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Writing for fun, to have this communication with his imagination in a quest to understand the world around him better put Daljit Nagra onto the path of writing verse. And now that he makes a living out of it is still a surprise for him. One of the living British poets whose work is part of school syllabus, critically acclaimed Daljit still writes for fun. Probably it’s this trait combined with a dig on the language, cultures and self that’s contributed to his success.

In Chandigarh, on British Council’s invite on Tuesday, we enjoyed a freewheeling chat with Daljit on his growing years, writing process and future projects.

Born and raised in England, Daljit grew up in two contrasting cultures – total desi at home trying to hold on to the Indian values on foreign soil and expected to fit in the Brit way of living the moment he stepped out. And, a switchover to Indian-ness once back home. “I did figure out my way out of this duality,” shares the poet who could see through his grandmother and mother’s telling of Ramyana as an attempt to turn him to be the ‘good’ boy aka Rama.

“Growing up I realised that Ramayana wasn’t as black and white as it was told to me.” And, there became a search for its different versions. In fact, his verse-novel, Ramayana, picks up liberally from the Thai, Nepalese, Indonesian and of course, Indian versions.

Diwali is huge in England and Daljit found the audience ready enough to take in the expanded story. His Ramayana was picked up for radio shows and dramatic version too.

This poet writes extensively on Indians settled aboard. “The story of ordinary Indians, those from farming community, moved to Britain to make a decent life has not been told and definitely not in verse,” shares Daljit, who finds most of his audience in white middle class. His unabashed poems about the First Gen — Second Gen conflict, open acknowledgment of the quirks of the race and being honest about it has fetched him his share of readers. “Look, people are interested in other cultures and if you are open about it, they appreciate.”

Poetry might be on a decline here in India, but this poet who calls London home, informs that page, performance, slams, poetry is on the rise in England. “In Britain, we have more than 100 poetry fests in a year and in London alone every single day of the week there are five to six events that are well attended.”

Daljit, who became one of the first from the Indian descent to be accepted by Faber & Faber to be published, still in his mind considers writing to be a hobby. He is continually having fun—be it language, people or self. Not scared of using rather difficult or obscure words in his writings, he does what appeals to him.

His next collection of poems is dedicated to the first generation Indians who considerably impacted British culture.

“Look, how this farming community made way to a distant land and altered it. It’s Indians who made chicken tikka masala to be England’s most favourite dish. They started the concept of nine-to-nine stores all days a week. Right or wrong is another debate but I want to celebrate this generation before they are gone.”

He is also writing an opera for the Royal Opera House on Heer Ranjha. Not ready to take things in black and white, Daljit is exploring different version along with Waris Shah’s. Originally, a happy ending, how it got changed to tragic one is what he is currently researching on. Here too, just like Ramayana story, remains the same, but this Heer and Ranjha don’t meet on the side of a canal but on Instagram as it happens today! Looking forward to it…

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