Good morning! Today Personalities travels to  India and to the wonderful effort from a great team to bring together many poets from around the world, whose participation was phenomenal and the total views on You Tube exceeded 1,500,000 . What particularly impressed me was the respect for human nature, dimension and expression. So this colorful soulful human mosaic, joined forces to praise life itself through poetry. I will say it until I erase it: There is no greater reward than poetry itself and all the soul trackers you meet in your journey because of it. The words are beautiful, because they have no last name. They do not belong somewhere, but they let us in and out of the cosmogenic breath, getting a little closer to our truth. Writing about a person, that you have never seen  in your life before is  a quite  difficult issue, but to be honest i really felt that I know him some how since many years. So let me tell you at what points our tonight’s guest, Preeth Nambiar, won me over! We spent several hours talking and when he sent me his CV I stopped short at one point:I am  Preeth Nambiar  and was born as the son of Saraswathi Amma and Kana Padmanabhan Nambiar in Kanhangad (4) in Kasaragod district (5), Kerala (6) on August 27, 1978. 

INTERVIEW

Ladies and gendlemen our tonight guest: Professor, Author, Poet and philosopher, Preeth Nambiar

Early life

 

Preeth Nambiar was born as the son of Saraswathi Amma and Kana Padmanabhan Nambiar in Kanhangad (4) in Kasaragod district (5), Kerala (6) on August 27, 1978. Completing his elementary education from Vellore Government High School, Payyanur and Mahakavi P Memorial Government High School, he pursued higher education in English language and literature at Government College, Kasaragod (7) and St. Aloysius College (8), Mangalore. He found himself attracted to Advaita Vedanta (9) doctrine by Adi Shankaracharya (10), he approached Giridhara Shastri, a teacher of Vedanta and presently the principal of Sanskrit College, Shringeri for learning more about the philosophy that gave a different perception to his later life.

 

 

Professional life

 

Preeth Nambiar started his profession as a humble teacher of Cambridge University ESOL with the Ministry of Education, Maldives and withdrew himself as the department head of English and a teacher educator. In the field of education his focus was the application of teaching methodology considering various factors such as regional and cultural attributes thus ensuring effective teaching – learning experience. While working as a freelance teacher back in India, he founded Writers Capital Foundation to inspire writers to advocate for humanity which now spread over thirty countries. He is the special counselor and Ambassador-at-large for International Council for Diplomacy and Justice (ICDJ), Italy and Editor-in-chief for Litterateur Online, a multilingual literary magazine.

 

Books

 

Preeth Nambiar has written a number of books including The Voyage to Eternity (The Poetry Society of India, 2013, The Solitary Shores (Global Fraternity of Poets, 2015) and he has been the editor of a few world anthologies released globally.

 

Awards

 

The first book of poetry of poetry, The Voyage to Ernest Eternity won MG Gandhi International Poetry awards. In 2016, he was awarded as the World Icon of Peace by Institute of Global Peace, Nigeria.

I would appreciate to read this interview hearing the following music. I entirely believe that culture exchange is ecsactly this: To know us better. Dear readers I am so proud to present you one of the most magnificent musical personalities, the componist, Manos Chatzidakis!

When did you start to get more close to words? At a very young age was poetry a kind of a magical world where you could feel absolutely you and you could express yourself?

 

On the journey from timelessness to eternity, our genes have peculiar qualities attached to it. I earnestly believe it is when a favourable circumstance arises some of the traits expresses themselves. The so-called ‘my’ love for words could be similar to that. Though born in Kerala, I spent the first few years of my life in other states with my father who was employed in central government service. However, we had to return to my ancestral house in Kerala soon where I spent most of my childhood.

 

Though born in an aristocratic family, there was almost nothing left to make my childhood a happy one.  It was during my struggle with a miserable childhood and loneliness I started seeking solace in reading that finally resulted in scribbling my own.  After the death of my grandmother, who introduced me to the rich epics of the country, I returned to the maternal home, the surrounding had a rich soil suitable for writing more.

 

In many parts of the world, we have war. Why are you fighting to throw art to spread the deepest meaning of love, companion, solidarity and peace? Do you really believe in your unconscious mind..that you deliver them, light, tenderness, and harmony?

 

From history, we learn that conflicts and wars were part and parcel of the human race since its origin. Just like our mind seeks a problem to find its existence, we need a ‘problem’ for the existence of a society. Look at the word ‘serenity’, the word itself will be lost if there is nothing other than serenity in the world. Serenity exists as there is a calamity. So is the world too. The funniest part is that even if we manage to tackle one issue, we will find another issue to fight for.  I am afraid there is no end to this.

 

Meanwhile, music, arts, literature etc. are good remedies for bringing a sense of peace within. The knowledge of the essential nature of oneness of our lives would certainly help to ease the situation for which literature could play a major role. Music, arts etc. are universal languages that could help people from various cultures to gather and realize once again the nature of oneness. More important is nurturing the values of humanity and for the environment for the healthy coexistence in the planet for which literature can play a major role.

 

In fact, I dream of a world without a border, with a single religion that is humanity with a philosophy of oneness of the entire universe, maybe just a dream!

Why do you believe written words are so important for you as an individual for you like a part of the universe?

 

Everything in the universe expresses in their own way, the written word is just one among myriad means of expression.  The translation for ‘alphabet’ in Sanskrit is ‘Akshara’ which means it is one that cannot be destroyed. Words, when documented, stay here forever giving it the same meaning even if centuries pass. We learn about ourselves through those written words, yeah?

 

Poetry rather than a physical form of written words is an experience. You may find poetry in a grass tip swaying in the breeze; you may find poetry in a gentle and graceful movement of a dance form. Something that evokes a feeling in a reader that is beyond the scope of verbalization – I would call it poetry.

Let’s go to figure out together the Panorama Literature Festival….So be our guest!

 

 

When you meet a poet or an artist from a different part of the world..and you see his own unique gestures and face mimics, during the process of the pronunciation …what happen that moment inside you…Do your perception change how different culture face the same topic …let’s say love from another aspect of you?

 

I was fortunate enough to travel extensively where I have met a number of people from various other cultures, regions etc. One of the greatest values that we must possess must be to remain non-judgmental. Personally, I behold.

Probably a silly question in between, though not connected to the topic – why are cows considered so sacred in India?

 

I would connect it to the question that I answered previously. I understand the concept the cows being considered sacred is often mocked at by various other cultures. This is what I understand from many conversations that I had from citizens from other countries. The truth is that the concept is often criticized from within India.

 

We will have our answer once we visit Indian villages. If we read the history of India, cows were the centre of their lives. Starting from milk they consume, curd, butter, clarified butter ie. Ghee, buttermilk, everything is a part of their daily life. While dried cow dung is used as firewood, they are also used in farms. A quick look at this would reveal that cows are almost the very life for them. Any cruelty towards these animals would perhaps affect the very economy and perhaps for this reason they are considered sacred so that people would be careful enough to protect them.

 

It is not only scientific, but a deep-rooted faith too. A person from another culture, faith or geographical region would find it hard to understand this unless they visit those villages and learn their lives closely. I repeat, the key is to remain non-judgmental.

Nowadays many organisations are organising conferences and contest…So and poets…authors getting several kinds of awards…So do you really think that maybe we have lost the real road and meaning of poetry in name of fame and more self-promoting we have mixed the pure meaning of poetry…What is your opinion like an individual, but also like an expert organiser and coordinator in this field?

 

The real problem is that the majority of the organisations that we find in social media are for branding and promoting a person or organisations alone. If you do research, you will realise that most of such organisations exist only in the virtual world. First of all social media platforms should have strict regulations to add a page as an organisation. Secondly, people should have discrimination while taking part in events so.

 

Unfortunately, social media, for many, is a centre where they get an easy dopamine dose. I have seen profound works in social media failing to grab any attention, whereas works that don’t even qualify to be called a ‘work’ gather attention from a number of people. Maybe because of one’s ability to influence people or by using the marketing functionality available in social media, substandard works would perform well, however, in the long run, only the quality will define the fate of the work or of the writer. So is about the organisations.

 

Nevertheless, I am glad that there are plenty of platforms, though virtual, for writers to showcase their works. My request to fellow writers is never to be trapped by such organisations that are intended for self-promotions or get addicted to these dopamine doses, but nurture and harness the qualities within to give birth to timeless literary works. It takes a lot of pain too!

 

You have been silent over your political stances – is this because you are neutral or are you running away from your own responsibility as a writer whose stances would have impacts in a society especially in a country like India?

 

I earnestly believe in the power of written words in social change, however, I am least interested in politics, or to great extent I hate even the word. In a country like India I see the people being terribly exploited by politicians. Except for urban India, the education sector in Indian villages is in pathetic condition. Though the present government is struggling to bring some reforms in the field, the ill effects of the ruling of a few political leaders of the bygone are still haunting the country. More serious is the growing religious fundamentalism which we can find spreading in the rest of the world too. Looking all around, I feel like India is a living volcano, the eruption of the same could be fatal for the rest of the world too.  Nevertheless, as I mentioned earlier, these turmoils were and are part and parcel of the human race, if not visionary leaders, nature itself will find a solution to see everything back to normalcy.

 

Is poetry functioning in your life like when you have fallen in love and you have the first crash?

 

Experience of falling in love or a crash would certainly help you pen something connected to it in a later time, however, as far as I have experienced, it is always ‘emotion recollected in tranquillity’. Personal experiences are the bedrocks of a writer’s career. If a person is destined to become a writer, I feel like, often tragedies become his or her companion which is essential for the growth as a writer too. Pain purifies the self and from such purity alone we can expect the greatest works.

 

What do you think is the biggest purpose of poetry? Why do we feel so bound by words? And this interactive role they play in our lives..who is the director…the creature or the creator?

 

I would say that the primary purpose of poetry is to bring a sense of silence within the writer. It is more like smiling or bursting into tears – once it happens, it is over! However, if presented well, it would serve the purpose of documenting subtle human emotions, the times he or she lived or the culture he or she represents. See, we learn a lot about the bygone, going through literary works.

 

Have you ever been to Greece? What do you know about my country?

 

There are strong connections between Greek and Indian cultures. In the Classical Period, Rome and India were the two great empires that emerged as the most powerful nations on the map. Both began their classical periods before the common era and stretched nearly five centuries into the common era. Both civilizations had organized governments, social classes, and religions. Though not an expert in history, personally, I feel like there is much to be studied when it is about the historical connection between these two countries.

 

Like many of the others of my age, I also grew up reading the timeless works of Homer such as Iliad and Odyssey. Unfortunately, I haven’t got an opportunity to visit Greece though I cherish that dream.

 

 

Put us in your biggest dream like a person, like an author and like a citizen of this magic life.

 

I earnestly believe that finding inner peace is the solution for many of the problems that we face in our daily lives. I dream of a place which could be called Love Dale that would welcome a person who stumbles in his/her life and who is seeking serenity in his/her life. I would like to gather a few holistic sciences such as Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, spirituality etc. to help regain vitality within. I also dream that the same would act as a centre to inspire people for humanitarian values, to propagate holistic education and to unite people from various cultural backgrounds.

 

Did this pandemic bring us closer to our real self? Did this Covid 19 push us to our limits but do you believe we have discovered ourselves and we redefine the human relationships?

 

With due concern for the entire world affected by the pandemic and respect to all those who lost their lives in the battle, I still believe that the pandemic was a blessing to humankind when it is about reminding ourselves a few vital things. One is certainly about men’s presumption that he is the most powerful in the world. The pandemic shows how silly we are though we challenge nature with all those exploitations. We have seen how beautifully nature has repaired itself when we limited ourselves within the boundaries of our homes. Unfortunately, if political leaders do not take the necessary steps, I am afraid people will once again continue their exploitations and we will end up with a deadlier encounter with another pandemic. Nature has its own ways to balance it, though we would blame her for the ways she adapts to execute her plans.

 

 

If you had the opportunity to meet yourself at a very young age accidentally on the street one sunny day…what would be your advice to him?

 

That’s interesting! Well, I would simply pat on his shoulder and say to pursue the path, for the universe has already a plan for him. My advice would be to inhale deep the beauty of the universe and enjoy the moment. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘it’s the not the destination, but the journey’ that matters. However, leave not an opportunity to lift up a person on the way who has stumbled in his/her life.

And also congratulations to our Greek Winner: Mr. Christos Sanos

So and now the challenge for our poets…translate the following in your languafe and let spead the message of a common purpose for frienship, peace, tolerance, creativity and human connectivity!

 

 

 

Poem for Translation

 

                               LOVE DALE

Now, hold my hands, my beloveds on earth! Upon this valley of love, amidst the woods whose branches whistle the sweetest songs of paradise, let us gather for the sake of life, that makes us united for a while! Let us spend another lifetime loving each other, drinking the wine of love, fetching each other the sweetness of ambrosia, and live embracing the beauty of the world! Upon this land, within these huts made upon the green! Kiss me your love!

 

Dance joyfully, O gathered souls, upon the stage that I built for you! May colours melt, masks faint and the souls rejoice in the moments of togetherness! Sing aloud the songs of love, play the orchestra of strings live!  May the fragrance of the courses join the merry, to evoke the oneness deep within the skin! Shed the light of smile upon the downstage, though the heart is aching, for joy knows the pains of the unknown! Fall asleep hugging the moments that left you in ecstasy, for another day of joy!

 

O children of abandoned dreams, follow my path! Feel the warmth of my wings that would enfold the heart of your desires! Let us play around the sands and the lakes of eternal wisdom; in the evenings let me tell you the tales of those who lit lights on our path to timelessness! I will show you a road, leading to the heights of the world, from where you can see the beauty, but let me teach you too, the dangers hidden upon the steep hills to the riches. Leave me with contentment, not with a word that would shatter my love!

 

Hail O beloveds, during these moments of the twilight evening, let me embrace you to take you for a walk through the road where the trees have withered petals divine! May these spalls not hurt your feet tired of a long way to morrows! May the fiery rays of the sun not touch the wrinkles of your being! Let me tell you those stories that you whispered once unto the ears of your children, who walked away even without an adieu! Sway your heads upon my chest; leave your pain upon my shoulders, for I am your rest for a tired evening.

 

…And, in a morning, when I depart the prison of cells, dip not your teardrops unto the wastelands! Shed it upon those tiny plants that I planted across the fertile land, where my footprints sleep deep beneath! Kiss them all, their tender hearts, for I reside within, nay upon the heavens eternal, where the mansion of pleasures would seduce a life. Lend your arms, oh dear, as I lent it to you, to raise a soul left alone on your way! Bless them all, the love of life; lead them all to my sacred abode, where even the fragrant air would whisper the mantra of immortal love!

And a huge thank you our dear Preeth Nambiar for all your effort and inspiration to bring us together…

An nice video from Poet, Mrs. Irene -Doura Kavadia and a paragraph from the very special poet Smaragdi Mitropoulou describing her feelings and thoughts about the PILF…

 

“In the evenings the earth smells beautifully…. And I dreamed of a better world” says Greek poet Tasos Livaditis. 

“ A world that can be one family”we might add.

Last October, I had the honour to participate in Panorama International Literary Festival 2020, held by Indus Scrolls Press (New Delhi, India) in association with and Writers Capital International Foundation (Italy).  It was on the theme “World As One Family”, inspired by the famed mantra from Vedic literature Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.  It was a big and wonderful celebration of peace, humanity and friendship, a celebration of poetry. We spread the message everywhere: the world is one big family.

I feel grateful and blessed to be part of such a great event.

Smaragdi Mitropoulou, Greece.

 

 

 

and also a small ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΟΥΜΕ By the PERSONALITIES TEAM

Thank you India…Thank you Preeth Nambiar…TOGETHER IS THE MESSAGE!!! T O G E T H E R

 

With Love

Lena Kyropoulos and Personalities Team