How We Measured Time by Sivakami Velliangiri: A Memoir, A Review

The author, Sivakami Velliangiri, a dear friend of mine of more than a quarter century is bonded poetically. Be it by the publications we get published in or the innumerable poems that we have written and read in poetry clubs. Until COVID stepped in we were time-immemorial regulars at The British Council reading poetry by…

Hot soothing tea with poetry trails

A twirly tweak of sunshine plays outside my window today which saw only rain, gloomy clouds and water that filled up roads, drains and potholes a week or two back.During one such day,  5th November 2017 to be precise, there was an Open Mic event (LIT) where I had to present my poetry. It was…

British Council Poetry Reading – October 2017

We were meeting again after a month. This time, there was no theme. We could write on any topic.  It was lovely reading out our poems and then, leaving it open for public perception ( read, healthy criticism/ editing). And, what fun it was! Javits read out his ode to poetry which was a beautiful…

Birdies Read Poetry at British Council – November Session

The theme for the poetry reading was 'BIRD' and guess what? Three birds turned up. All females. Ha! Ha! Maybe, the male birds just did not feel like writing about the birds and the bees I guess. We tarried a while before beginning our poetry session. And when we knew that the others could have…

Poetry Circle Meets Again – October Session

It was that time of the month. Poetry reading time!  So, we gathered to read, to understand, to appreciate, to improvise. What makes the Poetry Circle readings at the British Council different from other poetry reading events is that here, the poets lay bare their wares and then,  the poems are scrutinized, with fellow poets…

News in Verse at Shailimar Times!

It just fit. Shailimar Times! Out of the blue! Never thought of writing news in verse. But, here I am doing it. And, a regular weekly column at that. I need to thank my dear friend Sonia Rao for being so adventurous and trusting of me. Just imagine! You are the Editor of a famous…

Rendezvous with Priya Sarukkai Chabria

When I saw a foreigner with a hat placed perfectly on her head and a long stylish chain dangling from her neck, lipstick and eye liner in place, I least expected the person to be the one I was to be meeting along with Sivakami on 9th August, 2016 at Amdavadi, T.Nagar. I had met…

Review of ‘The Purple Moon’ An Anthology of Poems

Title: The Purple Moon Poet: Neelam Saxena Chandra Publication: First Step Publishing Genre: Poetry Price: Paperback: Rs200, E-Book: Rs50 Writing a love poem might seem an easy task to many. “All you have to do is write a few lines about emotions, about yearning and longing. And bingo! There, you have a poem on love”…

P for Pat….

She patted me on my back knowing how much it meant to me. To lose is not easy and if the game was life itself the loss more difficult to bear. I lost to the world. I lost my emotions to a society not worth crying for - all this and more she let me…

Birth: The Letter ‘B’

Birth takes place. It takes us places. Giving birth  not at all easy and yet the most beautiful activity on earth ever imagined - an act of love, compassion and awe- all forms of a creativity unimagined, breathless in its conception. Believe it or not, our birth only makes living stronger, better and happier. Learning…