saranya subramanian

i read, write, research, practice theatre, live in bombay, and have an mfa in writing from the university of san francisco, california.

under my initiative, the bombay poetry crawl, i preserve and promote the 20th century bombay poets. this involves digitally archiving all material related the 20th century ‘Bombay Poets’. i also take people on poetry crawls, and host research panel discussions, open mics, and various other poetic events.

my essay, “The Cockroach and I” (published by Penguin Random House) was a runner up to the Financial Times/Bodley Head Essay Prize, 2020.

i have previously worked as a consulting writer at condé nast india and an entertainment journalist at radio mirchi.

and i write because, well, it’s all that i can really do.

Follow @thebombaypoetrycrawl on Instagram for updates!

In today's @htbrunch 🌻 thank you @christalle_clear !

Postcards by @elimentaryart (printed by @subodh_shaw1), readings by @dastangoakshay, poems by the late, great Namdeo Dhasal. In Kamathipura. What a day, what a day.

Taken from @buddhistyouthofindia's YouTube page. JV Pawar once said that "The Dalit Panthers was purely Ambedkarite." In lieu of the Namdeo Dhasal Poetry Crawl, national elections, here's some jarring, inspiring words by the late, great Dr BR Ambedkar.

The Meena Kumari Poetry Crawl with @freshmintco 🌻 ft a pink auto🍨

When @freshmintco told me that Meena Kumari was a poet, I was astounded. When she asked me to do a poetry crawl with her on Meena Kumari's life and poetry, I was immensely grateful. Here's a very special walk, in which we meet Naaz: a spectral presence in Bombay, a fearless, evocative Urdu poet, a woman of agency.

Back by popular demand! The Abandoned Histories Poetry Crawl: From Mills to Malls, tomorrow, 22 March, 5:30 pm. Let's read the poet's city - written by activists, workers, and textile mill union leaders. Let's remember our abandoned history.

Coming soon: the Progressive Poets Crawl. Mira Road, Byculla and other pockets in Bombay once thrived with the progressive Urdu poets and writers - Nida Fazli, Ismat Chugtai, Sahir Ludhianvi, Kaifi Azmi, Faiz Ahmed Faiz - who were big names in the neighbourhood. Even today, there are lively mushairas that celebrate the talents of contemporary poets.