Sanjay Singh Yadav is a man of many talents. As an academic of some repute, Yadav’s transgression to prose earned him acclaim from none other than the legendary writer Khushwant Singh. “His remarks about one of my works being an apt summary of India gave me confidence to enrol in this song writing contest last year,” says Yadav, a fan of the old world classics.
Yadav has re-invented himself again this year, this time taking a leap of faith to the art of song writing. This move has already garnered him praise as he proudly carried the baton of lyrical ingenuity to the semi finals of the “U.K. Song Writing Contest for a second year in running.
“This time my achievement is greater, as there were many more contestants,” he says with much glee. His labour of love, “To None Ever Bound”, which received the award, seems an ode to the effeminate yet escapist nature of love, of how it is only intransient like the Almighty himself.
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“I consider my writing to be an expression of my experiences. I indeed cannot write about what I have not experienced.” Perhaps one may doubt him and question as to why the grand prize has eluded him these two years. He seems analytical yet brightly optimistic of his chances.
“My writing isn’t always utopian, that may not merit favour with the judges. Yet I shall not change my style of writing.” One asks Yadav the obvious, would he be ready to put on his boxing gloves and enter the lyrical boxing ring for the third time. “Absolutely, not only a third time, but a fourth, five or sixth time as well,” he says.
Yadav says that one can expect different things from him this year at the song writing contest. “I may enter the competition with my lyrics being accompanied by music this year. I have some knowledge of musical instruments, that is certainly a direction which I might look into for a sense of innovation”.
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On being asked whether his writings are influenced by what he has read, the William Shakespeare fan says, “I think reading and writing are definitely inter-related. It is hard to imagine somebody writing well, without being well read. However a time comes, when you feel you’ve read a lot and it is time you express yourself.”
As a songwriter, Yadav must be having a lyric that he has listened to over and over again, one cannot help but wonder. “I have heard and enjoyed John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ too many times to recall. Although the lyric is very different from what I write, it is an idealistic work. It is still a fond memory.”
Yadav’s story has been one of change and constant innovation. One might think that the man was afraid of being pigeonholed yet it is whole heartedly untrue. It is just that he has many passions and he intends to pursue all of them with the same gusto.