Poetry Collection ‘When Gods Don’t Matter’ Launched at Hotel Clarks Amer

Contemporary poetry reflects the true expression of today’s thoughts, emotions and experiences. It is not bound by any particular subject, style or tradition, allowing poets to express themselves with complete freedom. This freedom, according to Jaipur-based publicist and poet Jagdeep Singh, is the essence of contemporary poetry — where one can write about love, society, everyday life or personal experiences without constraint. He shared these views during the launch of his second poetry collection, ‘When Gods Don’t Matter’, held at Hotel Clarks Amer. Jagdeep Singh discussed his collection in conversation with poet, author and educator Saumya Kulshreshtha. The book was launched by, noted author and member of the National Security Advisory Board, Tilak Devasher; former English teacher at Mayo College, Suresh Mathur; Managing Director of Clarks Group of Hotels, Apurv Kumar; moderator Saumya Kulshreshtha and poet Jagdeep Singh.

During the session, Singh shared that his poems, enriched with literary and philosophical influences, pay homage to iconic writers and thinkers such as T.S. Eliot, W.B. Yeats, Sylvia Plath, James Joyce, S.T. Coleridge and Jean-Paul Sartre. The poems draw deep inspiration particularly from the lives of Eliot and Plath. Speaking about the title ‘When Gods Don’t Matter’, he explained that while it may appear provocative or puzzling, it carries a profound meaning — it does not question faith in God, but rather expresses the emotional turmoil and despair born out of certain disheartening life experiences. Published by Hawakal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, this anthology  is a collection of 50 free-verse poems written over a period of four years. The verses capture the deeply personal and universal experiences of life — from the anguish of the Covid times to unrequited love, nostalgia, insomnia and the sheer absurdities of everyday existence. The book features diverse poems such as The Morning Prayer, We Will Breathe, That’s All!, Hawking Love, My Curse, Life, You, and I’m Doing Fine. The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session where the audience actively participated. The launch was attended by several eminent literary figures, book lovers, and members of Jaipur’s cultural community.