SESSION ON “POETRY – KHUD SE BAAT” AT JLF

On the first day of the Jaipur Literature Festival, the session witnessed a large turnout of literature enthusiasts and was widely appreciated.

 At the Jaipur Literature Festival, a literary conversation titled “Poetry – Khud se Baat” was held at the Anil Agarwal Foundation’s Bagaan venue. The session featured an engaging dialogue between poet and PR expert, Jagdeep Singh and writer, poet, and publisher, Anshu Harsh, focusing on her literary journey and writing experiences. The occasion also marked the launch of Anshu Harsh’s debut novel, ‘Ichha Mrityu’, published by the renowned Vani Prakashan. The book was formally released by senior writer and translator Malashri Lal.During the conversation, Jagdeep Singh spoke to Anshu Harsh about her creative transition from poetry to the novel. Anshu Harsh shared that poetry is an immediate expression of emotions, whereas a novel is a longer and more immersive process that requires living with the characters. She described ‘Ichha Mrityu’ as a story of the struggle between life and death, one that will compel readers to reflect deeply.

Speaking about the English translations of her poems in her book ‘Samandar – The Ocean’, she noted that translation takes literature beyond boundaries and acts as a bridge between languages and cultures. A sensitive translation, she said, preserves the original emotion while carrying the work to new readers.

Reflecting on her journey since the publication of her first book in 2013, Anshu Harsh remarked that time and experience have brought greater maturity to her thoughts. While her earlier writing was more personal, her recent work reflects deeper social concerns and a more pronounced human perspective.

On the thought “Writing poetry is a conversation with oneself”, she explained that poetry is a medium of self-dialogue. When a poet writes, they confront their inner truths and find the courage to express them. This, she said, is what makes poetry an emotionally resonant experience for both the writer and the reader.