My heartfelt thanks to esteemed editors and poets @vinita65 and Sukrita Paul Kumar for including three of my poems in “Conflict and Calm: Poems - War, Violence and Peace”, a new anthology that’s “armed with powerful words and deep sentiments.” To see the foreword open with a poem by Afghan poet @SomaiaRamish / Ph.D made me tear up. And to be published alongside such talented wordsmiths - I’m deeply grateful. Especially thrilled to be in the company of @schahm @ranjithoskote and @TejiSethi Book overview In the relentless machinery of war, where history is written in blood and the grand narratives of nations often drown out the cries of the individual, the poet stands as a solitary witness. But, this witness is one who is compelled to tell the truth of the moment with the powerful tool of words that give rise to pregnant silences and usher sensitivity and compassion to combat the inhumanity of war. This anthology is not a chronicle of battlefields or a treatise on political strategy; it is a collection of echoes from the human heart caught in the brutal vice of conflict. Within these pages, you will find no easy answers, no triumphant fanfares, only the raw, unflinching search for meaning amidst shrapnel and silence. For poetry, in its most essential form, is the language of the soul when prose fails, a desperate attempt to articulate the inarticulable horrors of violence and the fragile, aching hope for peace that persists despite it all. The voices gathered here, grapple with the same profound questions: How does one bear witness to atrocity? Can beauty bloom from such devastation? And what does it truly mean to be human when humanity seems lost? Sukrita Paul Kumar and vinita agrawal The anthology can be purchased here - 1. penprints.in/shop/product/co… 2. From Amazon

I’m so tempted to make a list of everything I have absolutely loved about what you said here. From your love of reading & books, to prioritising quality over quantity & respect for all involved over the crude business practices of today. Those who value the “deeply human” exchanges in this world, they are the ones that inspire hope amongst others, Sahana. “Books find readers at the right time. You cannot rush that.” Loved that 😊 And the idea of books shaping a generation without ever appearing on a best seller list - we all know such books and the authors who’ve written them. “Patience is active faith.” ❤️ I could go on and on. Please give it a listen folks… especially readers, writers and creatives, you’ll have a big smile on your face by the end of it. Also, if you’re like me, you’ll feel tremendously comforted.

So much wisdom here. Please watch.