Special Edition: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Maya didn’t go …

 

As the embers rose from the Sigri (mud stove used in North India), Maya’s hands mechanically rolled out the Rotis. Her three-year old daughter was sleeping on a ragged mat on the floor some distance away from the Sigri and her one-year-old son in a makeshift cradle made of her old torn saree. Maya wondered from where their next meal was coming… She sensed a sinking feeling…no hope…no ray of light…

As the embers rose from the Sigri, Maya’s thoughts wandered to a day two months back…In a matter of minutes, the thugs who entered their broken hut, hacked her husband…dragged her away to the nearby fields and took turns to ravage her as she kept wailing and pleading - she didn’t know whether it was for her dead husband or due to the ordeal and pain that these thugs were inflicting upon her. She heard them say that she had to pay for the boy from her (low caste) community who eloped with an upper caste girl!!! Maya was let off when the men had more than enough of her.  She covered herself with her rags lying around and rushed to her hut…The body of her husband lay there. Her children were crying…not for their dead father but due to hunger. They were too young to understand what had happened ...

As the embers rose from the Sigri, Maya relived those hours at the police station…the humiliation the policemen subjected her to… questioning her…who were “those” men…why did “they” kill her husband…did she also have a hand in his killing…whether she regularly “serviced” those men…??? And those hours at the hospital… frequent medical tests… probing fingers again and again… Investigations, repeated interrogation, humiliation, questions, questions and questions, for most of which she had no answer… That look of disbelief and shock in the eyes of the lady doctor who examined her …and yet a knowing look as she patted Maya’s back in sympathy and helplessness….  AND then, the salivating looks of the policemen, their leers and jeers that seemed to undress her all over again and violate her mercilessly… Her children hungry, restless and crying all the time… irritating the policemen…irritating the hospital staff…irritating everyone around…wailing all the time…her hungry kids…

As the embers rose from the Sigri, Maya thought of the visit of “those” men again to her dilapidated hut and threatening her with another round of “the same treatment” if she doesn’t withdraw her complaint from the police station …She was confused…didn’t know what to do. Her village folks were indifferent…as caste wars often took a toll of the women in their village…No one went to the police…but Maya had dared…So, she had to face the consequences… No one was willing to help her. All were scared of “those” men – upper caste, ruthless and powerful, and the police. In a few days, Maya stopped getting the odd work that gave her wailing children and her something to eat and survive …

As the embers rose from the Sigri, Maya thought of that kind city lady with a mike in her hand who visited her hut and asked her many questions. She answered some, couldn’t answer the others out of fear and shame. While leaving, the kind lady gave Maya some money and a card with her address, taking pity on her pathetic condition. The money kept her going for some time. Then, “those” men came visiting her again for a final threat that she should be ready anytime for another round of … if she doesn’t withdraw her complaint. Maya’s inner turmoil was killing her. What should she do? She heard from people that the government had schemes for helping destitute widows, free education of children, housing etc., but she didn’t know how to access those schemes. Going anywhere cost money that she did not have. How much and how long could she trek with a child in her arms and another in tow, both wailing most times? How long could she manage like this…? So many questions with no answers. The life ahead…there seemed no hope. And “those” men and their non-stop threats…The leers and jeers of the policemen when she went to the police station to know the status of her complaint. Often, she’d find “those” men sitting with the policemen having chai (tea) and cracking lewd jokes about their “time” with her.   Can she get justice for her husband’s cold-blooded murder, and for the severe physical torture she’d been subjected to by “those” men and the mental trauma that she’s going through?  She felt shattered …

As the embers rose from the Sigri, Maya felt her thoughts and emotions too soaring. Should she take up the offer made by that kind TV lady to work as a full-time maid in her house, that she’ll be given a monthly salary, a room and also, the education of her children will be taken care of? Should she heed the words of the village elder informing her that there was going to be an enquiry commission later in the day to investigate the crimes against her, her husband’s murder and the action taken by the police?  He advised her to “keep quiet” as her speaking out would tarnish the name of the village.  “Those boys” were from the rich upper caste and their writ ran large across the village, district and the State.  The village elder promised her a job with a regular salary if she withdrew her complaint. What should she do? Maya was totally confused, as her hands managed to roll the rotis and also cook a small quantity of weak, watery daal for her children.

As the embers from the Sigri were put out by her, she rose with a resolve. She fed her children, packed a few belongings in a bag and stepped out of her hut. Maya didn’t go to face the “enquiry commission”. Instead, she started walking towards the village bus stand to take a bus to Lucknow.

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Bio: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy, a senior ex-banker and a former urban governance consultant, has two poetry collections to her credit, “P-EN-CHANTS” and “P-EN-CHANTS…Again” recognized by the India Book of Records for never-before-attempted movie reviews and management subjects in rhyming poetry. Paddy has edited 6 international multilingual poetry anthologies and 4 English poetry anthologies, of which “AMARAVATI POETIC PRISM” 2016 to 2019 have been recognized by the Limca Book of Records as “Poetry Anthology in Most Languages”. Paddy is a recipient of several honours and awards notably an Honorary Doctor of Literature (Litt.D.) conferred upon her at the 43^rd World Congress of Poets-2024.

 

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Setu, June 2025

RELICS OF THE PAST: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Relics of the past,

No matter how much

I try to erase,

Tend to resurface,

And cast their shadows,

On my today …

I run away and away,

From an unsavoury past,

That often brings on,

A bitter taste in my mouth…

But no, the lingering taste

Persists, and embitters,

My present!

My present struggles

To free itself,

From the shackles

Of a past that’s

Best forgotten…

How does one erase,

Imprints of memories

Deeply entrenched, 

In one’s psyche

And one’s being?

They travel with me,

Wherever I go,

Constantly reminding

Me to forget them!!!

Bio: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy’s published poetry collections are “P-EN-CHANTS” and “P-EN-CHANTS…Again”.  She has edited six international multilingual poetry anthologies of which “AMARAVATI POETIC PRISM” 2016 to 2019 have been recognized by the Limca Book of Records as “Poetry Anthology in Most Languages”, besides “WWW – Women, Wit & Wisdom”, an international poetry anthology of women poets.

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Setu, July 2024

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy (Women and Spring)

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Spring

                               

When she was young, she had stars in her eyes,

Sky seemed the limit to touch peaks and highs.

All the right words were in place in her lexicon,

Every starry night welcomed a brand-new dawn!

A brand-new dawn came with so many possibilities,

That she felt she could handle with comfort and ease.

Nothing seemed impossible for her to gain and attain,

Self-confidence was something she couldn’t restrain.

All that was in her youth when her life was at its prime,

When to pause and think, she had absolutely no time!

Summer, winter, spring, for her were mere seasons,

To keep moving ahead, she had many-many reasons!

Yet, there came a time in her life when she saw a setback,

In the form of a loved one, who dumped her like a sack!

From here, began her journey downhill that was so steep,

She realized, she had fallen into an abyss dark and deep!

Spring the Season of Change, Colours and 

Fragrance seems just around the corner …

But what she craves for most, is to regain

The spring in her steps when she was young!

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Bio: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy’s poetry collection, “P-EN-CHANTS” has been recognized by the India Book of Records for never-before-attempted movie reviews and management topics in rhyming poetry.  Her poems, articles and short stories have been published in reputed print magazines, e-zines and anthologies.  A recipient of several awards, Paddy has compiled and edited six international multilingual poetry anthologies and 3 English poetry anthologies, of which “Amaravati Poetic Prism” 2016 to 2019 have been recognized by the Limca Book of Records as “Poetry Anthology in Most Languages”.  “P-EN-CHANTS…Again” is her latest published poetry collection.

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Setu, March 2024

MAHATMA MUSINGS … (Gandhian Philosophy)

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

In my grave I keep restlessly turning,

A ceaseless fire within keeps burning,

Of endless thoughts there’s a churning,

For peace, I keep perennially yearning …

A peaceful India

A casteless India

A nonviolent India

A free and fair India

Are they all the figments of my India dream?

Caste now has layers and layers of cream!

Is peace just a word touted in every poem?

Mere words - tolerance, fair play, freedom?

Godse’s bullets didn’t hurt me.

He did what he thought was right.

Let go has always been my policy

To demonstrate freedom in a new light.

Nonstop restlessness I brave.

Illusions of peace I still have.

I keep on turning in my grave.

For a genuine closure, I crave

Bio: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy, BHARAT Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy, senior ex-banker and former urban governance consultant has compiled and edited 6 international multilingual poetry anthologies of which “AMARAVATI POETIC PRISM” 2016 to 2019 have been recognized by the Limca Book of Records as “Poetry Anthology in Most Languages”.  Paddy’s poetry collection “P-EN-CHANTS” has been recognized by the India Book of Records for never-before-attempted management subjects and movie reviews in rhyming poetry. “P-EN-CHANTS…Again” is her latest poetry collection. 

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Setu, October 2023 :: Gandhian Philosophy

Guest-Editorial: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

EDITOR’S MUSINGS

It’s that time of the year when women poets across the globe, Setu and I bond over poems that celebrate womanpower!

Out of curiosity, I Googled the meaning of the word “womanpower” and stumbled upon these interesting meanings and insights:

“the collective strength or potential for work, activism, etc. of the women in a given group, area, nation, etc.”                                                                                                                         

In American English,

“1. potential or actual power from the endeavors of women                        

the utilization of womanpower during a great national emergency.

2. the influence exerted by women as a group, esp. in the work force and in social and political activities.”

During the Covid-19, “womanpower” gained an all-new dimension when women held their flock and family together with their innate wit and wisdom, and their ingenuity and patience.  Post-pandemic too, this womanpower has been silently behind the revival of hope, liberation and renewed activity. It was also a 2-year period when humanity as a whole and women in particular, were driven increasingly inwards to accept with equanimity and sensitivity, the many challenges that had been thrown at them and find solutions with calm and peace.

While the pandemic drove us all into a solitude that was not of our asking or making, post-pandemic too, this solitude especially the solitude of the soul has persisted for us womenfolk. While our body and mind were back at work with vim and vigour, our soul continued to delve deep within for answers to many questions of revival and survival!

We at Setu, have always believed that women poets not only add feminine mystique to their worldview, but also invariably apply a new prism each time to anything that impacts their world!

We, therefore, zeroed in on the unique theme of SOLITUDE OF SOUL, that we were certain, our select women poets would have experienced during the pandemic and post-pandemic too, but in a “different” way, and decided to tap their collective creative energies to unleash their thought processes and share their unique take on the theme of SOLITUDE OF SOUL.

For me personally, as the Guest Editor of Setu, March, 2023 Women’s Special Edition, there have been great learnings, as I had the first-hand experience of reading poems that let me into the soul of the women poets as they shared their insights on their own SOLITUDE OF SOUL, that also took me on my own journey within.

I thank Dr. Sunil Sharma, Editor (English), Setu, for yet again inviting me and bestowing upon me a great honour and an excellent learning opportunity as the Guest Editor to present to our readers superior poems by some of the leading women poets from across the globe.

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Women’s Special Edition Theme: Solitude of Soul 2023

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Poetry: Women Poetry: Solitude of Soul 2023: Authors

1. Ms. Alicja Maria Kuberska, Poland 2. Ms. Anju Kishore, India 3. Ms. Antje Stehn, Italy 4. Dr. Anuradha Bhattacharyya, India 5. Dr. Aprilia Zank, Germany 6. Ms. Hema Ravi, India 7. Dr. Ketaki Datta, India 8. Magie Faure-Vidot Vijay-Kumar, Seychelles 9. Dr. Maria Do Sameiro Barroso, Portugal 10. Dr. Maria Miraglia, Italy 11. Dr. Meenakshi Mohan, USA 12. Dr. Nandini Sahu, India 13. Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra, India *

14. Ms. Pankajam Kottarath, India 15. Dr. Paramita Mukherjee Mullick, India 16. Dr. Raja Rajeswari Seetha Raman, Malaysia 17. Ms. Sangeeta Gupta, India 18. Dr. Sangeeta Sharma, Canada 19. Dr. Santosh Bakaya, India 20. Ms. Satbir Chaddha, India 21. Prof. Seema Jain, India 22. Ms. Seena Sreevalson, India 23. Ms. Setaluri Padmavathi, India 24. Dr. Sigma Sathish, India 25. Ms. Sumita Dutta Shoam, India 26. Ms. Swapna Behera, India 27. Dr. Varsha Das, India

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Setu, March 2023

COOKING, AMMA AND ME

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

I remember my late Amma (mother) saying for the longest time that she hated cooking – something I hate too! The only difference is/was that while my indifference and dislike for cooking often reflects in the food I dish out, my Amma’s cooking was always flawless. Anything she made always had a special and delectable flavour that bore her distinct stamp! She was a master at recycling leftovers and invariably came up with some interesting, never-before-tasted, delicious outcomes! For a large middle-class family like ours, such economic measures were imperative, and my mother was conscious of this all the time!

In my native language Tamil, there’s a word Kai Manam that literally means hand aroma but figuratively refers to a person with exceptional cooking skills! And I can shout from rooftops that my late Amma was blessed with supreme Kai Manam!

Her innovative recycling efforts were always so lip-smacking like left over Phulkas or Rotis or Paranthas of the previous night innovated as breakfast the next morning, by being broken into very small pieces and stir fried with finely cut onions and chillis, Milagai Podi (Roasted and coarsely-powdered red chilies (Lal Mirch), split black lentils (Urad Dal) and asafetida (Hing), often served with the popular South Indian breakfast foods Idli and Dosai along with Sambar). My mother would call this uniquely tasty concoction Roti Upma!!! Likewise, since the city we lived in was very hot and humid during summer, my mother would soak the left-over cooked rice of the previous night and serve it the next morning as Sadam-Neer (which literally means Rice-Water) by adding a generous quantity of butter milk to cooled mashed rice with a sprinkling of salt and pieces of Vadumaangaai (Baby Mangoes. When the mango season starts, very small green raw mangoes are plucked before they grow large and are pickled with salt and chili powder. This pickle which has a limited shelf life, is popular in Tamilnadu).

My childhood home was an independent house with a large terrace. Come summer, and Amma would prepare the cool Thair Saadam (Curd rice) in a large vessel and we children would be bundled to the huge terrace where we would be seated on mats and Amma would place by turns in our palm a small ball of curd rice with a few spoons of Sambar or Vetthakuzambu or mango/lemon pickle already cut into small pieces. I felt that I always overate such meals, so lovingly fed to us by my Amma, regaling us with all sorts of stories of which she seemed to have an enormous stock (some of which cooked by her - given her fertile creativity for story telling!). I remember that there were some stories that she told us in instalments to keep the interest going and the food quickly reaching our stomach!)

My elder sister, 15 years my senior, while studying medicine at the Nagpur Medical College, always participated in the elaborate snacks and sweet preparations at home for Diwali (The Festival of Lights celebrated throughout India in late October or early November). In fact, she would insist that the preparations should not commence without her presence and active participation. Till date, apart from being an excellent doctor, she is also a highly knowledgeable cook! My other sisters and I often turn to her to clarify cooking doubts.

I still fondly remember that large varieties and quantities of sweets and snacks were prepared for the Diwali festival and arranged on large stain steel plates that were covered with crochet or embroidered towels crafted by Amma and sent to neighbours through the then little me!  In my heydays, buying sweets or snack items from shops, was unthinkable for my late Amma! Even the ingredients for every day cooking were personally and carefully hand-picked by her including vegetables. Also, sharing food or snack items was a common practice between neighbours then! The camaraderie was such those days that when parents had to suddenly leave  on an urgent outstation visit, their school-college going children would be generously taken care of by the neighbours with food, snacks and in every other way! Neighbours lived like joint families in my time, caring and sharing!

When our popular e-zine Setu announced this Food Special issue, I went on several trips down the memory lane, recalling the times I spent with my late Amma, observing her cooking methods and the care with which she prepared food – each item an awesome delicacy dripping with her affection and concern for her family! With advancing age, she’d complain that she was tired of cooking, but then, would never miss an opportunity to treat us with her special dishes and would generously guide us and those who sought her guidance on cooking and would share her unique recipes.

I believe that every adult has some lasting memories of spending parts of childhood in the kitchen watching mother cook food, soaking in the delicious aroma that emanated from her cooking that was embellished with her love, care and concern for her family! Truly, such memories are treasures that never leave us and have left some or the other lasting impact on us! Amma, I miss you a lot! 

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Setu, June 2022

FOOD DEFINES INDIA

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

India is a country of diverse cultures and therefore, multiple cuisines. Each Indian State has its own distinct foods, flavours and aroma. Needless to add that we Indians are big time foodies, ready to taste a variety of foods. The Parantha, Phoolka, Bhatura, Daal and the Chhole varieties of the North or the varieties of Mishiti Doi (sweet yoghurt) and the fish delicacies of the East or the rice varieties of the South like Idli, Dosa, Puttu, Puliyodarai, Pesarttu, Bisibelebhaat, Sambar, Rasam, etc., or the non-spicy yet very tasty food varieties of the West like Puran Poli, Bhaakri, Thali Peeth, Sabudanyachi Khichdi, Pitla, Chiwda, Bhaakar Vadi, Dhokla etc. – India truly defines the word multi-cuisine!

A traveller moving across India, willing to experiment with food, will never go hungry, nor be denied the opportunity of tasting different kinds of local food. Sit in a train from Chennai to New Delhi or vice versa. As the train traverses through the different States of India, vendors at different railway station where the train halts, offer a vast variety of local food and snacks. It’s often difficult to resist the hot Vadas, the steaming Idlis or the sizzling Dosas served with spicy Sambar and Chutney by the vendors at the Vijayawada station, or the Masala Chai and the Poori-Bhaaji at the Nagpur station or the man who gets into the moving train at Nagpur to sell Chana Jor Garam in paper pouches and gets off at the next station! At the intermittent stations through which the train traverses, passengers balancing a cup of tea or coffee and some local snacks in their hands and getting into the moving train are a common sight!

During road trips through the hinterland of India, one often sees both sides of the road lined with sundry shops selling tea, coffee, and different varieties of snacks and foods. Boards mentioning “Kumbakonam Degree Coffee” all across Tamilnadu during road trips, or the Dhabas and foods stalls that are both tempting and riveting because of the aroma that emanates from them, are unmissable! Bus drivers and conductors often halt their bus during the journey to have tea, lunch or dinner on the roadside or simply for a loo break – a win-win for the passengers too who get down to stretch their legs, visit loo or enjoy some tea, coffee, cold drinks, snacks or local food.

Atithi Devo Bhava (Guest is God) is a theme that plays out throughout a road trip as local vendors welcome and attempt to entice the passengers to try their beverages and food stuffs. At many of these stalls, one will find a TV on and newspapers strategically placed. A cricket crazy nation that India is, one can see passengers, bus drivers and conductors catching up with a cricket match during a road trip either on the TV set available in the bus or at the Dhabas and hotels during intermittent halts. May be, the effect of being constantly in a moving train, bus or car and also, having nothing much to do, hunger pangs are frequently felt throughout the journey and the thought of food often crosses the mind. And as if they are mind readers, the vendors dotting the railway stations and the roads, never fail in drawing the passengers to their beverages, snacks and food. The concerns of hygiene and stomach infections and currently Covid, may keep a few passengers away from the stalls, but the steaming tea and coffee never fail to tempt even the most careful travellers!

The vast variety of street food available in India, caters to different taste buds and needs, and is often inviting and irresistible! I am sure, most of us have tasted street food and beverages sometime or the other, at least once. Later, some get hooked to them! Seeing the demand and the changing attitudes towards food, the street vendors too have evolved over time and follow hygiene standards, offer mineral water, and use disposable teacups and food plates.

With more support from the government and local bodies, the street food vendors could be trained and sensitised to offer hygienic foods and beverages. Street foods, being in constant demand, offer vast business opportunities for the vendors.  Therefore, concerted efforts are required from the local government agencies to tap the vast tourism potential of street food.

Let me conclude with a short poem “The True Blue Tambrahm” on some South Indian food items, from my poetry collection “P-EN-CHANTS” (2015):

 

Whether a nerd or a geek,

Or a pahuncha hua academic freak,

Whether at a nadir or at his peak,

These are the things he'd always seek:

 

Vetthakuzhambu, Sambar and Rasam,

Thair Saadam, Paruppusuli and Appalam,

For these maketh the true blue Tambrahm,

Whether in India, UK, Europe or Uncle Sam!

(The Tamilian Brahmins (Iyers & Iyengars), a sect from South India, are widely referred to as Tambrahms.  pahuncha hua - are satirical Hindi words meaning: the ultimate. The words appearing in italics in the second stanza, are some of the well-known everyday Tambrahm food items)

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Setu, June 2022

Poetry: Padmaja Iyengar Paddy (Tagore Special)

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

‘GURUDEV’ RABINDRANATH TAGORE...

(09 May, 1861 - 07 August, 1941)

 

Rabindranath Tagore known as ’Gurudev’,
To an ever-grateful Indian nation he gave,
An evocative National Anthem so patriotic,
Sublime, enlightening, aesthetic and poetic!
 
The first ever Indian to win a Nobel prize,
For Gitaanjali that touched literary highs,
‘Gurudev’ was a master of many fine arts,
His music and painting won many hearts.
 
He founded the Viswa Bharati University,
At Santi Niketan, that promoted diversity.
Satyajit Ray and Amartya Sen are its alumni,
Though lately, it has earned some calumny.
 
As a proud Indian, this is my humble homage
To ‘Gurudev’, multi-faceted beyond compare.

 

BIO: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy, formerly a senior banker and an urban governance consultant, is currently President, Connecting Across Borders (CAB), and Vice President of Poetry India International. Her maiden poetry collection ‘P-EN-CHANTS’ has been recognized as a Unique Record of Excellence by the India Book of Records. Her poetry collection “P-EN-CHANTS…Again” has recently been published. A recipient of several awards for her poems and short stories, Paddy has compiled and edited 6 international multilingual poetry anthologies of which ‘Amaravati Poetic Prism’ 2016 to 2019 have been recognized by the Limca Book of Records (Published by Coca Cola India) as “Poetry Anthology in Most Languages” besides “WWW-Women, Wit & Wisdom”, an international multilingual poetry anthology of women poets. Since 2019, Paddy is the Guest Editor for SETU’s Women’s Special Edition for the month of March.

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Tagore Special :: Setu, May 2022

Guest-Editorial: Winging through Gloom: Poetry of Hope and Recovery (Padmaja Paddy-Iyengar)

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

SETU –Women’s Special Edition 

Respected Setu readers and my dear poet friends,

Greetings. I follow Cricket very closely as I love this sport. I often keep searching for analogies from Cricket for my writings. In respect of this March 2022 Women’s Special Edition of Setu, I can very well say that I’ve hit a four – a boundary in cricketing terminology - considering that this is my 4^th year as the Guest Editor for SETU’s March Special Edition, dedicated to women poets! 

~ Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy, India

This year’s theme very aptly is WINGING THROUGH GLOOM: POETRY OF HOPE AND RECOVERY, conceived and suggested by Dr. Sunil Sharma, Editor-English, SETU.

Hope and recovery have been the constant mantras post the pandemic vestiges of which still remain in our midst. Care and caution continue to guide our day-to-day life, which needs to go on! Let’s never forget to mask up when we step out, please!

When a batsman hits a four, the ball crosses the boundary fetching him four runs. And the entire stadium erupts into a demonstration of rapture and celebrations. This fourth stint of mine as the Guest Editor for SETU- March, 2022 - Women’s Special Edition, gives me very much the same feeling as if I have hit a four, celebrating the 4 years of my association with SETU – March Special Edition since 2019.

I experienced the same feelings of joy and pride that I felt in the earlier years too, when Dr. Sunil Sharma, Editor-English, SETU, invited me for the fourth year in a row, to helm SETU, March, 2022 Women’s Special Edition, as the Guest Editor. I readily accepted this interesting assignment! I feel a sense of gratitude and also feel deeply touched by the confidence and faith Dr. Sharma has been reposing in me year after year since the last four years to take up the Guest Editor’s role in SETU’s March Special Edition. A special thanks to Mr. Anurag Sharma, Editor.

For the world, the last two years, have not been normal, with the pandemic COVID-19 and OMICRON giving us nightmares. Masking and sanitising have become a way of life! However, in the last few months, there does appear to be some respite. The pandemic cases are showing a steady decline and slowly but cautiously, we are returning to normalcy. The Covid Vaccinations too are being carried out on mission mode across the globe.

It is in this backdrop that Dr. Sunil Sharma, Editor, SETU, came up with an interesting and apt theme for this year’s March Special Edition viz: WINGING THROUGH GLOOM: POETRY OF HOPE AND RECOVERY.

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of inviting select women poets from India and other countries to contribute their poems on the aforementioned theme. The invited women poets from India and other countries, all of them accomplished poets, and known to me over the years, have shared their excellent theme-based poems that are sensitively-penned and thought provoking.

The entire process of inviting and interacting with the select women poets to contribute their poems, has been very pleasant and special for me. It was truly a learning experience for me to  read and compile the poems contributed  by the talented women poets, each presenting her own perspective of Hope and Recovery. After all, the pandemic has made everyone nervous and cautious, and these do get reflected in some of the poems. However, the sense of hope and recovery are palpable in most poems.

This year, 21 women poets have contributed their poems – from Canada, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Portugal, USA, and India.

My deepest gratitude to the women poets who responded to SETU’s call and have made the valuable contribution of their poems to this Special Women’s Edition of Setu, on the theme of “WINGING THROUGH GLOOM: POETRY OF HOPE AND RECOVERY”.

I welcome you all to visit www.setumag.com and enjoy the rich fare of poetry in SETU’s March 2022 Women’s Special Edition! 

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Guest Editor, Setu, March 2022 

WINGING THROUGH GLOOM: POETRY OF HOPE AND RECOVERY

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Winging through Gloom: Poetry of Hope and Recovery
Featured Authors

Poets 1. Ms. Chryssa Velissariou, Greece 2. Dr. Maria Miraglia, Italy 3. Prof. Fayeza Hasnat, USA 4. Dr. Maria Do Sameiro Barraso, Portugal 5. Dr. Roula Pollard, Greece 6. Dr. Sangeeta Sharma, Canada 7. Ms. Srishti Sharma, Canada 8. Dr. Meenakshi Mohan, USA 9. Dr. Raja Rajeswari Seetha Raman, Malaysia

10. Ms. Hema Ravi, India 11. Dr. Ketaki Datta, India 12. Dr. Nandini Sahu, India 13. Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra, India 14. Ms. Pankajam K, India 15. Dr. Paramita Mukherjee Mullick, India 16. Dr. Purnima Kulkarni, India 17. Ms. Sankalpita Mullick, India 18. Dr. Sigma Sathish, India 19. Ms. Sreetanwi Chakraborty, India 20. Ms. Satbir Chadha, India 21. Dr. Tangirala Sreelatha, India

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Setu, March 2022

Revisit: What's New, What's Old? (Padmaja Iyenger-Paddy)

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

THE YEAR GONE BY … HMMM …

Something old, something new,

Something borrowed, something blue.

What’s old and gone,

Over them, why cry?

Something new or is it?

Or is it all recycled grief?

Something borrowed?

How long will it last?

Something blue

A sadness hue

Or colour of the sky?

I look up with a sigh!

The year gone by …

Was a union of them all -

Old, new, borrowed, blue.

We paid for not heeding

Nature’s stern clarion call.

It was then Corona, now it’s Omicron,

Believe me, nature’s not playing a con.

It is reminding us to stay safe and well,

When we’ll be unsafe, no one can tell!

***

BIO: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy’s maiden poetry collection ‘P-En-Chants’ has been recognized by the India Book of Records for never-before-attempted film reviews and management topics in rhyming poetry. A recipient of several awards, Paddy has compiled and edited six international multilingual poetry anthologies, of which ‘Amaravati Poetic Prism’ 2016 to 2019, have been recognized by the Limca Book of Records as “Poetry Anthology in Most Languages”. Paddy has also been the Editor of Setu’s March Women’s issues since 2019.

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Setu, December 2021

Guest Editor’s Note: Women Poetry: The Myth of Medusa Deconstructed

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Dear Setu readers and my dear poet friends,

Greetings. When a bowler takes a hat trick of wickets, the entire stadium erupts into a frenzy of celebrations and raptures. I experienced the same feelings of celebration and rapture, when Dr. Sunil Sharma, Editor-English, Setu, invited me for the third year in a row, to helm Setu, March, 2021 Women’s Special Edition, as Guest Editor. Needless to add that I readily accepted the assignment!

The theme of Setu, March, 2021 Women’s Special Edition is “The Myth of Medusa Deconstructed”. The entire credit for conceiving of this excellent theme goes to Dr. Sunil Sharma, the Editor-English, Setu.  Think Medusa, and a sense of sadness pervades one for the sheer injustice and unfairness meted out to Medusa by Poseidon and Athena! Sadly, strangely and unfortunately, Medusas still abound all around us – raped, then blamed and shamed, and even killed - the perpetrator often goes scot free and untainted!

I thoroughly enjoyed the learning experience of reading the Medusa-themed poems by 23 talented women poets from 11 countries – Bangladesh, Greece, India, Italy, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago and USA. They have presented different dimensions of Medusa in their poems, especially highlighting the contemporary realities!

My deepest gratitude to the women poets who responded to Setu’s call and have made the valuable and generous contribution of their poems to this Special Women’s Edition of Setu, on the theme of “The Myth of Medusa Deconstructed”.

Come, enjoy the rich fare of poetry themed on “The Myth of Medusa Deconstructed” in this March, 2021 edition of Setu!

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

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Women Poetry: The Myth of Medusa Deconstructed:
Featured Authors

Ms. Alicia Maria Kuberska, Poland Ms. Brenda Mohammed, Trinidad & Tobago Ms. Chryssa Velissariou, Greece Ms. Claudia Piccino, Italy Ms. Fayeza Hasnat, USA Ms. Hema Ravi, India Dr. Kamala Wijeratne, Sri Lanka Dr. Ketaki Datta, India Dr. Margaret Saine, USA Dr. Maria Do Sameiro Barraso, Portugal Ms. Marian Eikelhof, Netherlands Dr. Meenakshi Mohan, USA

Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra, India Ms. Pankajam K, India Dr. Paramita Mukherjee Mullick, India Ms. Sangeeta Gupta, India Dr. Sangeeta Sharma, India Ms. Sankalpita Mullick, India Ms. Seena Sreevalson, India Ms. Shafinur Shafin, Bangladesh Dr. Sigma Sathish, India Ms. Sreetanwi Chakraborty, India Ms. Virginia Jasmin Pasalo, Philippines ***

Setu, March 2021

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy: Poetry (Life, Cognition and Creativity)

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

CALM AFTER THE STORM

Thoughts are in a turmoil

And mind like a raging bull,

Both ready to hit anything

That crosses their wild path!

Thoughts hit the mind,

Sometimes like streaks,

and sometimes like 

the bolts of lightning!

The buzz of the unbridled feelings

invade and envelope the heart,

Like waves hitting the shore,

To return with greater force!

The raging storm ready to unleash 

A torrent of rains and gusty winds

Sweeping away all coming their way,

Ready to hold their supreme sway.

Just then, braving the wild storm,

Swishes past a small, lonely bird,

Taking the wind on its tiny wings , 

Yet flying cautiously to join its kin.

Signalling a return of calm

After the delirious storm …

Tree branches gently dance

Leaves sway as if in a trance!

A child lets out a laugh,

A koel chirps coo-hoos,

Calm seems to descend,

As raging waves recede …

A cool breeze gently blows,

Into the being peace flows.

Nature plays out a sonata,

As birds chirp out an opera …

There’s calm after the storm

The mind is back to its norm

Feelings back to their usual

Heartbeats back to normal.

Love, Light and Peace come back to heal,

With Positivity and Hope on an even keel.

***

THE BIRD ATOP A WAVE …

A glorious sight

the azure sky

the vast sea

and the waves

rising and falling

Eyes try hard

to take in

the expanse 

of the sea

its horizon 

meeting eternity

A yellow leaf

rises and falls

with the waves

twirling joyously

Soon a bird flies 

over the waves

and sits atop

the yellow leaf

rising and falling

with the waves

Up and down

goes the bird

perched atop

the yellow leaf

enjoying a game

of swing

on the waves 

Until a giant wave

swoops in

to swallow

the yellow leaf

and the bird atop …

***

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Life, Cognition and Creativity :: Setu, December 2020

GANDHI JAYANTI …???!!!

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Those who lie, continue to lie.

Those who defy, continue to defy.

Those who kill, continue to kill.

Pockets, who fill, continue to fill.

Those who proscribe continue to jibe.

Those who bribe, continue to bribe.

Those who work, continue to work.

Those who shirk, continue to shirk.

Gandhi, Bapu and Father of the Nation -

Are all expressions of political flirtation!

Gandhi’s Jayantis come and go,

To which we hot and cold blow.

Many lament when October 2nd falls on a Sunday,

Since it sadly deprives them of an extra holiday!

***

Bio: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy, a senior ex-banker, a former urban governance consultant and till recently the Honorary Literary Advisor of CCVA, Vijayawada, is currently an Advisory Panel Member, ISISAR, Kolkata, and the Editorial Counselor-India, International Writers’ Journal, USA. Her maiden poetry collection ‘P-En-Chants’ has been recognized as a Unique Record of Excellence by the India Book of Records for its never-before-attempted movie reviews and management topics in rhyming poetry”. Paddy’s poems, articles and short stories, some of them prize winners are published in various anthologies, newspapers, e-zines and print journals. A recipient of several awards, Paddy has compiled and edited 6 international multilingual poetry anthologies of which ‘Amaravati Poetic Prism’ 2016 to 2019 have been recognized by the Limca Book of Records (Published by Coca Cola India) as “Poetry Anthology in Most Languages.

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Setu Special 2020 :: Setu, October 2020

पद्मजा ऐय्यंगार-पैडी (प्रतिनिधि कवयित्रियाँ 2020)

पद्मजा ऐय्यंगार-पैडी, जो मुख्य रूप से एक अंग्रेजी कवि, लेखक, संपादक और समीक्षक है, CCVA, विजयवाड़ा की साहित्य सलाहकार, और SISAR, कोलकाता के सलाहकार पैनल पर है। उनके पहले कविता संग्रह ‘P-En-Chants’ को इंडिया बुक ऑफ रिकॉर्ड द्वारा Unique Record of Excellence की मान्यता प्राप्त है। उन्होंने छह अंतर्राष्ट्रीय बहुभाषी काव्य संकलन का संपादन किया है, जिनमें से Amaravati Poetic Prism 2016 से 2018 को प्रतिष्ठित लिम्का बुक ऑफ रिकॉर्ड्स द्वारा ‘Poetry Anthology।n Most Languages’ की मान्यता प्राप्त है।

पद्मजा ऐय्यंगार-पैडी

बस एक क्षण...

वह था एक ऐसा क्षण
जब विष का वह कण
मैं निगल न पाई...

उसके बाद ज़िंदगी ने
कुछ ऐसी गुत्थियाँ सुलझाई
कि मैं विष को त्यागकर
निराशाओं से दूर भागकर
आशा की चुनरी लपेटकर
अपने सपनों को समेटकर
चल पड़ी एक अनजान राह पर
बनाकर उगते सूर्य की किरणों को
अपना हमसफ़र!

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सेतु, जून 2020 :: प्रतिनिधि कवयित्रियाँ 2020

Guest Editor’s Note: Best of Women Poetry

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Dear SETU readers and my poet friends,

Here I am again, invited to guest edit the special March’20 issue of SETU – the ‘Best of Women’s Poetry’! The Editor (English) Dr. Sunil Sharma suggested that I select the 40 best of women’s poetry from across the world! A tough call for me as I know so many women poets who write exceedingly well! Equally, I don’t know many women poets who perhaps write better! Well, within these limitations, I present here the 46 ‘Best of Women’s Poetry’!

As the poems came in, it was as always, pure joy for me to read them! Ah, so much variety and so much learning for me from each of these women poets and their poetry!

I was awe-struck when poet Mallika Chari from Wardha, Maharashtra, India sent me her
senryu (a genre of haiku poetry) on women! Sample this:

space
the orbiting Mangalyaan carried
women power

I believe, this is perhaps, one of the best tributes to the women scientists who helmed the path-breaking Indian Mars Mission (Mangalyaan)! Another interesting one was this:

back and forth
she swings hooked
to the morals

How true! And this one from my friend Magie Faure-Vidot Vijay-Kumar of Seychelles, to which most of us women can relate:

Be patient Magie
I became resilient
But remained a civil guardian
Wore my different caps
To absorb the heavy downpours from
various taps

And another one by my friend Alicja Maria Kuberska of Poland, that resonated with me as I am sure, it will with other women too:

The woman's handbag contains
a few items
and the whole world of the owner

And finally, this by my friend Ambika Ananth of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India:

They are her mind screens
flashing her aspirations and yearnings…
The beautiful secrets in a woman’s eyes
You can perceive only when
you open the sealed eyelids of your mind.

My dear readers, as you read each one of these 46 ‘Best of Women’s Poetry’ in this issue of SETU, I am sure, you will revisit the poems as each one of them speaks beyond what it seeks to communicate, and with each re-read, you will discover something new and something refreshing and unfathomable too…immediately…

These poems have come to soothe you at a time, when we are all indoors under a national lock down by most countries of the world, as our healthcare professionals and respective governments are grappling with the Corona Virus. Let’s all take care, stay safe, stay indoors, and reflect by turning the light inwards and say a silent prayer of gratitude!

I thank Dr. Sunil Sharma, the Editor (English), SETU for once again giving me this great opportunity to be the Guest Editor of this ‘Best of Women’s Poetry’ issue and for the rewarding experience! Last but not the least I thank all the women poets featured here (and also those who mailed their poems but for some reason whose poems couldn’t be featured here), for readily responding to my call, SETU’s call, with their excellent poetry!

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

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Best of Women Poetry: Featured Authors

Ms. Alicia Minjarez Ramirez Ms. Alicja Maria Kuberska Ms. Amanita Sen Ms. Ambika Anant Ms. Anju Kishore Dr. Anuradha Bhattacharyya Ms. Avril Meallem Dr. Barathi Srinivasan Ms. Brenda Mohammad Ms. Devi Nangrani Ms. Elizabeth Kurian ‘Mona’ Ms. Geeta Varma Ms. Geethanjali Dilip Ms. Hema Ravi Ms. Jyoti Kanetkar ***

Ms. Kalyna Temerty-Canta Dr. Kamala Wijeratne Dr. Ketaki Datta Ms. Lilian Woo Ms. Lilla Latus Ms. Magie Faure-Vidot Vijay-Kumar Ms. Mallika Chari Dr. Margaret Saine Dr. Maria Do Sameiro Barrasso Dr. Maria Miraglia Ms. Marian Eikelhof Ms. Neelam Saxena Chandra Ms. K. Pankajam Dr. Paramita Mukherjee Mullick Ms. Pramila Khadun ***

Ms. Preeta Chandran Ms. Pushmaotee Subrun Dr. Raja Rajeswari Seetha Raman Ms. Roula Pollard Dr. Sangeeta Sharma Dr. Santosh Bakaya Ms. Seena Sreevalson Ms. Shernaz Wadia Dr. Sigma G R Dr. S. Sridevi Ms. Srishti Sharma Ms. Sumita Dutta Shoam Ms. Swapna Behera Dr. Varsha Das Ms. Vidya Shankar Ms. Vinita Agrawal

Setu, March 2020

Amaravati Poetic Prism 2019 - International Multilingual Poets' Meet - 21 & 22 Dec 2019 @ Vijayawada

The  Cultural Centre of Vijayawada & Amaravati (CCVA), a CSR arm of the Malaxmi Group helmed by Mr. Y. Harish Chandra Prasad and Dr. Tejaswini Yarlagadda, and efficiently geared by Dr. Emani Sivanagi Reddy, Mr. Sandeep Mandava and Ms. Deepa Balasubramanian, the other CEOs of the Group and the entire team members of the Group, organized yet another edition of Amaravati Poetic Prism 2019 - 5th International Multilingual Poets' Meet at Vijayawada on 21 & 22 December, 2019 at Novotel Vijayawada, in the presence of over 125 poets from 10 countries.

The event was inaugurated by Shri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, the Hon'ble Governor of Andhra Pradesh in the presence of such literary giants and our Distinguished Guests of Honour as Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra (IAS (Retd., Jnanpith & Sahitya Akademi awardee, and renowned Odia and English poet, writer and literary critic), Padma Shri Dr. Vishnu Pandya (Chairman, Gujarat Sahitya Akademi, and renowned Gujarati poet & writer), Dr. D. Vizai Bhaskar (Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, renowned Telugu playwright and poet, and former CEO, APCCC), Dr. N. Gopi (Sahitya Akademi awardee, renowned Telugu poet, writer and literary critic, and former VC, PS Telugu University), Dr. Papineni Sivasankar (Sahitya Akademi awardee and renowned Telugu poet, writer and literary critic), Dr. Venna Vallabha Rao (Sahitya Akademi Translation Award recipient and renowned Telugu and Hindi poet and translator) and Shri Shreekumar Varma (Recipient of R K Narayan Award and renowned English playwright and poet), that also saw the unveiling of our Amaravati Poetic Prism 2019, an international multilingual poetry anthology showcasing 1303 poems in 125 languages by over 761 poets from 86 countries, compiled and edited by Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy!

A very special highlight of this event was the Special Postal Cover to commemorate 'Amaravati Poetic Prism 2019' launched by the Posts & Telegraphs Department, Vijayawada.

The distinguished guests of honour Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra ji, Padma Shri Dr. Vishnu Pandya ji, Dr. D. Vizai Bhaskar, Dr. N. Gopi, Dr. Papineni Sivasankar, and Shri Mukesh Kumar Meena, IAS & Secretaty to the Hon'ble Governor of Andhra Pradesh, read their poems from 'Amaravati Poetic Prism 2019' in the presence of the Hon'ble Governor. After the Hon'ble Governor's departure, the other Guests of Honour Dr. Venna Vallabha Rao, Shri Killada Satyanarayana, IPS, IG, PTO, and Shri Shreekumar Varma read their poems from 'Amaravati Poetic Prism 2019'.

Padmaja Iyengar 'Paddy'

The 2-day event saw poetry readings by 115 poet delegates representing 37 languages, comprising several Kendra Sahitya Akademi and State Sahitya Akademi awardees and other prestigious awards in languages like Santali, Bodo, Telugu, Tulu, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, etc. All the poet delegates had only good words for the event and the hospitality of CCVA, terming the event a “Huge success!”

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Report filed by: Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy, poet, writer, reviewer and Editor of Amaravati Poetic Prism 2015 to 2019.

Setu, December 2019