Book lovers who would have visited the Hyderabad Literary Festival early this year must be familiar with Dr. Neal Hall and Rochelle Potkar. The two visited the city again to read their poems at Our Sacred Space, Secunderabad, last Sunday. Though it was drizzling, poetry enthusiasts warmed up to the poetry session. The poetry was split into two sections, ‘political’ represented by the US based Dr. Hall and the ‘other’ by Mumbai based Rochelle Potkar.
Dr. Hall’s poems have been written from the heart and he has not shied away from calling a spade a spade. He started off the reading with a poem on the ‘Mountains’. One of them was on the ‘Militants’, which spoke about the vitriolic voices and the absence of light that keeps us in the dark. Another was on the ‘Sinking Boat’ that sinks all whoever clung on to it. He concluded his reading with ‘When I am a man …’ and said that poetry plays in garnering attention. This was visible, when Dr. Neal stood up to read his work, there was pin drop silence. The conviction, with which he spoke, and the directness of his use of language mesmerised all. Rochelle read three poems in the ‘other’ section and said that the first one was performance piece on the ‘Baby’ and the other two women-oriented titled the ‘Skirt’ and ‘Dear’. The first poem on the ‘Baby’ moved all as it came from the heart and stood for all women who have become mothers. She said advertisements want babies as a product but if there is a crying sound in the advt. clip, a voice says ‘Cut out that wail’, we did not hire a new born mother. “Shoot the advt. again or quieten the baby”.
Speaking to the Mumbai poet after the session, Rochelle said: “I began as a short story writer and poetry happened. It was telling stories in lyrics and rhythm. Some of my poems are short and some are two to three pages.” With over 100 poems under her belt, when quizzed whether the ‘Baby’ poem was from personal experience, Rochelle said: “It is collectively personal. Women have to forgo promotions even if they are efficient as they have taken maternity leave. It is a silent compensation a woman has to pay. Baby is the target audience in any commercial but everything is tailored to suit the stake holders.”
On the question of equality, she said that it does not exist. “The biggest dichotomy is that it is a man’s world. Babies cry outside and women cry inside.” Moving from Kalyan to Mumbai seven years ago has helped her. After packing her daughter Keya to school, she concentrates on her writing. “Working from home is not easy, as one has to make the atmosphere conducive to writing. An MNC knows how to do up its office so that employees can concentrate, the same logic applies here too,” shared Rochelle. Winning accolades for her debut novel ‘ The Arithmetic of Breasts and other stories ’, Rochelle is coming up with her next book, ‘ Dreams of Dejavu ’, a speculative novel.
Having been selected for the three-month University of Iowa Fall Programme, Rochelle is waiting to land on the mecca of literary hub. She has convincingly told her daughter that she is flying her kite and if it touches the stars, she will bring a crown for her. Though her future lies in writing, she has done a character role in a Tamil film directed by Ram.
Dr. Hall, a simple and down to earth man, has laid down the scalpel for the pen to prove that pen can move hearts and mountains and create the needed change. “I have not given up my medical practice, but will be treating the less privileged ones. I took up medicine and ophthalmology specialisation as I could advice and treat the patient. Eyes are a window to a man’s ailment and also giving away their pain to their surroundings.”
On being quizzed about the pain in his poems, he said: “It is a response to the gross injustices of the oppression.” Reading a poem on ‘Casting vote’, Dr. Hall said that he had not voted till date. Explaining it he said: “The system supports and feeds itself. It will not change much. Politicians are politicians and there is not much they can do even if they have the best intention. Eventually, the people must save the people. Do the right by taking up the responsibility, vote with the right intention and stand together to throw the government out even if it means by taking up the cudgels every day.” Picking up writing at the age of 14 years, Dr. Hall has over 1000 poems to his credit and two novels, firstly the international award winning book ‘ Nigger For Life’, which reflects his painful discovery, that in ‘unspoken America,’ race is the one thing by which he is first judged. His second award winning book, ‘ Winter’s A’ Coming Still’ is written from the same deep chasm of despair and pain that is now his literary muse. His poetic insights reflect vividly that more things are said to change, that more things are made to stay the same. His poetic revelations reflect vividly there is no post-racial America, no just America. There is just racist America.
Here in the city on the invitation of Kalpana Kannabiran, Director, Council for Social Development, Hyderabad, Dr. Neal Hall is awaiting the release of his poems in Telugu and Urdu next month. The translations for the same have been done by R Lalita Kumari in Telugu and Jameela Nishat in Urdu. The interpreter to this work is Vasanth Kannabiran.
The US based poet advices budding poets to write from the heart. “Just learn to write, for inspiration read others, but develop your own style. Be true to yourself.” Before signing off, Dr. Neal says that he does not look back on his achievements. “They are just stepping stones to reach greater heights and I am looking forward to the residency programme at Sangam House. God willing, if it comes my way, it means spending four months here from October.”
Dr. Neal Hall will be reading his poems at the Kalakriti Art Gallery on June 28.
