On January 21, the Department of English Literature and Language hosted an enriching online Miscellany session titled "The Academician as Poet." The session featured Dr. Nishi Pulugurtha, a distinguished academic and poet from Brahma Ananda College, Kolkata. Known for her extensive research in diaspora studies, Indian literature in English, Shakespeare in Indian cinema, travel writing, and Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Pulugurtha offered profound insights into the intersection of academia and creative writing.

One of the central themes of Dr. Pulugurtha’s discussion was the creative process in poetry. She explained that poetry allows for boundless expression, enabling writers to experiment with language, form, and emotions. Dr. Pulugurtha shared how extensive reading helped her develop a distinctive poetic style. She encouraged participants to immerse themselves in various literary genres to expand their understanding of poetic devices and structures. A significant part of the session was devoted to Dr. Pulugurtha’s poetry collection, Real and Unreal, which was published during the COVID-19 pandemic. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A segment, where students and faculty members posed questions about Dr. Pulugurtha’s writing process, the themes in her poetry, and the relevance of poetry in contemporary literature.