Dr. Deepa Chandran Ram, a researcher scientist in carbon nanofibre opens up her other side of life, the creative Deepa and describes her profession in science and passion in art are nothing but two sides of the same coin. Three of Deepa’s poems found their place in the World Poetry Year Book 2015. A crave to capture imagination and nurture creativity wherein she describes her passion for poetry, painting and music is all about discovering and articulating the inner world. It is an interesting travel through the life of Dr. Deepa who surprisingly intertwines her life with science and art and how forces within and outside helped her to achieve the person who she is now. Excerpts from the interview:
• Involving professionally in the research on carbon nanofibre and achieving laurel in the field of poetry gives a mind jolt…How you elucidate the two different genres?
Although Science on a broader perspective deals with materialism, innovation and wellbeing, I was always fascinated by pure Science faculties which have a craving to capture imagination and nurture creativity. Poetry, painting and music is all about discovering and articulating in the inner world. They are two sides of the same coin, and according to me, is a shared experience.
• Apart from writing English poems, you wielded your pen in native language too. How you compare your adoration for both languages?
I adore both languages, with no comparison or preferences. But my reading happened extensively in English and hence my spontaneous overflows tend to be in the same. I have written quite a number of Malayalam poems too and have translated the native poetries of some great poets to English.
• One needs to be a dreamer to become a poet. Being a research scientist how you find a dream space to acquire the poetry world?
A research scientist is also basically a dreamer, envisaging great visions from their deepest dreams. All dreams arise from your unconscious, and transposing those amorphous elements to the realm of your conscious mind, and applying the skill of a craftsmanship leads to arts, whereas applying the precision and vision of an intellect leads to scientific inventions.
• Art comes in different forms in your life; apart from poetry, you do art work, a good vocalist who is a direct disciple of famous vocalists like SobhaSekhar who is a direct disciple of DK Pattamal and KS Narayan Swamy. Above all you are adept in playing the ‘Deva’ instrument Veena. Explain how you see different forms of art in life and the pleasure you attain by performing each art?
“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” – Leonardo da Vinci.
I always felt that combining or being involved in different art forms is enriching, one illuminates the other and triggers the use of multiple senses, all the more, the experience is exciting.
My mom is a musician and music is there in my blood. I grew up listening to Carnatic classical, and made an attempt to learn them from a very young age. I still learn from my guru ShobhaSekhar who is a disciple of the above mentioned.
• After migrating to Australia, you were attracted to the aboriginal paintings which you deeply connect with their ‘spiritual evoking’. How much attention you give to merge the Indian painting with aboriginal art?
Once I searched deeper into aboriginal arts and paintings, I realised that any tribal art form, be it be from any corner of the world, has an innate ingredient to awaken our pristine souls. Indian tribal paintings like the Warli or Madhubani, and also the more refined mandala paintings evokes the same blessing in our inner being. I make a serious attempt to access the essence of different tribal arts in my painting.
• You have said in an interview that to you ‘Art is feminine energy whereas science is masculine’… Can you be a bit explicit in this account?
Art springs from our unconscious which is the seat of our feminine energy, or the powerful energy of the universe to which we are deeply connected as an existence. This is more scattered and expansive and is rich with intuitive wisdom. Masculine on the other hand is cognitive, entrepreneurial, analytical, logical, mathematical and focused. All existences have a certain percentage of both in them, it's the matter of which is more realised. They are complimentary, and each incomplete without the other for wellbeing.
• Art is a flow of emotions whereas science is logical. How well you manage brain with heart?
It's a skill of shutting down one while the other is at work, or blending them both when required for a new aroma.
• Doctorate in Rocket Fuels and a great place in World Poetry Year Book 2015, isn’t it a ‘fuel’ for thought?
Probably for the readers
• Tomorrow’s plans, both in profession & Arts.
I am working on a couple of science articles and a book of poetry (currently undergoing edition) to be published and also planning for a solo exhibition of my tribal infused painting forms.
• A brief on your family background and how much your family influenced and supported your artist life?
My music comes from my mom who taught me to be musically oriented from a very young age. Reading had always been my passion which my parents proudly supported. I migrated to Australia years before with my husband and son who also encouraged me to be who I am today. Above all, my great artist friends who inspired me and loving well-wishers who supported me through my journey needs special acknowledgement.
