In the meanwhile, Pankajam has travelled great distances. Today she is the author of 25 books (14 of which are poetry) that include fiction, poetry and literary criticism in English and Malayalam. She has received many awards that include the Rock Pebbles National Literary award 2019. It was a pleasure to catch up and get to know first hand the lady's illustrious poetic journey over the years.
Rajeev Moothedath (RM) : Warm greetings Pankajam! I am so happy you agreed to this conversation.
Pankajam Kottarath(PK) : Thank you Rajeev. Happy to talk to you, anytime.
RM: let us start at the very beginning, Could you tell us a little about your place of birth and family background?
PK: I am from Manalur village in the
Trichur district of Kerala, that has a landscape of backwaters on two sides and
vast paddy fields silhouetted by mango and coconut groves on another side. Ours was a conservative middle class family. My
father was a teacher; my mother a
great devotee of Lord Krishna. She used to worship the Lord on the first day of every
month at Guruvayur temple. I used to tag along clinging to her saree on such trips. It was her daily
routine to read Ramayana and Mahabharata with a unique rhythm of her own. I think all these have influenced me and unconsciously crept into my writing later on.
RM: That is interesting. Are there other incidents that molded your life in general and writing in particular?
PK: I lost my mother when in her early forties. Perhaps, as they say God calls back early those who are more dear to him. I had lost my father two years prior. This meant being the eldest, the care of my three younger siblings fell in my inept hands. At that time I was only seventeen and married as well. I thank God
for blessing me with enormous patience, perseverance and a sense of balance that helped me tide over those difficult times.
RM: Circumstances required you to play a role of a mature adult with major responsibilities at a very young age! Would you like to tell us about your education and career?
PK : I did my schooling up to PUC in my
hometown and later
moved to Chennai to obtain a degree in commerce from Madras University. Later, after joining BHEL, I did CAE , PG diplomas in Financial Management and Taxation Laws.
I am very emotional by nature and value personal relationships above all else. Although I had cleared 9 out of 10 papers in ICWAI groups I & II, the sudden demise of my best friend and young colleague devastated me to such an extent that I could not continue and complete ICWA.
I
retired as Deputy Manager-Finance from BHEL, Chennai. I have a sense of satisfaction and pride that I completed my official assignments effectively with commitment. Now, retirement leaves me with ample time to pursue my first love- poetry and literature.
RM: So when and how did the writing bug bite you?
PK: Frankly, I really do not know when and how poetry started entering my bonnet; more than one factor seems to have drawn me towards poetry. At my father’s house, there used to be Aksharaslokam recitals in Malayalam in which my father’s elder brother actively participated. As a child I used to join in these literary gatherings just for fun.
Being a sensitive and non vocal person, I found it difficult to express my feelings openly when upset, disappointed or angry about something. Instead of speaking out, I used to put it down on paper and tear it off later . This helped me to ward off negativity. I also started jotting down about
things that touched my heart. However, I
didn’t feel like showing these deluges to anybody, as I considered them trivial. Finally, I gathered enough courage to submit one of my poems for a poetry contest held by my employer. To my pleasant surprise and disbelief, I won the first prize! The journey had begun; I published my first book in 2006.
RM: Why write or rather what motivates you to write?
PK: Writing relieves me from monotony and
stress, gives me the opportunity to connect with like-minded people. When it comes to poetry, it is a means to convey powerful messages in less number of words. I write poetry from the heart rather than the brain. While providing the opportunity to unleash my wealth of creativity, writing helps to talk of social issues, spread messages of love, peace and
universal brotherhood.
RM: What are your preferred subjects for writing?
PK : Well, I am a lover of nature and so many of my poems
are on nature. Many of
my poems also deal with women’s issues. I have also written on themes such as love,
relationships, environment, fate of animals, old-age, death etc. I
have also written an exclusive book of poems on
spirituality.
RM: Yes, I also particularly love your nature poems. Could you share with readers your writing process?
PK : I make short notes instantly about the experiences I come
across, newspaper reports, social stigmas, a picture that tells a story. Anything
that strikes a chord in my consciousness prompts me to write. Often, I am
able to write a fully developed poem at a stretch. However, then
I keep on editing it till I am satisfied.
RM: You write in English and in your mother tongue Malayalam. In which language are you more comfortable writing? Writing in which language gives you more satisfaction?
PK: I am comfortable working in both the languages. My mother tongue Malayalam, the language I grew up listening and talking is dear and close to my heart. However, I also realize that writing in English gives me the advantage of more reach and readership. In short, I love both languages passionately.
RM: What are your views on modern trends in poetry? Further, what message would you like to give budding poets starting out on their journey?
PK: The current
trend in poetry is towards free or open verse. Shorter
forms of poetry are becoming more popular; brevity and
simplicity could rope in more readers. I read a lot of the works of contemporary poets. The poets of the younger generation are a promising lot. They are bold in their expression.
To the budding poets I would like to suggest that it would be great if they could write
with correctness, conciseness and clarity. Here, Correctness refers to both to the expression and the content; Conciseness to economizing the words and Clarity to clear and logical thoughts. It may be difficult to incorporate these, all at once.
RM: Now, to my last question. Having achieved so much as a writer, what are your aspirations for the future?
PK: I am happy if I continue to share my thoughts effectively and my voice is heard. If my words inspire even a single soul, I would consider myself blessed. It would be great if it makes an impact on readers' mind- create my own niche, even if a small dot in the big canvas of literature.
RM: That was a very holistic, engaging and fascinating conversation! Thanks a lot Pankajam!
PK: Thank you Rajeev for having me. I also enjoyed talking to you.
