This budding poet is writing poems to defeat gender inequality

Apeejay School, Noida student Tanishka Goyal may be young but her ideas and words contain immense power. In such a young age, she not only envisions a society where all women are paid the same amount as men for the task at hand, but is also doing her bit to achieve this equality. In her poems, Tanishka often questions society’s stance towards women empowerment and criticises the freedom given to women for making decisions. 

This week in the Promising Poet series, Tanishka speaks about her journey into poetry, writing for a change and love for Robert Frost and the dusk. 

At what age did you start writing poetry?

I have recently started writing poems. To be precise, I began when I was 11 years old.

That’s great. What inspired you to pick up the pen?

My teachers had always been fond of my poems. They always appreciated and encouraged me to write more and explore this talent I was blessed with. So, I kept at it and here I am.

And you have far to go! So, how has poetry writing changed you?

Poetry has helped me write my emotions and sort out my thoughts as well as opinions. It has given me clarity and also some peace both in the mind and also in the heart.

Your favourite poet and poem?

Acquainted with the Night by Robert Frost. This poem can’t be described, it demands to be felt.

What’s your choice: rhyme or free verse?

Free Verse! I feel more comfortable in free verse and truth be told, it comes more naturally to me as well.

Writing poems in the day or night?

At night, more specifically during dusk i.e. more towards the evening. The night captivates all poets as finds the poem embedded in the stillness of the heart. I think I am able to explain why I named Acquainted with the night as my favourite poem.

How does your school help you to write such lovely poems?

My school provides students with a platform wherein all students can publish their pieces. This not only encourages us tremendously but also builds and boosts our self-confidence.

How do you approach writing a poem? What are your common writing themes?

I start writing poems by making pointers on a rough page for every stanza of the poem. It takes me roughly one and half an hours to finish a poem. But it also depends on the length and depth of the poem. My most common and treasured writing themes are nature, change, feminism.  

Best thing about writing poetry for you?

Penning down what I am feeling at the moment is a great relief. I find it peaceful to make a poem out of my feelings because tomorrow, when I will look back, those feelings, emotions and thoughts would be something winsome.

Lastly, what was thought behind your poem Her Apprehensive Self?

My poem Her Apprehensive Self is about a female warrior and how even though she is ready for the upcoming battle yet she feels apprehensive and doubtful of her skills. She is worried that she wouldn’t be able to stand up to her male colleagues who were stereotyped as ‘natural warriors’ by society because of their gender.

Similar things happen in today’s world. Participation of women in a few fields is unbelievably less. As a result, young girls aren’t encouraged to take up these demanding career options. They are not perceived as equals even if they do the same work as a man, they are paid considerably less. These sort of stereotypes discourage young girls, and they start questioning their self-worth. As a result, many hold back and become apprehensive about their career choices.