‘Through my poems, I become the voice of the victim’

Srashti Jaitly is a TV-RJ student at Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC), Dwarka. She is a sensitive soul who is impacted by the happenings in the society. However, she has chosen to bolster herself from the injustice and crime around and writes poems of resilience and courage from the perspective of the victim. 

Selected as this week’s Apeejay Promising Poet, let us see what inspired spirit within this young girl to write on topics that most usually shy away from. Read edited excerpts:

At what age did you start writing poetry?

I started writing when I was in high school, I was 15 then.

What inspired you to write poems?

Nirbhaya Gang Rape Case that happened in 2012. I deeply studied that case and it had impacted me a lot. That made write the poem ‘Rape Butterflies’ .From there I got an idea that my writings can be a voice for victims.

Tell us the thought behind your poem 35 pieces of love?

As I mentioned, how the Nirbhaya gang rape case impacted me, and then this very incident of a lover cutting his beloved’s body into 35 pieces impacted me again and I wrote ‘प्यार के 35 टुकड़े क्यों ‘?

This was again women centric, a case of fake love involved within the relationship. It is not about a religion but  humanity and love which was murdered that day.

What is your favourite poet and poem?

William Shakespeare for sure. His sonnet The Seven Ages, was read by all in high school and is still the most loved one.

 Rhyme or free verse?

In Hindi, my preference will be in rhyming but in English, free verse makes the poem tangled and that’s all I want.

 Writing poems in the day or night?

Whenever I am ready to pen my thoughts into swords. No fixed time as such. (laughs)

 How does AIMC help you to write such lovely poems?

Well, all thanks to the Apeejay newsroom platform. This interview has built my confidence. I now see that my writings and my thoughts can also be recognised. 

How do you approach writing a poem? How much time does it take you? What are your common writing themes?

  Umm, my heart goes with women centric themes and LGBTQ issues. I also write on how men too have feelings kinda themes. But now I am shifting into political narrative writings which will also help my career and right now I am working on some politics topics.

Lastly, the best thing about writing poetry for you?

The best feeling is realising that you can be a voice of a victim who perhaps cannot stand for himself or herself.