Hinduism and wordsmithing combine for creative Chitra Gopalakrishnan

From New Delhi, India, Chitra is a writer and poet. She has been involved in the production of many anthologies, including Angels, Beyond, Worlds, and Dark Moments among others. A beacon of talent, Chitra has an impressive array of awards and felicitations. She’s had recognition for her anthology Çikolata, her contributions to Cultural Reverence journal and SheRise, and a Galpa Collective Award. 

Chitra imbues her culture into her work, particularly Hinduism. She subscribes to the Hindu emphasis on interconnectedness, particularly “...between the body, mind, and soul.” This exploration of spirit takes readers on a journey that transcends the page itself. This journey is also one that Chitra herself is going on, as she uses her writing to understand the meaning of life.

Though Chitra’s writing is saturated with philosophy, she doesn’t shy away from the rougher side of human existence. Chitra herself describes her writing as containing the “gritty, grimy details of everyday living.” Realism isn’t lost in the metaphysical exploration within Chitra’s work, rather intertwined. Unlike many creatives, her reference isn’t binary; spiritually or reality. What could be an or becomes an and.

This duality is evidenced in Chitra’s favorite one of her poems, a work entitled “An Unlikely Alchemy of Song and Butter” published by West Trestle Review. In it, a granddaughter reconnects with her grandmother despite her dated worldview. Past, present, and future clash as reality becomes unbound to the erratic beat of a drum. The piece wraps up with the generations threading back together as “ she discovers that her true joy lies in the values of love and consonance with everything around her…her grandmother, through her simple gestures of singing the suprabhatam…and churning butter, taught her the value of bringing the whirling world to a still point.”

Chitra’s grounded style and references to Hinduism gives her work a unique flair. If you’d like to see her publications or for more information, visit Chitra’s website.