Athens, September 27, 2025 – In a recent interview with Irene Doura Kavadia conducted as part of Meet the Luminaries series by the Writers Capital International Foundation, Dr. Srilakshmi Adhyapak, a distinguished author and interventional cardiologist from Bangalore, offered a compelling vision of poetry as a universal medium that transcends borders and heals the soul. Speaking ahead of the Panorama International Arts Festival (1 September–14 October), Literature Festival, and Book Festival, she underscored the role of virtual platforms in amplifying literary voices, aligning with the festivals’ aim to engage 300–400 artists and authors globally.
“Poetry has a very far reach even now and it is inspired by nature. Nature finds itself in poems, paintings, so many things,” Dr. Adhyapak remarked, encapsulating her belief in poetry’s ability to resonate deeply with diverse audiences. This perspective, rooted in her extensive body of work, including The Ramayana and Other Poems, The Song Divine (a poetic rendering of the Bhagavad Gita), and Katha Upanishad in Verse, highlights her commitment to making India’s spiritual texts accessible through English verse.
Dr. Adhyapak’s literary journey began at age 12, sparked by nature’s beauty—sunsets, birds, and flowers—which inspired verses that her teachers encouraged her to pursue. Despite the demands of her medical career, with 36-hour shifts as head of cardiology at St. John’s Medical College Hospital, she found poetry a regenerative force. “Poetry is something which sort of regenerates your mind,” she noted, explaining how composing verses during brief respites kept her resilient amidst intense professional pressures.
Her translations of epic texts like the Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita into English verse were driven by a desire for global reach. “I thought why not make it into English verse so that it’s got a better reach,” she said, describing her ambition to share these universal stories with international poets and readers. The Katha Upanishad, with its profound questions about life and death, posed a daunting challenge, but her perseverance, supported by the Writers Capital International Foundation, resulted in a work she considers a divine accomplishment.
Dr. Adhyapak also highlighted poetry’s therapeutic potential, drawing parallels with music’s role in medical settings. She cited a case from Bangalore’s NIMHANS, where a stroke patient regained speech through singing, illustrating how rhythm and creativity aid healing. “Poems have an ability to heal because it is rhythmic and the rhythm is akin to music,” she observed, bridging her medical expertise with her literary passion.
Her association with the Writers Capital International Foundation, facilitated by poet Ambika Anand, has been pivotal. She praised the Foundation’s non-commercial approach, stating, “It’s not like publishing houses where it’s a very commercial thing. This is more of loving the book, loving poetry.”
As the Panorama Festivals approach, Dr. Adhyapak’s insights resonate with their mission to foster global cultural exchange through virtual platforms. Her interview, available on YouTube (https://youtu.be/DtfyoWQI13I), underscores the power of poetry to unite and heal, offering inspiration for contributors like USA-based curator Tamikio L. Dooley and the global literary community.
