Founded in 2019, Irshaad Poetry (@irshaadpoetry on Instagram) is a poetry page run by Isha Gupta and Raj Tekwani, both poets themselves. The page has amassed over 2500 followers on social media and post poems by various poets and authors around the world.
The page also invites submissions from its readers for its 'Sundays for the Soul' initiative in its aim to provide recognition to local artists and voices. It strives to provide a platform for diversity, revolution and identity through poetry.
Tell us more about your background and journey.
I & R: We both belonged to the poetry and creative writing society of our college but our individual journeys with poetry started since we were little kids. From nursery rhymes to poetry from all over the world and country, we developed an affinity for the power of poetry and what it can mean to people. And as its significance in our lives grew, so did our desire to connect to more people who feel the same.
Isha joined this page within 2 weeks of its founding and Raj joined it a few months later.
What led you to start your page on Instagram and what is it about?
This page was founded by a person who's not associated to the page anymore. I had joined him in editing and curating it within a few weeks of it starting.
R: And I joined it in a few months after that! I'd been a dedicated reader of their newsletters and posts and kept up a correspondence with them, constantly discussing poetry.
I&R: We started out with merely posting poems or sending newsletters. But this year, we also conducted a National Poetry Writing Month challenge and started Sundays for the Soul, wherein we post poems by a reader every Sunday.
What is your creative process for curating poetry for your page?
I&R: The process mostly just involves a lot of reading. For every poem that is posted, we read around 7-8 poems. We read newsletters, old journals, poetry websites and other sources regularly.
Once we zero in on a poem, we get to making the post and posting it.
Oftentimes, we post poems in support of movements such as 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Dalit Lives Matter'.
According to you, what makes a poem great, emotions, language or something else?
I&R: We don't think any poem, or any other form of art for that matter, can revel with only one or two of these factors. A poem is a concept comprising of a smooth working of emotions, language, structure, and themes. How a poet says what they want to say holds significance just as what they want to say does. There is no one way to judge a poem's greatness, we feel, and there never should be.
What does poetry mean to you?
I&R: Poetry has always meant to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comforted. And it has always played that part in our life - it's been our solace in times of need and crisis and roused us to our privilege.
Now, poetry is a way of life. It's as staple as the tea we have every morning. There is no emotion that we feel that we cannot turn to poetry for. We feel that the essence of poetry exists in making people feel heard and seen.
Do you think social media has contributed to the well-being of poetry?
The internet and the issue of accessibility have been boons to poets and poetry-lovers, we feel. Similar to how slam poetry as a movement sought to bring poetry to the masses, the internet and the variety of platforms have enabled a movement that is the poetic equivalent of globalisation. Poets and readers from all over the world are able to connect and appreciate poetry together and that is beautiful.
While there may be some people who alter the terms of poetry and its beauty for social media validation, that is a con that is outweighed by the pros. Moreover, if a reader finds solidarity and beauty in a poem, the subjectivity of theit opinions must be respected, as long as the poem in question isn't disrespectful.
Traditional poetry recitals have certainly taken a backseat due to the status quo. However, efforts have been made to revive interest in them and the internet has been a great tool in this process. It's been wonderful to witness, even though it is sad that such steps have to be taken.
Isha joined this page within 2 weeks of its founding and Raj joined it a few months later.
What led you to start your page on Instagram and what is it about?
This page was founded by a person who's not associated to the page anymore. I had joined him in editing and curating it within a few weeks of it starting.
R: And I joined it in a few months after that! I'd been a dedicated reader of their newsletters and posts and kept up a correspondence with them, constantly discussing poetry.
I&R: We started out with merely posting poems or sending newsletters. But this year, we also conducted a National Poetry Writing Month challenge and started Sundays for the Soul, wherein we post poems by a reader every Sunday.
What is your creative process for curating poetry for your page?
I&R: The process mostly just involves a lot of reading. For every poem that is posted, we read around 7-8 poems. We read newsletters, old journals, poetry websites and other sources regularly.
Once we zero in on a poem, we get to making the post and posting it.
Oftentimes, we post poems in support of movements such as 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Dalit Lives Matter'.
According to you, what makes a poem great, emotions, language or something else?
I&R: We don't think any poem, or any other form of art for that matter, can revel with only one or two of these factors. A poem is a concept comprising of a smooth working of emotions, language, structure, and themes. How a poet says what they want to say holds significance just as what they want to say does. There is no one way to judge a poem's greatness, we feel, and there never should be.
What does poetry mean to you?
I&R: Poetry has always meant to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comforted. And it has always played that part in our life - it's been our solace in times of need and crisis and roused us to our privilege.
Now, poetry is a way of life. It's as staple as the tea we have every morning. There is no emotion that we feel that we cannot turn to poetry for. We feel that the essence of poetry exists in making people feel heard and seen.
Do you think social media has contributed to the well-being of poetry?
The internet and the issue of accessibility have been boons to poets and poetry-lovers, we feel. Similar to how slam poetry as a movement sought to bring poetry to the masses, the internet and the variety of platforms have enabled a movement that is the poetic equivalent of globalisation. Poets and readers from all over the world are able to connect and appreciate poetry together and that is beautiful.
While there may be some people who alter the terms of poetry and its beauty for social media validation, that is a con that is outweighed by the pros. Moreover, if a reader finds solidarity and beauty in a poem, the subjectivity of theit opinions must be respected, as long as the poem in question isn't disrespectful.
Traditional poetry recitals have certainly taken a backseat due to the status quo. However, efforts have been made to revive interest in them and the internet has been a great tool in this process. It's been wonderful to witness, even though it is sad that such steps have to be taken.
Who is your favourite poet and why?
I&R: Emily Dickinson! We stand on the verge of pretty much praying to Emily Dickinson every day - that's how much we revere her. Emily Dickinson's perspectives on death, life and marriage are relevant and intriguing. Her poems are like companions, sitting alongside us in beautiful carriage rides through cornfields, playgrounds, sorrow and joy. We turn to Emily Dickinson like we'd turn to a friend, as a metaphorical shoulder to cry on, share all our smiles with and sometimes, to share silence together.
Interviewed by - Shruti Gupta
I&R: Emily Dickinson! We stand on the verge of pretty much praying to Emily Dickinson every day - that's how much we revere her. Emily Dickinson's perspectives on death, life and marriage are relevant and intriguing. Her poems are like companions, sitting alongside us in beautiful carriage rides through cornfields, playgrounds, sorrow and joy. We turn to Emily Dickinson like we'd turn to a friend, as a metaphorical shoulder to cry on, share all our smiles with and sometimes, to share silence together.
Interviewed by - Shruti Gupta
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