Poetry on the Patio: A Gala Celebration of Literature and the Arts in Dr. Meenakshi Mohan’s Pristine Abode, Maryland, USA

Lopamudra Bannerjee

Lopamudra Banerjee

“Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Suvaha
Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yonaḥ Prachodayāt”

The auspicious chanting of Gayatri Mantra in our ancient scriptures emphasizes on meditating on the divine power of our Supreme Lord, the creator, and His divine light that illumines all realms—be it physical, mental or spiritual. In the pristine surroundings of the Mohan family home in Potomac, Maryland, little Veda, the charming, spirited 5-year-old granddaughter of Dr. Meenakshi Mohan inaugurated "Poetry on the Patio", the grand literature and art festival on August 16, 2025, the auspicious day of Janmashtami in India, with this divine chanting in front of the statuettes of Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswati. In those few indescribable moments of bliss, everyone present for the occasion must have felt the doors illuminating our minds, our intellect, our souls opening up.

Dr. Meenakshi Mohan has built up her mighty presence in the literary and artistic community for a considerable amount of time in Maryland and DC area in North America by virtue of her beautiful paintings and artworks and her impressive portfolio of published books in poetry and children’s literature. I personally knew her as a very insightful speaker and erudite poet when I happened to meet her for the first time during the in-person launch of the stellar anthology ‘Tapestry of Women in Indian Mythology’ (edited and curated by her) at the 3^rd Annual DC South Asian Literary Festival on May 6, 2023. This August, precisely two years later, I again had the privilege to meet her as the gracious host of "Poetry on the Patio" the literary and art festival hosted by her, and it was all the more special as the literary event was dedicated as a heartfelt tribute or homage to her husband, Dr. Kshitij Mohan’s memory. In my fervent heart, I still carry the memories of the evening ‘mehfil’ of poets and artists that happened at Dr. Mohan’s beautiful abode in May 2023 amid the pristine green surroundings that resembled a picture postcard in its quaint, artistic beauty, with the dazzling presence of renowned poets including Arundhati Subramaniam, Gopal Lahiri, Anurag Sharma, among others. Fast forward two years, it almost felt like a déjà vu moment in my consciousness when the settings were exactly the same, with the lush greenery around us, the cicadas chirping in their evening glory, with Dr. Meenakshi Mohan welcoming all of us poets, thinkers, writers, artists to share our literary works that surpassed the definition of a ‘creative forum’ and became an ‘intimate haven’, embracing our collective consciousness.

Authors, poets, translators, artists sharing their poetry and art:

 Having read Meenakshi Mohan's debut poetry collection titled ‘Symphonies of Life’, I was already aware that in her intensely personal poems, the themes of family, nature and the universe, and the beautiful amalgamation between memory and imagination appear as almost her alter-ego, her second self. Incidentally, the tranquil setting of a patio or balcony frequently appears in her work, serving as a space for quiet, almost meditative reflection. Quite naturally, in this same spirit of reflection, this literature and arts festival has been hosted by her in her patio, in collaboration with Setu International Bilingual mag, the literary journal based in Pittsburgh that strives to connect with readers as a cultural bridge, emphasizing on superior artistic expressions. The readers sharing their literary works in poetry and prose, including Dr. Marianne Szlyk, Dr. Ethan Goffman, Dr. Anita Nahal, Mr. Alan Britt, Mr. Luther Jett, Sri Indran Amirthanayagam, Tanusree Ghosh, Sunayana Pal and yours truly (in the English section) and Ms. Vinita Tiwari, Ms. Sashi Padha and Sri Anurag Sharma—all carried their distinct voices and ethos which were embedded in their pieces, yet it was all a tapestry of creative collaboration in its overall essence, created in an intimate, welcoming atmosphere. Some authors and poets present for the literary and artistic soiree shared their deeply reflective, meditative poetry and narratives, wherein lay the profound beauty, power and aura of creative writing. In their powerful writings in both English and Hindi language, the familial world, or the microcosm and the greater universe, the macrocosm converged, evoking universal emotions. Thus, the collective consciousness of the poets and authors, both in English and the vernacular Hindi language, added unique dimensions and nuances to the creative writing they presented on stage. Coupled with the readings, their published books and art were also on display at the venue, adding the icing on the cake.

The artists and the art installations at the venue, on their part, added to the beauty and vigor of the creative expressions, carrying alternate worlds and realities through the magic of their paintbrushes. The guest artists Ms. Nimmi Trehan and Ms. Shanti Chandrasekhar shared their respective interpretations of their artworks that transcended the boundaries of human imagination and became precious vehicles of metaphorical truth.

Also, not to forget, this entire soiree of literature and art was presented in an innovative, interactive way by the moderator of the program, Poonam Auluck Shah.

Anurag Sharma, founder and editor of Setu International Bilingual mag introduced the literary contributions of Setu in his moving speech, while recounting the momentous journey of Setu within the span of nine years (since its inception), and the huge readership that the mag enjoys today, celebrating the unique richness of South Asian diaspora literature. It is the collaboration between Setu mag and the host Meenakshi Mohan that culminated in the execution of such a delightful evening of poetry and art.

 

The Tribute:

The very eloquent opening speech by Meenakshi Mohan’s daughter Kavita Mohan tugged at the heartstrings of everyone present at the scene, commemorating the wondrous legacy of her father, Dr. Kshitij Mohan. In her speech, she reflected on the extraordinary life of her father thus: “My father was a scientist who shaped national policy, a poet who wrote with soul in three languages, and a leader whose vision touched industries and institutions alike. But to me, he was simply my Papa—the man who recited poetry late into the night from his office, who taught me the elegance of a well-turned phrase, the enduring power of literature, and the rigor of a well-reasoned argument.” She also described her father’s life as “a master class in pursuing knowledge, embracing the arts, and living with love.” To this, she also added the “extraordinary efforts” of her mother in continuing “her lifelong passion for the arts and her deep, unwavering love” for her father.

In her closing note, she also said that in today’s technology-driven world, “poetry and the arts offer us not just escape, but insight. My father understood this—and lived it. My mother continues to exemplify it. Together, they have taught me that the most enduring legacies are not built of accolades or achievements, but of wisdom shared, love given, and beauty created.”

The closing remarks of Dr. Meenakshi Mohan also lingered in the minds of the audience, especially her rendition of her poem ‘The Cosmic Wonders’ along with a stupendously crafted painting (oil on canvas, with a palette knife) titled ‘Threshold’. The poetry rendition and the surreal landscape depicted in the painting merged with the beauty of the surroundings as the evening converged into the night, with the call of the cicadas. Followed by her reading and the vote of thanks, also given by Dr. Mohan, the audience witnessed the most moving spectacle of presenting the Certificate of Excellence to Anurag Sharma of Setu Mag. The Certificate, presented by Veda’s tender hands, was truly a testament to how literature and art serve as enduring legacies, from one generation to the next.

Towards the end of the ceremony, each guest or reader received a certificate and a replica of Dr. Meenakshi Mohan’s artwork—which Setu Bilingual Journal, in their Facebook page, described as ‘a keepsake of a night where legacy met light.’

 Already making its mark as a significant forum for propagating literary and artistic talents in Maryland and also other parts of the nation, ‘Poetry on the Patio’, in memory of Dr. Kshitij Mohan, physicist, bilingual poet, diplomat, and patron of the arts, with its congregation of meaningful voices in the literary firmament, will be remembered as a memorable milestone.

Significant parts of the opening and closing of the ceremony on August 16^th can be accessed here:

https://youtu.be/L5rbESVSlLE?si=9k5BxejHv7eaEnZy

Author Bio: Lopamudra Banerjee is an author, poet, translator, editor with nine solo books and six anthologies in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. She has received the Journey Awards (First Place category winner) for her memoir ‘Thwarted Escape: An Immigrant’s Wayward Journey,’ the International Reuel Prize for Poetry (2017) and other honors. Her poetry has been published in renowned platforms including ‘Life in Quarantine’, the Digital Humanities Archive of Stanford University. She has been a Featured Poet at Rice University, Houston in November 2019. Her other notable publications are her poetry collection ‘We Are What We Are: Primal Songs of Ethnicity, Gender & Identity’ (2022), a collaboration with Mexican-American poet Priscilla Rice (Winner, New York Book Festival 2024), ‘Bakul Katha: Tale of the Emancipated Woman’, English translation of Ashapurna Devi’s award-winning Bengali novel (Honorable Mention, London Book Festival) and ‘The Bard and His Sister-in-Law’, English translation of Mallika Sengupta’s historical novel ‘Kabir Bouthan’ (Honorary Mention, Paris Book Festival 2024).

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Setu, August 2025