Amidst the many problems that people with mental health issues have to deal with, there is the manner in which society understands and responds to it. A large part of that reaction is based on ignorance or invalidation of the problem itself. Which is why it becomes important to talk about mental health disorders and the ways in which they manifest. And one of the most reachable ways in which this can be done in this culture of the world-wide-web, is through the process of making and sharing creative works of art. So, we bring to you pieces of spoken word poetry that narrate the many nuances of anxiety and depression. You might see yourself in those experiences, or recognise somebody else you know in them. Either way, we hope these words in all their truths and emotions would help make some impact! 

Alice In Anxiety Land – Sainee Raj ft Samuel

Sainee Raj is here to give voice and words to that “life’s dreadful theme song” of anxiety. She delves into the fright and spiralling of an anxious mind, as Samuel offers a background of sweet guitar notes. Together they express the day-to-day experience of living with anxiety, which ends up being comforting in not just its relatability, but also in the heartwarming hope that it leaves behind. This is a piece created and recited with care, also offering an understanding to those who are yet to accept that this anxiety, “this thing is real in the head”. 

Dear Non Depressed Friend – Ishmeet Nagpal ft. Hasan

“There is a reason it is called an illness, no it is no jest” says Ishmeet laying the true nature of Depression bare. 

When the understanding of mental health issues is often dipped in ignorance, the responses of help towards it end up doing more harm than good. Ishmeet Nagpal addresses the things that go wrong, even in the good intentions of people who try to help fix their friend suffering from depression. Just like any other physical illness, depression too calls for professional care. It is only support that Ishmeet asks for from the non-depressed friend. Not futile advice or comparisons that are meant to guilt-trip one into living life. “Help me by being my shoulder to lean, help me by giving the silence I need” as she says. Her recitation is sure to hit home to many and is worth being heard by those who want to be there for people dealing with depression but aren’t sure how to. 

We Are All Gifted – Amandeep Singh ft. Hasan 

Amandeep Singh in his poetry of truths and metaphors, narrates a story that reminds of the very powerful possibility of recovery. The stigmatization around mental health issues pushes people into not revealing their experiences to anyone, let alone seek help for them. Amandeep Singh in this piece, takes out hope from his personal life to give to others. He reiterates the importance of scratching emotional wounds in depth- of sharing what you’re going through, in order to begin healing. ‘We are all gifted,” he says, gifted with the power of healing ourselves. Amandeep’s story is a reminder that it’s okay to ask for help and support to uncover and use that power present in us. 

A half-hour interaction with Lovely Sharma felt like a sweet story-telling session of its own, as she talked about her life and her poetry. Hearing her speak in an ever so pleasant voice, it felt like the conversation should have happened over a cup of tea. Listening to her felt both warm and familiar, as she moved on from telling me about how she used to scribble couplets and poems when she was young, to the incident that led her to enter the platform of spoken-word. It was nice because of the clarity she showed about what she does and wants to do as a performer-poet. And it’d be illuminating for anyone struggling to find the intentions of why they should create content, in whatever form may it be. 

She goes back to her first performance of September 2019, when after a friend’s persuasion she decided to take half a day off from her office, and go perform at an open-mic. Her plan was to attend the gig and leave immediately after her turn, already convinced in her mind that this was going to be her first and last performance. And even the number of applause and appreciation she received after, was not enough to convince her that her poetry could lead to something more.

Cut to a month or so later, the video of her performance went viral, garnering more than half a million views. She tells me that her face and voice were new, not just for the viewers alone but to her as well, because she couldn’t recognise herself as a performer. She couldn’t believe that so many people would want to listen to her. 

When on stage, she mentions, she doesn’t like to look at people, wanting her performance to not be influenced by their reactions. However, their responses have served a larger purpose to her in making her continue doing what she does. She has been writing poetry since 8th grade. Her pens and diaries were her constants, as she used to write for herself and her satisfaction. But it only was after realising that people drew the same connection from it as she does from her work, that she felt like this was something that she had been waiting for all along. She very beautifully expressed that everything is secondary now, the smiles and tears of those listening to her and her words is what matters. 

“Jo zindagi ne seekha diya, ya logon ki kahaniyon se aa gaya” (From what life teaches, or what comes from the stories of others), she attributes as the source of her poems. She writes about life and how she observes it. Perhaps this is why people build a connection with her words. Talking about that, she says her writing’s purpose for her audience is to help them get back up in life. “Ya toh vo sambhalna seekh jate hai, ya chalna seekh jaate hain, ya fir thaharna seekh jaate hain” (either they learn to carry themselves, to walk ahead or to take a stop, a break) is how she sums it up. 

She draws her motivation from her past. When she looks back on her life, she says that she was living in the shoes of others too much, causing her to forget who she was. Her lessons from that is what keeps her going. A desire to become better than she was yesterday, and the hope to be better in her future than she is today. 

Another driving force for her has obviously been the love and acknowledgment that she has received from the people. She remembers one particular piece of her at this instance, written from the perspective of a martyr’s wife, called ‘Kaash’. She recounts the responses that she received for it. How an army man wrote to her, and how families of martyred soldiers, who had lost their loved ones, felt that they could remember them in what she spoke. A touching reiteration of the value some words can hold in the life of others.

Talking about her own family, she says that even after taking the very bold step of quitting her job to pursue spoken word, they still support her. Even as there were people in her life who considered open-mics as nothing better than ‘tamashas’ or ‘mehfils’. But she continues to write and perform. And she also points out, how the pandemic and lockdown have positively helped in the growth of her online presence. In response to the question of online hate and criticism, she very simply puts, “[their] opinion is not who I am”.

She also sees the difference between reading poetry and performing it as a major feature that makes stories worth listening to. We end the conversation after she gives her creative insight on how one should follow their passion for writing. You should have love and a sense of purity for your work, she says. It is better to focus on the quality of your content than running after appreciation. Be the first judge of your creation, and aim to add value to it. 

Finally she asserts, write not to impress, not to earn, not for followers but primarily for yourself, and all else will follow.

Urdu has charmed people with its beauty for ages. Even the non-speakers of the language have been familiar with the enchanting magic of its words and expressions– from Ghalib to Gulzar, everyone has read and sung their beautiful nazms and lyrics.

Reading poetry is both a shared and unique experience. They are words that enunciate feelings and are rooted in life and everything else that makes it. When you read a poem, you find your own truth in it, but also a calm comfort that tells you that you are not alone, that other people too are finding their own realities in it just as you are. And Shayaris remains an immensely popular form, for both the readers and writers of Urdu poetry, for this very reason. Its inspiration is drawn from life, love and hurt, beauty and romance, success and failures. Experiences that are universal to all, and yet unique to whoever experiences them.

So, we bring for the lovers of Shayaris, and for those who want to begin immersing themselves in it, some emerging writers to check out and follow. 

Sameer Oberoi translates the complexities that burden everyday life. He writes of ‘Shor shraabe ki zindagi’, full of convoluted connections, emotions, and communications. He drops truth dipped in the lyricism that is inherent to Urdu words, words like ‘jazbaat’. Where he distills the value of words, of the heavy meaning that hides behind everything that is said or unsaid. His unsaid direction in it being– to carefully say the things you do, to carefully listen to the things you hear. 

Tushar Mehrotra @doalfaaz pens down the often spoken, often felt, side of loving and losing someone. Of living with the space that is hollowed out by the lost, and with the realisation that it is never returning back. Of heartbreaks that leave a longing behind, to be loved in the way that you love another. Reminds one of Gulzar when he said, “kabhi to chaunk ke dekhe koi hamara taraf, kisi ki aankh men ham ko bhi intizar dikhe” (I wish to see someone look at me in surprise, with a longing in their eyes.)

Raghav Bhutani too writes of love, separation, and betrayal. His words flow to a beloved, and from lessons that life and love have brought upon. And he too writes in clarity the truths that sum up living. In just a few words he writes how some emotions get trapped in translations. How sometimes they don’t find the right expression and sometimes the right understanding. His words and emotions, however, do both for his audience. 

Another page, @rahat.ki.yadein, dedicated to the famous lyricist Rahat Indori, captures the essence of life’s stories, in a way, explaining that they are all ultimately the influences of what the heart feels, wants, and sees. Because life is full of feelings, and these feelings don’t require a declaration in big words but are found in the little things hidden in simple actions and simple words. 

The words of these poets lend voice to what a lot of people may feel but can never find the right expressions for it. Maybe that is why they have a lot of following because, at the end of the day, everybody is trying to find themselves, their experiences, and feelings in art. And that ultimately, is the purpose of any such work– amateur or not, high-brow or not– which is to make people feel things. And the popularity of these writers is proof enough that their work is serving that purpose to their audiences.

Emotions can be overwhelming. And it is never easy to communicate them. The words you know just don’t seem enough. Not just your vocabulary, but syntax of the language seems to limit you. Today, we will introduce you to some phenomenal poets who will awe you with their charm and Hindi poetic performances.

Anubhav Agarwal

Firstly, we have an admired poet amongst the common people, Anubhav Agrawal. Handling the Instagram account @iwritewhatyoufeel, Anubhav is known for his relatable poetry. While his poetry is deep, conveying a plethora of emotions and stories, it’s easy to understand. Anubhav Agarwal uses common every-day language in his poems. However, his poetry sounds beautiful.

His poem titled, ‘Wo Badla Nahi, Bas Benaqaab Hua’ expresses the tragedy of betrayal. Surely, you must know that the pain of being betrayed by someone you trust with all your life is agonizing. In this minute-long poem, Anubhav Agarwal successfully —- the roller-coaster of emotions that one goes through during such circumstances. In fact, his poetry is tragic, hurt, inflamed, yet entrancing.

Rohit Kishor

Next, Rohit Kishor will mesmerize you with his ability of expressing complex emotions in the everyday Hindi language. On 18^th March 2021, he uploaded a Hindi poetic video titled, ‘A True Relationship’ to his YouTube channel, Untold Diary.

The title does describe the poem the best. While this poem is based on the ideal relationship all hopeless romantics, chase; it isn’t unrealistic. It describes what we all should expect from a relationship, from love. Truly, the Hindi poetic performance as a whole is enchanting.  

Poetry has, within it, the power to be reaffirming. Simple words, wrapped around one another, drawing from the other what one fails to give, poetry  can, often, be what you just need. That conversation with a friend may or may not have helped, but these few beautiful words from these five talented poets definitely will. If you need a little bit of a ‘pick-me-up’, read on. After all, you are worth it.

Shefali Dang’s poetry is reminiscent of the little kindnesses you see in everyday life. Similar to the person who helps you pick up something you dropped or the stranger who, perhaps, tells you that you have your bag unzipped, her poetry is quiet and, yet, flecked with a genuine desire to help. With phrases like ‘…her soul was dipped in sunshine’, she projects a sense of inner reassurance that is sometimes lost in the maddening rush of today.

Amit Sharma, through his words, reminds you that, sometimes, it is completely okay to not feel up to it. That is what makes us who we are. Our bits of uncertainty are as important as the quiet confidence we carry with us. It is in the idea of acceptance that his poetry roots itself. Indeed, what better way to admit to our humanity than accepting our shared bouts of hesitation and uncertainty?

Have you ever found that perfect bite or that tiniest part of a song that completely changes your mood? That one whispered reassurance from a loved one, telling you that you are going to be fine? Rithvik Singh’s words have that same effect, pronounced and bound by its simplicity. Truthfully, that is all that you need sometimes. With words that imply a larger world behind them, Singh has his own way of making the important bits count. After all, we are creatures of moments.

Sanjana A. just might be the youngest one amongst the five. That has no bearing, however. It is her written spirit that tells the tale, a tale tinged by the understanding of what it truly means to love. She speaks not of love that is on digital pages, but, rather, of the one that is more important. The idea of gently being in love with yourself, building upon being patient and accepting yourself before anything else. 

Harshita J.’s poetry builds on the same thought, the idea of running your hands over all the scars, emotional or otherwise, you have without flinching. Being whole does not always mean the absence of pain. Sometimes, it can just be a willingness to be kind to yourself, despite what you carry within you. With her words, ‘…don’t forget to be the sun in your own’ she touches on the idea of giving yourself the same importance that you do to others.