A poet’s job is to militate against all forms of tyranny, more against the tyranny of uniformity. Plurality of the world, time and truth - are the essential ingredients of poetry. If the world around us is uniform without any variety or when it becomes predictable there cannot be poetry. A poet is born out of a deep sense of mystery and wonder. The world can do without poetry but poetry cannot do without the world. A poet is born out of the love and lure of the world - this was the essence of the James and Shobha Mendonca endowment lecture on poetry 2013 delivered by renowned poet, critic and cultural activist Ashok Vajpeyi here on July 13, 2013.
Commenting on the relationship between poetry and politics he pointed out that when poets show allegiance to any party or ideology they are bound to fall into some trap. Coming down heavily on the media he stated that language is under serious assault from media which is using it in a most irresponsible manner. He went on to add “Poetry doubts itself and that gives poets the moral right to doubt others. I am a seeker of truth, a seeker of reality. But mundane becomes the basis for poetry. Good poetry has to be both social and political but a poet need not become overtly personal or overtly social”.
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