Anupama Raju sounds excited over the telephone; her debut collection of poetry will have a formal launch in the city on Saturday. The compilation although concentrating on human emotions, has verses penned on her travels, her love for poetry and on relationships.
A journalist and a communications professional at a leading digital technology company, Anupama says Nine , contains a decade of her work. “As it is my debut book, I decided to take my time to bring it out. In fact, the late litterateur Ayyappa Paniker had advised me to do the same. He told me to publish my book only when I felt satisfied with my work. Although the book contains some of my poems that have been published in anthologies and journals over the years, and also those which I collaborated with French photographer Pascal Bernard, most of them are unpublished,” says Anupama, who penned her first poem when she was 15 and began writing in earnest when Ayyappa Paniker encouraged her. While she began with free verse she went on to experiment with traditional poetry forms such as the haiku, sesitina and ghazal. And one can see these styles in Nine .
One is curious about the title of her book though, and when asked, she says: “If you are a discerning reader, you will notice that the number, nine, features significantly in several places.” And as one goes through her verses, one starts to notice the thread, be it in her series of poems in the book under the subhead Navarasas, or the use of I, the ninth letter of the English alphabet, as the poet writes in the first person narrative.
Comfortable with the written word, Anupama finds poetry the best medium to express her thoughts. And while she does realise that poetry is not a popular form of literature, she says she has never been tempted to turn her observations of the things around her into a novel – at least not for now. “I don’t think one should write for commercial gain, I feel one should write to express oneself, to introduce a perspective, to raise questions, to lead… however, having said that, to each, their own. Poetry, for me is like a window that opens my mind to the rest of the world and vice versa,” says Anupama, who has translated several of author Paul Zacharia’s short stories into English.
The poet says the current literary scene is favourable for poets. “There are several Indian English poets who have made their mark at the international level with their talent and the opportunities available these days.” Thankfully, there are also a few discerning publishers who have faith in poetry. Several literature festivals also hold poetry recitals and provide platforms for poets,” says Anupama, who has read some of her poems at the Hay Festival and is a frequent reader at the famous Kala Ghoda festival in Mumbai. Anupama is currently working on a new series of poems. “Hopefully, it will lead to another book of poetry,” she says, signing off.
Published by Speaking Tiger, in association with the Mumbai-based Jehangir Sabavala Foundation, Nine was launched in Mumbai in September.
The book will be launched in the city at Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum on October 31 at 10 a.m.
