Interviews
Shefali Das Puts That Shef’s Kiss In Her Music
In a conversation with Shefali Das, a singer-songwriter based in New Jersey, who goes by the stage name, Shef’s Kiss.
If there is one thing that Shefali Das will give you, it’s a sheer story combined with the perfect pitch. It was in 2019, when Shefali put out her first EP, ‘Dear Somebody,’. It consisted of five of her self-written songs, each with a unique story, a unique perception. Yes, she’s both a singer and a songwriter! The musical project of hers received a positive response, and it wasn’t surprising, since Shefali had always put that ‘Shef’s Kiss’ in all her musical endeavours.
Born and brought up in New Jersey, USA, Shefali was moved by her own desires and passion for music. The least to say, her journey has been enthralling, and quite a chirpy musical one. However, this doesn’t mean she didn’t have her shares of ups and lows. Until 2020, she went by her stage name, Das, under which Shefali also has the song, ‘Tired’ which has crossed 600K streams on Spotify.
Music is personal to her rather than just a commodity for the public. Since her previous profile didn’t resonate with the singer-songwriter on an equal level, she rebranded to a profile more tuned with her. And so emerged a new aura, a new stage name, ‘Shef’s Kiss,’ (there could be no better pun-intended stage name for her!) and we’re quite frankly looking forward to the music that is yet to come in this new refreshing chapter of hers!
Here’s a deeper dive into Shefali’s approach to music, her lyricism, and a little heart-to-heart on the enigma of art.
Music Is So Much More Than Just Melodies For Shefali Das: Early Life
The beginning of Shefali’s musical journey is unlike others. No, she wasn’t born with the natural inclination towards music, and neither did she take it up on her own. Rather, it was her parents who encouraged her to learn the piano. Just one of many neighbourhood things where the children were supposed to pick one or two creative hobbies and practices. Therefore, by the age of four, Shefali started practising the keys. It wasn’t until that one day at the Church recital, which literally made Shefali the singer she is today.
At the recital, there was a 10-year-old girl who played the piano and sang. The way she was singing, as described by Shefali, “full body facing the audience, broad-chested, feet planted” was something she had never witnessed before. She was dazzled by it. Shefali’s dad straightaway asked the piano teacher to give her daughter vocal lessons, but the daughter wasn’t quite looking forward to it. One thing that Shefali had great difficulty with in her childhood was interacting with people she didn’t know. She wanted to stay hidden from other people’s eyes. Owing to this, her parents tried to get her into several creative and sporty pursuits, and music happened to be one of them.
The Beginning!
Despite being against vocal lessons, Shefali had to ultimately give in to it, and what came out of it was definitely worth it. There’s something so beautiful in the way Shefali describes the first moments of her very first singing performance. Recollecting those emotions, she said, “I pushed back my shoulders, I took in more breath, I kind of physically took up more space, and then the way that sound reverberated in my chest, the way that it felt in my hips, in my lips, for the first time I felt that it was okay to take up space. It felt good, it felt kind of different. And to this day, the best thing about it is the way that it feels. It taught me that I was allowed to take up space, I was allowed to be heard, in fact maybe, if I was crazy enough to think that maybe people wanted to hear me too,” and thus began Shefali’s new journey.
The school orchestra band provided her with a sense of community and creativity, where she found a sense of comfort and space. Moreover, her dad always had songs blasted on the speakers, which kept her surrounded with disco-pop, classic rock, Motown, and her favorite, Bruce Springsteen. Thus, when asked what fosters her zeal towards music, she simply answered that growing up, there has always been in her the intrinsic desire to be surrounded by creation, to be surrounded by music. She never has and had to question it.
Currently, the singer-songwriter is pursuing her Ph.D. from Yale. It’s a dual programme in Sociology and African-American studies. She also remarked that a lot of new music is in the making which should be out soon!
Music, Social Media And The Transition: The Stepping Stones To Shef’s Kiss Music
As a singer-songwriter, Shefali consumes a lot of media: movies, books, songs, etc. She is not only inspired by musicians like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, or the 70s-80s disco pop, which happens to be her favourite genre, but also finds inspiration in architect designers and interior designers. All forms of creativity and art are a source for her to embrace, learn, and grow through it.
While promoting her first EP, ‘Dear Somebody,’ Shefali turned to social media. Even though she found a community of amazing artists, a great audience and a phenomenal response to her music, the bad side of it overpowered her. She posted song covers consistently to stay in trend, or trying to fit in to the idea of what the people wanted, or the imposter syndrome, all of it took a toll on her. The claws of the internet tainted the relationship she had with music. The social media bug fractured the connection she valued the most. So, she ultimately took a break from music all together. It was also the time of the pandemic. She then concentrated on other creative endeavours like baking, movies and reading books.
After the break, Shefali knew she had to rebrand herself, and this is when she changed her stage name from Das to Shef’s Kiss. She created a new Spotify profile, and decided to create music for herself, and express her true form, like she had always wanted. It was a turn to a more sustainable way of moving forward.
Tapping The Lyricism: Shef’s Kiss As A Songwriter
When it comes to lyricism, Shefali recalls her childhood days when she had spent a lot of time in her own head. She’d dump all her feelings and thoughts on a sheet of paper, and then, through this, it became a therapeutic outlet for her. Her lyrics bear a lot of weight, symbolisms, and metaphors. As a songwriter, her lyrics stem not only from personal experiences but also from her surroundings, other people’s stories, the social and political as well.
For instance, her song, ‘Tired,’ narrates a story of a suffocating relationship, one in which someone is not able to live with and without the same person. The song also reverberates the feelings of frustration, isolation, and mental exhaustion of the pandemic. Meanwhile, her song, ‘Forty-five Pt. II’, is a very political song. It’s on American politics and Trump. There are implicit metaphors and powerful feelings of anger, action, and questioning. Lyrics play a crucial part in the essence of the songs and its purpose, and apparently, this songwriter’s pen brings out her personal expressions very smoothly in words.
Message For The Aspiring Artists
Shefali Das believes that talent is acquired rather than being inherent, however, exceptions are always there. She herself is the living proof of it, having acquired her vocal talents and songwriting. She also adds that creative spirit and desire are innate, but the talent isn’t. A person must have the willingness to create. She also says that we must always interrogate ourselves and question why we’re doing it. Currently, with the 70s-80s vibe back in the mainstream industry, she almost feels vindicated to follow it. But in times like these, she always interrogates why she’s in music in the first place. One must find the balance amid desires and trends, and should always do what makes one feel fulfilled.
One of the life lessons she has learned, which she has also applied to her music, is when she dropped the idea of pursuing med. Her pre-med high-school days were just her chasing a kind of stability, a common immigrant drive. She was chasing someone else’s expectations. When she came to college, she realised that pursuing medicine really wasn’t sustainable for her. She confessed to her parents about the decisions to switch her major, and it felt like a dam broke. Parents are oftentimes skeptical of unconventional career paths, mainly because of their concerns more than anything. But the best way is to have a clear conversation with them and give them time to understand.
Expectations!
Shefali Das wants her mind, body, and soul to be involved a hundred percent in whatever she does. When she gave up her previous profile, ‘Das’, which still has 15K monthly listeners, it was like the plane was finally taking off. But Shefali decided to jump off right at that moment, because that direction wasn’t for her. With her identity as Shef’s Kiss now, she has released the song ‘Expectations’, produced by ShiShi. The song echoes the mixed feelings of anger and desperation after a breakup.
Therefore, for the aspiring artists, the songwriter has one thing to say: just go for it! If it means something to you, then that’s the end of all. Even though money is a big factor, especially in this capitalist world, your own creation and art is what keeps you going.
Interviews
Dhir Jakharia: From Dreams to Wildlife Frames
Dive into the captivating world of wildlife through the lens of Dhir Jakharia, a 20-year-old wildlife photographer, as we unravel his dreams and adventures behind the lens.
In the heart of Kenya, amidst the whispers of the wild, begins a remarkable journey. Born in the small town of Nyeri, Dhir Jakharia, a 21-year-old, grew up immersed in the rhythms of African life. Raised in the vibrant tapestry of African culture until the age of 13, Dhir Jakharia eventually moved to the capital, Nairobi. It was here that his love for photography sparked, eclipsing his childhood dreams of becoming a footballer. And his journey as a wildlife photographer began.
Embracing Change: From Football Dreams to Photography
Dhir Jakharia’s journey had a surprising twist. From dreaming of a career in professional football to unexpectedly finding his passion in photography, life had its own plans for him. His transition from an aspiring footballer to a passionate wildlife photographer was fueled by curiosity and love for nature. “I kind of just fell in love with it,” Jakharia reflects, recounting his photography journey. “Now I’m doing wildlife specifically, and I love the travelling aspect of it.”
Dhir Jakharia: Exploring Passion and Purpose
Currently pursuing Business Administration, Dhir Jakharia seamlessly combines his entrepreneurial spirit with his love for nature. “I’m a Gujarati, so I have business in my blood,” he states. Specializing in marketing, he envisions a future where his entrepreneurial spirit and artistic vision converge seamlessly. “I want to mix my photography with business,” he shares. “I’m already doing it on a small scale, selling prints and organizing photo tours.”
Through his lens, he seeks to foster awareness and empathy for the natural world. “Good photography helps to create awareness and can promote animal conservation,” he explains. Working on the logic of making people more familiar with their environment to ensure they try to conserve it, he explains further how when someone sees a picture of an elephant and likes it, they may think twice before partaking in animal cruelty.
Dhir Jakharia: Overcoming Challenges
The young photographer’s journey has not been without its share of challenges. The untimely passing of his father in 2020, and the disruptions caused by the pandemic. “Dealing with these difficulties was as difficult as you can imagine,” he reflects. “But channelling that negative energy into something constructive, that’s the biggest achievement I’ve gained from photography.”
Dhir Jakharia: Inspirations, Dreams and Beyond
Despite the hurdles he’s faced, Dhir Jakharia remains steadfast in his pursuit of excellence. Drawing inspiration from renowned photographers in the field of wildlife photography, such as Thomas Vijayan, Varun Aditya and Shaaz Jung, he continues to hone his craft with unwavering determination.
“I learned everything through YouTube,” he shares, underscoring the importance of persistence and resourcefulness in his journey. “It’s more about making the most out of what you have.”
In a field dominated by seasoned professionals, Dhir Jakharia is exceptional. “In ten years, I see myself as a full-time photographer, recognized internationally,” he shares. “But beyond success, I prioritize my mental health and relationships with family and friends.” Reflecting on his recent exhibition at the ‘Xposure International Photography & Film Festival’ in Sharjah, UAE, he speaks of his pride in being the youngest among his peers. “Inspiring people and making photography my full-time profession while living a fulfilling life—that’s my definition of success,”. Additionally, he has already left a mark in the industry by collaborating with industry giants like Sony and Adobe at the young age of 18.
Message for Young Dreamers
To aspiring dreamers embarking on unconventional paths, Dhir Jakharia offers a simple yet profound piece of advice: “Self-belief is the biggest thing. Dream big, aim for the stars—even if you fail, you’ll still reach the sky.” In the footsteps of giants and guided by his unwavering passion, Dhir Jakharia continues to weave tales of wonder through his lens, reminding us all of the magic that awaits in the embrace of nature.
Interviews
Anant Ladha: A Man With A Mission
With a mission to spread financial literacy, finance creator Anant Ladha sits down with us for a quick chat on what drives him forward.
In this fast-paced world of technology, it’s hard to remain consistent. With changing algorithms and trends how can you remain consistent and relevant? And with everyday living prices going up daily, it’s hard to stick to your ethics. This is exactly when content creators like Anant Ladha with their YouTube channel Invest Aaj For Kal bring a refreshing change in this ever-changing system.
Anant Ladha: Early Days
Born and raised in Kota, Rajasthan, Anant Ladha’s introduction to finance and the stock market happened early in life. Being the third generation in his family to enter the financial world, he was exposed to trading and the stock market just like a kid would be exposed to cartoons. This gave a good foundation upon which he built up his entire life.
Starting as just a tactic to win over his teachers and peers, Anant Ladha originally began by keeping up with the ups and downs of the stock market to impress his teachers and friends. But whatever his intentions may be, this practice helped him a lot in his career as keeping up with the stock market became a regular part of his daily routine and helped him understand the nuances of the financial market better.
After initially starting his job at Mumbai in trading he left it to join his family business. While working there, an incident took place that changed his life forever. In his town, a company was closing down and all the employees were given around 50 lakhs corpus amount. Among them, one employee who had received this amount had invested it in an insurance scheme that wouldn’t allow him to withdraw the money until the five years were up. Desperately in need of money to support his sick wife in the hospital, the poor man showed up in tattered clothes begging Anant Ladha for money. His situation shocked Ladha and he realized that our country still is not as financially literate as he thought it was and hence he started on his mission to help convert India “from a country of savers to a country of investors.”
Invest Aaj For Kal
Starting as physical sessions, Ladha held free classes for people in certain parts of North India to help them become more financially literate. Two of his sessions were also recognised by the Rajasthan government. And everything was going fine but still, the huge financial literacy gap of the entire country was gaping widely at him. Hence, he decided to increase his target audience by going digital, leading to the inception of Invest Aaj For Kal.
Initially, for a good 1-1.5 years, his YouTube channel, Invest Aaj For Kal, didn’t do as well as he had expected. But consistent efforts, support from family and strong determination brought him to where he is today. With a little nudge from YouTube that put the spotlight on him by giving his channel the “Creator on the Rise” award in 2020, he was ready to make the most of his spotlight. From asking people to subscribe to his channel by talking about how great and informative it is without revealing that he owns the channel, to getting millions of views on every video, he has come a long way. The best part, Anant Ladha prioritises consistency over anything else and posts content regularly.
Message for Young Content Creators
Being the practical person that he is, he never blames fate or algorithms for fewer views but rather tries to find out how he can do better and revamp his content as and when required. He forever values the digital community that pushes him forward as he believes that the day he stops valuing them and takes them for granted will be the end of his career. For a man who went from working a 9-5 job to full-time content creator his definition of success changes every time he achieves something and this constant negotiation with success is the most practical way to view life.
Striking a balance between personal and professional life, Anant Ladha takes in bad comments like a pro. According to him, all his bad reviewers are truly his ardent followers as they wait to watch each of his videos just to leave bad reviews. And with this positive attitude, he leaves a message for young content creators:
“If earning money is the only objective you have through your digital journey then don’t enter this field. But if you’re objective is more than just earning money then it’s a beautiful field.”
His reasoning behind this lies in the fact that you won’t earn much in the initial years of creating content hence you must have a bigger purpose to sustain in this space for longer for yourself and your audience.
Interviews
Ganeshprasad Sridharan: Indian Education Redefined
Set to put a dent in the Indian education system, meet Ganeshprasad Sridharan; a man who left no stone unturned to right the wrongs that hindered his growth in the education system.
How often does our education system frustrate us? And more importantly how often do we set out to rectify it rather than fitting into the one-size-fits-all mould it prescribes to us? Our education system needs some serious re-designing and there’s no point hiding it any longer. We had a conversation with Ganeshprasad Sridharan; a man who left no stone unturned to right the wrongs that hindered his growth in the education system; to understand his side of efforts to bridge the gap that exists between the present and the future, i.e., learning and getting hired via Think School.
Ganeshprasad Sridharan: The Start of It All
Born and brought up in Pune, Ganeshprasad Sridharan’s schooling was pretty similar to others with just one difference; in his school, his teachers ensured to foster the students’ critical thinking ability. He was made to think about morality on an individual level rather than blindly following it as a societal norm. As the teachers asked him to re-examine Brutus’s character in the play Julius Caesar, he got a sense that there is no one right or one wrong in the world. He understood the value of subjectivity and cherished the individuality it brought with it.
Going from such an enriching environment to an engineering college which heavily relied on rote learning was a huge shocker for Sridharan. At college, neither was anybody willing to stop, think and understand the principles nor did the teachers wish to make them understand it. Plus the 75% mandatory attendance only adds to the pressure of fitting into the mould as students get less time to explore their interests and abilities. The constant assignments and exams with mediocre teaching that one was bound to attend set one up on a sure path of failure. The herd mentality which makes people follow along to crack the coveted UPSC which has a 0.2% pass percentage ensures that individuals are trapped in that conventional path of failure forever. To put a dent in the Indian education system and break this cycle of failure, Ganeshprasad Sridharan along with his partner Prakash Kothari came up with Think School.
Think School
With a motto, “To put a dent in the Indian education system by providing world-class education at a price that is less than a pair of denim jeans” Ganeshprasad Sridharan started Think School with his partner Prakash Kothari. With a rocky beginning that led to them shutting their physical classroom due to the pandemic, it was social media that not only saved but ensured that Think School thrived like never before.
Trying to bridge these three gaps; business education, communication and fundamental principles of entrepreneurship; by providing a masterclass on each, Think School has made the internet the one-stop destination to hone your business acumen. Realising that their audience can’t afford pricey offline classes, the move to social media such as YouTube was a great decision on the founders’ part.
Ensuring that the quality of Think School is never compromised they have a very detailed value system through which they select the core members of their team. Some of them as described by Sridharan include; the ability to critically analyse oneself, the ability to give brutal feedback, the ability to take in brutal feedback and lastly the attitude to constantly learn and improve.
According to Ganeshprasad Sridharan, it’s not “the breadth of influence” but rather the “depth of influence” that matters more. For him, Think School’s success lies in being considered a reliable source of information not just for students in IIM and other universities and schools but even for professors and established businessmen who rely on its practical and interesting approach to enhance their abilities.
What Makes A Great Entrepreneur?
According to Ganeshprasad Sridharan, it’s the extraordinary sharpness in finding better opportunities by doing market research, being able to read and address the gap presented by market research to understand your opportunity better, ability to execute one’s plan fast and daring to fail so that one learns the value of resilience over time, and lastly remaining relevant by evolving with technology and understanding the target audience and their needs; all of this makes the perfect recipe for a great entrepreneur. When Sridharan started his venture, many had their doubts regarding it but he trusted himself as according to him, he was following his heart as it had logic to it. Others could only project their doubts and hesitation but not provide a logic strong enough to persuade him to abandon his venture. And in today’s cut-throat world of business, this is truly a great virtue to harbour.
The masterclass at Think School ensures that one develops this business acumen through practical assignments in which the students are given full liberty to complete them how they feel like it. Following his grandfather’s advice to; “Use language not to confuse people but to convince them”, in each video of Think School, Ganeshprasad Sridharan and Prakash Kothari are building the pillars of modern education that values and foster individuality with one video and masterclass at a time.
Lastly, Ganeshprasad Sridharan’s message to all the budding entrepreneurs is:
“Keep learning and keep reading because market research will help you find opportunities and reading will help you tap into those opportunities. Passion alone will not take you anywhere unless you have a direction. Direction will come with two things: the ability to do market research to find problems and the ability to read and learn to address those problems better.”
Interviews
Arvind Arora: A True Inspiration
Never losing faith in himself and trudging forward in life, Arvind Arora managed to make a name for himself in this rapidly changing world.
Making a life for yourself when the whole world is against you seems like something that happens only in the movies. But we often forget that these movies are almost always inspired by reality. Among many such inspirations, one is Arvind Arora, the founder of the YouTube channel A2 Motivation a visionary who never stopped dreaming and working on them. He believed that rather than having a fancy degree knowing what your strength is and honing that skill to perfection and being able to find ways to answer a question rather than knowing the answer all the time will take you a long way forward. Recently, The Talented Indian caught up with him to keep the chain of inspiration going.
Arvind Arora: Life Before Youtube
Coming from a small family in a small city in Rajasthan, life for Arvind Arora wasn’t always easy. In small cities, it so happens that one’s future is more often than not pre-determined, but Arvind Arora decided that he would not let anyone decide the course of his life and set out to make his path on his own. Life wasn’t easy as he faced rejection and was asked to leave many teaching centres because of work politics, but he never stopped believing in himself.
According to him, his parents weren’t supportive of his dreams initially. And when his father told him to go and do what he liked as he would render the fruits of his hard work, he took that advice very seriously. Unlike many parents who shower a lot of love and spoon-feed their children to ensure their success, his father never spoon-fed him. By doing so he ensured that his son learnt how to be accountable for his actions and through that, he supported him by ensuring that he grows up as a self-reliant individual.
As Arvind Arora was a topper in his school his father believed that given his brilliance he should be allowed to study for free. Hence, he refused to pay the school fees and whenever the school authorities would haggle him about the same he just suggested transferring him to another school as he knew the true worth of his son. But obviously, no school agreed on this as that’s how invaluable he was to the institution. According to Arora, he shared a rather weird relationship with his father. Instead of spoiling him like many parents do he gave him the independence to do what he likes and through that, he ended up supporting his son in the long run.
Arvind Arora: Inspiration & Baby Steps Towards YouTube
The one person who inspired Arora the most and continues to be a source of inspiration even today is his wife. Having an age gap wherein she was older than him by five years, they had to go through several ordeals before they could be united but they never gave up on each other and themselves and continuously worked on each other and improved themselves. It was his wife who helped him start his journey on YouTube as she had already started her own and was able to guide him through the entire process.
(If you’re as curious as me and want to check out Arvind Arora’s wife’s YouTube channel, who by the way has some really creative and easy-to-make cooking ideas to share you can click here. Though she has stopped posting on her channel for a few years now I am sure her easy-to-understand videos will remain forever helpful for anyone who is starting out in cooking as well as for those who want to try out something new.)
After graduating from Swami Keshvanand Institute of Technology, Management & Gramothan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Arora was all set to be an engineer working in the corporate sector. But before he ventured into that he decided to try out teaching and turns out he truly has a knack for the art of teaching.
Some people have degrees from highly reputed universities but are not great teachers. And some like Arvind Arora don’t hold fancy degrees but yet are amazing teachers. What sets them apart is their way of communicating with others and their delivery. Hence, even today Arvind Arora’s education videos still garner a lot of views on YouTube. (If you’re looking for some motivation or some random facts, make sure to check out Arvind Arora’s channel by clicking here.)
Arvind Arora: The Journey Towards Becoming a Top YouTuber
Initially, Arora started his journey on YouTube with educational videos and later turned to creating motivational and “facts” videos. Just like any other YouTuber, he struggled with the algorithm and the immense competition but what pushed him forward was his attitude to never give up and being open to learning.
He mentioned how he ensured to go through the comments that he received on each of his videos as they guided him as to how to go forward in terms of content creation. When he struggled with the algorithm he didn’t hesitate to ask for help and reached out to YouTube asking for feedback and worked on them. But most importantly, he never stopped putting out content as according to him you should not fear the public’s opinion so much that you stop expressing yourself.
According to him being disciplined helped him a lot in life as it ensured that he remained consistent in his work. Although he agrees that one need not be so rigid in life that they don’t try out new things as you only have one shot at life, he also thinks that there are certain areas in life where one needs to be rigid to achieve something. And that’s where discipline comes into the picture.
According to him, true success is being satisfied with yourself. He agrees that one does need to work towards earning more money at a certain age, but he also agrees that one need not make it their only goal in life. Focusing on yourself and improving yourself physically and mentally is equally important and he has started doing so too. In fact, according to Arora, he would have probably ended up working as a fitness trainer had he not ended up where he is today.
Afterword
Arora’s parting words and message to young dreamers everywhere is to keep experimenting in life. According to him, you have just got around 70 years on Earth, do you really want to spend it holed up in an office? He hopes that dreamers keep their dreams alive and experiment with different careers in their lives as well as learn different skills to live a very enriching life. Coming from nothing to building his own company and channel by never giving up on himself Arvind Arora continues to be a source of inspiration. And with these parting words, he starts the chain of inspiration by inspiring this one interviewer.
Interviews
Rakesh Tiwari: A Poet Weaving the Fabric of Life
Celebrating Rakesh Tiwari and his work which is crafting life’s symphony through poetry and breaking barriers of elitism.
Poetry has always been a powerful medium, capable of touching the deepest chords of our hearts. It holds the magical power to not only articulate emotions but also entertain and deeply move us. Rakesh Tiwari, a multifaceted poet, author and storyteller, embarks on a mission to unwrap the intricate tapestry of life through his captivating poetic performances. His journey began with the simple act of rhyming, but he soon recognized the profound potential of his craft to create impactful poetry that could be performed and shared with the world.
His poetry mirrors life’s diverse and intricate flavours, each composition offering a distinct essence that resonates with a spectrum of audiences.
One of his well-known works is “Veg Biriyani” which playfully delves into the bond between vegetarians and beloved biriyani. His words advocate celebrating India’s diverse traditions, cultures and tastes while emphasizing the importance of respecting each other’s choices to foster unity.
Another well-known one is “Zindagi” which gives us a humorous take on the modern-day obsession with brands, exposure, internet culture, and social media. Tiwari highlights the superficiality of the current generation’s pursuits, where every moment is curated for online display, adorned with hashtags, and evaluated by the number of likes and comments.
Rakesh Twiari draws inspiration from a variety of sources, but it was the qawwali shows that his mother lovingly watched that plated the seeds of rhythm in him. His poetic journey began with exploring rhymes, which eventually became an artistry of words and emotions. It was the passing of his father that prompted him to pen down his first mature poem “ Mann Ka Mail”, a change from the usual love poems he penned in college.
Some of his more melancholic poetry is “Bachpan”, which serves as a heartfelt tribute to the innocence and carefreeness of childhood. Tiwari remembers his school days, scolding from his parents, and pure friendships that defined this phase of life.
“Amma Ki Atachi” tenderly reflects the emotional farewell to a mother. He pays homage to the cherished memories and ordinary things that held immense sentimental value. Tiwari’s poetry flows naturally from the depths of his feelings, being a potent medium for self-expression.
Rakesh Tiwari aspires to be a poet of the people, aiming to break down the barriers of elitism within the realm of art. His poetry has been a source of solace and companionship to many, with people expressing their gratitude for the solace and support they have found through his poetry. He encourages young artists to not shy away from the monotony that often accompanies life’s journey. Emphasizing the importance of perseverance and faith.
Though he has dedicated 11 years of his life working in a call centre, Rakesh’s unwavering belief was that his poetry would eventually pave the way for the realization of his dream-a life as a freelancer. His journey radiates the enduring power of faith and the unwavering pursuit of one’s passion. In the darkest tunnels of life, the light of hope always shines through, and Rakesh Tiwari’s story stands as a testament to this profound truth.
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