Program(s):
As an English major at Lewis & Clark and a creative writer myself, poetry is a very important part of my life. I see it as a productive creative outlet, for both the writer and readers' psyches, as well as a tool for spreading new ideas and connecting humanity throughout the world. Before coming to India, I was fascinated by ancient Sanskrit poetry, verses in various religious texts and the question of what modern poetry might be like in this region. I've been personally influenced by poets like Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and Gary Snyder, who all have Buddhist, Hindu and other Indian/Eastern influences. These themes have been subtly drawing me to the subcontinent for years. While here, I will be studying Indian poetry as a way of better understanding the history and current culture. I plan on researching past famous poets that are still popular today or have at least shaped what is popular today. I also hope to meet current poets who have their own ideas about the importance of creative writing and how it affects their culture, region and religion.
The topics within Indian poetry that I want to primarily focus on are what themes commonly arise and how writing about them functions within society, today and throughout history. I already have a basic grasp on some devotional poetry in Hinduism, a few famous poets like Rabindranath Tagore, the function of Tamil literature in the south, and the rise of modern feminist poetry. Within these, I will select the most prevalent themes that arise and focus on how they function within poetry throughout history and today. Having already talked to an English literature student from Delhi University, I learned that poetry doesn't quite have the same presence in India as it does in the States today. There are few literary magazines, "zines," slams or open mics, but reading poetry is popular, especially among literature students. I'm also aware that poetry is most celebrated in the south, more specifically in Tamil speaking regions. Here, creative writing has more of a religious purpose, but over time, this has transcended religion and become prominent among women writers as well. I plan on speaking with Salma, a very famous feminist writer, when she lectures in Chennai and asking her for more information about poets across the nation. I've gathered various texts as well, including Shaivite devotional literature, Rabinandrath Tagore's anthology and ancient poems from Sanskrit.
List of activities I have completed on this project:
Sept 2: Interviewed Delhi student, Nade, about the English program at DU, she studies modernism and many Western poets; read a lot of poetry in Tamil as an adolescent, gave me names of poets like Rabindranath Tagore.
Sept 5: Went to Kalita Academy library, gathered poetry, briefly spoke with librarian about Indian poetry.
Sept 12: Went to a bookstore, searched through Indian poetry, bought some books for further research.
Sept 20: Went to Delhi Public library, gathered poetry.
Oct 1: Talked to someone who's traveled all over India, now lives in Rishikesh, she share with me that Kolkata is where a lot of rich poetry and literature comes from
Oct 3: Jotted down notes on Tamil poetry history from "Ur" documentary.
Oct 7: Asked guest speaker, Kavitha Muralidharan, about her poetry and jotted down notes.
Oct 8: Watched Salma documentary, wrote down notes, asked questions and bought her book.
Oct 17: Spent time reading Rabindranath Tagore and Saivite devotional poetry.
Oct 20: Bought a book of Indian poetry at the Theosophical Society.
Oct 23: Due to Salma being out of town since our return from Tanjavur, I sent her an email with a few interview questions.