A writer, a blogger, a spoken word poet and a storyteller, Kena Shree works as a Senior HR Manager in a leading corporate. She writes for the Huffington Post, Hindustan Times, Cox and Kings India, Women’s Web and Sheroes among other writing forums, and also a column for the Lifestyle section of the Times of India web edition.
She is the co-winner of Times of India ‘Write India Season-1’ and ‘Season 3’ story campaign. Her short stories have been published by TOI books, Readomania and Half Baked Beans while her debut fiction novel is a work-in-progress.
She has recently co-curated 6-day Asia’s first Feminist Poetry Festival for the prestigious ‘She the People’ platform.
1 ) Kena Shree, did you always want to become a writer and a storyteller?
I cannot remember how early I began to write. I was really small when I penned my first piece of poetry in a personal diary, just how most writers begin. If there was anything I could not do without, it was a pen and paper to scribble on. Perhaps I was always a writer at heart, just that I did know I was one.
Growing up, my training in dramatics helped me pen some plays, pursuits in public speaking helped me to write social opinions and typical teenage rants helped me to channelize my anger in words. I did storytelling as a part of my theatre opportunities, mostly in smaller circles. Again, I did not know if I’d ever take it forward professionally.
Meanwhile, I kept pursuing my full-time career as a Human Resource professional and L&D trainer in a leading PSU of the country which in itself is pretty demanding an assignment.
Yet, writing and storytelling continued to remain a creative canvas where I would retreat every night after a long day’s hard work. It fell as a breather, rescuer and healer for all my physical and mental exhaustion.
In due course of time, I tried to learn the art of balancing both – the corporate career and creative arts. I am glad it is working out fine now.
2) Humans relate more to the stories of vulnerability than stories of human success, they connect more with the storyteller who is comfortable with his or her imperfection and isn’t looking to hide it. What are your thoughts about it?
I cannot agree more. As Anne Lamott puts it, “Perfection is shallow, unreal and fatally uninteresting.” Once attained, it leaves us with no urge to look beyond, explore newer boundaries and push ourselves towards healing.
We are all work-in-progress and shall always remain to be. Scars, bruises, failures, mishaps, mistakes, imperfection, the mess is what we are made up of. The art to ‘fixing up the mess’ is what truly defines who we become.
Naturally, we tend to relate with and draw inspiration from stories that sound similar to our own. Whether it is a story or poetry, it must have the ability to help the recipient get in touch with one’s inner self otherwise it just remains an appreciative piece of art.
Look at the stories of success. Do we get pleased about the achievements or is it the indomitable strength and ability of the achiever to turn misfortunes in their favour that stays with us like inspiration?
I think it is in the idea of accepting imperfections as humble vanity that unleashes our inner beauty. Remember what Shakespeare once said – “Things won are done, joy’s soul lies in the doing.”
3) What according to you is the state of contemporary poetry in India?
It has undergone a huge and heartening change having become far more encompassing for new writers across all categories. With the upsurge of technology, especially social media, a great piece of writing no longer rests at the behest of publishing houses or elite literary networks. Instead, the creators now have the opportunity to put across their work in public using social media platforms, self-publish and host their own work. Performative poetry and spoken word poetry has come a huge way in the last decade which was significantly absent in the country earlier.
Off late, we have gone one step beyond the traditional domain of poetry. We have recently seen a promising rise of cause-based poetry– Tribal, Dalit, Protest, Queer voices have made an impressive mark in furthering the movement by amalgamating it with art.
However, we do need to be a little watchful concerning the tsunami of content being generated online every day, a lot of which needs guidance and chiselling by mentors from the field. Also, there is a huge need for us to go back to reading more than writing. We need to understand that if writing is the fire, reading is its fuel.
4) What is the relationship between your speaking voice and writing voice?
Both my speaking and writing voices resonate the same thoughts. It speaks of breaking stereotypes, non-conforming to tedious traditions, feminism and a certain kind of rebellion against the mindless collective. It is also a lot to say about fixing up scars, imperfections and chaos, things I relate my life with.
Nevertheless, the presentation of these two distinct voices is what creates all the difference.
Writing comes easier to me. I am most comfortable with penning my stories in words where it runs like a smooth flow of a river, at my own sweet pace, in my own sweet space. It also runs without the risk of receiving instant reaction, encouraging or discouraging, from the readers. It is a form of expression which may receive praise or flak much later than when it is being put into words and hence, extends a certain level of undiplomatic freedom in writing. Besides, it also leaves a cushion for edits before making the document public.
The speaking voice runs a lot more risk. While up on the stage for performing, it garners immediate reaction from the audience, which is why most performers keep playing with the script, rendition and improvisation depending on audience’s emotional pulse until the performance lasts.
I treasure both equally.
5) What do you see as the role of a poet in modern-day society?
A poet is one who can sell dreams to a non-dreamer, inspire life in a lifeless person and get a lost one come back in touch with reality. The modern poets must understand that their art has the power to bring around a change, a spark or create a difference in someone’s life. They must go beyond the race of popularity and beyond the count of likes-views-comments to create the craft they are uniquely gifted with. The society needs fearless writers who can challenge the evils around and dare to call spade a spade. They have the power to bring about a change of perspectives and hence, they must. Let us be remembered as the progressive poets who helped create a new order.
6) Do you have any particular audience in mind when you write?
When I write for a live storytelling performance, I do consider who I would have in the audience so that I can work on the tonality, diction, linguistics and art of telling a tale. For instance, what and how I would narrate to young students would be entirely different from what I would to an elderly audience. The context indeed affects the telling.
But when I write stories, columns or a novel (that I am currently penning), I strictly follow my inner voice. I don’t let anyone or any context colour my thoughts. Writing is as much a healing exercise for me as it is a task and hence, it must follow its flow.
7) What is your advice to mothers on inculcating a habit of reading in their kids?
Ah, now that you touch a mother’s heart. Both my daughters are avid readers but follow genres of their choice. While the younger one is still up with classic English and Hindi books, the elder has graduated to contemporary titles in thriller, crime and romance.
A couple of tricks that worked for my family are as follows:
One – Make them start as early as possible. Let them fall in love with the feel of the books and the smell of the pages. Read to them when they are too young to read.
Two – Follow a reading discipline, for instance, bedtime stories are a great way to begin.
Three – Remember, children, emulate what you as parents do. There is no point in telling them the beauty of reading when as parents when you choose to binge-watch the television. In my home, the idea of leisure is that each one would pick up their kind of book and relish on words.
Four – Do not thrust your favorite titles or genres or authors on them in the name of guided reading. While watchfulness is important, allow them the freedom to pick up the language, book and category of their choice. My younger daughter has recently picked up interest in reading old Hindi books and we could not be happier. The elder one has expressed her interest in reading crime thrillers while I have always been a Classics fan. I am rather grateful that her interest got me to explore newer titles.
Five – Help them build a library. In due course of time, they’ll be proud and happy to look back at their treasured repository.
Six – Look for excuses to gift books to them. Whenever you want to reward them for a good deed, gift them a book with a personalized note. (We’ve gifted our books alongside their birthday presents). It conveys to them the value of reading and creates a special bond, the kind that readers have.
So many more! I could almost write an essay on this. There are several little ways by which parents can explain to them the power of reading and storytelling. Do it your way. But take the effort to do it. That’s the key!
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Author’s bio
Mariam Ansari hails from the exotic country of Tanzania but has chosen to settle down in India. A multilingual girl with a degree in English Literature and a flair for writing,became an social media influencer.At present Content & Communication Head for UNIMO
