Showing posts with label 202503E. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 202503E. Show all posts

Setu, March 2025


Setu

Volume 9; Issue 10; March 2025


Setu PDF Archives

Editorial

Celebrating Vasant Fest: A Setu-Prithvi Centre Initiative

Poetry

Ghazal

Hybrids

Poetry & Illustration

Artworks

Author of the Month

Photo Essay: Maha Kumbh

Short Fiction

Translation

Verse Novel: First Chapter

Themed Collaboration

Book Review

Special: Women's Day Poetry: Guest-edited by Neelam Saxena Chandra

Setu Special Edition

Setu Video Series of Literary and Critical Conversations/ Poetry

Setu Initiative: Setu Series of Virtual Readings (Facebook Page)


The Setu Fests: A Note about Celebrating Vasant: A Collaboration

Finally, it happened---the much-anticipated “Celebrating Vasant” fest, a joint project, in Delhi, capital of India.

A spiritually-fulfilling, sensory, multi-media festival combining words, sounds and colours, curated by a top artist Sangeeta Gupta, without any complaint.

A seamless programme only she could manage to conduct, despite her very busy schedule and other pressing engagements.

The idea was to decentralise and involve communities in the spread of fine arts through such Setu Fests---mini or major.

It caught on.

Setu Bilingual Journal was happy to host a three-day multi-media and bilingual event, in collaboration with the iconic Prithvi Fine Art and Cultural Centre (Prithvi Centre), Delhi, under the dynamic leadership of the noted artist-poet-film-maker-former IRS officer, Sangeeta Gupta.

It proved to be a grand success, with high attendance over the three days. 

The debut of the in-person mega programme, called “Celebrating Vasant”, held from March 21-23, 2025, in Prithvi Centre.

The first such event was held in Toronto, in May of 2019--- a well-attended bilingual programme.

Then the Covid struck.
And online programmes became the rage, the meeting points of interested persons; the virtual places of like-minded conversations on given themes.

As things changed and conditions stabilised, in-person programmes are back.

Setu Bilingual editors thought of staging the Setu Fests in various locations, again. 
Close friends were approached for holding these fests in their respective cities. They graciously accepted the challenge and the logistics presented by fests run without corporate funding or big sponsors.

The Delhi edition of the Setu Fest is the first one---kind of parallel convention to glitzy fests.

Sangeeta Gupta kindly agreed to organise the three-day mega event, blending various forms of art and lit, inviting friends from different fields with a common trait---they are all art lovers and practitioners of various forms of sacred communication through their individual works.
She came up with the arresting title: “Celebrating Vasant (spring)”. 
And delivered a blockbuster!

The collaborative fest was attended by some of the big names in Hindi and English, and from the world of music, film and painting; there were readings, recitations, book launches, discussions and duets.

A rich partnership between two platforms---Setu and Prithvi--- promoting fine arts over the years.

Setu with its online presence enjoys a staggering 5.2-plus million viewership. It has got more than 800 authors and published select titles. 
The bilingual journal is going to complete 9 years of monthly production in June 2025.

Prithvi Centre---founded by Sangeeta Gupta---is a place of pilgrimage and a magnate for artists-authors from around the world. 
The vibes and ambience are so uplifting there!
A safe sanctuary for the soul!

Sangeeta conducts year-long programmes and invites friends from around the world for these remarkable events---poetry, prose, film, painting exhibitions, book launches and musical sessions.
The important thing is she never charges for any event---rare these days.
Celebrating Vasant was no different.
She smilingly did everything for the cause of fine arts, solo, and with great enthusiasm and energy.

Setu remains grateful to the director of this festival, Sangeeta Gupta and all the participants who made it a huge success, for creating synergies, for their blessings.

More such editions are planned across the year in India and the USA---details shall be shared soon.

A detailed report by Sangeeta Gupta on the fest follows this note, in this edition.
A view of three days filled with mesmerising performances; laughter, discussions; kinds of camraderies over tea, snacks, books and songs.
The feedback was encouraging.
So was the presence of each guest.
Let the partnership continue!

 
Sunil Sharma,
Managing Editor, Setu (English)

Synergies and more

Sunil Sharma

This March completes the last segment of the three-month calls based on the stunning visuals of Robert Maddox-Harle, the famous Australian artist who poeticises the pictures and visualises images in his works of diverse genre.

Call them Ekphrastic--- a technicality; name of a form of literary communication; kind of taxonomy.

Or, conversations with artifacts of different types---interdisciplinary dialogues, interactions between creative minds; responses of artistic kind.

Creating synergies.

How artists inspire others through their individual works, that is the driving force of such projects.

Last three months have been pretty productive in this direction.

Setu often features works of the phenomenal Robert Maddox-Harle.

He is still largely undiscovered. 

These enterprises aim to stimulate conversations around him as an artist of exceptional vision and liberal-humanist orientation, two vitals sorely missing in the contemporary landscape of writing, painting and cinema, worldwide.

No longer art questioning status quo but promoting fantasy, monsters and bestiality, as the norms of being alive in a hyper-competitive world driven by an unquenchable thirst for super profits.

In such scenario, sex, violence, explicit language, murder, rape and serial killers sell---not serious art that emancipates consciousness from the shackles of lies and untruths, and, unveils truth in a dramatic moment of recognition and facilitates changes for a better life.

In short, radical art for a radical world, a world of equality and harmony and peace.

Last fifty years of the production of art are very dismal.

It is, as the French theorists happily point, more kitsch than serious art.

Even such radical critiques are missing in a deradicalized world.

How we miss a Lyotard, Picasso or Brecht, among others.

In such a grim situation, Robert Maddox-Harle---aka Rob Harle--- comes as different, as fresh air.

Talking of his inspiration, Rob Harle says:

"When I took this photo, it struck me as ironic that the jetty was mainly occupied
by birds, they can't read, they don't need to read because they know how to survive
unlike stupid humans. The sign is only there to protect the 'greedy' owners whose jetty
encroaches public space from litigation."

 

How Rob acts as a stimulant can be seen from this comment by a participating poet-artist Marjorie Pezzoli:

“I really have enjoyed Robert's photographs for writing inspiration over these last few months."

Please enjoy these conversations around him, titled “Unveiling Meanings”.

.

This month is also about the celebration of Woman Power.

We invited eminent poet-presenter-senior bureaucrat Neelam Saxena Chandra to guest-edit a section of poetry by some top women. She came up with a selection of some heart-felt and sincere poetry dedicated to the feminine, a tribute to Women's Day.

Talking of woman-centric poetry, Neelam says:
"The poetry of eminent women writers captures the struggles she endures and the resilience with which she rises."

We are grateful to her and other poets for this.

.

Lastly, we are serialising a novel composed in Verse form---rare these days. John Clark Smith returns with this type of novel for our readers. A challenging form, expertly delivered by the gifted novelist John Clark Smith.

Hope you enjoy this and other writings!

 

Sunil Sharma,

---Managing Editor, Setu (English)


Celebrating Vasant Fest in Pictures: Sangeeta Gupta









Celebrating Vasant: A Report on the Three-Day Setu-Prithvi Fest

Celebrating Vasant, held from March 21 to 23, 2025, at Prithvi Fine Art and Cultural Centre, Delhi, in collaboration with Setu, Pittsburgh, USA.


Prithvi Fine Art and Cultural Centre in collaboration with Setu, Pittsburgh, USA, hosted the three-day cultural programme.

The event celebrated the spirit of spring through a harmonious blend of art, poetry, literature, film and music, drawing an enthusiastic audience of artists, writers, poets, and art lovers.

Day 1 – March 21, 2025

The inaugural day commenced with great enthusiasm at 4:00 PM, with the gracious presence of the two chief guests:

---Sanjeev Kishor Goutam, Director General, National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi
---Mridula Garg, Acclaimed Hindi Writer.

Opening Ceremony

The event began with the auspicious Lamp Lighting Ceremony, accompanied by Saraswati Vandana rendered melodiously by Jasbir Kaur. The chief guests shared words of wisdom, emphasizing the importance of cultural dialogues and artistic expression.

Art Exhibition – "Shabd Aur Rang" (Words & Visuals)
The art exhibition "Shabd Aur Rang", featuring the evocative works of artists Bharti Prajapati and Sangeeta Gupta, was inaugurated to much applause. The synergy of words and visuals captivated the audience, reflecting the essence of spring.

Book Launch – "Feminino: рдХ़ुрджрд░рдд-рдП-рдХाрдоिрд▓"

The much-anticipated bilingual poetry anthology "Feminino: рдХ़ुрджрд░рдд-рдП-рдХाрдоिрд▓", edited by Dr. Sangeeta Sharma and Neelam Saxena, with Dr. Sunil Sharma as the Consulting Editor, was officially launched. The anthology celebrates femininity in all its forms, resonating with the spirit of spring.

English Poetry Reading (5:00 PM – 6:30 PM)

A distinguished lineup of poets enthralled the audience with their soulful verses.
Participating Poets:
• Amrendra Khatua
• Malashri Lal
• Radha Chakravarty
• Mandira Ghosh
• Satbir Chadha
• Rachna Joshi
• Seema Jain
• Mukul Kumar
Anchor: Sangeeta Gupta

Shabd Raag (6:30 PM – 7:45 PM)

The evening concluded with Shabd Raag, a unique confluence of poetry and classical music featuring:
---Meeta Pandit, Classical Vocalist
---Sangeeta Gupta, Poet

Their soulful performance left the audience spellbound, marking a vibrant start to the festival.

Day 2 – March 22, 2025

The second day featured a rich tapestry of Hindi poetry, literary discussions, and a cinematic exploration of Kashmir.

Hindi Poetry Reading (3:30 PM – 4:30 PM)

Participating Poets:
---Mridula Garg
---Leeladhar Mandloi
---Anamika
---Savita Singh
---Sangeeta Gupta

Discussion: Relevance of Translated Verses (5:00 PM – 6:00 PM)

A thought-provoking panel discussion on the relevance of translated poetry featured:

---Radha Chakravarty
---Malashri Lal
---Anamika
---Rekha Sethi
---Seema Jain
---Sangeeta Gupta

The session highlighted how translations bridge cultural gaps, preserving the soul of poetry across languages.

Kashmir in Films: Myth and Reality (6:00 PM – 6:30 PM)

Anuradha Reddy, along with Sangeeta Gupta presented an insightful session on Kashmir, exploring the myths and realities portrayed in cinema and day today life in Kashmir.

Book Discussion (6:35 PM – 7:00 PM)

Chetna Keer, novelist, columnist, and poet, discussed her latest book, "Geisha in the Gota Patti," in conversation with A.J. Philip, Former Senior Associate Editor, The Tribune & President of Kerala Club.

Hindi Poetry Reading (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

Participating Poets:
Shovana Narayan, Laxmi Shankar Bajpai, Mamata Kiran, Renu Hussain, Anuradha and Sangeeta Gupta.
The second day ended on a poignant note with heartfelt poetry echoing through the venue.

Day 3 – March 23, 2025

The final day showcased an inspiring blend of Hindustani poetry, literary discussions, documentary films, and classical music.

Hindustani Poetry Reading (3:30 PM – 4:30 PM)

The poetry session featured eminent voices, including:
Naina Soi Sehar, Deo Prakash,Meenakshi Jijivisa,Sunita Singh,Amit Kaur,Jasbir Kaur and Aakshat Sinha

Book Discussion (4:30 PM – 5:00 PM)

Rachna Singh, novelist, discussed her latest book "Raghu Rai: Waiting for the Divine" with Mandira Nayar, a senior journalist based in Delhi.

Documentary Film Screening (5:30 PM – 7:00 PM)

The audience was treated to the screening of "Weaves of Time", a poetry film by Sangeeta Gupta, which beautifully portrayed the passage of time through poetic visuals.

Classical Music Performance (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

The festival concluded with a mesmerizing classical music recital by Kasturika Mishra, leaving the audience spellbound and marking a soulful end to the three-day celebration.

Conclusion

The Festival: Celebrating Vasant was a grand success, celebrating the spirit of spring through a confluence of art, poetry, literature, film, and music. With participation from some of the most distinguished names in the literary and artistic community, the festival reinforced the importance of cultural exchange and creative expression.
The event was a testimony to the power of words and visuals, echoing long after the curtains fell.


An Interface: An Innovative Attempt

Shabd - Rang: A Celebration of Words & Visuals

 

Shabd - Rang, an evocative confluence of poetry and visual arts, much admired by the audience; an innovative dialogue between art forms.

 

Featuring the works of two distinguished artists—Bharti Prajapati and Sangeeta Gupta—this exhibition is a dialogue between the written word and the painted form, where colors, textures, and emotions converge to create a profound artistic experience.

 

Bharti Prajapati: Weaving Rural Narratives into Art

Bharti Prajapati, a celebrated painter and designer, finds her muse in the resilient spirit of rural women. Their daily lives, bonds, and deep connection with the land form the heart of her visual vocabulary. With a rich tapestry of earthy tones and intricate patterns, her paintings evoke the grace and strength of women rooted in tradition yet evolving with time.

Her extensive travels across Indian villages have shaped a keen sensitivity towards the nuances of rural life, inspiring themes such as Mother Earth, Shakti, One Tribe, and Earth Story. These narratives unfold through a blend of textile-inspired designs, folk motifs, and organic textures, reflecting a tradition that is rapidly disappearing in the face of modernization.

A graduate of the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, Bharti seamlessly integrates her design sensibilities into her art, creating works that are both aesthetically captivating and deeply emotive. Her exhibitions have spanned the globe, from New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore to Singapore, New York, and London. She has also participated in prestigious showcases like the Harmony Show and Lakm├й Art & Fashion Show, alongside international auctions supporting South Asian women artists.

Her contributions to the art world have earned her numerous accolades, including:

• Critics' Choice Award, World University of Design, Delhi

• Bharat Kala Ratna Award, Gujarat Kala Pratisthan

• Lalit Kala Gaurav Puraskar, Gujarat State Lalit Kala Academy

• FICCI Women Achiever Award, Gujarat

Through her art, Bharti preserves the essence of India's rural ethos, ensuring that its beauty and wisdom continue to inspire generations.

 

---Sangeeta Gupta: A Journey across Poetry, Painting, and Cinema

A distinguished poet, artist, and filmmaker, Sangeeta Gupta embodies a creative spirit that transcends boundaries. With 36 solo painting exhibitions and 35 published books, including poetry anthologies in Hindi and English, her literary and artistic works resonate across cultures, having been translated into German, Greek, Mandarin, Hungarian, Bangla, Dogri, Tamil, and Urdu.

Her textile painting series, Aadiyogi Shiv – A Journey in Cosmic Indigo, a groundbreaking body of work, has been recognized in the Limca Book of Records and has traveled to 17 prestigious venues in India and abroad. This includes exhibitions at India's leading museums such as:

• Bihar Museum, Patna

• Bharat Bhavan Museum, Bhopal

• Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad

Internationally, her works have been showcased at:

• Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh

• Zainul Gallery, Dhaka University

• Nehru Centre, London (2024)

• Sheraton Grand Krak├│w, Poland (2024)

• University of Rzeszow, Poland (2024)

 

Sangeeta Gupta’s artistic practice is deeply intertwined with her literary explorations.

Her creative biography, Song of the Cosmos, reflects her journey across disciplines, highlighting her ability to merge the visual and the verbal into a singular artistic expression.

As a filmmaker, she has directed and scripted 36 documentaries, with six of them archived in the Library of Congress, USA, a testament to their cultural significance.

Recognized for her literary achievements, she was honored as:

• Highly Commended Poet of the Year (2020) by Destiny Poets, UK

• Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.), 42nd World Congress of Poets (2023)

Sangeeta’s works have been acquired by renowned institutions, including:

• Museum of Sacred Art, Belgium (in collaboration with NGMA, Delhi & Mumbai)

• Bihar Museum, Patna, where her painting is part of their permanent collection and is currently traveling to Kazakhstan

• Bharat Bhavan Museum, Bhopal

Beyond her artistic endeavors, she has also served as (IRS) Chief Commissioner of Income Tax and as Advisor (Finance & Administration) at Lalit Kala Akademi and as Member Finance Committee, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi bridging the worlds of administration and creativity with remarkable ease.

 

Shabd - Rang: A Harmonious Fusion

Through Shabd - Rang, Bharti Prajapati and Sangeeta Gupta brought together their unique artistic languages—one rooted in the rural landscapes of India, the other traversing the cosmic and the spiritual.

In their works, words find colors, and colors echo poetry, creating an immersive experience that celebrates the timeless interplay of tradition, transformation, and transcendence.

 

---Sangeeta Gupta
Director, Festival: Celebrating Vasant
President, Prithvi Fine Art and Cultural Centre, Delhi, India


Reunion with my father

Sanjay Narayan


Beyond the clouds, where angels sing,
I’ll find you, Father, in eternal spring.
In heaven’s glow, so pure, so bright,
We’ll reunite in endless light.

No earthly bounds, no tears to fall,
In your embrace, I’ll feel it all.
The warmth, the love, the guiding care,
In heaven’s peace, we’ll always share.

Time can’t sever the bond we hold,
Our story lives where stars unfold.
Until that day, in faith, I’ll soar,
To meet you, Father, forevermore.

Poetry: Kiren Babal

Kiren Babal
RESOLUTIONS VS 2025

My mind always plays
A perennial boggling game.
What new resolutions would be? 
For the coming year?
This time too...
I scratched my head
Squinted my eyes
Chewed the pencil stubs.
For the list was long
Did not understand 
Which ones to focus
And which ones to shun. 

2025 Came loud and clear amidst all cheers.
Still caught in the web
The brilliant ideas for
New Year's Resolution
Stayed at bay. 
 
Unmindful of my thoughts
2025, in its goblet held
A unique champagne
To hold a toast, cheer
And celebrate The New Year. 
1st Jan, A gift from my cousin surprised me
A ticket to see a movie
An energy packed thriller
Fully energized me. 
3rd Jan,
My daughter virtually airlifted, for a family surprise trip
It fully mesmerised me.

My dancing heart, on the clouds of nine
Learnt yet another lesson of life.
Right now, this moment, Enjoy
What life has brought in store?
Let resolutions take a backseat. 
The flow of time will decide and
Make its own resolution. 
And my mind... cleared of all webs 
Gave a grand salute to
The New Year. And its resolutions.
***


LOVE PERSONIFIED!

I am love,
Yes! For you to know;
I have no beginning,
I have no end.

I just flow, like a rapid fire;
From one heart
To another, I fly
Without a hue or a cry!

I am hidden within
A cupid's arrow!
Oh! Please don't fret
For there is no threat!

It's not to pierce,
Nor anyone to bleed;
But touch a gentle soul,
With that happy feeling.

To make the eyes sparkle,
For Hearts to skip a beat,
And language so to speak,
All sugar and honey-sweet.

You may not know,
Let me apprise you,
I don many a hats,
Come I'll show you some!

The baby in the cradle,
That Apple eye to mother.
Her breasts feeding milk,
Is oozing Love in suckle.

A sibling bond cherished,
Is none other than me, for
That sacred divine thread,
That’s Love my dear friend.

Parents, Lonely and forlorn
In twilight years staying alone,
Yet smile a toothless smile.
When the son visits, even for a day.

That day love is there,
In their home to stay.
In their moist eyes,
And kitchen noise.

So you see my friend,
I reside in everyone's heart;
The whole of mankind,
Whether they know it or not.

You may desert me,
It's your own choice,
Just tap your heart
When, wish to seek.

Close your eyes,
And see me rise,
In all the shades,
Of colour red!
***


Bio: An Educator, Voice modulator, Author & Poet, Radio-Artist, Creative Artist for Crafts and Dramatics, Kiren Babal has a rich experience of 60 years; with a flair for writing both in English and Hindi. To her credit she has many children's books, poetry books and anthologies both in English and Hindi. Her focus always remained in keeping her hobbies alive.
She is passionate about storytelling and loves to interact with NGO children by way of storytelling. Life unfolds itself in all her creative pursuits, be it writing, singing, painting , poetry , storytelling, or social services.
Every new creativity is a new identity of her persona. So does she believe! 
A new beginning, a new understanding in the world she belongs as she treads the path of her life!
The journey goes on…
***

Special Edition: Toolika Rani

Toolika Rani

Returning to Base 

Based on the picture ‘Jumping Diving’ by Robert Maddox-Harle

The clouds changed forms- 
sometimes foamy, wispy or looking like a sponge
So did the sky-
when darkened the clouds their snow-white boots 
it took just a while to carpet the wild scarlet and move 
swiftly into the more liminal hues of sobriety and 
a subdued mood. 
The waters below followed suit;
the galloping waves returning to base 
to form a gentle ripple smooth. 
The signal spread, the birds stretched their wings to find a landing safe 
and gliding below, spotted a log, jutting into the sea-surface, 
perched upon this rickety refuse their beautiful necks they gracefully moved 
to survey the calming quietude;
A storm perhaps was being brewed 
against the rigid attitude 
of those who stubbornly refused 
to either change or break the bonds that fettered them to a particular form.
Versatility was the nature’s norm. 
The jetties safe a century before 
were now declared a dangerous spot, 
perhaps the one with a mind hot 
would heed the warning and respond 
to the call of calmness and restraint. 
Wiser at times to loosen the strings of maniac control. 
***

Special Edition: Kushal Poddar,

Kushal Poddar

From The Jetty To Perpetuity


The stork turns as if
to talk with the gull hopping behind
about something it
should recall, but cannot, neither at this
juncture nor ever.

The pylons, rogue, broken free
from the jetty, bears the weight of the light
knee deep in the water.

Since the authority
has posted the 'Danger' warning near
the head of the elevation 
the local buddies are frequent here.

Not now. Now no human
crowds the scene. The structure returns
to nature one rotten bit at a time,
and now, 'now' ceases to measure time.

Women's Day: Waheeda Hussain



Waheeda Hussain
Waheeda Hussain is a blogger and a bilingual poet from Jabalpur, India. She is a Senior School teacher by profession. She has a passion for writing short stories and poetry. She has co-authored 25 national and international anthologies and authored two poetry books. Mend My Broken Wings and Echoes of Eternity. She is also the editor of two poetry collections "Shajar Ke Chaon Tale- The Poets Scribbles" and " Breaking the Shackles,”. 

Holding Back

What holds you back?

What holds you back dear girl?
Is it the fear of the crumbling walls,
By the ferocious winds hounding?

What holds you back dear girl?
Is it the fear of filling your entire spirit with dry spell,
By stormy dust raging?

What holds you back dear girl?
Is it the fear of breaking your inner self,
With volcanoes erupting?

What holds you back dear girl?
Is it the fear of freezing your heart 
By the snowsquall awaiting?

Soon the wind will calm down 
The stormy dust will subside.
The oceans will come to its original demeanour.
The snowsquall will give way to a sunny day.

Before your fear takes root and manifest itself,
Rise up and march ahead,
Do not hold yourself dear girl.


Women's Day: Seema Jain

Seema Jain

Seema Jain is a bilingual poet, short story writer, translator, editor, critic and reviewer. Ex-Vice Principal & Head, PG Dept of English KMV Jalandhar, she has fourteen published books of English and Hindi poems, translated poems and novels, and two edited poetry anthologies (one for Sahitya Akademi). A recipient of many prestigious awards, with her poems published globally in 140 anthologies, Seema has been a Speaker for Sahitya Akademi's Sahityotsav, the JLF, SAARC Countries' Litfest FOSWAL and the Washington DC South Asian Literature Festival.

 

Women's Emancipation


A swollen eye and a gash on my grandmother's beautiful face
My childhood memories are often haunted by my grandfather's fit of rage.
My mother too suffered immensely but rock-like stood by me;
She wanted me to be free and script my own destiny.


Whether it was choosing my clothes, my career or my groom
It was she who provided me enough room.
She wanted her daughter to live in such a world
Where she could fly freely like a bird!


Where none stopped her from taking birth
None put tethers on her flight and worth
Where none viewed her as a plaything for pleasure
Where she could explore her inner treasure.


Where she was not being cast in a fixed mold
Where none else could the key to her happiness hold
Where chains were broken and nectar flowed
And her entire being with divinity glowed.


She wanted my canvas to be the limitless sky
Everyday mutinies of countless unsung sheroes like her enabled me to fly
She knew the era of emancipation doesn't come overnight
It takes centuries for this sun to shine bright.

Women's Day: Rita Malhotra

Rita Malhotra
Dr. Rita Malhotra is a mathematician, poet, essayist and translator. Former Principal, KNC, University of Delhi, Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Paris, she holds the august offices of Academic Advisor SI College Chennai and World Poetry Ambassador India (courtesy WP Canada). With sixteen published books, her writings are globally published and translated into 14 languages. Recognitions include The Honour by World Congress of Poets, ‘Distinguished Poet’ Award Canada, Honour for international Cultural Relations Romania besides others.

her tears have no dreams

the soul soaked in fear
she is sold from man to man, each
grazing along pastures of blind lust

like a fragile rose petal carried away by
ruthless mountain winds, she is victim 
to cruel carnal pleasure in animal eyes
time seems to have crossed the fence
of all reason 

her body under a scanner
the soul torn out of her being, she is
a trafficked bride for a male heir
religion of humanity shamed
another history is subsumed in 
warped social perceptions

was that really the Shiva-Linga**
she worshipped from girlhood
to womanhood 
or merely a piece of rock? 
else why would those intense prayers
lead her to the wolves’ den?
in her anguished agony is heard a
soul-wrenching call “Draupadi,
i beseech you to circumscribe me”

today, she is a stranger even 
to her own shadow
her mute screams of protest drown
in the murky abyss of savaged silence
will darkness ever pave a path to light?

i am bereft of any answer 
uncertain tomorrows trace a question mark.