Rakesh Saini Talks About His Book “Kabhi Khushi me chalakte, Kabhi Gam me ludkhkate, Aansu”

About the Author:

Shri Rakesh Saini was born on 27 March 1964, in a village near Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, in a middle-class family. He completed his graduation in Electrical Engineering from the prestigious University of Roorkee (Now IIT) in 1984. After serving two years at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) during 1985-1987, he joined Military Engineer Services (MES) as an Indian Defence Service of Engineers Officer, in 1987. He also obtained the Masters of Engineering (Power Systems) degree from his alma mater, in 1997. He is working in Defence Infrastructure Sector for last thirty-seven years. Reading, all kinds of literature and writing; in both English and Hindi; is his passion. Rakesh developed his penchant for Hindi poetry at a tender age and started writing poems, for consigning them to dust bins, at the age of sixteen. The desire to excel in academics and professional commitments somehow, kept the creative hungers on tight leash. However, the creativity worms, invariably refuse to die the natural death and always crops up with some fresh leash of life.

Exclusive interview with the author

Q: What Inspired You To Write This Book?

A:I believe that no external human power can inspire anyone to write poems. That is either natural, or a blessing from some divine power. For me, writing poems, along with being a hobby, is also a great means of stress relief. Whenever I get free time, I try to think of something new, a new idea, which I can express through poetry. Or sometimes some assonant words, similes, figures of speech etc. come to mind.

Q: Can You Tell Us About The Book?

A: Most of the poems in this book focus primarily on tears. Happiness and sadness are two contradictory emotions of life. But both make life complete. Their importance in life is as important as origin, progress, rise, flight and end. Tears are the most powerful medium of expression of both happiness and sorrow. Sometimes they drip from the eyes to show intense pain, sorrow or unbearable pain. So, never stop, get swept up in the joy of finding something unexpected.

Q: What Does The Title Mean?

A: Actually, the title of the poetry collection ‘Kabhi khushi mein chalakte, kabhi gham mein ludhakte, aansoo’ is so long that it tells half the story itself. I like writing poetry on human emotions. The basic idea of the title is that tears are the most powerful medium of depiction, display and expression of all human emotions. If seen from a scientific point of view, tears are a tonic given by nature as a divine gift to keep the eyes clean, healthy and beautiful.

Q: How Long Does It Take You To Write A Book?

A:It is very difficult for me to set a deadline for writing a book. How much time it takes to write a book depends on how many poems you are able to write. Generally, if even twenty-five-thirty poems are to be included in the book, then it is necessary to write at least a hundred poems. Most of which ends up in the dustbin.

Q:Where Do You Get Your Information Or Ideas For Your Books?

A: Great poet Gopal Das Neeraj ji has said, “To be a human being is luck, to be a poet is good fortune”. Ideas for poetry come only to fortunate people by the grace of God. I’m not that lucky. I am definitely a hard working labourer. I am always in search of new words, ideas and expressions. I make poems by combining them. And book by combining poems.

Q: When Did You Write Your First Book And How Old Were You?

A: The first book was written in 2017-2018, at the age of fifty-three-fifty-four. It was published in 2019. But the first poem was written in tenth grade, at the age of fourteen. He probably wrote something about himself. Termites ate that register. That’s why you can tell right there whether what was written was good or bad.

Q:How Many Books Have You Written? Which Is Your Favourite?

A:This is my second book of Hindi poems. Before this, another work of mine was published titled “Some cheap, some expensive prices”. It is natural that the first book will be loved by everyone like the first love and the first child. Anyway, that book contained my entire life’s writings saved in my mind or on paper.

Q:How Did Publishing Your First Book Change Your Process Of Writing?

A:I was at my wits’ end in getting my first work published. At that time I had thought that I will not even look into this street in future. But, the hunger for writing is such that when it gnaws, the heart, brain, hands and legs all start working in one direction.

Q: What, In Your Opinion, Are The Most Important Elements Of Good Writing?

A: Writing is a medium to convey your thoughts, ideas and feelings to others. This is its purpose. If your words, feelings, thoughts reach others and they understand, then the writing is successful. The objective was accomplished. If the readers liked the topic, feeling, emotion, or tone of writing, then the writing was excellent, excellent, excellent.