Even before Namitha Aby John realised that she had ardently fallen in love with writing, she has been maintaining a diary. Before she knew it, she was 16-year-old and realised that writing had become akin to oxygen for her. "No, really. It is a huge and substantial part of me," says the 19-year-old. After participating in multiple competitions and devouring several books, poetry happened and there has been no looking back since then. She even graduated to performing poetry and has been participating in open mics scene since then. "But I have always considered myself as a writer, not a performer," shares the student of St Francis College For Women.
She animatedly describes her first open mic performance with Your Quote, a community of creative writers, and the jitters she was feeling. Till date, before any performance, you will find Namitha in a corner, all by herself, mentally rehearsing the lines she would speak on stage. But when she gets on the stage, as she says, "Words take over." She has never had a problem remembering lines because they are her own words.
"I like to touch upon sensitive topics like mental health and depression and convey it in words which anyone could relate to," says Namitha who is pursuing her BA. But she never writes to perform, she writes to publish. "When you perform, it's all about how you do it. I try and talk to the audience and make it seem like a conversation. Also, it's very important to be honest," says the spontaneous poet who was born in Kollam, was in New Delhi for 10 years, but calls Hyderabad her home now. "I know a lot of people who write, but are reluctant to put their work out there. I really wish that everyone is open to putting up their work online, even if it's on Instagram," says Namitha who goes on to add that she was nervous about putting up her work out there too. But eventually she did and she hopes everyone eventually finds the courage to do the same too.
A poem by Namitha
You're a disaster.
The wind swirls around you in obeisance to the raging storm within you.
The hail of your unspoken tales enrage the boiling lava in your veins.
The mountainous wave strives to sweep away everything for eternity and your heartbeat being tremors destroy you inch by inch.
And you still choose to remain silent,
Your serenity and peace enthralls every passerby and terrifies them at the same time.
You're a disaster still being the refuge.
For more on her, check out instagram.com/epiphanyinoblivion