Rhyme, with reason

Emerging forums for poetry have helped revive interest in verse

Ghalib would certainly approve. His Dilliwallahs may have forgotten him, but poetry manages to survive in his city. And poets are struggling with the same issues as Ghalib—with publishing, not drink. Though technology has come to their aid, they find it hard to sell. Even published poets such as Priya Sarukkai Chabria, Suresh Kohli and Tanya Mendonsa often go unrecognised.

However, forums have sprung up across cities in India, online and real, to promote the cause of poetry. Delhi Poetree is one such group dedicated to the revival of verse.

Far from Ghalib’s grave in Nizamuddin, amateur poets of the group hold their own version of the mushaira in a small room at Khan Market with the smell of coffee and cinnamon hanging in the air.

Delhi Poetree, founded by Amit Dahiyabadshah, aims to take verse out of stuffy academic institutions into the mainstream and hopes to bring back the romance of poetry. “We want poetry to be part of everyday life,’’ says Dahiyabadshah. “There is a crying need for people to destress and feel good about themselves. Our poetry aims to do that.”

Full report here Week