Karuna Sinh is currently based in Ajmer, Rajasthan. She is a published writer, and she ensures to take time to follow her passion for reading and writing while juggling her professional and personal life. She has co-authored the book The Flute and The Sword, a historical fiction, which was her first book. She believes that it’s the readers who encourage and uplift a writer to do creative work, and that affection and appreciation from readers is the biggest blessing. She has recently come out with the poetry book Versions of Reality, which is her second book.

I chat with her about her book Versions of Reality, how the book came to be, book recommendations, and much more.

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself!

I belong to Rajasthan and am currently working as an administrative staff at Mayo College, Ajmer, which is one of the prestigious boarding schools in India. I have worked in the Hospitality and Education industry. My passion includes reading, writing, cooking, and practising Buddhism. From a young age, I started writing book reviews and articles for various magazines and newspapers. I have pursued my Master's degree in English Literature, and also hold a Diploma in Creative Writing. I believe in LLL (Life Long Learning) to update and upgrade my knowledge, and hence I indulge in various online courses related to writing.

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

The world of literature fascinated me when I discovered great literary works at a young age. As a child, I was under confident regarding my writing, but I refined my flair for writing with time. My favourite poets include Robert Frost, Robert Browning, Samuel Coleridge, John Keats, Wordsworth, etc.

If you could only describe your book ‘Versions of Reality’ in five words, what would they be?

Exciting, Soul-stirring, Contentment, Accomplishment, Fantasy.

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

Imagination is the most incredible power we hold, and the more imaginative we strive to become, the more compassion overflows. This is one of the highest and greatest virtues of all, that allows the human mind to see and perceive the world in a whole new context. I believe that when one reads and writes meaningful material, the mind becomes more observant and appreciative of surroundings and people. Through the poetry book Versions of Reality, I have expressed mindfulness, empathy, gratitude, sorrow, misery, yearning, and pleasure for others to read. My poems contain different emotions that emerge in our daily life, and are relatable and subtle.

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

I have been working on reskilling my poetry writing for the past two years. I did a few online courses to understand the structure of the poems and the art of poetry. Last year, I thought of compiling my poems in a book as I felt confident about the poems I had written. With the support of my family, friends and loved ones, I decided to go ahead with the idea of publishing my poetry book. Hence, the book Versions of Reality was published in April 2022. I am obligated to my daughter Divayangana who inspired me to fulfil my dream. And even to my late father-in-law, who was my most prominent critic, and an ardent supporter of my poems.

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

My poems are simple, soulful, and easy to connect with. They are written in blank verse and free verse imagery and follow a rhyme scheme. I also tried experimental writing using the lipogram style in the poem ‘Be a Dreamer’. I have explored various themes in the poems like love, death, sorrow, spirituality, nature, romance, etc. I hope the readers find the poems delightful as they hold insightful emotions.

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

I utilized the pandemic time to hone my writing skills. The isolation time allowed me to connect with myself, and thus I could follow my passion for writing. Post-pandemic, I refined and repolished my documented poems and managed to publish them in 2022. As for my future plans, I wish to print volumes of my poetry.

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

Presently, I am reading The Shadow Lines by Amitav Gosh. Every year, I take the Goodreads reading challenge and strive to complete my reading goals on time. Thanks to the reading challenge, I have explored various excellent writers and relished reading books of diverse genres. I read writer Ken Follett's book A Dangerous Fortune this year, and it was a very good learning experience. I was mesmerized by his writing style, story narration, and character depiction. I am looking forward to reading more of his books. My favourite books are Becoming by Michelle Obama, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, Sanatana Dharma, Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom, Ignited Minds by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, A Feast of Vultures by Josy Joseph, and the list can go on.

The book ‘Versions of Reality’ is available online and at your nearest bookstore.