#39: Akhil Katyal navigating identity and the Delhi Metro
In this episode, I read "Aligarh" by Akhil Katyal. And two bonus poems because I have a mountain sized crush on him. Continuing my exploration of India poets in English and in translation. Since the only other Indian language I can read is Hindi, it is hard for me to access material in other languages unless already translated and well, the loss is entirely mine. The poems today touch upon the subject of identity and the communication of identity, about what is acceptable. I find these two poems, both on the subject of queerness interesting when juxtaposed with each other. One is Akhil's lament about how to explain queerness let alone claim it in a coloured and intolerant world. The other is a private conversation with his mother, her question not one of morality but of concern not "log kya kahenge?" but "tum theek rahoge?". Listen in! The poems I read can be accessed here - https://scroll.in/article/911994/politics-history-and-memory-merge-in-these-poems-on-kashmir-and-beyond And - http://poetry.sangamhouse.org/2018/09/by-akhil-katyal/ The host, Ravneet Bawa as - @one_third_above on Instagram @maikeya on Twitter Email: [email protected] Disclaimer: This podcast is created for sharing with friends and family, and only as a passion project amidst the Covid lockdown with no commercial interest. In all episodes I read from sources on the public internet or copies of books I possess. The commentary is all my own.