First poetry festival in Delhi offers platform for amateurs

The debut one-day event held here recently drew verse lovers from across the country, with organisers estimating over 190 footfalls at the event, which saw seven book launches and had virtual participation from poets across many countries.

A Computer Science student, 23-year-old Yaseen Anwar, the brainchild behind the festival, has nothing to do with literature. His love for verse made him form the 'Poets Corner 'a body of like minded poetry aficionados.

"I began writing at the age of 14 but did not find a proper forum for my work. I found most of the existing groups on poetry were either outdated, not ready to accommodate new entrants or may be exploitative, to extract money," says Anwar.

Somebody mooted the idea of anthologies of poems and that set the ball rolling. Since 2011, the group has brought out 11 books of poetry, mostly anthologies.

Anwer says he dedicates at least four hours everyday to his poets corner group, even during his engineering semester exams.

"I research for at least one hour to bring novelty, I reply all mails usually 20-25 of them everyday, and update my facebook account, by which I stay connected to my readers," he says.

Responses he gets from readers may not be technically sound but for Anwar it is a small first step. "I'm sorry to say this, but many people do not even know the basic difference between a poetry and prose and I think it is our duty to educate them," says Anwar. (MORE)