Opinion: Poet Rupi Kaur follows no grammar yet her books sell like hot pancakes

"When you are good at something, make that everything," said Roger Federer. And Rupi Kaur has done just that. She took to writing and has not looked back since. She picked up a piece of paper, the pen just let her thoughts flow and the rest is there for the world to see.

WION spoke to poet Rupi Kaur at length, exploring her creative as well as her personal life. The two facets often merged, leaving us wondering how far the one shaped the other.

At first, it started as anonymous posts. Then in 2013, Kaur decided to take to a social media platform to portray her work. Then in November 2014, Kaur used a popular platform to get her first book published on her own. "When I held the first copy of my book, I fell on the floor and tears rolled down. I mean no matter how many ever books I write, that feeling of holding your first book will always be special. I remember it like it was just yesterday. It was a very emotional moment for me," recalled Kaur with a smile on her face.

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"It was so amazing to hold the book in my hand. Those are my fondest memories, ever. That was the only time when I could hold my first book, get my first book printed it was really special. I had my friends, family and that mattered a lot," Kaur recollected.

To be an author of two best-sellers at the age of 25 is some achievement! And that despite the fact that she has ignored basic grammar rules in both her books in fact in all her poems!

There were a lot of detractors en route her way to the top but she kept at it. She continued to pursue her dreams. She used words to connect with people. There is something that is really unique about her style of writing. The only punctuation she uses in her poems is the period! None of her writing depicts capital letters. She has her own set of reasons for the same. "I wanted to use the Gurmukhi style of writing in my poems. The Gurmukhi script does not have upper or lower cases. All letters are treated equally and I loved that bit about the Gurmukhi style of writing. Hence I inculcated that style of writing into my poems," Kaur said.

Author Rupi Kaur believes in keeping her life colourful and bright! (Others)

Art is not just painting. It's about dance, culture, sometimes food too -- the way it's presented, and yes music too. In fact, Claude Debussy put it aptly, "Music is the silence between the notes." And when one pen down their thoughts or ideas some take to silence while some take to music. Kaur belongs to the latter. "When I write something, I listen to a lot of Sufi songs more into Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and folk Punjabi music to soothe the senses and calm me down," Kaur said.

Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have travelled, says Quran. And Rupi Kaur has travelled far and wide to have a grasp of culture, food, art from around the world!

For someone who hops from one hotel to the other, from one city to another country and sometimes continents too it really is difficult to pick a favourite. But after a lot of persistence Kaur finally gave in and picked her favourites. "I love India for the food and the essence of adventure. I love going to Italy for the architecture and walking along the streets of old cities, London for the fashion, California for the beaches and Punjab to be connected to my roots." Kaur said.

Rupi Kaur loves visiting Italy for her vaccations! (Others)

"I love to go to Italy for my vacation though. My favourite song is Survivor by Destiny's Child" she laughed.
Ummm! That's as far as one can get in terms of travel. But what about food? What does the two-time best-selling author really crave for? "I love food. What the heck. It's really difficult to pick one. But when am on tour I can't wait to go home and have food cooked by my mother. My last meal would be the Kaali daal and raita, roti and aachar," said the Punjabi bred girl in Canada.

Kaur has a piece of advice for the upcoming authors. "Be yourself. Be original and never give up. Things will look bleak but keep at it. If, I can make it so can you! Isn't that recipe for success, always. Every one who has made it to the top has one thing in common and that is their never give up attitude.

Like Sylvester Stallone put it in the movie Creed -- for which he won the BAFTA Award for the best actor in a supporting role, "One step, one punch, one round at a time.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)