Indian origin poet Bhanu Kapil is shortlisted for the T.S Eliot prize in the United Kingdom for poetry.
The T.S Eliot Prize is an esteemed honor bestowed to artists each year. The prize is named after the famous and renowned 20th Century American-British poet.
Bhan Kapil was born in England. She grew up in London for most of her life. She began her journey of writing poetry with the poem that set a mark in her career, “How to Wash a Heart”. The poem speaks about the relationship between a citizen host and an immigrant guest.
The poet/writer studied in Colorado for university where she majored in poetry and writing. Some of the poems/ books which she had written during this period include “The Vertical Interrogation of Strangers”, “Schizophrene” and “ Ban en Banlieue”.
Before being nominated for this award, she had won the American award, the Windham Campbell Prize in poetry and for the recognition of her poetry achievements.
The poet states that the COVID-19 quarantine has given her more time to think creatively and write from the heart.
“How to Wash a Heart” is Bhanu Kapil’s first full length collection to be published in the UK. The piece has been praised for tackling sensitive issues in the country.
The T.S Eliot prize is one of the most valuable and esteemed awards in British poetry. Only one poet comes out as a winner. The winner gets a cheque for 25,000 pounds. All the shortlisted poets get a cheque of 1,500 pounds each.
There are 153 shortlisted poets this year. The prize will tackle poets from both the UK and Ireland. The winner of the T.S Eliot prize will be declared in early January 2021.
By Meena Atmakuri
