Dr. Kiran Chadha hails from Dalhousie, and is a woman of substance who has donned many hats throughout her professional career. She is a former bureaucrat, artist, dance expert, trekker, social worker and an anchor in many fields. She has served in various capacities in the Government of India in the Ministries of Petroleum, Commerce, Defence and Labour. She has recently come out with the book Echoes of the Heart – Dil Se…, which consists of poems and verses both in English and Hindi.

I chat with her about her poetry book Echoes of the Heart – Dil Se, the themes that she has explored in the poems in this book, book recommendations, and much more.

Hello, Dr. Kiran! Tell us a bit about yourself!

A former bureaucrat with 36 years of experience working in the Government of India, I, Dr. Kiran Chadha am a motivational speaker, known philanthropist and author with a zest for life. My motto is to excel in all that I do. My first book Dalhousie…through my eyes, released in 2017 and got rave reviews in the media. Echoes of the Heart – Dil Se… is my second book.

If you could only describe your poetry book Echoes of the Heart – Dil Se... in one sentence, what would it be?

I would describe my book Echoes of the Heart–Dil Se… as – A relevant, inspirational, thought-provoking, and positive book with an emotional narrative.

Now tell us a little more about the poetry book! What can readers expect?

These poems and verses chronicle my journey through life. Some of these poems were penned during my college days with reflections of my aspirations, beliefs and musings of a young heart. These present the romance and saga of youth. Readers, both young and old, will relate with many of the verses and poems as they go through each page.

What was the moment when the idea of this book first came to be? What made you pursue it?

The year 2020 with its unprecedented happenings rekindled my love for poetry once again. During the lockdown itself, I wrote over a hundred poems both in English and Hindi, depicting the pandemic, the loneliness, the changed scenario and all the emotions that go with it. These ditties bring out the ethos, pathos and emotive expressions of how I saw life, alone not lonely, ruminative yet positive, unforeseen yet fulfilling.

What different themes have you discussed in the poems in this book?

In addition to the themes described above, the poems cover various aspects of human thoughts. The poems and their associated themes present to the reader a wide gamut of emotions, sentiments and feelings. All poems end on a positive note reflecting my optimistic approach to life.

When did you start writing poetry? Which poets have been your inspirations?

I started writing poetry as a teenager in college. I was greatly influenced by the natural surroundings and the hills. Apart from the beauty of nature, I keenly observed those not so well endowed as I empathised with various sights and sounds during long journeys. I also had a clear idea about my aim in life and always prayed to God in my poems to fulfil my ambitions and help the needy.

I have been often inspired by William Wordsworth, Mahadevi Varma and Gulzar.

How have you been coping with the current pandemic and what will be the new normal for you post it?

I am dealing with this pandemic with an air of positivity and by keeping myself occupied in writing, yoga, reading, knitting, music and dance. With my efforts, I was able to plan, design and publish this book of poems during the pandemic and released it on my 70^th birthday in 2020. I have got used to staying with myself, spreading cheer and hope around through supporting charities and arranging and giving assistance to the needy.

Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

Currently I’m on a spiritual journey through Buddhist chanting for all those who are suffering and have suffered because of Covid-19. My next book is under print, to be released later this year. At the same time, I am writing my fourth book dealing with the anguish and angst of the youth during this pandemic. My journey in the verse format is also continuing simultaneously as I propose to release Volume Two of Echoes of the Heart – Dil Se. So, readers should stay tuned!

Reading and the choice of books is entirely a personal preference and the only thing I would like to recommend is that irrespective of the blitzkrieg of the social media; children, youngsters and the old must continue to read and enhance their horizon.

The book ‘Echoes of the Heart – Dil Se’ is available online and at your nearest bookstore.