Shabd Shilp

I have often been pointed out to by my peers that I am too negative minded. I am the one who is always carping about petty things, criticizing everyone (including self) and too hasty in everything. And they are partially right as well. But this post is different.

Being in a not so big town (no am not whining here) has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. One major disadvantage is there isn't enough awareness and taste in the arts. There are few people who like to be at leisure, bask and indulge themselves to some tasteful art. Be it fine art or literature. This post has more to do with the latter. Thankfully, I got a chance to be a member of a small coterie called Shabd Shilp which is an open group for all literature lovers to come together and discuss poetry and other forms of literature among like minded people over coffee and sandwiches. People from varying level of literary skills come here- from novices like me (an engineering student) to Ph.D holders in English to persons who have published their own anthologies!!

A Snap from the First meeting

It's open to all literary enthusiasts and meetings are held on one of the last two Sundays of the month. It takes place in Cafe Palette. A lovely place where you feel leisurely comfortable. It encourages art, literature and photography by different groups in Indore. So far there have been 4 meetings. The last one, held today had a poetry competition as the main theme. There were some amazing poems and short stories shared and the two deserving winners won coupons of Cafe Palette as the prize.

The best thing I like about the group is that it is a free group. There is no membership or any thing of this sort. Any one who wants to enjoy a good time with literature and more importantly poetry can feel free to drop in. The language is no barrier either- both Hindi and English Literature/Poetry is read and reflected upon with ease. But more than that it is the feeling, of being among like minded people, who despite the growing world of Facebook and Cell Phones still have a penchant for arts.

Kudos to Shabd Shilp. May it prosper and grow :)