EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

KANAKA DURGA
--- A Poet With A Difference!

By Our Special Correspondent, Indian News & Interviews (INI)

The World Unseen
By Kanaka Durga

The World Unseen the principal theme of my poetry
is the ambivalence of birth and death,
the pain of blood-stained creation,
in that situation, agony and terror,
the terror of birth, verse is simply reiterated.
A fire of hatred kindles leaping flames,
all around there is dust,
black against the clouds,
my right hand does not move
holding the pen,
leading to our days,
an agony of measured deaths.
But time and pain is a norm,
those lives in blood-bondage
in its endless chain
see through in it delights
That made lives miserable,
deadening lives, as terror shook
drowned in toils of tears
Where the pathway ends,
the graves begin as the golden heroes
proud of their deserted hearts
out lives all terrors!
Cain and Abel, who is right?
Who can find his brother the keeper,
can bear the burning of this mark?
As web of years shatters,
old events whisper around as memory
in this reality to cope with the rumble of guns.
Survivors tell their tales
Trammeled in the toils of faith,
In these still haunts of wars and blood,
a costly wreck, scenes of peace turned to slaughter,
I gather gloom passionately,
kiss their souls in troublous needs.

     To find this lovely poem both in English and Taiwanese
Visit < www.poetsinternational.com> and go to “LIVE POETRY EVENTS”
POETRY 2005 World Poetry Festival Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Poets Abroad -- India

Brief Bio-data:

     Kanaka Durga Rao, born in 1968, began writing poetry from the age of five-years-old, reading a lot of children’s poetry books. Her dominant themes, from childhood, are war poems. The word “depressed” is one reason that poetry was born within her. There are three pleasures she enjoys in life lasting books, the face of nature and children. She equally enjoys writing essays, short stories, plays and novels, mostly dedicated to the children.

     Recipient of Poets International’s prestigious “Star of Asia” award in 2000, Kanaka Durga has been recognized as one of the talented young rising poets of India. Her poems published in “Poets International” often receive good lot of appreciation from the readers and critics. 

     Kanaka Durga was one of the invitees to 2005 World Poetry Festival, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and her poems have been published in the World Poetry Anthologies “Golden Treasury of Modern Indian Poetry”, poems by 14 Indian poets representing all regions and age groups, Krishns Srinivas, Srinivasa Rangaswami, Atal Bihari  Vajpayee, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, N.P. Singh, N. Narasimha Ramayya, Gulzar, Mohammed Fakhruddin, A. Arunachalam, Prasanna Kumari, Rita Malhotra, Kanaka Durga, Priyadarshini and Monima Choudhary, edited and Translated by Dr. Lee Kuei-shien in co-operation with Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin, ISBN 957-01-9962-8,  and “Sea And Land in Poetic Harmony”, edited by Literary Taiwan Foundation, ISBN 986-00-0337-8, on the occasion in both English and Taiwanese, poems by 115 poets  from 26 countries. Due to some personal reasons she could not participate in the World poetry event from 24 – 27 March 2005, at Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Miss Kanaka Durga resides in Mumbai, India.

QUESTIONNAIRE

Q. What made you write poetry?

A. I must be blessed for I can think no other reasons why I am so fortunate when years I grew up as a child along with my family of writers (both my father and elder sister were poets). My educated parents have given me the greatest gift a passion for reading children’s poetry and literature.

Reading books by authors, Dahl Roald (now a top favourite children’s stories of 20 in number, died 20 years ago, in Britain, he has made top after Enid Blyton and J. K. Rowling whose novels I do not find to my satisfaction), Enid Blyton and Emily Bronte and children’s poetry books. J. M. Barries’s novel Peter Pan whose book I still have it in my possession and read even today.

     My appetite for books was ample and indiscriminating as it was infant gable. To read and to remember was my aim, the magic happened it executed a lot, it was raining words distracted me to play to form words. The story nook for children was only in pictures and I was given by my father to fill in the blanks. Gloomy words formed to give a gloomy poem of only two lines:
 “ I like to be alone everyday
Every day alone, I want to read, read, read”

     I felt this is the way all poets began writing poetry. I had no idea I would one day step into poetry world, my calling began at the age of five years holding pencil, poetry became my soul companion in my journey and I am still going.

     The aura of poetry was around me, words found me writing, every word I felt was a person talking to me, writing in the late night till early dark days, that’s when my father discovered I loved writing poetry. My childhood is most memorable moments I enjoyed how thoughts flow, seeking searching for spontaneous over flow of poems. I felt sometimes ‘oh God’ is this really me”! I could not believe myself I could write with such triumph. Yes, reading has shaped my life and has been in my blood along with teaching which in later years I took this ambition I cherish.

     I love my nursery rhymes even before I started my school, it introduced me new words. I spent a lot of money on the books as I am a random reader. But one rhymed disturbed me a lot. It had a strange dramatic with touch of death, (poem below) perhaps war poems grew inside me to write later in years and real war stories of world wars I and II narrated by my mother . Later reading poet Robert Graves War I poems touched my heart and soul. My war-poems were born, thus became my main theme of my poetry:

TEN LITTLE INDIANS

Ten little Indians standing in a line,
One fell down and then there were nine,
Nine little Indians swinging on a gate,
One tumbled off and then there were eight.
Eight little Indians never heard of heaven,
One kicked the bucket and then there were seven,

     But this left me a deep scar on a sensitive child.

Q. When did you write your first poem and in which language?

A. I began to write my first poem at the age of five and in the English and was introduced to me the day I was born. I was presented the children’s picture colourful dictionary with nursery rhymes to further enrich my ability to find the right words.

Q. What made you choose English as the language of your expression?

A. My father was an Indian – British immigrant and English language was a means of expressing myself as a common means of communication. More over, English from its position today as lingua franca that first began from ancient Italy has greatly influenced me today as one of the most powerful languages besides Japanese and German, French, Chinese, Spanish and Urdu becoming today as most powerful languages. Four centuries ago it was out stripped by French, German, Spanish and Italian. It is the world’s largest spoken language after Chinese.

Q. To begin with in what format did you write poetry?

A.      I formulate my poetic lines only in my mind, as I travel and walk especially among nature and its surroundings, soft music puts me into a deep meditation to write beautiful words. My mind whispers how words fit so beautifully in and seem to embellish the tune as my poem does, a perfect poem senses and finally get down to writing my poem confirm myself in my bedroom, usually in its final form and does not demand preliminary drafts. It takes two days, on the second day, I read my poem loud to the children and they suggest if I need to be rewritten or how I should write it. If they are satisfied that my poem is well crafted, I go ahead to publish it. For me, children and readers are my best critics.

Q. You have been writing poetry in English in free verse form on various themes. Can you   
     speak something about free verse which triggers your mind and brings in 
     personal joy? 

A. I enjoy writing in free verse and write well I learnt poetry writing the hard way having mastered it. It is a world of sentimental that delivers surfeits of emotions. I become insomniac with the throb of free verse, it excites me. It is the greatest satisfaction. To say something about free verse, the movement of lines follows the natural rhythm of speed, thus fluctuates, and may create lines of varying length within a poem. But there is a governing metrical principle may combine flow of normal speech with what Ezra Pound called the ‘sequence of musical phrase”.
 
     The first free verse began with nineteenth century American poet Walt Whitman but many of its techniques have been in use from the earliest stressed rhythmic patterns. It’s interesting to know throughout the Romantic period poets experimented with free verse as well as with related forms of prose-poetry as we read one of Vikram Seth’s “The Golden Gate” all in sonnet forms. I feel free verse is easily the most wildly use form of poetry by those who write in English. T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” of free verse is a beautiful poem. To say again, writing free verse for me explores the possibilities not merely of and poetic mind, but the basic discipline of free verse is of poetic technique that applies as much as to this form. Like be alert to the sound of words, rhythms, organize the lines to move more naturally. More over all it was assured that all contemporary poetry is in free verse.

Q. What prevents you to write classical forms of poetry?

A. I am more comfortable in writing in free verse with its aim for readers to enjoy with passion. But it is indeed an aesthetic joy to go back to the classical poetry with its strict form and discipline. Reading classical poetry from mid-16th Century to mid-20th Century indeed is a joy to read like “Enid’s Song” by Lord Tennyson and Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Edward Fitzgerald and so is reading Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin’s present Rubaiyat, an excellent work to keep alive the work left by Omar Khayyam. In future I shall write creative poems soon.

Q. How long do you take to write a poem?

A. I take two days to write my poem.

Q. You excel in writing poems on Nature and Love. What’s the secret behind this phenomenon?

A. I was surrounded by nature and love and want to share these things; magic entered in my life, the entire scene was like an artist palette, exuberant overwhelming, and the changing of the seasons. It touched my heart with such beauty, such magnificent, and such peace. I could not grasp why the sweet impressions of the grandeur of Nature was really enchanting. It stirred me to the core, without knowing I was deeply bounded gave birth to my living surrounded by the fog of pain, emotional torture as I walked melancholy among the meadows and my eternal escape from it all to write nature poetry. As the road towards nature goes forever spending under the clear blue sky, watching birds fly terribly high, I wanted to steal their songs, was amazed at their plumage. The journey never ending, the gate through the splendour, I blinked dazzled as I lay upon the silken green grass emotionalized; my eyes dominated the scenes around nature. I saw much beauty and tranquility I though the Unknown God illuminated such harmony as I watched the last deep crimson of the sun which I never miss to see; perhaps my death is wrapped behind those rays.

     I loved to watch the golden curve of a rising moon, haunted me its secrets I don’t know why it stirred the hunting animals I was imprisoned pregnant with Nature’s beauty, the earth bathed in an enchanting beauty full of passion and awe. I confess it haunted me with passions.

     In this secret relationship of nature I grew up from childhood always surrounded by rivers and seas. As I walk each day in solitude alone grew accustomed to these phenomena about me to those marvels of nature. This was my ultimate reason; my secrets enraptured me even today, healing my emotions, my tragic life. I gave up all my troubled thoughts. Later I wrote children’s nature poems.

     LOVE – it is my happiness, my home, I found it in many forms. I felt all its intimacy, tender feelings, closeness, a song of wild passions within me searching with desires, bewildered when it first happened glowing embers, a beautiful paradox was born out of love fascinated me.

Q. You always write your letters in poetic form and the reader can convert them into poems. How did you develop the art of writing prosaic letters?
         
A. As a child I was taught letter-writing and brought me immense joy. How overwhelming I was learning to write them and would spend time writing love letters. This improved my handwriting as well and learnt well at school, the nuns giving me a hard knock with a ruler upon my knuckles to further improve my handwriting.
 
     Letters are my medium of communication, since childhood, which so passionately love to be nearer to someone I love. It formed an emotional intimacy between people and I must confess that this inevitable letter writing filled my heart with poetic words, the poetry reflections how I loved it gave me immense delight. Writing poetic words I became, even today, preoccupied with this great enthusiasm I stand fiercely for letter writing and avoid all other types of communication.

     But I never realized my letters are in poetic form. I hardly read them again after sending them to the person concerned and I cannot believe it struck a poetic chord to those who read them and inspired a lot to write poems. I feel proud that this is the thread that binds me in love woven with memories to form symposia in the whole web of letter-writing, moves me inflaming passions and is everything I have today. Perhaps the overdose of poetry moves in all the letters I write.

Q. You love children and have been kind to them. How did this insight enter your mind?

A. There are many reasons that led me to love children. As a child, I for one never wanted toys to play since I enjoyed playing with real human toys, children younger to me, at the age of four. I found at that age, not realizing I was a child myself, they were purer, more open and comfortable; their innocence and feeling towards me, I enjoyed playing with them interacting their own language.

     I wanted to avoid the elders and becoming a teacher, was my ambition dream. I enjoy many great moments with children even today, the mixed feelings has taught me in their eyes a certain passionate love and fell in love in teaching, move close to them, their experience of the world.

     Perhaps I became a shaggy poet to mingle with their young minds. The transformation was just beautiful to get them known and talk to me. I had an appetite to get listen to their conversations and made myself accessible to them every day with small talks. To reach their level, I moved around a lot to be among them, casually children gathered around me. It’s a pure pleasure being with them to discover the mystery and beauty of human communications as they became manifest, a bond between me and children.

     I feel the force of life persisting in the children which grown ups are unable to, teaching writing poetry which only few could do. Children have a natural ability for poetry.

Q. Your poems speak about unity of mankind and peace. What made you take up this missionary work through poetry?

A. At the age of ten years old my mother narrated real war stories of World War 1st and 2nd. I have never known pain, suffering and deaths, dancing and singing with my curly pig tails. I became increasingly conscious of the fact that living itself was an act of living. All around me images of darkness and despair, the desolation, the whole struggling human race filled with blood and anguish for peace. Why wars were fought with profound love for justice or peace? I sobbed in hysteria of induced emotions for those lost lives in wars. Loved and have known separation, the discomfort and danger. World writers and poets wrote of the war years. I was enormously touches. I knew deep down that it was the horrible pain of disillusionment of the countries I though as a young child that war was dirty deadly brutal stinking business, a voice spoke to me against the hysteria of past wars, the sickening mess left behind. I am sentimental. Today the poisonous miasma of hate and terror and agony has depressed the whole world.  

Q. As you have been reading poems published in “Poets International” since 1996. Which living poet created an impact in your mind and long to read his or her poems often?

A. I am extremely happy to be associated with “Poets International”. I have to say one thing about poet Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin whom I admire; love to read his works. He is “INCREDIBLE”!

Q. who are living Indian English poets who impressed you most?

A. Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin.

Q. Your talent has been recognized by various institutions. Some of the Indian institutions have been offering you awards and mementos, time and again, why have you been refusing such awards and honours?

A. I am not ambitious to pay and win the awards.

Q. You have been an admirer of Alfred Lord Tennyson and Indian Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib. What beauty did you find in their works?

A. Lord Alfred Tennyson (06-08-1809 to 06-10-1892) was a great poet. I have been a keen reader of his works since my school days. He won a gold medal while in Trinity College for his blank verse poem “Tim buctoo”. His poems were very striking both in thought and style. He had great power over his emotions and proved himself a great lyric poet with the brilliant promise to the world. His style is what has inspired me right from school days for me a new poetic thought had busted forth his poems. All his poems have the depth of feelings, purity of sentiments, brilliant fancy, and sweetness of versification.

     The legendary Urdu poet Mirza Asad ullah Khan Ghalib left behind a rich legacy of poetry and continues to inspire budding poets like me.

Q. Among the present living Urdu poets, whose poetry did impress you most and
     what for?

A.      “Gulzar” is a realistic poet as one can see reading his poems (translated into English) in “Poets International”. He fills his page with such style full of sensitivity and the films he had made in Hindi are superb. His famous television serial Mirza Ghalib impressed me a lot.

     A very sensitive poet, Gulzar chooses words very carefully while portraying his feelings and most of his poems touches me deeply.

Q. How many languages do you know and in how many languages could you read, write and speak?

A. I know to read, write and speak English, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi and Malayalam. I am learning Urdu to enjoy reading the original poems in Urdu, though I speak the language very well.

Q. What’s the future of English Poetry in India?

A. this is a very interesting question. English poetry in India depends much upon the young generation in schools and colleges. There are some cynical reasons. Poetry reading and creative writing programmes are missing in most schools in our country. By introducing poetry reading aloud children pick up the skill of writing poetry on their own since writing is an act of inner exploration and discovery of their own voice.

English poetry is badly taught to students in schools and colleges which is the main reason for disinterest in English poetry. In spite of this, many youngsters all over the country take up English poetry writing on their own. Naturally, English poetry will certainly survive in India.   

Q. As you have been reading Haiku Poetry regularly, published in “Poets
     International”  monthly journal. Also you have been a trustee of “The Haiku Society of  
     India”. Could you please speak about this kind of Japanese poetry which is very  
    popular world over?

A. First let me thank the President of The Haiku Society of India for having nominated me as one of the trustees of this prestigious national institution. It gives me immense pleasure and feeling for being associate with it since ten years.

     Haiku is a tiny capsule poetry of beauty and wisdom. This Japanese verse is written in 17 syllables in three lines with the sole aim to present a meaningful image or evoke a mood or make an observation in a very condensed or short form.

     When one reads it in between the lines contain a flash of illumination, a sharp revelation, a short moment like opening a fist or a bud bursting in spring in beauty and fragrance. It’s like packing a tiny box containing words to create the maximum impact.

     Haiku also serves as a good medium for beginners wanting to write poetry.

Q. As you are aware that Poetry is the mother of world literature. Why then
     poetry is being sidelined at university level in our country?

A. it is side lined at university level because poetry at educational point, the students are overburdened with studies and has little or no interest in poetry writing. But, what are the hall marks any university in India can give; the answer lays the experience of reading and is read to them. Secondly, it should be completely focused and driven to create an interest in poetry and the ability to write helps a great deal for creative writing courses gives the confidence and a clear idea added to this powerful intensity of poetry. The aim should be to deepen and develop poetry writing, provide proper guidance, to think, talk, and read will tremendously improve the present situation.

Q. The appointment of “Poet-in-Residence” at the Post Graduate level in all
     Indian Universities is not in vogue even though such appointments do exist in
     the West. What’s your opinion?

A. Yes, I agree absolutely the appointment of “Poet-In-Residence” in all Indian Universities is necessary today. Hope goes to say only a poet can create a set of values to keep the pen chant for active poetry. It is high time such appointments are necessarily important enough to create a new idiom for poetry, an important identification with this country.

Q. Writing poetry is a verbal art which needs individual recognition and
     specialization at the university level. Don’t you think it’s high time that Union
     Human Resources Ministry in general and U.G.C. in particular should review
     the present system and bring in reformation at all levels while giving importance also  
     to Indian English poetry?

A. it is extremely good remark. The Union Human Resources Ministry in general and U.G.C. should shatter all barriers to remind India possesses human intelligence of natural talents and has the greatest geniuses that created the finest poets in the world. But for them India would have been a poorer country. It is a great Endeavour and great rewards should come on the way. A signature campaign of all India poets should be created to make them aware the need of such importance to Indian English poetry.

Q. “Poets International” demands the creation and establishment of a national “POETRY UNIVERSITY OF INDIA”, at Bangalore. Do you support such a demand?
A. Yes, I do, fully support “Poets International” -- with P.I. on the move it’s an achievement for all events to assure that poetry is not dead and buried. It’s a platform which extends beyond the extraordinary to fuel the ambitions of people to write poems. P.I. is being doing service to poetry certainly demands such recognition in Bangalore. Moreover Bangalore is India’s Silicon capital!

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Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin is a poet, journalist and Founder-editor of "POETS INTERNATIONAL", a monthly journal of short verse being published from India.<www.poetsinternational.com>