Ek Bijli by Amrita Pritam - A Rare Find!

This week in Daak:

1. Ek Bijli by Amrita Pritam

2. Daily Poetic Inspiration

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1. Ek Bijli (A Bolt of Lightning) by Amrita Pritam

ek bijli 
jab aasmaan me
baadalon ke vark
ulat-ti hai
meri kahani
bhatakti hai —
aadi dhoondhti hai —
ant dhoondhti hai…

//

When a bolt of lightning
In the skies
Amidst the layers of clouds
Tumbles
My story
Wanders —
And searches for a beginning —
Searches for an end…

Poets will always be poets, no matter what form of writing they practice. We found this rare gem in an old edition of an Amrita Pritam novel which gives us a delightful glimpse into the mysterious forces which inspire, provoke, or compel a writer to put pen to paper. We may assume that writers meticulously plan out the beginnings and endings of their story in advance, however, Pritam shows us that creative process seldom works that way. As a nebulous, semi-formed idea begins to take shape in a writer’s mind, it bolts through the mind and the writer’s surroundings, drawing inspiration, connection and shape.

2. Daily Poetic Inspiration

If you want to read more poetry from South Asia, check out our Poetry Calendar. It has a new poem for each day and can be used year on year! It makes for a fantastic desk companion and an inspiring gift for poetry lovers.