Yaseen Anwer, a young gentleman and poet is a well known personality
in Delhi. He is the Founder of Kaafiya, a rapidly growing community of poetry
lovers, bringing up the fresh flavor of poems written by both the old, well
known poets as well as the present, contemporary ones. He was also the Founder
and the Managing Editor of Poets Corner Group (Established in June 2011) and
Delhi Poetry Festival (Established in January 2013) till mid 2015. He has been
facilitated with Young Poet's Award 2012 by the Indian Poetry Society. His
amiable nature and humbleness sets him apart from other connoisseurs of poetry.
His sees Kaafiya as an endeavor to merge the old and the new, joining together one
language to another, mixing diverse cultures, etc. with the aim to unite hearts
with the beauty of poetry. He believes in creating a weather of poetry through
Kaafiya, resonating with Delhi's weather and merging into it.
He began writing
at a young age and attained proficiency in English, Hindi and Urdu. His work has appeared in more than 80 national and international
magazines and journals and has been
translated into different languages like Chinese, Portuguese, Hindi, etc.
Q. Is it really
necessary to fall in love to write love poetry?
A. You need muse,
don't you? Just falling in love, not sure, but yes admiring someone does, spending
time with someone also does. It may not always be a girl, it
can be a place you have fallen in love with. There are people who are inspired
by mountains. Its more about being in the state of mind where you end up
writing because of someone or something.
Q. Even little things
excite poets, isn't it?
A. Depends. To some
its beauty that excites, to some its pain.
Q. What do you think
about a poet's 'burden' or 'responsibilities' with respect to society as a
change-maker?
A. Seeing
a poet simply as a change-maker and the power of poetry as an agent of change
can be mythical. A poet should have a view on things happening around and if
has, it will certainly reflect in his writing. A considerable amount of effort
has to be made and one has to consistently work on it to observe the impact.
Q. With the current trend
of Slam Poetry and an air of self-centered and distant writing, has the idea of
poetry attained an enclosed, idealistic identity away from reality?
A. There are a segment
of writers who grow distant from society and find an alternate world under the
shade of nature, hilltops, etc. Slam poetry in itself is just
a dot in the universe of poetry, there is lot more in poetry, why should we
talk of just slam poetry!
Q. What do you think
about the lost art of writing letters in this fast paced world?
A. It will be almost
impossible to revive it. Things that have a relation with commerce can only
stay alive. Languages die with time, what are letters!
Q. English, Urdu or
Hindi, which is the most friendly and expressive language?
A. For a poet, the
language in which he thinks is the best language to write in, precisely, one's
mother-tongue. The natural beauty and personal instincts can be best expressed
through it.
Q. How significant is
writing for you?
A. For
me, writing comes when nothing else is possible, when someone or something
strikes me deep within to an extent that it will tear me apart. It forces me
into some state that can make me go mad till it comes out. Writing can never go
out of me. When I am not writing I am still writing something and erasing,
those not erased come out for others to see.
Q. What are traits of
excellent poetry?
A. Words compressed,
speaking more in less words and depth, universality and timelessness that surpasses all boundaries and reaches out to a
wider audience.
Q. Is reading the
most necessary thing to become a better poet?
A. Reading
is certainly the most important thing not just for a poet but for a writer but
yes again It shouldn't be limited to just reading, writing and then re-writing
helps you to get better. Writing is almost meditating.
Q. 'You write too!',
'Poets are there in every lane' how should a poet face the negative vibes and
stand apart in the budding community of fellow poets?
A. Here
again I talk about Universality and timelessness. If it is there in your work,
it will surpass all boundaries and reach out to a wider audience. Also, it
takes time to prefect the art of writing. One has to cover a long way and stay
focused to reach the stage of acclamation and appreciation.
Q. You favorite genre
of poems?
A. Favorite is not an
apt word since it's restrictive and creates boundaries. Poems showcasing
reality, depth, unmasking the truth, and rich in relativity interest me.
Q. Which poets would
you recommend to read (in Urdu)?
A. Daag Dehlvi and
Basheer Badr are the must read poets to explore the vivacity of Urdu.
Q. How distant is a
poetic world and un-poetic reality?
A. For an honest poet,
there isn't any dissimilarity between the virtual and the real. There's always
a sense of restlessness. What's written is a reflection of prevailing
realities. In fact, the presence of good poets is a sign of bad society.
Q. How important is
vocabulary in poetry?
A. Vocabulary is not
the most essential aspect of a good piece. It's more about the words that fit
in and create an impact. A play on words and effective communication creates a
long-lasting and heart-touching impression. It's also about how differently one
expresses a particular emotion.
Q. Comment on a poet's
keen eye and observation power? Does a poet sees differently?
A. Good poets are
great observers. Yes they see things differently and notice more. For instance,
while looking at a motorbike, a number of stories can be spun around: a
hard-working man dropping his kids to school on his way to work, etc. This is
beyond an ordinary person's interest.
Q. Short poems are more
in fashion than long ones in the world of Social Media. Your response?
A. Short poems work as
magnets to attract target audience's attention. Once that interest is secured,
people can go on reading the long poems as well.
Q. Does happiness
create a similar effect on writing or the creation of best works is all about
the pain that inspired it?
A. Well
for me its restlessness that works more, and restlessness is mostly the result
of pain. But at the same time I feel it's more about the feeling and thought
that inspires the work.
At the end,
One of
his beautiful couplet:
Ander tumharey dafn humara Jo
hissa he
Zinda
to bs wohi he, Jo baqi he qissa he
Sacredly
buried in the depths of you, my part,
Lived,
when the rest of me was so falling apart!
(Translated by Sadia Khan)
24th Feb, 2016
