AUTHOR INTERVIEW

  Gurbaz Kaur the author of Ursa, shares her experiences and her thoughts. Let's see what she says... 

Hello Gurbaz, Hope you are doing good.. 

Is Gurbaz Kaur your pen name?

Not exactly, I decided Ursa to be my pen name... I was blessed with this name when I got baptized into Sikhi. So I decided to continue with this name as my pen name as well!

So tell us more about Arshiya singh.

I am a traveler, so far academics are concerned, I am graduate in Psychology & English literature; post graduate in English literature. I am also into research & stuff related to religions & their hold over society.

Do you feel any difference between Gurbaz and arshiya?

A lot, but after a certain level of awareness, they just remain names that I am going to leave behind behind. Otherwise, yes, because they are kind of two branches, roots remain same.

From when did you start writing?

Several times I am asked about this, although, there isn't any appropriate answer to this because I strongly feel that the process might have started long time back, may be even before my birth; may be like my facial features & contours or my build I have inherited thoughts as well. I personally have too many thoughts about this, yet no pin pointed answer to "from when...". So I focus how far I can take it before this legacy is passed on to its worthy one!

Quite a different answer .

From where do you get your inspiration?

Guru Gobind Singh ji who himself is a great poet & Bhai Nand Lal ji Goya, one of the 52 poets in the court of Guru Gobind Singh ji.

How did you get interested in religion?

I used to consider myself atheist, with the passage of time I realized I am not, it's just that I never had time to reflect upon my faith....I started reading about Sikhism, my dad believed in communism, but he always quoted examples from Sikh history. I never realized power of words like this before....slowly & slowly I started following almost all the norms, that too before getting baptized. I read other religions & scriptures as well including Sikhism, this was too out of curiosity, but nothing held me so gently like this before. I kept flowing in & here I am....

How do you feel about it

Unleashed!

Why did you choose Ursa as title for your book?

As I told you, I decided it to be my pen name, but I didn't want to end up with so many names, haha! I picked this word from Gurbani, where it is mentioned in altogether different context. Although I am unable to lay my hand upon the etymology of this word. Ursa is a stone that we use for grinding sandalwood. I relate poems or free verses to Ursa & my experiences or emotions to sandalwood.

The stone remains the same, but when different people will be reading them, they will come in contact with these verses with their own bunch of emotions. We are the way we are for a reason, se as our thought process.

Can you tell us more about your book?

Well! Poetry is something that usually happens to me. So far book is there, I was writing something else & I ended up with this collection. It's more a journal of my deepest notions. I don't think I'll ever be able to write something with such innocence ever again.

Whom does she/her refer in these poems?

She refers to soul.

So all the poems are basically with the theme - love for God.. right?

Well, in the end it remains love. But it's more about tasting love in disguise of all sort of emotions that we are blessed with as humans. It isn't that easy to feel love without going through various phases where umpteen feelings come & go, before realizing love for Him, we see Him in so many different things, taste disappointment, euphoria, betrayals, elation, jealous, agony & what not, touch the extremes of everything we are made of.

To me, God sounds cliched. You can say that I don't have just one name for Him. Till we go selfless, we have different names for Him as per we need Him.

Amazing

Do you write stories too?

Yes!

Wow.. where can we find your writings?

Apart of my book? Hehe....I have page on Facebook @gurbazkaur on instagram & sometimes twitter too!

Can you share few of your traveling experiences?

Well! Every single experience means a lot to me, right now I am totally in present, unable to recall any of them effectively. But yes! I randomly come up with memories when I am alone....these poems & my other stories are expressions those experiences only.

So you are more of a poetic person or prose?

Poetic! Moreover I find it as the most vulnerable style of literature.

True true

Which is your favorite novel or book?

I don't read much! But yes conceptually Waiting for Godot has really impressed me.

Why?

I still remember, reading it & crying to my heart's content, it did hit my conscience so hard that I promised myself never to waste my time & postpone my happiness just because I don't know what am I waiting for.

A very good decision.

How was your publishing journey?

It was beautiful, as I found Blue Rose very diligent & cooperative. Although I got paranoid while it was about to be finished. Overall it was great to work with such a dedicated team.

What do you wish to say to your readers?

Well, I am glad to see your support on social media. I hope this compilation will bring a sense of fulfillment to your emotional void (if there is any) & a positive change in your attitude towards an unseen self. Just remember "this too shall pass"!

What do you wish to say to upcoming writers?

Be honest to your pen!

Thank you so much mam.. It was nice knowing you ..

All the best for your future endeavors.