Poetry is worth it if it amuses the reader, ignites a fire within them and makes them feel and relate to the subject. A poetry can take the reader to a wonderland wherein he jumps onto the train of thoughts of the poet and feels immersed in a perfectly enchanting combination of joy, love, pain, excitement and all the rest feelings.

Writing a poem is like discovering oneself, the end is not pre-decided, the words flow from within the writer and an elegant piece is created with an end which was never meant but still is the best it could ever have. Here are some young yet mature poets to let you experience a different world through this creations.

Srijani Rupsha Mitra 

A prolific writer and poet Srijani Rupsha Mitra hails from the Indian City of Joy – Kolkata, West Bengal. Writing her first poem at the budding age of fifteen. Rupsha has always been fascinated by Indian literature. She remembers being inspired and supported by her grandmother who herself is a poet and writer. Ruspha wrote her first poem in class 9 and it depicted ‘women’. Initially she wrote poems in her mother tongue Bengali and gradually ventured into writing in English. Love, nature, womanhood and politics are her favourite themes to write about. Her love for nature is evident in one of her most loved poems – ‘At the Haridwar Ghat’. Spirituality and transcendence are the realms she loves to explore. Working as a columnist with the magazine called Houghton and Mackay, Rupsha has several literary accolades credited to her name. She is the winner of the BLACC Poetry Contest. Many of her works have been featured in renowned magazines and online platforms like London Reader, Mermaids Monthly, Birmingham Arts Journal, Muse India, North Dakota Quarterly and the like.  

Her journey of being a notable poet began from winning the Lockdown Poetry Contest conducted by eShe magazine. From that time, there has been no looking back. She published her debut poetry collection ‘Smoked Frames’ at the age of seventeen and has published one more anthology called ‘Dandelion Skin’ since then. Her works delve deep into human relations, feelings, emotional aspects, nature’s bounties and spirituality. They put forth the perfect mixture of beauty, rhythm and the choicest of words. Her works paint a vivid and breathtaking picture of the subject in the reader’s mind. 

Currently an undergraduate English Literature student in Kolkata, she considers herself to be a page poet more than a stage poet. With  Kaviguru Shri Rabindranath Tagore being her idol, she flawlessly blends spirituality into her poems and brings out the best from the sea of words. 

Sahil Gera

A 20 year old from Jaipur – the Pink City of India, Sahil Gera is a poet with two poem anthologies credited to his name. He generally writes in Hindustani (in Farsi and Devanagari scripts) and English. Writing his first poem in class tenth, he has found his home in the impermanence of life; that is what inspires him to write. An individual with a passion for creative arts, Sahil is also actively involved in collegiate theatre. He adores the works of many great writers like Amrita Pritam, Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Javed Akhtar, gulzar Sahib, William Shakespeare. Oscar Wilde, T.S. Eliot and the like. But he finds his sukoon in Sahir Ludhiani’s ‘Chakle’ and Bahadur Shah Zafar’s ‘Lagta nahi hai dil mera ujade dayar mein’.

Sahil has been a guest speaker at the Jaipur Children’s Festival and one of his anthologies has been exhibited at the Jaipur Literary Festival. He believes that expressing and creating bold pieces of art that reflect the true voices of the oppressed and the innate emotion of our generation is the only thing that can make our lives worthwhile. 

Rajeev

A student of technology, Rajeev is a literature enthusiast at heart. He wrote his first poem – a rhyming verse on the theme of separation, in the year 2021. He generally writes in Hindi, English and Urdu. Rajeev derives his inspiration from his surroundings. His inner turmoil and ecstasy are something that drive him towards penning down masterpieces. Currently reading ‘Nadi ke Deep’ by Sachchidanand Heeranand Vatsyayan and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, he urges budding writers to read voraciously. He is an individual in search of himself, the meaning of life and solace. His pen name ‘in_search_of_astitva’ is a true reflection of his ideas and ideals.

He believes that reading broadens horizons and develops creativity in a way no other thing can. Rajeev loves the works of Paulo Coelho, Vinod Kumar Shukl and Dharamveer Bharati. Elif Shafak’s ‘Forty Rules of Love’ and Mana Kaul’s ‘Antima’ are some of his favourite works. On a note to his fellow and budding writers, he says that one should not compare oneself to others. One must derive inspiration but never compare.

Hairat 

In love with her pen name, Hairat is an engineering graduate who began her writing journey in class twelfth. Her first poem was a heartwarming piece about the efforts of a mother and her child’s failed acknowledgement of the same. Hairat generally writes in Hindi and English but has a nook of her heart reserved for Hindi poetry. She believes that she has always possessed an urge to let unsaid emotions be penned down. Hairat is currently invested in reading Dr. Brian Weiss’ ‘Many Lives, Many Masters’. 

She feels that writing stirs something deep inside her and her pen bleeds spontaneously and effortlessly. With ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini being one of her favourite reads, she derives her inspiration from legendary writers like Rahat Indori, Dagh Dehlavi, Jaun Elia, Manav Kaul, Amish Tripathi, Elif Shafak and Khaled Hosseini. Hairat encourages young minds to read as much as they can to shape their thoughts. She urges the upcoming writers to explore and explore and carve their own niche. She says, “Let your creativity know no bounds. Don’t be discouraged by comparing yourself with other artists because everyone has their own charisma, so do you!”

Purva Dagade

A postgraduate student of Chemistry from Nagpur, Maharashtra and a poet at heart, Purva often goes by her pen name ‘The Frozen Heart. She believes that this is what inspired her to write in the first place. Her first poem written in free verse form back in class tenth narrated the story of betrayal and hope. Purva generally prefers to write in English and feels that writing is her form of salvation. Quotes from her favourite authors and poems by her favourite writers often inspire her to write extraordinary pieces. But mostly, her inner self – joy and grief profoundly bring out the best in her. 

Harry Potter by JK Rowling and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho are some of her favourite books. A fan girl of textbook poems, Purva loves to read the works of William Shakespeare, Rabindranath Tagore, Alfred Tennyson and the like. She also follows Korean/Chinese dramas and finds her muse in the wonderful dialogues from them. To name a few, Doctor Slump and When I Fly Towards you have been some of her all time favourites. Purva strives to ensure that her creative pieces resonate with the reader’s mind. They should build a connection beyond the ordinary and let readers find their solace in them. She advises the younger generation of writers to express themselves as freely as they wish to. She says, “Be an artist for your passion first, and do not let the opinions of others intimidate you. Believe in yourself and your art.”

Bidya 

Coming from a small town of Odisha, India, Bidya is a poet who writes in her mother tongue Odia and English. She initially started her journey by writing short stories in Odia but she could never finish them. Then she tried to portray her feelings in the form of poetry, but could not do it well either. This led Bidya to quit writing for almost 5-6 years. But better late than never, she bounced back with fervour and restarted her journey by posting her thoughts on an app custom made for the same purpose. Bidya then started receiving immense love and support from her readers and fellow writers on the platform. And till date, she finds her serenity there and considers it to be a memorable experience for herself. Writing her first poem about rain, she believes that nothing can inspire a writer more than their solitude. 

Bidya is currently reading a poetry collection called ‘Love is a Dog from Hell’ by Charles Bukowski. Khaled Hosseini and Franz Kafka are her all time favourites. Her love for them knows no bounds as she loses herself in their works leading her to complete reading them in just two – three days. Bidya has always derived her inspiration from the phenomenal works of Sylvia Plath. Emily Dickinson and John Milton also inspire her to write stunning poems. She feels that the upcoming generation of writers is indeed great, but most of them are chasing likes and comments on social media. She urges them to be original and read well. She believes that continuity is the key and expressing oneself and eventually building vocabulary will let them bloom into beautiful metaphors. 

This World Music Day, we bring you some indie artists to expand your playlist and introduce and embrace art and new artists of India.

“i will never be bad” by Ananya Sharma

“i will never be bad again” is a self-composed song by Ananya Sharma which was released in 2022. Ananya Sharma, based in Mumbai, India, apart from being a talented singer is also a composer and bandleader of Funan and Gang. She’s a storyteller most of all. She writes them to music. 

Her song, ‘I will never be bad again’ is one of her many stories, this one revolving around her childhood. It revolves around growing up as a child, which is a unique and individual experience for all of us. In her song, she writes and sings about some difficult patches of life that she had to face alone and probably scarred her for a long time. However, her song, or as she likes to call it, her story sung to her music is not about talking about these scars. Instead, it’s about moving past them and embracing the new and possibly better version of herself. 

Her story transforms from being so ashamed of herself that she can’t even look at herself to exploring and loving herself to the extent that she has found the courage to never be bad again because she will never feel the need to. “I could turn to dust/ I could slowly fade/ I could be my own person/  I could wait.” Life is not easy and in the path of it, we all stumble here and there but it also does not end there. To move forward is the very essence of it. To live it fully, as Ananya does, you need to let go of some things and reach out to others.

Bless Ya Heels by Tribe Mama Marykali

If you’ve always enjoyed listening to Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and Little Mix and the more women who sing powerful songs about women, then this one’s for you. Tribe Mama Maryakai aka Katharina Valayil, is a Malyali singer who grew up in Nigeria. Her music celebrates women of color with a lot of sass with the undertone of the seriousness of the message she wants to put across. Her music celebrates womanhood in all its various forms. 

Through her music, she is rebelling against the structures that label women and put them in a box. With catchy beats and addictive lyrics, she’s using her platform and art to talk about the serious issues with regard to the historical oppression of women. The lyrics of Bless Ya Heels, “Wash your feet in the rain and pray/Before you move towards my temple/ Bless ya heels/ You stand on sacred ground…I am a Star of Venus/ I am Goddess witch/ Badass bitch…Tribe mama from the core/Am diggin’ in the core now!” channel the divine womanhood of women of color that is mostly neglected.

Mutual by Ranj X Clifr 

Ranjani Ramadoss is a musician from Chennai, India. Her journey started with two bands Kelvikkuri (jazz fusion) and Paula & the Associates (Neo-soul/pop). Now, she’s started her new project called RANJ which she launched in 2021. Her music is either English or Tamil and conveys different stories and themes. In her song, Mutual, she explores the difficult stage of a relationship when it doesn’t feel right. Each human relationship is complex and requires different things, approaches, and behaviors to be successful. A lot of times, the comfortable state of a relationship is hard to let go of. Ranjani explores the same with her lyrics, “Just because it’s comfortable/ Don’t mean that it’s suitable/ Think that its agreeable/ It don’t feel like home at all”

ILY by Shane (Prod. by Searcy & StephC Baby)

ILY by Shane is the right music for you if you find yourself listening to catchy beats and groovy music. It’s not heavy on the lyrics and easy to vibe to and will definitely make it to your everyday playlist. Shane is a singer, songwriter, and musician based in Shillong, India. Most of his music is of R&B Soul and Hip Hop genre. The catchy beats and lyrics that hit home make his music something that you should be checking out ASAP.

sophomore sweetheart – sunflower tape machine

sophomore sweetheart by sunflower tape machine sounds and feels exactly like its name. It will transport you to the first year or young days of your college life. The music makes you feel the nostalgia of exploring new things, new people, new places, and new experiences all for the first time. It feels like a trance of the young days where you can easily lose yourself. What adds to this feeling is the music video which is various clips combined in a film format that prompts you to see it as if you’re watching your own life reeling through the camera.  Aryaman Singh from Chennai is the founder of the experimental project, sunflower tape machine which is all about analog synth sounds inspired by the 80s and dreamy chords.

Mona Lisa Smile by Gouri and Aksha

What started as a musical theatre show for Aladdin in Mumbai is now a band of two, Gouri and Aksha. Gouri was a budding singer from Kerala when she met Aksha from Punjab in Mumbai. The duo started their journey with Instagram videos but today are successful with shows in Japan and the USA. Their music is a blend of their voices harmonizing together. Their song, Mona Lisa Smile is a mix of jazz and pop and leaves a calming effect on you. The music and the lyrics are the kinds you sway along to and vibe in peace on a rainy day with a book and a cup of your favorite coffee or tea. They are also there on Prateek Kuhad’s album Shehron Ke Raaz.

Itne Pyaar Se (Thoda Darr Lagta Hai) by Sanjeeta Bhattacharya x Tanmaya Bhatnagar

Love feels great to embrace but with great love comes the fear of losing it too. Sanjeeta Bhattacharya and Tanmaya Bhatnagar’s Itne Pyaar Se (Thoda Darr Lagta Hai) is a beautiful song about the many complexities that come with romantic relationships and how various couples embrace them. The lyrics, “Itne pyaar se/ Bhi thoda dar lagta hai/ Tere saath par, yeh darr bhi, acha lagta hai”, in their very raw form tell the stories and emotions each one of us goes through when in love. 

The music video, apt to the lyrics, portrays relationships and couples that are flawed and nowhere perfect to the dreamy lands of rom-com. In its true essence, the song is a raw exploration of what love feels like. The song closes with “Roke rukta nahi, dil beparvah lagta hai/ Bujhe bujhta nahi, dil lau jaise jalta hai” which tells the real tale of most love stories and what emotions people feel when in love.

Dance is a language that brings people together regardless of their varying cultural backgrounds. With its many forms and variations, this form of art is highly expressive and holds the power to convey the stories and emotions of the dancer without conveying them in words. This International Dance Day, let’s look at a few Indian dancers to celebrate their art form.

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya Dance Cover by Nivi and Ishanvi, Laasya

Niveditha and Ishanvi Hegde are a mom-and-daughter dancing duo with moves that are a sight to behold. They’ve done dance covers of multiple trendy songs that you can learn for your next sangeet performance or simply watch for an upbeat mood. In this dance cover of the latest song, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya by Asees Kaur, Raghav featuring Nelly, and Tanishk Bagchi, the duo shows off their expressive and playful moves.

Malhar Jam Dance Cover

Devi Nair and Rachna Jayachandran are classical Kathak dancers from Kerala. They portray the traditional and classical dance styles and values of Indian culture. This dance cover of Malhar Jam by Coke Studio India is a self-choreographed dance. Their mesmerising moves and expressions make it perfect for any classical dance lover.

Cheraw Dance at Anthurium Festival 2013

India is the world’s largest and most diverse nation, making it extremely rich in cultures. While many cultures have travelled borders and reached worldwide audiences, many remain exotic, even to Indians, due to minority sections in the country. One such dance is the Cheraw dance. The Cheraw dance is the exotic traditional mass bamboo folk dance of Mizoram. This dance is performed at the Anthurium Festival every year, which the state government of Mizoram organises to encourage Anthurium cultivation.

Garba Fusion by Kathak Rockers

With the growing modernisation and experimentalism, many dance forms also modernise themselves for a more relatable touch. This is popularly known as a fusion dance. In this dance cover by Kathak Rockers, Sushil Patil’s choreography is traditional Gujrati Garba with a Bollywood touch and Kathak. You can get some moves from this fantastic dance group for your next Garba night and show them to your friends and family.

Barso Re Dance Cover by Nritya Troops Nepal

Barso Re is a famous Bollywood song by A. R. Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal, and Uday Mazumdar from the movie Guru. It is a perfect song for those monsoon days, and what makes it even better is this dance cover by the Nepalese dance group Nritya Troops Nepal. Their moves are energetic and enthusiastic, with a slight touch of Indian classical dances. The dance and their colourful outfits also share a remarkable resemblance with Bollywood dancers.

O Re Piya Dance Cover by Alisa Gurova

Self-choreographed dance by Alisa Gurova, this dance cover of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s O Re Piya is a beautiful sight to please anyone. Alisa, in her dance, beautifully incorporates belly dance in tribal Indian dance form, making it a mesmerising fusion for the audience. It also shows her creativity, vision, and versatility as a dancer and a choreographer. What adds more to the eye-pleasing value is Katya Rybka’s majestic location and directionfor this performance of O Re Piya. 

Kashmir Folk Dance in Sydney

Kashmir is located in the northernmost part of India and is often considered to be paradise on earth due to the breathtaking beauty of its luscious valleys, lakes, and landscapes. Recently, during the visit of Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, the community reception in Sydney, Australia presented a beautiful dance performance by Kashmiris. It is a Kashmiri folk dance showcasing their traditions and cultures.

Dalkhai, The Folk Dance of Odisha by Gunjan

Dalkhai is the traditional folk dance of Odisha. This dance performance is from Odia Parba Nuakhai or Navakhai, an agricultural festival. It is mainly celebrated in Western Odisha and Southern Chhattisgarh to welcome the new crops and rice of the season. This dance by Gunjan Dance Academy perfectly represents traditional Odisha and its culture.

From figurative to abstraction, Ram Kumar, a luminary in India’s artistic cosmos, is a beacon of inspiration, revolutionising the canvas with his abstract strokes. Born in 1924, Ram Kumar’s journey from the corridors of academia to the bustling street of Paris and finally to the serene landscapes of Varanasi captures a profound evolution in both his art style and thematic preoccupations.

Ram Kumar was drawn into the art world due to a chance encounter with an exhibition at the Sarada Ukil School of Art while pursuing his Master’s in Economics at St Stephen’s College in 1945. He enrolled in evening classes at the art school under the guidance of artist Sailoz Mookherjea. Kumar started to hone his skills in still-life portrait painting, gradually transitioning to capture the urban decay and human condition of Delhi and Shimla through his paintings. During his formative years, Kumar’s art reflected a vibrant energy, often depicting scenes of everyday life juxtaposed with deeper existential themes. His works, such as “Why Can’t I Sleep” and “Oppression”, reflected the underlying social and political currents shaping post-independence India.

In 1948, Ram Kumar’s artistic journey took a significant turn when he joined a Hindi daily newspaper as a journalist trainee and crossed paths with artist J. Swaminathan. This encounter solidified his commitment to art, and began a lifelong friendship with fellow artists such as S.H Raza, F.N. Souza and K.H.Ara. The year 1949 witnessed Ram Kumar’s first solo exhibition in Shimla, where his paintings caught the eye of Dr Zakir Hussain, the then Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University. Inspired by the early success, Kumar embarked on a journey of artistic enlightenment to Paris.

With its rich cultural tapestry, Paris was a crucible for Kumar’s artistic evolution. Under the tutelage of renowned artist Andre Lhote, Kumar delved into the work of lines, curves and colours, imbuing his works with a newfound dynamism inspired by the works of radicals like Louis Aragon and Roger Garaudy, as well as encounters with luminaries like Pablo Neruda, Kumar’s art began to reflect a deeper engagement with human emotions and societal realities. The years spent in Paris were transformative for Kumar, artistically and ideologically. His encounters with the works of Courbet, Rouault, Kathe Kollwits and Edward Hopper instilled in him a deep appreciation and sensitivity to the human experience, which would manifest in his later works.

When he returned to India, Kumar was drawn to the ancient city of Varanasi, where he encountered a land brimming with spiritual fervour and existential angst. The stark contrast between the city’s vibrant rituals and its silent decaying structures became a recurring motif in Kumar’s art.

The 1960s marked a watershed moment in Kumar’s artistic career as he transitioned from figurative to abstract expressionism. His “Grey Period” changed from vivid colours to muted tones reflecting the sad realities of human suffering and mortality. His cityscapes of Varanasi, rendered in Cubist aerial views, symbolised the existential angst that permeated his work. Kumar’s later works continued to explore Varanasi’s spiritual and existential dimensions, albeit with a newfound sense of transcendence. His “Benaras Series”, characterised by ethereal blues and a sense of collective spirituality, captured the city’s timeless allure while evoking a deep sense of human emotion and longing.

In retrospect, Ram Kumar’s artistic journey is a testament to the transformative power of exploration and introspection. From his early realist works depicting the bustling streets of Delhi to, his later abstract compositions inspired by the charisma of Varanasi, Kumar’s art transcends boundaries and speaks to the universal human experience.

In a world marked by constant change and upheaval, Ram Kumar’s timeless artworks serve as poignant reminders of the enduring power of art to reflect, provoke and inspire. As we navigate the complexities of modern existence, may we find solace and enlightenment in the enduring legacy of artists like Ram Kumar, whose abstract brushstrokes continue to resonate across time and space.

Classical dance is always associated with femininity and women. Whenever male dancers get on stage to do their classical pieces they are ridiculed to no end. Putting an end to this ridicule and humiliation here is our list of male Indian classical dancers who are ready to break the stigma around male Indian classical dancers and show the world how they too can be graceful and still be a man.

Kathak Rockers by Kumar Sharma

Combining yin and yang energy and exuding elegance with each step, Kumar Sharma’s performance is bound to leave you in awe. The simple costume helps the viewers to focus more on his expressions and mudras. Never missing a beat, Kumar Sharma’s YouTube page is a must-view page for any Kathak lovers. This male Indian classical dancer breaks the stigma against male classical dancers by not shying away from letting himself shine on stage.

Ardhanarishvara Ashtakam by Vinay Tiwari

Vinay Tiwari perfectly executed a Bharatnatyam number that relies heavily on slow movements. Broadcasted on DD Bharati this dance captured the attention of millions because of Tiwari’s perfectly timed expressions. The costumes and the makeup add a layer of drama to the performance. This male Indian classical dancer breaks the stigma against male classical dancers by not being afraid to slow down and take his time to highlight each move at a time rather than rushing through it.

Ami Je Tomar by Rohit Gijare

Who said Manjulika can be the only one to rock a pair of ghungroos and sway to “Ami Je Tomar”? Many female dancers recreated this iconic dance number from the film Bhool Bhooliya so it was about time a male Indian classical dancer gave his take on the same. And Rohit Gijare does exactly that. Never missing a beat or an expression he manages to keep the viewer’s attention till the last minute. This male Indian classical dancer breaks the stigma against male classical dancers by not being afraid to give his take on the classical Bollywood number.

Bharatnatyam Jathi by Ananda Natanam

A cheerful classical Bharatnatyam performance is all you need on a gloomy day to lift your spirits. And Ananda Natanam delivers exactly that. The bubbly steps accompanied by his cute smile are bound to make even non-dancers sway with joy. The costume is kept simple to ensure the audience can focus on the dancer’s movements and relish the pure joy that Natanam exudes with each step. This male Indian classical dancer breaks the stigma against male classical dancers by truly enjoying his art form.

Tryambakam by Sutra Foundation

The Tryambakam, (Odissi) is an invocatory homage to Siva, the triple-eyed Lord, Nourisher and Liberator of souls from the bondage of pull of opposites. This masterpiece by the Sutra Foundation brings to light the pure joy of dancing that was experienced by the Lord of Dance, Shiva who is often depicted as half man and half woman. The dancers beautifully capture the Lord’s ever-famous Tandav dance which is bound to energise any wandering soul with its perfect rhythmic movements and passion. These male Indian classical dancers break the stigma against male classical dancers by invoking the divine and transcending societal gender norms with their performance.

Do check out these dancers to truly appreciate the essence of their performance.