This week’s Sunday Story in Envius Thoughts (1694th post) is something out of the ordinary! On 10th and 11th of this month we had the pleasure of attending two book launches in Chennai organized by INDIA POETRY CIRCLE-both are poetry anthologies which carried the poems by me and S.Nivetha! In as much as POETRY is nothing but an expression of one’s emotions, it varies from person to person. There cannot be unity and consistency among the world poets! As such I honestly believe there can be a bad poetry and a good poetry!!!! I recollect a poem that I made out on this theme some time back and here it is:
“Poetry is the language of the soul” they say, very nice
Language of the soul cannot be called bad- not a spice
It is all in the ears of the listener and may be,
In the eyes of the reader – his taste may see!
Content or form what can make the poetry bad
A day devoted for “Bad Poetry Day”, today sad
Let us face- not everyone is the writer best
Lyricist or poet good or bad all put to test!
Keats is Keats, Keats poems are Keats poems
Shelley is Shelley, Shelley’s poems are Shelly’s poems
Shakespeare’s sonnets are Shakespearean sonnets
Kamala doss is kamala doss, Ezekiel is Ezekiel!
Be yourself as a poet, pen your thoughts- nice and noble
Read for yourself- “poetry is the language of the soul”- stable!
Others feel like reading, give them a read and enjoy
Message through poetry more than the form – greater joy!
Any poetry is sweet and great! It is in the mind of the viewer and listener! Young or old matter not! In fact S. Nivetha got into the National Book of Records for Children having been invited as a Poet Delegate at age 18 in 2016 for the International Multi Lingual Poets Meet held in Vijayawada organized as Chief Advisor Poet Madam Padmaja Iyengar known as PADDY and presented her poem in English!
Coming to Chennai, on 10th and 11th a fine Poetry competition for youngsters from Class 5 to Class 12 In all 21 boys and girls participated and exhibited their poetic talents. All the poems were meticulously judged by a panel of senior poets of IPC –Pankajam, Rajeev, Usha, Anju Sarala and Ravi- and the young budding poets were given awards and certificates by the Regional Manager of New India Assurance Company Chennai Madam Mrs. Saraswathy. They also recited their creations to the elite audience of senior poets, parents of the competitors. All poems were GOOD and not at all BAD!!!!
In the evening, an anthology of collaborative poems contributed by 29 poets –CONFLUENCE III – compiled by the senior poet and Founder of India Poetry Circle- and his team consisting of renowned poets Sadhana Subramaniam, Anju Kishore, Saranya Francis, Selvin Vedamanickam and Vidya Shankar . CONFLUENCE I was released in International 10th Guntur Poetry Festival in 2017 followed by Confluence II in Madras in 2018 and the third this year.
Collaborative poem: “Collaborative or collective poetry is an alternative and creative technique for writing poetry by more than one person. The principal aim of collaborative poetry is to create poems with multiple collaborations from various authors. In a common example of collaborative poetry, there may be numerous authors working in conjunction with one another to try to form a unified voice that can still maintain their individual voices.”
Confluence III contains TEN poems- of different sizes- most of the stanzas are of 4 lines- every four lines contributed by the participating poets!!
The following twenty nine are the participating poets:
- Dr. AniammaJoseph (Kuriakose)
- Beenu Marcus
- Geethanjali Dilip
- Gulnar Rahim Khan.
- Hema Ravi
- Kamar Sultana S
- Latha Prem Sakhya.
- Molly Joseph.
- S. Nivetha (aged 20)
- Padmapriya Karthik.
- S. Padmapriya.
- Padmini Janardhanan
- Pankajam Kottarath.
- Poonam Nigam Sahay.
- Rajeev Moothedath.
- Rangarajan Gopalakrishnan.
- Ravi Ranganathan
- Sarala Ram Kamal.
- Sauvik Acharjee.
- Settaluri Padmavathi.
- Shashi Kothari.
- Shruti Shivkumar Iyer.
- Srikala Ganapathy.
- N V Subbaraman
- S. Sundar Rajan.
- Tara Mani.
- THryaksha Ashok Garla (aged 17)
- Usha Sridhar.
- V. Varsha Shree. ( aged 10).
It is quite interesting to observe the wavelength of each of these twenty nine poets on the theme, style and expression! Unless the reader knows in advance that he is reading a collaborative poem, he can’t sense it as the entire poem is so beautifully woven! There can be no BAD POETRY and all poetry are GOOD only!
Second Anthology was a Theme based one for the specific occasion of MADRAS DAY launched on the afternoon of 11th August! This anthology was compiled by an expert team headed by the founder poet of IPC Jairam Seshadri consisting of eminent poets S. Sundar Rajan, N. Meera Raghavendra Rao,Hema Ravi, Vidya Shankar,Anju Kishore, Madhumathi H, Gita Bharat, Kamar Sultana. S., and Sumita Dutta Shoam.
“Helmed by S. Sundar Rajan, – a Chartered Accountant by profession- Madras Hues Myriad Views is IPC’s latest venture – a tribute woven with poetry, prose, illustrations, photographs and a lot of love towards the city of Madras. From the celebrated seasoned writers to youthful students, the contributors express their deep connections to this city”.
As we turn the pages and string these buds of literary and visual art, as we savor our frothy filter kaapi. This bouquet brings to us the essence of Madras, redolent with the rich fragrance of jasmine and the aroma of invigorating coffee.
This 170 page collected work contains 41 poems, 21 Writes up, 93 photos and drawings! Major credit of designing, selection of photos and drawings goes to Shri Shankar, eminent photographer and videographer who has spent days and nights for the successful publication.
My poem that appeared in the Anthology.
“MADRAS NALLA MADRAS”
“Madras Nalla Madras” a popular cine song decade ago
Yes, Madras continues to be Nalla Madras even today
With the difference Madras rechristened as Chennai years fifty ago
Well, people enjoying, suffering happily every day!
People of different languages, culture and tradition
From directions all North and South, East and west live in unison
In all joy and happiness, harmony and trust all through their lives
City has grown very vast and fast nice temples, Churches and Mosques!
No chauvinism, no parochialism, no hatred – great
Among all people! Marina beach one of the best in the world
Indeed surely for all the residents and visitors a treat
Men or women, child or adult, read or unread.
Employment opportunities and potential very good
Heaven for investors-small or big, -for sure never to go bad
Madrasis-great Chennaiites are proud to say they are positive
In the society to put up with bound to be some negatives!
1.NALLA MADRAS=GOOD MADRAS
Poem of S.NIVETHA
MAGNIFICENT MADRAS
Magnificent Madras three hundred eighty years old
Saw me entering the earth twenty one years ago
Chintadripet and Jeevan Bhima Nagar saw me grow
Grow to the age of Bachelor of Computer course!
In Anna Adarsh , SBIOA, Velammal schools I studied
Of “Excellent Ethiraj College” student I am today!
Friends old and new ever remain in my mind!
A Member of CPC, IPC I walk with my head high!
Efflorescence and Confluence my prized possessions
Along with Poetic Prism and Metverse Muse-great creations!
Trained by CPC-IPC-National Book of Record for Children holder
At home and college- to the joy of my friends and elder(s)!
Collector Nagar to my College my journey is awful each day
In Crowded buses difficult to stand erect with book bag on back
Autos, share autos and buses vying with each other
Unruly two and three wheelers care not for signals!
Pedestrians poor finding their platforms to walk with vendors
Full in the space- kindly donated- by the two wheeler parkers
Very interesting is my Madras, my place of birth
Madras turned Chennai – but I continue to love sweet Madras!
Foreigners at first were impressed by our Madras!
What is not in Madras, Chepauk cricket stadium;
The madness of film industry in Kodambakkam;
Sanity for the people in the Kilpakkam;
Burmese refugees in Burma bazaars;
Cheapest accessories for women’s in Pondy Bazaar;
Vada curry is a special dish in Saidapet;
In sixteen hundred and thirty nine Foreigners started ruling Madras;
Within a year churches, forts and buildings were built;
Black town was built for Madras people making them feel guilt;
Tamil Nadu was formed in 1956 having the capital city Madras;
Vada curry=A favorite at many Chennai restaurants and also cooked at homes on special occasions. It tastes delicious with dosa and is also a favorite with idiyappam. This version is less ‘calorific’ because it uses steamed dumplings.
Both the first and fourth covers are indeed a great treat for our eyes- having coffee and jasmine flowers!
The anthology was released by great cinematographer Sri P C Sreeram and received by Mr. Keshav Cartoonist of the Hindu, Chennai.
The contributing poets to the anthology presented their poems to the learned audience. Ms.Thirupurasundari Sevvel, basically an Architect, Hon. Secretary of Madras Literary Society gave her opinion on the poems and presentation in her own inimitable style.
ODYSSEY, Adyar took up all preparations for the two day treat in their premises and we thank them for their enthusiastic hospitality.
Thereafter a few books by different authors including Mr. Sundar Rajan, Pankajam and others were released. Wide coverage was given by a number of city newspapers.
Mr Sundar Rajan turned 60 and a lovely EIGHT PAGE art paper tributes- containing verbal and pictorial- was released by madam Padmini Janardhan.
With this we close this Sunday story and we shall meet tomorrow. Till then Good bye!.
Contributing poets to the Anthology of Poetry and Prose released on 11th August.
8th in the third row-S.Nivetha
9th in the fourth row N V Subbaraman
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