Mehak Vashist
It was a chilly Saturday morning in Auckland, a time when most people would prefer to stay below a blanket but sheer curiosity to meet the one whom I have admired and closely followed in the last few years took me to the Auckland Airport at 7 am.
A thin man in a shiny leather jacket, dark blue jeans, sharp, black heeled shoes and of courses with sunglasses came into the arrival lounge, after emerging from an aircraft.
Dr Kumar Vishwas is a remarkable man.
Brilliant motivator
The fact that he is a renowned and celebrated poet and an icon amongst the youth is testified by millions of people who watch his videos online and visit his official page on social networking sites.
With his strong voice and cogent thoughts, he motivates people to think positive on various social issues. He has served as a professor and is known for his writings on several political, social issues. He is a columnist to several publications.
The Anti-Corruption Movement led by Anna Hazare saw him as an active and cherished member of the group, now also a leader of the ruling party in the capital state of India.
I started following Dr Vishwas eight years ago and like millions of people, fell in love with his poem ‘Koi Deewana Kehta Hai.’
I have often played his poems during my radio shows.
What inspired me was his style, sarcasm and wit. A good orator is one who speaks from his heart and eventually touches yours. He is a poetic genius and his style of narration of simple day-to-day events inspire his fans.
Special event
September 5 was a special day for Aucklanders for they had a rare opportunity to listen to a great Hindi poet performing live.
Before the event began at Langham Hotel, I asked him as to how he has gone against the norms and chose to follow his heart and passion for Hindi poetry.
‘Kavi Sammelans’ are usually the forte of grey haired men chewing paan and wearing kurta pyjama, I said.
He appeared cool and collected, prompting me to ask, “Don’t you prepare for your shows?” I asked and added, “You do not display any sign of anxiety.”
“Just follow your heart,” was his laconic reply.
Brilliant Star
He was welcomed on stage by a huge round of applause. Within no time he started striking chords with the audience. He became a part of the people present, taking them down memory lane to the galis and nukkads of India.
From history and politics to Vedas, chai and the pakodas, he had the audience entertained for almost three hours nonstop.
Without having any reading material in hands, with no music or light effect or any side artiste to support him, he entertained, kindled thoughts and made us introspect.
Bollywood’s biggest star Shah Rukh Khan needed a number of top-line actors and hundreds of people as his support and background dancers. His show, called, ‘Temptation Reloaded’ was expensive and left several people bankrupt and cheated.
There can be no comparison of course. Dr Vishwas left behind a mesmerised audience. His poetry is an ordinary language raised to the nth power, boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions and all that held together with a delicate yet tough skin in Hindi.
He is one those great men who does not make you feel small.
I hope that Auckland would witness more of such cultural and grass root level talents in the future.
Mehak Vashist is a programme presenter at Radio Tarana. The views expressed in the above article are personal and not those of the Radio station. Dr Kumar Vishwas was the star at ‘The Night of Laughter, Poetry and Humour’ organised by Aariya Entertainment at Langham Hotel on September 10.
Photo:
- Mehak Vashist interviewing Dr Kumar Vishwas for Radio Tarana in Auckland on September 5
- Indian Newslink Columnist Kamil Lakshman with Dr Kumar Vishwas in Wellington on September 4
