An evening of social commentary in verse unites senior and young poets from across languages
Dalit activist Sambhaji Bhagat has been penning revolutionary poems for decades, taking them to where they belong - among people. He composed the music for the critically acclaimed Marathi film, Court, and inspired its central character, an ageing folk singer facing a gruelling trial. This Saturday, the well-known balladeer will pluck away from his mass audience briefly to recite his ruminations at Crossover Poems, a unique concept that brings together veteran and upcoming poets on a platform, where language, age or nationality is no bar.
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Sambhaji Bhagat and Saumya Kaudgul
Organised by The Poetry Club (TPC) in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut, the session will see poets take the stage to express themselves, and in the process, learn more about each other's poetic inspiration. "In Mumbai, Marathi poetry is well established in literary circles that celebrate the language. We are also seeing a surge in the number of poets, who are doing some excellent work in Hindi. And through open mics organised by a number of initiatives, the audience is getting ready for English poetry too. We felt it's time to get the three together," shares Sanket Mhatre of TPC, who conceptualised the event. "Last year, Max Mueller Bhavan had organised the Poets Translating Poets festival, which was a great initiative."
Jan Wagner and Isha Joshi
While Bhagat will be the senior voice at the event, the younger group will be represented by Hussain Haidry, whose poem Hindustani Musalman went viral after the venue where he recited it posted it on their Facebook page; Jitendra Saha, whose work concerns subjects like the environment and casteism in society; and Saumya Kaulgud and Isha Joshi, who will share poems on what individuality means for a woman. Translations of poems by German poet Jan Wagner, who counts among important voices of contemporary German literature, will also be narrated.
Hussain Haidry and Jitendra Saha
"I usually do poetry among people, and not on stage. But I got interested in this concept because poetry in each language tends to become compartmentalised. People don't learn how poets in other languages are thinking," says Bhagat, who will dwell on the life of rural women, communalism and the recent incidents of mob lynching.
"Each poet opens up a new world for the audience," says Mhatre, an advertising professional, who joined TPC as an open mic participant. "Each language is different, and yet through these sessions, we realise how similar the expression and intensity is. It is sad that we are fighting over language when it works as a beautiful unifier."
On: July 8, 6 pm to 7.30 pm
At: Max Mueller Bhavan, Kala Ghoda
Call: 22027710
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