Monday, June 30, 2014

LIFE OF A POET - VANDANA SHARMA

Up, up and away, my friends, across the skies to the heart of India, a beautiful country I so enjoy visiting vicariously.  This week, we are going to meet with the poet Vandana Sharma, who writes at Eternal Emotions. Get ready for all the wonderful sights and sounds of New Delhi, as our taxi changes from lane to lane, trying to keep up with all of the activity on the street.


·    Sherry: Vandana, so nice to be meeting with you! Please tell us a bit about yourself. Where did you spend your childhood?





Vandana: First of all, I would like to thank Sherry, maa’m, for this interview. Through this exercise all of us get to know each other.

I am a simple person with simple desires, as I have mentioned on my blog “about myself.”  Originally I belong to Himachal Pradesh, a hilly state in North India. Since, my dad was in Indian Navy so, I never got to live in Himachal Pradesh, though we used to often visit our ancestral home during our school holidays. Still my grandmother, uncles, aunt, cousins live there and we go around sometimes. I grew up in Goa, Madras and Chandigarh. Finally, my family settled down in the Heart of India and the power seat of India - New Delhi.

My city Delhi

·      Sherry:  A beautiful city!  Can you see something or someone in your past that you feel played a role in your becoming a poet? Have you always written, or did you come to poetry as an adult?

Vandana: I came into the world of poetry at the age of 14 years, during my high school days. One of my classmates used to write poems, her poems were beautiful.   I still remember, one night I just sat down and wrote a poem- “God” . Luckily, at that time entries were open for school magazine and I submitted my poem, bingo! it got published, I was so happy.

·      Sherry:  That is a good beginning! What is your life like today? Tell us about your family, the loved ones you share your life with. 


My daughter and husband

Vandana:  I am married and have a cute daughter who is three and half years of age. 

Sherry: You have a very beautiful family!

Vandana: For the past many years me and my husband are settled in New Delhi, though my in-laws live in Himachal Pradesh. 


My in-laws

Vandana: What can I say about New Delhi? I love this city, as much as I love my birthplace. But there is a huge contrast between the two places, in fact both are opposite to each other. One has a natural abundance, while the other is a busy city.


Busy Delhi - telegraph.co.uk

I am a research scholar at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, the main referral hospital for all over India. It takes around one hour from my home to reach my work place.

·      Sherry: That is an important job. Is there a special or favourite place you go for spiritual replenishment, or inspiration?

Vandana: I believe that god resides in our heart. I am a devotee of lord Shiva and every morning I pray to him. This is my spiritual replenishment.


President's House-New Delhi
pixoto.com

·      Sherry: I love that answer: "God resides in our heart." How has the blogging community contributed to your productivity?

Vandana:  I would not be what I am today as a poet, if it was not for the blogging community. It has tremendously influenced me.  Over  the past two or three years I have seen a change in my poems. Earlier they were immature and  now when I read my older poems , I just think what and why did I write this? The blogging community is a wonderful place, and I thank all the bloggers; their writings have contributed so much to me.

·      Sherry:  You are not afraid of trying out many different forms. I am impressed. Do you have a favourite? Has there been a form you found difficult?

Vandana:  Actually, it is hard to pinpoint any favourite, I like them all! I get stuck where the forms require very strict meter or syllable counts. But this all makes me  learn new things.

India Gate in New Delhi
travelsiliconindia.com

·      Sherry:  Do you write daily, or do you wait for inspiration to strike? What triggers you to write?

Vandana: I don’t write daily. I write when there is some inspiration or whenever I am overwhelmed with happiness or sadness. Every day life gives me inspiration.

·    Sherry:   Do you need to work on and revise your poems, or do they flow much as we see them on your site?

Vandana: Earlier I used to post my poems as they were. But now, I revise them and then post.

·      Sherry:  Do you have a favourite poem or two we might include here?

Vandana:    My own favourite poems are “ God,” ( my first ever poem), and another one is  "Morning Song”.


The sun peeps through the hill,
And then goes away the chill.
By whose will this happens?
Not mine not yours.
The one and the only and that is God.

The wind is blowing,
The water is flowing.
By whose will this happens?
Not mine not yours
The one and the only and that is God.

The snakes are hissing,
The rabbits are burrowing.
By whose will this happens?
Not mine not yours.
The one and the only and that is God.


·    Sherry:  A beautiful poem of beauty and faith. Do you have a favourite well known poet? Do you feel their influence at all on your own work?

Vandana: My favourite English poets are William Wordsworth and Robert Frost. I like “The solitary reaper” by William Wordsworth very much. I am just a little particle in front of these great poets. I would definitely love to write like them or even try a little bit  of their poetry, if I can ever mange to. I have a blog in Hindi also, (the national language of India). My favourite Hindi poetess is  Subadhra Kumari Chauhan





My heart sings a morning song,
I feel its soothing warmth.
Yellow sunshine drips in a dale
far and beyond.

A whiff of enchanting breeze,
skipping up and down the hills,
whispers priestly prayers,
all over again.

Like clouds my soul drifts,
freely among towering cliffs,
visualizing beauty so pristine,
everywhere.

Nature, cradles life with love,
embracing each and everyone,
singing gloriously to us,
the morning song.

·     Sherry: This is very lovely writing, Vandana. What other interests do you pursue when you are not writing?

Vandana:   Writing is my main interest and, apart from that, when I am not writing, I am busy with my research work and other daily household chores.

·     Sherry:   Is there a cause especially dear to your heart?

Vandana:  Working in a hospital setting sometimes can be very difficult. I see patients cry in pain, die of cancer or improper diagnosis; it’s very disturbing. I really wish that through our research work, we can find the causative agent, therapy to help such patients.

newscenter.philips.com

·      Sherry: It must be very upsetting sometimes, Vandana. I am grateful there are people like you working hard in the field of medicine.  Is there anything you would like to say to Poets United?

Vandana: I am very glad that I found this site and joined it. I got to know wonderful people from different walks of life, create and share lovely poetry. You all are my motivation, and let us all keep writing and sharing! Best wishes.

Sherry: Bless you, Vandana. Thank you so much for this lovely visit, and for your participation at Poets United. We look forward to enjoying much more of your work.

Wasn't this a lovely visit, my friends? I so enjoy these weekly trips, where I get to globe-trot without leaving home. Do come back and see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you!


40 comments:

  1. Vandana, I really enjoyed learning more about who you are and where you live - your poetry is beautiful and very uplifting. Even though we live so very far away from each other, I connect to what you write about and resonate with your belief that "God resides in our heart." Thank you for sharing a little bit about yourself and, as always, thank you Sherry for all the time you take for these interviews!

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    Replies
    1. Thankyou:-)poetry connects us all. We may be in different parts of the world, in different time zones(almost midnight here), but words will keep flowing.

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  2. Vandana and Sherry .... this is such a charming interview!

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  3. Vendana, you had me exploring "devotee of lord Shiva" through Google's search engine. I should have done so long ago He's a model just as Jesus is a model, a way to stay close to God. No wonder I enjoy your poetry so much, and the ones here are no exception. Thank you for talking with Sherry so we could learn more about you. Thank you Sherry.Thanks, Sherry.

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    1. God is one whether he is Lord Shiva or Jesus Christ. Always our guiding stars!
      Thankyou.

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  4. vandana is a shining light in the blog community...what a giving person...and i can see some of the reason behind that as well in the story of your life....it was so cool to get to know you more...your work on poetry forms is amazing...you teach me whenever i visit...smiles.

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    1. I am just another person learning form all wonderful people:)

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  5. Vandana is a beautiful person in & out, and it reflects through her words. Her poetry always sing with so much love & gratitude, celebrating the beauty in nature. Thank you Sherry for a wonderful introduction, & Vandana, for sharing a bit more of yourself. Smiles.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for the kind words.We all reflect ourselves through our poetry.So many good people I encountered in this journey of blogosphere.

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  6. Dear Sister Vandana, I am very proud of you. Your poems always inspire us and now, I am glad that people around the globe are also loving you and your work. We all love you very much. Thanks for making us proud always- Daddy, Mommy, Anuj, Tarang, and Ranjana.

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  7. Thank you, Vanadana, for accepting to be in the limelight and sharing some aspects of your life and poetry. Sherry, this is another very good interview.

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  8. It is my pleasure and privilege to feature you, Vandana. As Brian says, your light shines through your poetry and through the blogosphere, and brightens our world. I so enjoyed getting to know you better and look forward to enjoying many more of your poems.

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    1. :)You are the bridge that is connecting us. It was wonderful to do this interview. Thank you so much.

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  9. Dear Vandana,
    You are such a wonderful poet.You trigger off connections by commenting first most times. A whiff of freshness comes from you through your poems, a portent contribution to the community. Btw I was in Safdarjang, New Delhi for 3 months many years ago. Experienced lots of new things and sights. Qutab Mina got claustophobic and I came down after just a few steps. Agra was a long ride but very much worth it though we missed seeing the full moon on the Taj. Great food galore! We used to have tandoori fish and perfect curry at certain good stalls at give away prices. In between we had Chinese food but these were expensive. We left India after a week's stay on a house boat in Kashmir, an undisturbed beauty in landscape. Thanks for the memory and to you and Sherry for a wonderful interview! ( Yes, your daughter is such a cute little girl!)

    Hank

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    Replies
    1. Hope you enjoyed your stay. Indian food is spicy and oily, we like it that way! Now ,climbing qutab minar is forbidden. Haven't seen whats its like from inside.
      Do visit again, if possible, lots of things have changed in Delhi. More flyovers, Metro train and much more......Thank you .

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  10. Thank you for another lovely interview Sherry ~

    Vandana, you are always generous and kind in your comments and always so encouraging ~ Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your life, your country and family ~ Your daughter is so cute, smiles ~

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    1. The words vibrate from one person to another and be it yours or mine they are from heart:). Thank you.

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  11. Vandana, I have always enjoyed your beautiful poetry; and secondly, I have also appreciated very much your reciprocity and your sense of the poetry community. I found it interesting to read how much you think you have grown as a poet since you first began writing. Really I have noticed this about your work and some others' work and also my own work. I think the more we write the better poets we become. And, as Hank said, I do notice that often you comment first......and that makes me feel so good. Smiles. You are a giving kind of person in the blogosphere, and I have no doubt that you are a giving kind of person in real life as well. Thank you for your continual presence, Vandana. You are a treasure.

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    1. Thank you so mach.You and Sherry maa'm are the pillars of this community. Keeping every citizen of this community together and encouraging us all.

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    2. You are so sweet, Vandana. We enjoy maintaining a forum - but without all of you, there would be no community! I remember when I first found Poets United - which was started by Robert Lloyd in 2010 - it was amazement and wonder to find a community of poets to connect with. I have written more since finding Poets United than I wrote in my entire life before. Knowing all of you makes me very happy!

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  12. Vandana, it is so nice to learn more about you! You have a lovely family~ I am so happy our paths crossed in the blogging community! You are very sincere and your voice is improving~ I agree with Mary the more we write the more we grow~ What a lovely interview~ Well done, ladies!!

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    1. :) Thank you and I am so grateful that I too could share my poetry on this platform . it is always a new experience to visit each and everyone.

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  13. oh I am so late Vandana though you are first many times in my blog....I so enjoy your writing and really learnt many forms from you...it's simply beautiful...lovely to see you chatting with Sherry and the wonderful words you've both exchanged...and thank you Sherry for this wonderful interview :)

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  14. First or second or late does not matter dear. Only matters: the poems we share!! Thank you.

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    1. I like your philosophy, Vandana! So true.

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  15. Yes, a lovely interview, and lovely poems too!

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  16. I love how the poetry community brings together so many different cultures from around the world. Thanks Sherry and Vandana for another great interview, I love learning more about the life and inspirations of other poets.

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    1. All our lives may be on separate paths but the invisible strands of poems make us one.

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  17. thank you, Vandana (and Sherry) for this interview.
    this is a truly amazing community. :)

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  18. Where ever we live we can make the place peaceful and beautiful. Life is full of wonders and it is Nature that has created the best and perfect. It is in the heart' indeed...Good to know about you Vandana specially the work you are doing needs a lot of courage. Dear Sherry thanks again for the wonderful interview

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  19. :)Thank you for your kind words Anjum ji.

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  20. Vandana loved meeting you here in Poets United.Learnt so many things about you. I loved your poem morning song. Keep writing those wonderful poems..
    Thanks sherry for the beautiful interview.

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  21. Finally was able to finish the interview. I loved learning more about you Vandana. I enjoy your poetry and the insight you offered into your life and process was very nice.

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  22. That was a nice interview Sherry. To Vandana: your story is an inspiration. Also, I've always admired Indian culture in the media and Indian cuisine like curry chicken. One of my favorite foods.

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    1. Thank you so much. All the diversities make one single world!

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