INTO THE DEEPER REALMS

Geetika Kohli

For this edition of ‘We The Women’ we have brought for you journey of another dynamic and versatile woman from the state. She is an Entrepreneur, Author, Personality Coach, HR Professional and Social Activist. She is also Founding Member of WOW Group (Women’s Wing, Jammu Chamber of Commerce). Without further ado let’s learn more about Geetika Kohli.
Geetika Kohli is a well acclaimed poetess, who at young age of 21, had four of her poems registered in an American anthology, ‘Blossoms of India’. One of her poems, ‘The Canvas is All Bright’ was placed as the opening ode in the book. These poems were penned down by Geetika long before that.
Geetika began writing at a very young age, astonishing everyone around her. At the age of five, she had scribbled a spiritually deep poem, reading which her father was taken aback. Over the years, her pen picked up pace and she wrote songs, stories, articles and essays in four languages – English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi.
All through her adolescent years, she called herself ‘The Lost Sonnet’, it being her pen name. Years later this utilized into the title of her debut book, ‘The Lost Sonnet and Other Poems’. She has five books to her name: The Lost Sonnet and Other Poems, Yonder, Nothingness at boiling point, Lucid blood and Crooked Hyphens.
Despite having an impressive number of publications to her name, Geetika believes when it comes to art, a number can never serve as yardstick. She elaborates, “I hold depth and maturity more important than any number, be it my age, years of experience or the number of books I have penned.”
Geetika is a life member of the prestigious Poetry Society of India. Various themes, ranging from nature, love and sorrow to existentialism and the universal question: ‘To be or not be?’ have captured her imagination so far. Geetika cares for causes such as children and their education, women empowerment and writes about it as well.
Geetika’s expression is immensely influenced by her experiences. For instance “Nothingness at Boiling Point” is result of Geetika’s solitary life in Chennai for over two years. She expresses, “This book is the product of my time in the land that is not so ‘foreign’ after all. ‘Nothingness’ is surrender, a confession, a gradual elimination of my ‘self’ from myself. It is an involuntary exploration of my thoughts and needs that are more spiritual and not physical. Nothingness is artlessness and yet, ‘poetry’.”
Geetika believes in connections and serendipity and so wants her share of accidents too. Talking about the struggles she had to face so far in her journey, Geetika says, “Life appears hard on the outside, but one must look at it deeply. There are lessons and inspirations everywhere. Give life your best, do not complain; everything is an opportunity.”
She further adds, “I do not mind that I have had to struggle to support myself. Work is worship, as they say. I believe that I am fortunate that I get to be independent and simultaneously, satisfy my innermost yearnings.”
According to Geetika, writing equals worship to her, something deeply personal and therefore she care less about admirations and acclaims. She elaborates, “My writings have had no purpose other than understanding myself, the delving deeper into my soul. I share it with everyone because I want to be open to the universe and let others find me, believing in my heart that my work will reach, heal and reflect the hearts of so many others, who perhaps are in need of this voice. I am not seeking anyone, but at the same time I want to be there for whatever is destined for me. ”
Geetika further shares, “I am happy that some see my work as an inspiration or a contribution. It is beautiful to know that we are transforming literature in our state. Over the years, I have earned an audience even for my convoluted poems (pun intended)! All this is great but I know that it has happened only because it has not been pursued.”
Geetika inspires many to pick up their pens and voice their opinions. Her motto for all is to listen to their inner voice and respond to its calling by taking up challenges and countering all difficulties with courage, patience and faith in self. She says, “What warms my heart is that several aspiring writers from Jammu and Kashmir have now come out of their locked ‘diaries’ into the online world, expressing themselves and reading and learning from others.”
According to Geetika as one matures, one realizes that any artistic work, in order to be of merit, must appear artless (and effortless) and this is what makes writing easy as well as difficult. It is easy and convenient because you draw from your experiences, speak the truth; and difficult because you ought to strip the thoughts off their tapes; a poem should be seamless.
Geetika’s advice to writers is to read as much as they can, but never resort to imitation. One writes best when one talks of one’s own experiences, and from the heart.
Apart from writing, Geetika likes to paint and record poetry and monologues and has won numerous prizes in painting, poetry and oratory competitions as well.
She was academic topper as well, topping in class 12th CBSE (regional) in 2006 as well as in B.Com from Jammu University in 2009. After graduation Geetika went on to pursue MBA, which was followed by working as HR professional for couple of years in Jammu, Chennai and Delhi.
After getting married in February last year, Geetika decided to provide ten days personality development workshop to impart her honed skills, but the constructive response led Geetika to pursue it as a full time enterprise, something she had been contemplating for a long time.
As of today, Geetika is also freelancing as HR consultant, literary assistant, content writer and other capacities for many companies. Along with these engagements, Geetika is also working on her upcoming books.
Geetika is also an advocate of peace. In fact she has been working on a project for image cleansing of Kashmir Valley and promotion of peace that she would soon go forward with in association with a European organization.
About women of the state, Geetika holds a pragmatic instead of optimistic opinion. According to her women would not get empowered in true sense until women in rural are not uplifted. She says, “Just having a scheme to assist a mother or daughter is not going to changes societies’ conduct towards them. It can be achieved by educating and awaking the masses instead of providing tangible benefits.”
Geetika believes that the concept of Women empowerment is extensively hyped in the urban areas; a phenomenon that is only on the surface and lacks intellectual depth. She elaborates, “Merely being able to pursue a career, wear branded, go around whimsically and post on social media does not make anyone empowered. In fact, curing of expectation for women to be “dolled-up,” is just the opposite.”
She also added, “Yes, we are educating and encouraging our girls, but it is often seen that they are the one who are expected to make compromises on the home front. Both the notions are regressive.”
For instance, Geetika pointed out, the recent fad surrounding surnames after marriage, which includes both paternal and in-law’s surname or not changing surnames both of which she disapproves as a symbol of empowerment. She believes that it is rather validating and strengthening patriarchy.
To the women out there, Geetika’s words are: “Don’t let anybody define you and your life. Don’t bow down to social norms; question and challenge them. But in order to speak for yourself, you must educate yourself and intellectually empower yourself.”
Geetika concludes, “Women empowerment should be inclusive; no women can be empowered on her own, she must bolster others as well.”