Sana Abdul Salam Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Indian poet Yousuf Quadri defines poetry as an element that can evoke the senses. For him, poetry also has to be something complex, which deems interpretation. In one of his own poems, Quadri writes: Jo samajh me aaye assani ke saath Aisa koi sher Yousef ka nahi (What is understood quite easily cannot be deemed as poetry) “Poetry has the power to make one forget his worries, to be completely immersed in the poetic verse. There are also various physiological changes that are associated with this,” he said. Quadri is the author of the book “The 21st Century's World's Big Book,” which contains 11,111 pages divided in eleven volumes. Each volume deals with a specific theme and topic. My first book was titled “Allah ki Nazar (A tribute to God),” which is composed of poetry praising His might,” said Quadri. While the first volume was released in Chicago, US, the second is scheduled to release here at the Indian Consulate on May 2. “The second book titled “Parcham-e-Islam' (The Flag of Islam),” talks about the history of Islam in poetic form,” said Quadri. “Many have written about the history of the religion and it's socio-political stance after the Prophet's (peace be upon him) death in the form of text, or prose, but no one has done this in the form of poetry. So I am happy to have achieved this,” he added. Quadri's works have been widely translated in different parts of the world, namely in Islamabad University in Pakistan, Osmania and Aligarh Muslim Universities in India, US and Saudi Arabia. Quadri said he has observed that in a way things are easier for writers in the US than in India, because he felt that there is higher value for literary talent in the former. “In India, writers have to make extra efforts to gain recognition and support to have their works translated. “I had to pay Rs.1000 for each page, and in some cases even Rs.5000. So in total, I have spent more that RS one crore for translation,” said Quadri, adding, “Prose is easier to translate than poetry. Moreover, to find persons who are exceptionally skilled and proficient in both English and Urdu is a challenge in itself. “So these factors up the cost for translation. Plus, there is the issue of interpretation. If I read a poem and then don't understand its essence in the source language itself, then how can I proceed to translate it?” Advising young writers on how they can proceed to get their works published, he said that one should first read copiously, and then analyze what he or she has read critically. “If you do this, then what you have gained from this will surely be reflected in your work and improve its quality,” said Quadri. He also revealed that when initially no publication took him seriously as a teenage writer, he approached them saying that the poetry was written by his father and not him. “At a poetry reading, the editor-in-chief of a renowned newspaper saw me for the first time, and was astonished to see a 22-year-old poet in his midst. He exclaimed: ‘so this is the great Yousef Quadri!'” To young writers, he said: “Be exceptionally persistent. If you keep seeking appointments to meet people, then they will never take you seriously. “Have enough confidence in your work to strongly approach publishers see your work. Even if things don't work out, think of alternative ways, like perhaps starting your own publication on a small scale.” “Gandhi started his own newspaper when others would not listen to his voice, so be creative and find alternative ways to have your voice heard,” he said. Quadri currently lives in Chicago, US, but wishes to return to India one day. “I would like to go back to India, but more than that I would prefer to move to Saudi Arabia because it is such a blessed land,” he said.
