Rakesh Bakshi
Geetika Kohli, the daughter of Jammu and Kashmir, is an internationally acclaimed poetess, who at the tender age of 21 had had her poetry registered in an American anthology, Blossoms of India. One of her poems, ‘The Canvas is All Bright’ was placed as the opening ode in the book, co-edited by Mrs. Elaine Polin and Mr. Richard Brotbeck. Elaine, who has been witnessing Geetika’s journey since then remarks that her poetic SSsense has grown exponentially over the years. She exclaims with pride that Geetika is a talent, ‘one-in- a-billion’ and is clearly the voice of change that the society, particularly in India needs.
Geetika began writing at a very young age, astonishing everyone around her with her ear for rhyme. Her father, Mr. Rajesh Kohli recalls how at the age of five, she had scribbled a poem with a meaning so deeply spiritual, that he was taken aback. Over the years, her pen picked up pace and she wrote songs, stories, articles and essays in four languages – English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi. All through her adolescent years, she called herself ‘The Lost Sonnet’, it being her pen name. Years later this translated into the title of her debut book, ‘The Lost Sonnet and Other Poems’ released in the month of August in City Square Mall, Jammu. Other books to her name include ‘Yonder’, ‘Nothingness at Boiling Point’, and ‘Lucid Blood’.
Geetika is an MBA and currently works with a multinational in Delhi. Apart from writing, Geetika likes to paint and record poetry and monologues. She has won numerous prizes in painting, poetry and oratory competitions. She has been an academic topper as well, topping CBSE (regional) in the year 2006 and Jammu University in the year 2009. She is also a life member of the prestigious Poetry Society of India.
When questioned about her upcoming projects, Geetika beamed that she has many books on the cards, including an anthology of poetry in English, a free verse compilation in Hindi, ‘Shunyaansh’, a chronicle on life in Chennai and two untitled compilations of her songs and ghazals in Urdu and Punjabi. She also has a number of editing assignments from across the country and occasionally writes for newspapers in Jammu.
Various themes, ranging from nature, love and sorrow to existentialism and the universal question: ‘To be or not be?’ have captured the writer’s imagination so far. Geetika has a wide following and her readership has been scaling new heights since her works were published. When asked about her role model, she muses with a scintillating smile that it is life’s experiences including the people around that have turned her into a writer. She does not believe in idolizing anyone.
Geetika has been playing a vital role in inspiring the youth to pick up their pens and voice their opinions.
Her motto for all is to listen to their inner voice and respond to its calling by taking up challenges and countering all difficulties with courage, patience and faith in self. Geetika’s aim has always been to place her hometown, Jammu on the global map and to clinch for it respect, name and fame.
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