Last weekend, I had the beautiful opportunity to meet the eminent poet K. Satchidanandan at his home on the peaceful outskirts of Thrissur.
He and his wife, Thulasi, welcomed my friend Uma and me with heartfelt warmth and enthusiasm. Despite recently being hospitalized for sciatica and cervical spondylitis, and being on a regimen of twice-daily physiotherapy, Sir shared his time with us generously. He regaled us with stories from his remarkable life—radiating both strength and joy. His recollections spanned five decades of poetic journeying—across languages, lands, and lives.
From his early days in Kerala to his prolific literary and performative career, which has earned him accolades from institutions around the world, his voice remains as grounded as it is visionary. Most recently, he assumed the role of President of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, responding to the call of a literary community that clearly holds him in deep regard.
A shortlist of his many honors and works can be found on his website: www.ksatchidanandan.com—though no list can truly capture the depth of conversation, quiet humor, and generous wisdom we experienced that day.
I had first connected with Sir about 8–10 months ago. A mutual contact introduced us, and I sent him a brief message on WhatsApp, hoping for some advice on how to approach the publishing process—a topic I have recently blogged about. To my surprise and delight, he responded quickly, between meetings, with thoughtful guidance. It meant a great deal to me—that he took the time to respond with such care, even though I was a stranger, an emerging poet without a name in literary circles.
Sir encouraged me to approach publishing houses such as Poetrywala, Red River, Hawakal, and Copper Coin directly, reaching out through their websites and social media. A few days later, I did just that. After struggling with a book agent and hesitating with my initial outreach, I took heart from his words and began writing directly to several publishers—including Motilal Banarsidass.
It worked! Within a few weeks, I had signed an MoU with MLBD. Over the next six to seven months, through travels and personal transitions, I worked steadily to bring the book to life.
When it was finally published, I messaged Sir again to share the good news. Now living in Coimbatore, I expressed a wish to visit him in person—and he graciously welcomed me. Not only did he accept my book; he also gifted me a copy of his translation of his original Malayalam work.
I flipped through the book and found that he has written what he believes in and stands for– peace, justice, and humanity. Several pieces are dedicated to poets, writers, and artists from around the world– representing his global friendships and openness.
Sir also suggested opportunities for me to present and share my poetry, and to be a part of the literary community.
I hope to continue learning from Satchidanandan Sir, especially as I look for avenues to publish individual poems or perform more widely. Where do I go next? What paths should I follow? His guidance will be invaluable.
With his blessings and support, I feel certain that I will continue to grow and bloom—nurtured by the grace of this poetic path gifted to me by the Mother Goddess.