Harnidh Kaur’s Instagram poetry won over the hearts of Indian youth. Her first collection of poems, The Inability of Words, is often sold out and she has two other publications in the works. On Century Avenue interviewed Kaur to find out more.OCA: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Harnidh Kaur (HK): Well, I'm a student of public policy. I'm doing my masters from St. Xavier's, Mumbai. I did my undergrad from Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi. There wasn't anything exceptionally literary in my background. I think that's what makes me, me. My poetry is unfettered by expectations, I think.OCA: How does policy inform your poetry and vice versa?HK: Most of my poetry is acutely contextualised and self-aware, solely because of my exposure to policy. My work tends to be very lyrical and overly emphatic because of my poetry, I think. I think that that's a good thing, though. Policy could do with some poetry.OCA: How was your poetry evolved over time?HK: My first pieces were very angsty, teenage pieces to my mother, and stories about make-believe loves and dragons. I think my poetry is much the same now. It's only grown up a little bit, and the demons I exorcise with it are a little more tangible.OCA: Do you write fiction?HK: I do! I'm working on my first novel. It's YA centered in an Indian context. I'm excited.OCA: Tell me a little bit about your forthcoming book with Thought Catalog Press.HK: It's poetry. I've tentatively titled it The Ease of Forgetting because it's a very studied exercise in letting go. Almost the entire book is made up of people, places, and contexts I've decided to erase from my life. It's a deeply personal, important work for me.OCA: Have you ever been afraid of putting out personal pieces? HK: Some of them had been edited to take out references earlier. I'm putting in the unedited versions. Does it scare me? A little, yes. But this is a very raw, very honest work, and I want it that way. It's very minimally edited. The idea is to officially let go of memories and places that held me back. Everyone does that, of course, but I've been given the unique opportunity to catalog (haha, get it) that experience for others to read. It's equally an easing and a responsibility. Forgetting is such a personal experience. Putting it out for people to read, to walk with me is exciting!OCA: Who are some of your favorite poets?HK: Top five for now: Margaret Atwood, for reimagining English; Warsan Shire, for reimagining strength; Maya Angelou, for reimagining grace; Shailja Patel, for reimagining identity; My mother, for making me imagine.OCA: Advice for aspiring writers?HK: Write! 'Writer' is not a description. It's an active word. You can't call yourself a writer without writing. You need to flex your creativity like a muscle and make it work for you. Harness it, instead of letting it take you on flights of unsustainable fancy. Write every day. Remember that you're just as good as your most insipid piece. Strive to be better.Read Kaur’s poetry and other work on Facebook and her blog.This article was written by Pramugdha Maheswari. Please send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Harnidh Kaur