Who says science nerds are not into poetry?

Pursuing B Pharma from Apeejay Stya University (ASU), Gurugram, Sumit Pandey is skilled not just in the scientific field but also in the realm of the heart, rather mind rather than soul. It is excellent to note that at such a young age, he has found the balance between the duties of the world and the elixir of the heart, the force that keeps us going. 

Selected in this week’s Promising Poet, Sumit explains how poetry keeps depression away as the fresh wave of thoughts and emotions drives him to a positive zone. 

At what age did you start writing poetry?

The first poem which I wrote was in Hindi and I wrote it at the age of 17.

And what inspired you to write a poem?

I had to switch schools after class 10. It was a difficult process but I adjusted well. Then one day , on my way home after school I met my old classmate. It was a very emotional moment and that day I wrote a few lines about my former school which eventually led me to the world of imagination and words. It was then that my first poem came out.

Quite an interesting moment. But we read your poem: I have watched you, what’s the idea behind it?

This poem was written as part of the school homework to write an English poem using the phrase ‘I watched you’. There I got the idea for this poem as I remembered how we people look at sleeping babies and it gives us such a peaceful pleasure. It was then that I wrote those lines.

The all time poet’s question: rhyme or free verse?

 I have tried both and am experimenting with them equally as I continue to write in Hindi. It is tough to choose one, maybe with more experience into writing poetry I would be able to choose one, whichever comes more naturally to me. 

 And writing poems in the day or night?

There is no specific time for me but it happens that suddenly I start humming some lines unknowingly and then this gives me the basic structure for writing my poem. As the former President of the nation Shri APJ Abdul Kalam ji once famously remarked, “Poetry comes with deep sorrow or immense joy”, I firmly feel that the same happens with me too.

At dusk, when I feel low, my brain starts framing beautiful poetic sentences to divert my mind from the unnecessary toxic things towards positive thoughts and emotions.

How does ASU help you to write such lovely poems?

I’m pursuing B Pharma from Apeejay Stya University, Sohna Road. This is a professional course so we have a lot of work, assignments and other projects. But the acquired skill of poetry helps me to escape all these pressures and attain some mental peace and avoid all the chaos happening around me.

 How do you approach writing a poem? How much time does it take you to finish a poem? 

There is no specific approach for writing a poem. Mostly it happens like say if I am listening to a song, I try to make my own lyrics using the same tune and rhythm.  This is how I found the idea to write something. Then after spending some time in introspecting I came up with some of the lovely lyrics and lines. There is no fixed time, it can take upto 25 minutes to a week as well. 

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

I can clear all my doubts while writing poetry and it also resolves all the inner conflicts and issues. Poetry also acts as an escape route from depression as writing a poem makes me so happy. It is lovely!