Our Family
Sherry: We are so pleased to be visiting with you, Namratha. We are looking forward to hearing about your life! What a beautiful family you have!
Namratha: I live in the city of Bangalore, India, with my two
sons, husband and my mother-in-law. My elder son is 4 years, and the younger
one is just 5 months old. I am lucky that a lot of my family (my parents,
brother, granddad, uncles, aunts ….) live in the close vicinity and have been
there to colour my days and lend a helping hand when needed.
View from my apartment -
the Temple and the children's play area
Sherry: How lovely to have a young family, with all of life ahead. I remember older women telling me, when my kids were young, that one day I would look back and know they were the best years of my life. And it is true. You are fortunate to have family close at hand, as well.
Namratha: I used to be an electronic engineer and worked on
multimedia software, (stuff that goes into smartphones to make music or video
play, record, etc), until I decided to be a full-time mom. Over the last year or
so, I have taken up blogging and writing which I am very passionate about.
Bubble time
Sherry: Blogging is a wonderful outlet for a busy mom. Did you grow up in Bangalore?
Namratha: I have been in Bangalore most of my life, except for
a brief stint in the US and another in Chennai, India. I have watched Bangalore
grow, develop and change a lot over the years. The greenery and the lakes have
given way to IT firms, apartment complexes and traffic, all in the name of
development.
Setting sun - framed by
silhouettes of trees
Sherry: This is the story everywhere, it seems. When you look back at your childhood, do you see any indication that you would grow up to be a writer?
Namratha: This is the part where I am tempted to lie. But no,
I did not ever imagine that I would grow up to be a writer. I always read a
fair amount of books (fiction) since I was a child, but at school I was more
inclined towards math and physics than into English literature. The only writing
I had ever done was technical, related to my work. Until, I more or less
stumbled into writing and then poetry.
My blog started off as a platform for an
experiment in digital marketing. I then got an opportunity to write for a
woman’s online magazine which discussed issues facing women at the workplace,
ideas to get women on a break back to work, feminism and so on. But over the
course of the year, it dawned on me that I love to write.
Sherry: Smiles. I love that moment of realization. Is there someone you feel has been or still is a
significant influence on you as a writer? Someone who encourages your gifts?
Namratha: Firstly, my husband, Varadharajan Ramesh (or Varad), who
started his blog initially just to like and comment on my articles (imagine
that!) He is a wonderful storyteller and focuses on flash fiction and short
stories (Here is his blog: LERT).
Secondly, my best friend, Dhatri, who lives all the
way across the world in California. She has read every post of mine and
encourages me with her kind words.
Thirdly, my mother. She has constantly helped me
with the kids, due to which I found the time to write, even when I was pregnant
and with a newborn in tow.
Yoga during pregnancy
Sherry: It is wonderful to have such support. It makes all the difference. When did you begin writing poetry? What do you love
about it?
Namratha: I started writing poetry sometime over the course of
the last year. I just found it easier, more like myself, when I wrote in verse
and at times it became an addiction.
I love creating visions with my poetry. I feel
poetry helps me get more grounded with reality, enables me to connect with the
world in a more holistic way and has got me to observe nature more closely. To
summarize, it has given me a new pair of lens to view the world.
Sherry: You write very well. I thought you likely had been writing for years. What other types of writing do you enjoy?
Namratha: I think, posts about my personal essays that include
perspectives about women at work as well as about motherhood have connected the
most with my readers.
During the AtoZ Challenge last year, I wrote about women
in different walks of life and immensely enjoyed it.
I also write flash fiction and have a prompt running
called #MicroMondays. Please do feel free
to join in any week.
If you check out my About Me
page, it will dawn on you that I dabble in any type of writing that catches my
fancy. Maybe that is because I am still experimenting. I haven’t yet singled in on focusing on only
one type of writing. Perhaps, I never will. But, all said and done, poetry makes
my heart sing like none other.
Tree which loses all its leaves in winter
but in full bloom at Cubbon Park
Sherry: I love that poetry makes your heart sing. Mine, too. Do you have a favourite well-known poet?
Namratha: I truly admire Maya Angelou. I wish I had written
or will write a poem in the likeness of Phenomenal Woman. Don’t we all?
Sherry: Indeed we do! Would you like to choose three of your poems to
include here, and tell us a bit about each one?
Namratha: The first poem I want to share is one I wrote when I
was expecting my second one, and was hoping (trying, working hard) for a vaginal
delivery. However, in retrospect I believe it is applicable to many other
situations when we desire something, but the result is not in our hands.
What
happens, happens
Do you continue to
do your best,
though you know for
sure
nothing is in your
hand?
Do you keep a smile
on your face,
not knowing whether
success or failure
is coming your way?
Do you prepare to
lose
or focus steadfastly
on hope;
eliminating all
else?
Do you surrender to
a higher power?
Ponder if you will
have the strength
to accept your fate?
You know for certain
the coin has been
tossed,
It can fall either
way.
Why not smile?
Why not hope?
Why not do?
Why not believe?
Doesn’t matter anyway.
Sherry: Yes, we must hang on to hope, even when nothing is in our hands. You have expressed that so well.
Spiderlilies from my garden
Namratha: The second one is part of a series of short
poems, which I have been penning down from my observances of the world around
me. The series focuses on how us humans are affecting the world around us: How
we are all consuming without pausing to reflect that we are meant to share this
world with a lot of other species as well. Here is a short one of something I
witnessed recently and which made my heart lurch.
Not
a drop to drink
grey kitten with a white tail
purring softly makes its way
to have a drink from the puddle
down in the basement
where --
the sewage line leaks!
Sherry: Oh, poor little creature! I share your concern that so much of humankind has not awakened to our interdependence. Sigh. It weighs on me heavily.
Namratha: The third is
my attempt at a Cascade poem. I wrote this as a reminder to myself: to
disinfect myself from my gadgets for focused periods though the day and give my
undivided attention to those around me.
It is written in the voice of a kid
looking at his mother. In today’s world, we are bombarded with so many electronic
devices, social media, reality shows, tv series, movies, gaming, addictive
apps, whatsapp groups, forwards, music, blogging, writing, reading, in between
making money, following passions, fulfilling responsibilities and duties. Where
is the time for looking into another's eyes and nurturing relationships?
Nest of weaver ants in my neighbourhood
I am here
Pry away your eyes from
that screen for just a moment
look into my eyes, I am
here, looking at you,
waiting for the moment you
will look at me too.
Pry away your eyes from
that screen for just a moment
look at me well, enjoy my
smile reserved for you
feel that touch, hold me
tight, tell me I love you
Look into my eyes, I am
here, looking at you
show me I am more important
than that all the screens
our days here are few, I
will grow up real soon
Waiting for the moment you
look at me too
I wonder if I need to turn
into a gadget with flashy images
Will you then find me interesting? Will you then notice me too?
Sherry: Those precious years do go by so fast. We have no idea, when we are young moms, just how fast! I love this poem!
When you aren’t writing, what other activities do
you enjoy?
Namratha: Yoga and long walks are high on my list of favourite
things to do. Yoga helped me in harmonising my hormones, and also kept me
healthy during my pregnancy. I enjoy long walks, both alone or with my sons.
Fresh air, looking at nature, and the chitter-chatter of my little one who sees
the world differently from me: what’s not to like?
Gardening is another activity I enjoy, though lately
it is a bit neglected. I have a small balcony garden with an assortment of
plants: roses, hibiscus, cherry tomatoes (in the past), aloe vera and some succulents.
Being in contact with soil and dirt and roots brings about contentment in me.
Green cherry tomatoes
I believe most writers are readers, so yeah, I do
enjoy reading a lot. In fact, on the first date with my husband we happened to
visit a bookstore!
Sherry: An auspicious beginning! Smiles. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about
yourself and your life?
Namratha: Just a sentence about my current outlook in life.
I believe I am a dreamy optimist, tending to always
look at the good in people and now to transition from being just a leaf in a
stream of life to becoming a go-getter.
Sherry: Wonderful dreams! Is there anything you’d like to say to Poets United?
Namratha: Poets United has been one of the forums which has
introduced me and taken me a little further in the world of poetry. Writing for
the prompts and reading the poetry of others has helped me shape my poems.
Thank you so much for featuring me here, though I am just starting out as a
poet. I look forward to continued association with this group.
Sherry: It is our privilege to support and encourage poets. It is why we do what we do, for the love of poetry. Thank you, Namratha, for allowing us to get to know you better. We look forward to enjoying your work in the months ahead.
Wasn't this a lovely visit, my friends? Do come back and see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you!
