U-Special, an exclusive anthology for university students. In past 3 and a half year period, Poets Corner has come up with about 20 anthologies featuring more than 500 poets from no less than 16 countries. Poets Corner has ensured that poets get equal chance to rub shoulders with eminent writers and luminaries like Gulzar Sahb, Ruskin Bond, Nida Fazli, Vikram Seth, Irshad Kamil, Tabish Kher, Vijay Seshadri, Jeet Thayil, Rahat Indori, Ibraheem Ashq and many more.
Thank you Mr. Anwer for your time. On behalf of Team Spectralhues, I wish you all the very best for your future endeavours.
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