Verses of hope

Exploring the power of visual and lyrical imagery, Bahrain-based poet and artist Sudeep Deshpande is set to release his first solo book of poems by the end of this summer.

In his Hindi book titled Tairti.. Doobti.. Lakeerein Meri (Hindi: My lines... sinking in love and floating on hope), the 43-year-old creative is inviting readers on a captivating journey through life, society, women’s empowerment and patriotism, through 50 poems and 50 abstract paintings.

“This unique book blends the power of poetry with the evocative beauty of abstract paintings, creating a multi-sensory experience for the reader,” he told GulfWeekly.

“Each poem delves into a different theme, offering a poignant and thought-provoking perspective on the world around us.”

Curated from a two-decade-long collection, the book is Sudeep’s first foray into publishing on his own, though his work first appeared in Angst of Belonging and Not Belonging in the form of an English poem.

This was followed by co-authoring Hum Seerat (Hindi: Our nature) with Bahrain-based writer Nivedita Roy earlier this year.

“I have been writing in both English and Hindi,” he explained.

“I enjoy Hindi’s structure of expression and to be able to explore this ‘structure’ has always been my intention and in doing so, it becomes education.

“Writing in Hindi has its own beauty. Having been brought up in an art environment, listening to Hindi music and Urdu poetry, Ghazals (poems reflecting spiritual and romantic love) have been a crucial part of my upbringing for which I sincerely thank both my parents.

“And as I said, writing in Hindi allows you to express in a certain structure, it allows you to blend with Urdu where one word can express the emotion of an entire line. That is what intrigues me.

“Although my mother tongue is Marathi, writing in Hindi and English has always been something I look forward to.”

Published by India-based Puffin Publishers, four major themes interplay throughout the book - exploring life’s depths, celebrating the strength of women, patriotism and national pride; and an homage to great minds.

When exploring life’s depths, Sudeep dives into its various facets, encouraging readers to embrace a positive outlook and find meaning in love, loss, hope, and resilience.

In the second theme, he celebrates the strength, resilience, and achievements of women, urging readers to recognise and appreciate their contributions to society.

The third section showcases Deshpande’s deep love for India through simple yet evocative words, while also pondering on some of his concerns about the country, inviting readers to engage in meaningful dialogue and strive for a better future.

In the fourth section, his compositions pay tribute to the countless inspiring individuals who have shaped India’s history and culture, offering a glimpse into their lives and achievements.

Paired with each poem is one of Sudeep’s abstract art pieces, carefully chosen to mirror the emotions in the written piece.

“Some thoughts demand a certain palette of colour and need to be expressed in the form of a painting,” he explained.

“Some emotions need a certain dimension, they need to be shown with their shadows and therefore are best interpreted through sculpture.

“Similarly, some emotions can be precisely said through lines, through text and hence they are transformed into poetry.

“And then there are some experiences that come with a range of emotions. They can be said, expressed, interpreted in both a poem and painting.

“In this collection, my poetry is a series of abstractions - episodes of my time that are best revealed through my pen and my brush.”

Although many in Bahrain’s art world are familiar with Sudeep’s work with his brush, poets and writers can explore his brushes with the pen and his journey over the last 20 years.

Throughout this journey, Sudeep’s wife Snigdha and his friend Vishal Changrani have been pillars for the creative, helping him grow and evolve as an artist.

And although editing work continues on the book, which is expected to be published by the end of August, Sudeep is already busy working on his next group abstract exhibition titled Symphony, featuring 10 international artists.

For more details, follow @sudeep_deshpande3 on Instagram.