True inspiration lies within yourself.
Dibyajyoti Sarma is a poet and publisher, based in New Delhi. His works include Glimpses of a Personal History, Pages from an Unfinished Autobiography, and Book of Prayers for the Nonbelievers. He has also made his mark as a translator.
You can say I was thrown into publishing. I had a collection of poetry but could not find a publisher. So I set up my Red River publications in 2017. My friends were happy to publish through me. Since I have a job, I have the freedom to experiment.
In my progress as a poet, I have gone through an evolution. I have delved into varied themes, feelings. It is an intensely personal journey. I have even tapped into my sadness.
We have many talented writers today. But I would request you not to be in a hurry to publish. Share your work with like-minded friends. Heed their criticism. Maybe take a mentor as your guide. When you put up your work on Facebook, the feedback is hardly reliable. Today there are many online publishers and you can approach them when you are confident about your work. True inspiration lies within yourself.
(As told to Indrani Raimedhi)
