A poem for all who’ve come to work in Dilli

“Behad heen haseen iss sheher ka safar raha
Kiraaye ki zindagi aur kiraaye ka ghar raha!”

Do these lines need any more explanation. This couplet hits somewhere deep at the heart of everyone who came to the capital for work and ended up staying far from their families and home.

Meet Vivek Joshi, an Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC) student, whose exquisitely written poem Main bhi Dilli Aaya Huun has got him selected for this week’s Promising Poet interview. Read edited excerpts

So Vivek! Since when did you start writing poetry?
I remember I was in class 8 or 9 when we were given an assignment to write a poem on the topic ‘My town‘. So that was basically my first poem and I have fallen in love with poetry ever since. 

But what inspired you in the first place?
 I am a great fan of the legend Jaun Elia and his heart touching lines are the only thing that inspired me for the first time. After this my interest in poems, storytelling and shayaris grew even more. I also love to read Gulzar Sahab’s poems. 

Now tell us the thought behind your poem Main bhi Dilli aaya huun? We simply loved it!

The central thought was to express my feelings and highlight my experience here. I wanted to write about the circumstances I have been through and the emotions I went through after shifting to Delhi. In short it wasn’t an easy journey.

Wow! You wrote it from the heart! So which poet and poem is your favourite?  
My favourite is Gulzar sahab but the one I adore the most is Jaun Elia. I love listening to him.

Okay! Rhyme or free verse?
Both as per my mood or what I feel

And writing poems in the day or night?
I love writing at night. Night brings out the best in me. 

So how does AIMC support you to write such lovely poems?

The poem Main Bhi Dilli Aaya Huun, was created at AIMC as we were divided in groups and given an assignment to make a short video on our experience in Delhi.

Now tell us how you approach writing a poem? How much time does it take you to complete one?
 Whenever I come across any new experience I start writing about it. I love writing about my experiences on paper. There is no fixed time I take to finish a poem. It all varies poem to poem. 

I don’t have any common theme, but usually I involve my emotions so that someone else who faced the same can relate. 

Finally, the best thing about writing poetry for you is?

It makes me feel good, it makes me think how beautiful it is that words can express my self and my insights about the world. The joy and pleasure after completing a poem is immense.