An attempt to write Punjabi poems the Japanese way

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 15

Writer Rajwant Bajwa, unconventional in her approach towards writing, has released two of her latest books recently. The two books — Chedd Koi Raag, a compilation of Punjabi poetry; and other Satrangi Piing is a collection of poetry in Haiku. Haiku, a Japanese genre of poetry uses just three lines on verse. It is lesser-known form in Punjab and Rajwant says that it’s a courageous attempt. “Haiku is otherwise quite difficult to attempt from traditional forms of poetry as it involves technicalities and writing Hailu is like solving mathematics. I had been attempting Haiku since 2003 and I used to write and share it with my friends and peers in literary circles for responses. Over the years, I gathered my confidence and finally took the risk to publish Haiku,” she shares.

Rajwant Bajwa has never shied away from experimenting and she says that she remains open for reactions regarding her book. “I am open to critics as I want to learn from them. I have been actively participating in Haiku literature in Ottawa, which is considered the hub of rising Haiku poets. I have attended conferences on Haiku in Lahore as well before 2020. I spent the pandemic putting a hold on my books as the were supposed to get published in 2020. I have complied over 1000 poems in the book Satrangi Piing and it has been published not considering the commercial aspects but I just wanted to contribute in promoting Haiku in our literary circuit,” she says.