A bureaucrat, novelist and a poet, 1997-batch IRTS officer Mukul Kumar feels that his passion has led to an exponential growth in his personality giving him a new identity altogether. His passion is writing, and despite the paucity of time, he has ardently pursued it till now.
The Chief Commercial Manager in Northern Railways is the author of three novels, ‘As Boys Become Men’, ‘Seduction by Truth’ and ‘Aarzoo-Arshan’ (e-book), and three poetry anthologies, ‘The Irrepressible Echoes’, ‘Catharsis’ and “Rhythm of the Ruins”
Speaking with Indian Masterminds about his passion for witing, Mr. Kumar says, “Passion finds its way through the thickest of drudgery. I have to just obey its command. Writing is a compulsion, not a choice, and believe me the rigour involved in the process is so comforting.”
RHYTHM OF THE RUINS
The latest poetry anthology of Mr. Kumar “Rhythm of the Ruins” was published in October last year. It is a multi-thematic compilation of 53 classic poems that revolve around different themes like nature, love, hope, etc.
Quoting the impressions of the renowned poet and critic Dr. K. Satchidanandan on the book; he says- “Mukul Kumar’s poetry covers a wide range of themes and emotions: from the appreciation of the luminous divine mystery embedded in every scene in nature to the scandalous poverty perceived in a Bombay slum. The poems have a rare cadence and sonority…,Love, death, nature, reconciliation: there is hardly any aspect of existence or any state of human mind left untouched by the poet’s omniscient pen.”
Mr. Kumar firmly believes that art is the creation of beauty, and it creates beauty even out of ugliness, and finds rhythm even in the ruins. That also explains the title of his latest book – Rhythm of the Ruins.
FAVOURITE POETRY
Speaking about one of his favourite poetries from his book, he says that it’s quite a tricky task. It’s like a parent trying to choose his or her most loved child. “I spill the missing breast milk” has so far been the most loved poem out of his collection, and most debated as well.
“Yes, as a poet I also find this poem to be immensely satisfying as the artistic beauty so well mingles with the social concern,” he says.
I Spill the Missing Breast Milk
As I pass by a shanty in the Dharavi slum,
Where I am to buy myself a Leather jacket, an unconscious sight
Strikes me hard, plucking me from the
Enthusiasm – the excitement of an addition to
My variegated wardrobe;
A woman suckling her new-born,
Unmindful of the exposure, her
Femininity robbed of coyness by
The classic arms of poverty; the
Child frantically sucked the breast
That looked distastefully shrivelled, for
The milk that was not there…..
FEEDBACK
The poetry collection is doing well amongst the readers and the response is encouraging for the officer. It has travelled to all the major book stores of the country. “Considering the fact that it’s poetry that doesn’t have a large readership like non-fiction and fiction, the response is definitely encouraging,” the officer said.
The book has been published overseas also and the international edition in paperback has already been launched on Amazon.
This year the readers will get to read his new fiction which was long overdue due to the pandemic. “I am quite excited about it,” he added.
AWARDS
Mr Kumar has been honoured with the National award for outstanding service to the Indian Railways, Bharat Nirman award for literary excellence by Bharat Nirman Foundation, and Poorvanchal Gaurav samman for his contributions to society as a bureaucrat and writer.
