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INDIAN poet and artist Pallavi Jain is celebrating her latest published work in The Mountain Was Abuzz, an anthology featuring diverse interpretation of the snow-capped Himalayas.
The Saar resident is one of 70 poets from across 18 countries, including Bhutan, Nepal, and India who have contributed to the 277-page book.
Pallavi’s poem Echo humanises the mount; its rock-solid endurance, mystical aura, spiritual nature…
The inspiration for the piece comes from her childhood visits to the Himalayas, a treasure trove of happy memories that she holds close till today.
“Growing up in Uttarakhand (a state in northern India), we visited places like Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Nainital, and Kashmir, which are primarily part of the Himalayan range,” Pallavi told GulfWeekly. “The Himalayas always bring back happy memories and as a child I was mesmerised by its existence. Now, seeing how our actions are destroying the ecology of the mountains hurts my heart. This poem is my tribute to the Himalayas.
“My last visit to the Himalayas was more than a decade ago when we visited Leh city in Ladakh (a region in the Indian state of Kashmir). The breath-taking landscape, crystal clear skies, highest motor-able Khardung La mountain pass, and numerous Buddhist monasteries, all offer adventure as well as a place for soul searching,” she said, reminiscing her trip.
Pallavi got to know about the anthology from mountaineer and noted Indian bilingual poet Toolika Rani, who has published numerous titles in English and Hindi. Despite the short notice – two days – she was determined to weave a poetic tribute to the ‘mesmerising mount’ whose majesty is so deeply imprinted on her heart.
“It was short notice, but I managed to gather my thoughts. I am an environmentalist so, writing about nature gives me immense pleasure and peace, and writing is meditative for me. I was thrilled when Ms Toolika mailed me back saying that she loved my poem,” the 51-year-old revealed.
An excerpt from Echo reads:
‘There it is,
The unmovable
Pious
Magical
The very essence of permanence
The Himalayas’
While Pallavi is strongly drawn by the poetic nature of the mount, she is also inspired by the environmental impact it, and mountains in general have.
“Mountains are one of the balancing elements on earth and contribute to the existence of life on the planet. I would like to take this opportunity and encourage everyone to take care of natural resources to preserve the planet. Otherwise our reckless actions will end up destroying the earth and our future generations will not be able to witness the majestic Himalayas. Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you,” she urged.
Pallavi has been writing ever since she can remember but her tryst with poetry began back in 2015 when she moved to Bahrain. An active member of the Bahrain Writers’ Circle (BWC), she has participated in various poetry events organised by the group. She has also published her works in various anthologies in India, and one published by former Bahrain resident Robin Barratt, which focuses on mental health and well-being. Last month, Pallavi travelled to India to present her verses, alongside seven other wordsmiths, at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), in collaboration with the Literary Warrior Group, a platform promoting literature and poetry.
The Mountain Was Abuzz is available on Amazon.
