Interview: Kalpna Singh-Chitnis

Kalpna Singh-Chitnis is a poet, writer, and filmmaker. Which of these passions was born first?

I believe my love for poetry was inherent in me. During my teens, I discovered my passion for acting and directing. Initially, I directed stage shows and acted in theater productions in my home state Bihar and Mumbai. I also did some fashion modeling. After coming to the USA, I attended NYFA to obtain my degree in film directing. However, in Hollywood, I primarily focused on acting in my own films.

How is your life divided between India, the country of your origin, and the United States?

I am deeply connected to my roots and maintain a balance between India and the United States. I visit India every few years, which allows me to nurture my connection with my homeland. In a sense, I feel like I live in both India and the USA simultaneously, each and every day. The essence of my home lies in India, while the physical presence is in America. I consider myself fortunate to experience the best of both worlds. However, there is a sense of longing for my motherland, as most of my family members, relatives, and friends still reside in India. I miss engaging in conversations in my language, writing in my native tongue, wearing traditional Indian attire, and celebrating our cultural holidays and special occasions with my people.

The film “The Tree” was based on your poetry with the same title and has won important prizes. Do you consider yourself a successful author?

I do not measure my success solely based on accolades or prizes. While it is true that the film “The Tree”, based on my poem of the same title, has received significant recognition and awards, I do not consider that as the sole determinant of my success as an author and filmmaker. Prior to “The Tree”, my feature film “Goodbye My Friend”, my short film “Girl With An Accent” and my collections of poems also garnered recognition.

However, it may be relevant to mention that my latest poetry collection “Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava” (River Paw Press), was named a finalist at the 2023 International Book Awards, presented by American Book Fest. Notably, “Sunflowers: Ukrainian Poetry on War, Resistance, Hope, and Peace”, curated and edited by me, was shortlisted for the 2023 National Indie Excellence® Awards. I also feel a sense of gratitude for having received the “Bihar Rajbhasha Award, given by the government of Bihar, India for my first poetry collection published in Hindi in 1983, the “Rajiv Gandhi Global Excellence Award”, for my contributions to film and literature, and "Bihar Shri. Poems from my fifth poetry collection “Bare Soul”, the recipient of the “2017 Naji Naaman Literary Prize”, and my poetry film “River of Songs” have been included in the Lunar Codex time capsules, going to the moon with NASA's missions in 2023 and 2024.

While the act of writing a poem, publishing a book, making a film, and receiving recognition for them is certainly gratifying, true success lies in the impact they have on others. My aspiration as a writer and filmmaker is to establish a connection with my readers, audiences, and myself. When my books are read and my films are watched, and individuals resonate with them, that is where I see my success. For me, success is an ongoing journey without a definitive endpoint.

Can you tell us something more about your latest book: “Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava”?

“Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava” is a collection of sixty-eight wartime poems on love dedicated to Ukraine and its defenders fighting for their freedom in the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The collection has been translated into the Ukrainian language as well, with the title “Любовні листи до України від Уяви”, by Volodymyr Tymchuk, a poet, translator and also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The translation allows the Ukrainian readers to experience the profound sentiments for Ukraine conveyed in the original work.

One important aspect of this book is the time frame in which it was created. The entire collection, consisting of both the original poems and their translation, was written predominantly in real-time, completed within a span of just eight weeks. This highlights the urgency and raw emotion that permeates the poems, absorbing the essence of the ongoing conflict and its impact on the hearts of the people.

The poems within “Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava” serve as bridges, aiming to forge connections within the hearts of the readers, enabling them to empathize with Ukraine's struggles and aspirations. By showcasing the longing for love, peace, and freedom that beats within Ukraine's heart, the book seeks to offer a deeper understanding of the country's plight and illuminate its enduring spirit.

There is a strong interest in reading this book. Is it because its poems regard the current Russia-Ukraine armed conflict? What makes this book particular?

Indeed, one of the reasons for the strong interest in “Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava" is its relevance to the current Russia-Ukraine armed conflict. The poems in the book also provide a distinctive perspective on love, emphasizing its importance during the times of war and for those who endure its catastrophe.

What message do you want to convey to the readers?

I will encourage the readers to get a copy of “Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava” read it, and spread the word about it to bring awareness about the plight of Ukraine. Furthermore, I invite readers to support Ukraine and its causes from wherever they may be. Whether it is through donations, advocating for Ukraine's rights, or engaging in activities that show our solidarity with Ukraine fighting to protect its freedom.

INTERVIEW BY: Irma Kurti

IRMA KURTI is an Albanian poet, writer, lyricist, journalist, and translator and has been writing since she was a child. She is a naturalized Italian and lives in Bergamo, Italy. All her books are dedicated to the memory of her beloved parents, Hasan Kurti and Sherife Mezini, who have supported and encouraged every step of her literary path.

Kurti has also won numerous literary prizes and awards in Italy and Italian Switzerland. She was awarded the Universum Donna International Prize IX Edition 2013 for Literature and received a lifetime nomination as an Ambassador of Peace by the University of Peace, Italian Switzerland.

In 2020, she became the honorary president of WikiPoesia, the encyclopedia of poetry. In 2021, she was awarded the title of Liria (Freedom) by the Italian-Albanian community in Italy. In 2022, she was also nominated as the Albanian ambassador to the International Academic Award of Contemporary Literature Seneca of the Academy of Philosophical Arts and Sciences, Bari. That same year, she was awarded the title of Mother Foundress and Lady of the Order of Dante Alighieri by the Republic of Poets.

She is a member of the jury for several literary competitions in Italy. She is also a translator for the Ithaca Foundation in Spain.

Irma Kurti has published 27 books in Albanian, 22 in Italian, 15 in English, and two in French. She has written approximately 150 lyrics for adults and children. She has also translated 16 books by different authors, and all of her own books into Italian and English. Her books have been translated and published in 14 countries.