Avro Mukerji is a banker by profession. Born in the City of Joy into a family of academicians, Avro has lived across Kolkata, London, Mumbai and Gurgaon. He is an avid sports, films, and screenplay writing enthusiast, and is also a member of The Screen Writers Association of India. He has recently come out with his maiden book of Poems, Few Urban Thoughts, which delves into his urban musings and thoughts.

I chat with Avro about his book Few Urban Thoughts, his writing process, book recommendations, and much more.

Hello, Avro! Tell us a bit about yourself!

I am a banker by profession with an experience of over 15 years in the field of Banking and Investments. Born in Kolkata to a family of academicians, I have lived and worked across Kolkata, London, Mumbai, and more recently, Gurgaon.

If you could only describe your poetry book Few Urban Thoughts in five words, what would they be?

Well, I’d say ‘Thoughts of a City Dweller’.

Now tell us a little more about the book! What can readers expect?

I have attempted to compile 30 short poems that I wrote over last few years. These are basically my musings – my meandering thoughts that were often provoked by situations/ observations/ circumstances around us.

What is your writing process? How long was Few Urban Thoughts in the making?

I do not follow a process as such, mostly it is instinctive. Whatever strikes me spontaneously, I try to assimilate in the form of a rhyme. It is basically a collection of my writing over last 2-3 years.

What inspired you to write the poems in this book?

This pandemic has actually inspired me to publish this book as I realised how uncertain life can be. I just wanted to express my thoughts out there in the open – with a view to create a shared thinking for today’s youth about the realities of modern urban folk- lore.

The poems in this book present urban musings and lore. Can you tell us in which cities have you contextualised your work, and why?

Since I spent my growing up years in Kolkata and a lion’s share of my work life in Mumbai, my musings are perhaps largely contextualised more on these two cities.

As this is your debut poetry collection, were there any poets or works which influenced your writing style?

No one in particular. If at all there is an influence it would have been quite sub-conscious.

How have you been coping with the current pandemic and what will be the new normal for you post it?

Since it has been a year now, I believe we have all quite adjusted to the new normal. I am sure post the vaccination phase, we would gradually go back to our old normal version, incorporating learnings from this phase.

What are you reading currently? Do you have any poetry book recommendations for readers who enjoyed Few Urban Thoughts?

I am currently reading The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, translated from the Chinese by Ken Liu. My personal favourite poets are the traditional greats like Keats, Byron and Wordsworth. I’d urge my readers to reflect on their own context – which in turn may lead to them enjoying their own brand of meandering musings, much like I have enjoyed mine through this book!

The book ‘Few Urban Thoughts’ is available online and at your nearest bookstore.