Poets are born not made

A renowned figure in Marathi poetry, Amita Kokatay was the recipient of "Visaka Puruskar" (the highest award in the field of Marathi Poetry) in the year 1999 for her book "Canvas" published in December 1998 'Canvas' is a collection of 36 beautiful poems based on life's experiences. As they say, poets are born and Amita is one good example of the saying. Amita, very down-to-earth woman, is also busy working for the upliftment of the downtrodden and physically handicapped in the suburbs.
A full-fledged poet, Amita is a drawing teacher by profession and has been teaching in the Rotary School for the Deaf in Dombivli since 1993. Amita started young in the field of poetry. She wrote her first poem when she was just 14. Ever since she has not looked back. She has written more than 200 poems in Marathi and has translated a good number of Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali poems in Marathi. What made her a poet? She says, "I lost my father when I was 14. Father was very fond of poems. The emotions towards him came out in the form of my first poem 'Daddy'. I became very introverted and couldn't express or disclose my feelings to anybody. My pen then became my most trusted friend and the paper became my friend's (the pen) ears, to note down my woes and feelings. And my journey towards a new horizon started."

When I see something going wrong, I go all out and fight against injustice. We are all humans, so why should one exploit the other?"

Apart from being a poet, Amita is a very good artist and a creative textile designer. She has painted in various mediums, from oil to watercolours to pastels. She has also worked in various textile mills as a textile designer for almost a decade. She couldn't pursue her education beyond Junjor Science College because of an accident she met with in 1984. The accident did cripple her but only for a short time. (She has to make use of fibre collars for her leg to keep her ankle joint straight.) Amita is a woman with true grit and determination. While in bed, she went on to add to the number of poems in her collection. The accident left her physically challenged but she moved forward to overcome her disability. She began sending her poems to various Marathi dailies and magazines. Her poems got published and she became a recognised poet in her own right. Meanwhile, Amita went on to complete her Foundation Diploma in Art, followed by GD ART in Textile Designing, Art Teacher's Diploma, Bridge Course in Rehabilitation of Hearing Impaired, Yoga Training, Children's Dramatic Training and a short course in Small Scale industries.

"The best is inside you. Try to do something for others, the best will automatically surface and you will become strong enough to fight your battles. To achieve success, one should have determination."

As a recognised and well-received poet, she started getting invitations for various Kavya sammelans. From 1992 onwards Amita braved her disability and started attending all the sammelans. In 1992, she recited her poem in the 'Sammelan for the Handicapped' in Vasai, Mumbai. In one of the Kavi sammelans in Mulund, Mumbai she had the memorable occasion of meeting the great Marathi poets Ashok Naigaonkar and Niranjan Asgari, who had inspired her during her earlier days. The Kavya Rasik Mandal, Dombivli took the initiative of introducing Amita to various Kavi Sammelans. She won the first prize in the 'All Thane Konkan Zone Marathi Poets' Association' held in 1992 in Dombivli. She says, "The award sure boosted my spirits."

Winning became a habit ever since she broke the ice. She has had the honour of being invited by various prestigious bodies of the Marathi Poetry Association. Her recognition however was not restricted only to Maharastra but it spread in Karnataka as well. In 2000, Amita was invited for the prestigious 'Akhil Bhartiya Sahitya Sammelan' held at Belgaum in Karnataka. Her poems were received with great applause. Amita has won other awards as well, like "Best Handicapped Teacher Award" in 1995-96, conferred by "Apang Maitri Institute, Dadar". She is also the recipient of the "Yashwant Rao Chauhan Mukht Vidyapeeth Award" by the Nasik Poetry Association in 1999. Her fame reached greater heights when 'Canvas' her book was chosen among all top Marathi poets' works and went on to win the prestigious All India Award "Visaka Puruskar", named after the great Marathi poet, (late) Kusumagraj.
She explains, " Recognition in the life of a poet is the biggest award. I am happy and contented that my poems have found a place in people's hearts."

Amita is a very active social worker and has been working for the upliftment of physically handicapped people ever since 1982. What was it that made her work with social agencies? She replies, "I just cannot tolerate injustice, I am more my Daddy's girl and like him, when I see something going wrong, I go all out and fight against injustice. We are all humans, So why Should one exploit the other?" A good question put by this strong willed woman. Amita happens to be the favourite teacher at school. Amita explains, "there's another side to me. I love my students because they depend on us so much that one cannot get angry with them. After all they are disabled and being a handicapped person myself, I know the limitations well and this feeling helps me understand them better."

Amita Kokatay has done the people of the suburbs proud by making a name for herself in the literary field and at the same time working for disabled children. Women like Amita should be role models for those who complain about life not offering them the best. Last but not least Amita concludes, "The best is inside you. Try to do something for others, the best will automatically surface and you will become strong enough to fight your battles. To achieve success, one should have determination."

Source: Success & Ability, Volume 6 No. 1
Issue: Dated Jan-Mar 2001