This poem on veggies is no soup but a delight!

Ranchit Awasthee is a delightful Hindi ‘kavi’. His poem ‘Sabzi ki Paheli’ has both the innocence of a fresh teenager and also the dazzle and creativity of one who has within him that poetic ‘andaaz’. Even in being told by his mother to buy some good vegetables, the young poet found the perfect rhyme. 

 In this week’s Promising Poet interview, the class 7 student at Apeejay School, Kharghar lauds his father, an Urdu poet as his first inspiration and gives details about his craft. Edited excerpts:

At what age did you start writing poetry?

I began writing during the lockdown. I was in class 5 then. So, poetry is very recent to me.

What inspired the poet within?

My father writes a lot of shayari in Urdu. He even tells me about many literary anecdotes everyday. So, I got inspired by that. He is my inspiration.

Do you write only in Hindi?

I write in both English and Hindi. But I write mostly in Hindi, as it becomes easier for me to find rhyming words in my native language. Plus my father also teaches me a thing or two in this.

Your poem ‘Sanzi ki paheli’ was very innovative! What was the idea behind it?

I, along with my mother, go to the weekly colony vegetable market. So one fine day my mother told me to go and select the vegetables on my own. I asked her how to select the good vegetables. This inspired me to write a poem. Our mothers afterall take such good care of us, they are so knowledgeable especially in this domain.

Give us a poetic reply!  Your favourite vegetable?

Potatoes. They are the king of vegetables.

How does your school support you as a poet?

My teachers explain poetry in great detail during the class. Our textbooks also have so many poems. I love the poetry lectures.

How is your favourite poet?

My father! Here’s my favourite couplet from his pen 

‘मुझे ठीक भी कर देतीं और कड़वी भी नहीं लगतींदवाओं में अगर मेरी माँ की दुआओं का असर होता’

Next poems?

I want to write a poem on badminton. It is a game I love!

Tell us about your process of writing?

I generally write on myself and the happenings in my life. It takes me about 2-3 days to finish a big poem. Otherwise an hour or two is good enough to finish a short one.

What does the poet within say to the world?

Everybody is a poet at heart!