Poets from the city and beyond came aboard to celebrate their passion for verse on the Rapid Metro Gurgaon here today.
Rapid Metro Gurgaon, in association with Delhi-based Poets' Collective, unveiled the one-of-a-kind 'Poetry Express' that embarked on a literary journey, witnessing some "happy trespassing."
A bogie of the Rapid Metro was reserved for the occasion, the doors of which were sealed to create a conducive listening arena.
The central most area of the coach was converted into a platform from where the poets performed and bedsheets were spread out on either side on the floor as an overwhelming audience of over 70 people squeezed in alternately on the seats and the floor to listen.
While entry into and exit from the coach was prevented, "there was a very happy trespassing happening," as curious people from other coaches peeped in and those interested filled in.
The recitations were interspersed with "giggly" moments, when poets would stumble as the metro took steep turns.
"We had poets falling here and there, but it is amazing to see the energy how everyone was just sitting together for hours," said Poets' Collective founder Somya Kulshrestha.
According to her, the initiative served as an opportunity to connect people and offer poets the befitting creative space to express something that was very "personal."
"This is about knowing people. It is about educating people about the other kind of people who exist.
"The idea was to create an atmosphere where people can be themselves and fearlessly share what they have written. The act of writing poetry is a very personal act and when you bring that out in the open, you better get a platform which is open, warm and non-judgemental," Kulshrestha said.
The event, however, was not about, "great poetry, she
clarified." It was about creating a fascination for poetry in hearts of people, she said.
"This is not about great poetry because if I wanted to listen to great poetry, I would listen to Youtube videos or I would go and read Harivansh Rai Bacchhan or Faiz Ahmad Faiz.
"Poetry has that inherent power to connect with a person and help that person to connect with several others. I have seen frienships and smiles getting exchanged here like never before," she said.
Meanwhile, the recitations were not restricted to only in the English language, as poems in Hindi as well as Punjabi were welcomed with similar enthusiasm.
"It is lovely how people are adapting to different languages. There was English, Hindi and also Punjabi poetry happening and they are getting similar attention! People showed the keenness to understand even if that might not have been there personal language," Kulshrestha said.
Rapid Metro Gurgaon, which has emerged as a cultural hub for cross fertilisation of creative minds since its inception, is among the most successful Private Public Partnerships (PPP) in the country.
"We always look for bringing innovative and creative initiatives for our commuters. Our association with Poets' Collective is a step forward, by way of launching 'Poetry Express', a first of its kind initiative, where group of young poets share their passion on a moving train," Rajiv Banga, CEO, MD, IL and FS Rail Limited, said.
Previously, it has also organised 'Discovery Kids Joy Express' and has pioneered the unique concept of celebrating birthdays on board the metro.
The four-hour-long show saw an impressive participation from poetry enthusiasts across the Delhi-NCR as apart from the "local Gurgaon janta" there were people who had travelled from as far as "Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida.
