When the going gets tough, the poets get going. The political churning in India and abroad, and impassioned discussions on religion, identity and gender are finding their way into many forms of self-expression, poetry being among the most popular.

“Poetry is seeing good days. There are a lot of people involved in its creation and consumption,” says poet and spoken word performer, Anish Vyavahare, referring to the surge in the number of budding poets in Mumbai, and the platforms the city offers to them to showcase their talent. Yet, when it comes to learning the process of writing verses and honing one’s craft, the avenues available in India are few, largely limited to one-off workshops.