A WORDSMITH PENNING HEARTFELT POEMS

Chirdeep Malhotra . Updated: 3/5/2019 10:57:25 AM Books and Authors

Author Interview : Pankhuri Aggarwal

Pankhuri Aggarwal is a person with positive vibes for every facet of life. Living in Jammu, the city always promoted her in achieving her dreams. Currently pursuing Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Jammu, she has completed her M.Phil in English Literature with a Bachelor’s in Commerce. She started her career as a freelance writer and has umpteen publications in newspapers and in reputed national and international journals, and has recently come out with her first book “The Petals of Reminiscence”, a poetry collection featuring poems that are emotionally resonant, socially relevant and artistically eloquent. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, she talks about her writing journey, her favourite books and authors, the response of readers to her book; and the chat then segues into musings about the literary scenario in contemporary Indian English poetry, her artistic flair and many creative pursuits- yes, she is also an ardent painter and crafter, and much more. Here are excerpts from the conversation.


Please tell us more about Pankhuri Aggarwal as a person.
I am a fun loving, straightforward person. I live with credence that there is nothing in the world that I can’t do and this eventually keeps me on the go.

Has writing always been a part of your life? Or did you chance upon it later on and then instantly fell in love with it?
I still remember as an eight-year-old child, sitting with my cousins and we all selecting a theme to write a poem and these peeps writing a whole page and me still contemplating what to write. Writing has always been a part of me; eventually, I started writing when I was in my first year of grad school and till that time I never knew that I had a flare towards writing. I landed up in a job as a freelancer with Times of India and after that, there was no looking back. I got many of my articles published in national as well as international journals, won many prizes for my writing in various competitions on the state level and this book is the end result of all the hard work I have been putting in as far as my writing is concerned. For writing poetry particularly, one needs an inspiration; and the muse behind this book is my Nani whom I lost a few years back because of cancer.

How has the response of the readers been to your book?
It’s just a week only that my book is up on Amazon, Flipkart and Shopclues and its gaining momentum. I was a bit anxious about people’s inclination towards poetry but on the contrary, I have been getting a positive response towards the book.

On what themes and topics have you written poems about in this poetry collection?
It’s a poetic voyage that has 101 poems, it takes one through all the shades of life from encapsulating love, companionship, bliss, and triumph to anxiety, distress, heartache, death, loss, rejection, and redemption. The words flocked in arouse the senses by embracing the petite things that make life magical. It talks about finding the true purpose of living, what is life without love, what it means to be lonesome, why do we seek out for connections. Through this book, one can explore love amid all its precision with crunches of gloominess making it sugary and peppery off and on.

This poetry collection has been described as ‘a contemporary antidote offering candid explorations over the scuffling questions of how to find the true purpose of living’. What more, in terms of the superlative articulation and myriad thematic gamut, is in store for the readers?
Everyone’s true purpose is actually like chalk and cheese. As we say, one text has a thousand connotations attached to it. People read the text with their own assumptions and postulations. Hence, maybe through my poems, you might end up discovering your life’s purpose, you never know. Therefore, for that, folks you need to grab this book and you will perceive yourself being connected with every single word that I have written.

What do you think is the literary scenario in contemporary Indian English poetry? According to you, on what themes and topics should authors delve more into?
As far as the poetry is concerned in contemporary India, I conjecture, it is still in its phase to reach the spotlight. According to me, authors should write what their heart says; there are no particular themes that one needs to delve upon. You have to connect with the work that you write, the readers seek out everything. The modern Indian readers are quite chic.

What are your favourite books? Can you share with our esteemed readers about the genres that you like and your favourite authors?
Two writers have always fascinated me the most- Paulo Coelho and Dr. Brian Weiss.

What are your other interests apart from writing?
I’m an ardent painter and a crafter. I love to read new literature. I run marathons and swim too. I have recently started a venture to promote my paintings- “Pankhoj by Pankhuri Aggarwal” on Facebook and “Pankhojblog” on Instagram.

Are there any other literary projects in the pipeline?
My utmost priority now would be to finish writing my Ph.D. thesis and I’m working on a novel as well, let’s see how things unfold. In addition, I would love to translate my poems into French and place my book somewhere in Europe.

Can you share with our readers a motivational quote that keeps you going?
It is - “No one is you and that is your superpower”.
I have always believed in one's vigour, had Kalpana Chawla idolized someone, she would not have been what she is today even after her death, “The Kalpana Chawla”. I deem one should intake certain traits from the person one admires but not try to be like them as doing that you would lose your own self, your own distinctiveness.


Comment on this Story