Poetry is what touches one’s heart and it is missing in Punjab: Poet Amarjit Chandan

An interaction with Chandan was organised by the Punjab Kala Parishad for the poetry lovers of the city.

The essence of life was described beautifully by Britain-based Punjabi poet Amarjit Chandan on the second day of the MS Randhawa Art and Literature Festival at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, Chandigarh, on Saturday.

Poet Amarjit Chandan after the interaction at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, in Chandigarh on Saturday.(HT Photo)

An interaction with Chandan was organised by the Punjab Kala Parishad for the poetry lovers of the city.

‘Wear Me’ by Amarjit Chandan

I want to rub against every part of your body

Make me your necklace

I want to be close to your jugular

As the soul wears the body

As the sound wears the word

As the seed wears the skin

As the book wears the touch of hands

As the sea wears the sky

As God wears worlds

Wear me

(Translated from Punjabi to English by the poet)

Talking about contemporary Punjabi poetry, Chandan said, “Veerani chhayi hoyi aa, dil nu lubhan wali koi kavita nahi mildi (emptiness has taken over, no poem touches my heart nowadays).”

Praising Chandan in his inaugural address, Punjab Kala Parishad chairman Surjit Patar said, “Sade pind je koi both sohna likhda si tan lok ohnu puchde si – tu’n kithe baith ke likhda huna (whenever somebody wrote exceptionally well in my village, people often questioned him where he sat to pen down his writings?)”

“I want to ask Chandan the same question, I want to know where he sits and writes poetry,” Patar said.

Maintaining eye contact with the audience, Chandan recited his poetry. He began with Manglacharan, followed by Kaghaz.

While narrating Kaghaz, he said, “Poetry has existed in this world even before paper was invented.” “Kavita kaghaz di maa hai (poetry is the mother of paper),” he added.

Expressing his love for Punjabi, he recited another of his poem Saah Punjabi. “Saah mera Punjabi wich aunda, Punjabi wich janda (I inhale in Punjabi, I exhale in Punjabi),” he said.

The poems Chandan recited included Maa da Viaah, Mera Supna, Asin, Pita naal Gallan’, ‘Akhi’n Dittha’, ‘Pardesian da Geet’, ‘Lasan’ and ‘Gunachaur’.

Talking about politics, he opined that literature and politics should not be associated with each other.

The seven-day MS Randhawa Art and Literature Festival will conclude on Thursday.