Poet Abhay K. suggests three new directions for Indian Poetry on birth centenary of Nissim Ezekiel

By India Education Diary Bureau Admin On Aug 5, 2024

New Delhi – Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters recently organised a two day Birth Centenary Seminar on Nissim Ezekiel and his impact on Indian Poetry in English at Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion during the session ‘New Direction in Indian Poetry in English’ poet Abhay K. praised the pioneering role played by poet Nissim Ezekiel in modernising Indian poetry in English in the 1960s and suggested three new directions for Indian Poetry in a transformed world—Digital revolution, Climate Change and Space Exploration.

He opined that Indian and world poets should write more about the relationship of human beings with millions of other species with whom we share our planet. He said, “I would like Indian poetry to highlight this relationship between us, the human beings, and the planet, and our relationship with the fellow species on the planet. I think it is this fundamental relationship, this fundamental interdependence, which should become the focus of Indian poetry.”

He further added, “Today we are more aware of what’s around us in space and astropoetry is as important as ecopoetry. Astropoetry makes us love and appreciate our planet, our only home, even more. When we look around us it’s almost a desert, a cosmic desert and the only oasis in this cosmic desert is our own planet.”

He emphasized that the Digital Revolution has made the whole world a much smaller place and today poets can publish their work globally at the click of the mouse. Digital platforms provide opportunities for the younger poets to publish and share their work from anywhere in the world. Many poets publish their work on Instagram and gain instant following and fame. However, it has also brought challenges such as poetry being written by AI. He believes that poets can and should make better and judicious use of the digital platforms to widen the reach of poetry and take it to a newer and wider audience.

The session was chaired by Anisur Rahmam and co-panelists included Ranu Uniyal and Payal Nagpal. Malashri Lal, the convenor of the English Advisory Board of Sahitya Akademi, among other poets and scholars were among the audience.