‘Poetry has the magic and power to heal people’: Ashish Bagrecha

From the feeling of first love to getting heartbroken, from falling into the darkness to trying to find light, from loving everyone else to loving your own self, his poetry special bids to take everyone on a journey of hope and healing through poetry, stories and lessons.

“I went on an India poetry tour in February this year, during which I visited 15 cities and conducted 30 shows. Over 15,000 people attended these events. It was one of India’s largest poetry tours. We concluded it with a show in Mumbai, titled ‘Pyar, Umeed, aur Roshni’, now available for streaming on Paytm Insider. Essentially, this poetry special captures the entire journey from love to heartbreak, from realising profound life lessons to gradually realising the importance of finding light in this world,” Bagrecha shared with indianexpress.com.

“Laal ishq se mushkil hai safed ishq karna, duniya ke rango se bachkar apni mohabbat ko bedaag rakhna. Laal ishq mujhe usse tha, safed ishq mujhe khudse hai,” the 31-year-old recited during our conversation, reminiscing about how poetry found its way into his life.

The Surat-born poet recounted his struggle with depression, anxiety and panic attacks almost five to six years ago and how poetry became a source of healing. “At the lowest point in my life, poetry found me. As a child, I had a deep interest in literature, reading and writing poems. Over the years, I lost touch with this passion due to my involvement in IT. However, in 2017, when I hit rock bottom, I rediscovered my love for poetry,” he shared.

 

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Subsequently, Bagrecha once again immersed himself in the world of poetry, nurturing his craft by penning down verses. “I truly believe that poetry has the magic and power to heal people in the most unexpected and subtle ways,” he emphasised, highlighting the connection between art and mental well-being.

“What poets and writers penned down years ago have withstood the test of time and continue to offer solace to individuals of different ages, genders, and backgrounds. We constantly consume so much audio-visual content that it’s often difficult to recall the last video reel we watched an hour ago. However, we always remember certain quotes or lines that left an impact on us a year ago. Such is the enduring power of art, whether visual or spoken. It lingers with us,” he mused.

The poet also pointed out that several psychiatrists and psychologists recommend art therapy to their patients. “Art, in any form, can be immensely helpful,” he said, adding that art plays a vital role in healing individuals by validating their emotions.

“We all possess the inner strength to face whatever challenges we face; all we need is someone to validate our thoughts and feelings. That’s precisely what poetry does. Art serves as validation for love, loss, grief, pain and also as a catalyst for betterment,” he shared.

With over a million followers on Instagram, Bagrecha emphasises the influence of social media, which has provided a platform for budding artists.

“I believe it’s remarkable how social media has empowered young, aspiring poets. Nowadays, we witness numerous modern-day poets who gained recognition through social media. It has also played a significant role in my success. Many of my video reels garnered millions of views, which introduced people to my work as a poet. Consequently, they began attending my live shows and engaging with my poetry,” he said.

However, he cautioned against losing one’s authentic voice amidst the noise of social media. “Because then you always try to make content that works, that is algorithm-friendly which I believe leads to dilution of your heart. Thus, you have to constantly remind yourself to push your boundaries. Instead of worrying about algorithms, one should do what they truly feel and think, and what can help people as well,” he concluded.

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