NEW DELHI, February 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Akshara Theatre organised an event called 'An Equal Love' on Valentine's Day, 14 February 2014, in New Delhi, India. The event had a dramatised book reading of Delhi-based queer poet-activist Shaleen Rakesh's collection of poems 'The Lion and the Antler'. The poems were rendered by Delhi-based poet and singer, Jalabala Vaidya. There were other poets whose work was presented, including Vikram Seth, Hoshang Merchant, Rumi, Kalidasa, Hafiz and Shakespeare.
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Shaleen described the mood of his first book as one of 'joy and innocence'. Speaking at the event Shaleen spoke of his love for his partner which provides him the support and inspiration to live in a homophobic culture. His poetry has the same quality of celebration - love and his indomitable spirit to succeed.
Shaleen writes with a lyricism of a song writer, as if he wanted his poetry to be set to music, to be heard and danced to as well. His language is simple and without any pretense. He creates a world which is full of creative and vital energy of transformation.
Shaleen said he owes much of his success to his family, his partner and close friends. His world is composed of these elements. While Shaleen has been described as a love poet, his poetry has enough sorrow to ignite a diverse range of emotions for readers. It evokes the ongoing tension between love and sorrow, between the outer world and the inner experience.
"That's what the title means," explains Shaleen. "The Lion and the Antler is about the inner soul and the outer body and the insistence of the human spirit to survive the struggle between the two."
The event included readings by Jalabala Vaidya and Angad Thakur. There was also a musical performance by Nisa Shetty.
About the Publisher:
Worldview Publications is an imprint of the Worldview Collective, an independent and progressive media collective which provides space for artists and writers who challenge the status quo.
Primary Media Contact: Shaleen Rakesh, [email protected], 91-981 0856058
Secondary Media Contact: Rajat Mehra, +91 955 5134346
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