Instagram rage Rithvik Singh Rathore shares his insights on pain and poetry at a session in Jaipur

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“My intention is not to sell, but rather to connect with those experiencing heartbreak or grief, offering solace through my poetry”, says Rithvik Singh Rathore, who, with over 5 lakh readers on Instagram, is one of India’s most followed writers. The poet was recently in Jaipur for a session of Qissewale: A series of kahaani-filled conversations, by Siyahi in partnership with Hyatt Regency Jaipur Mansarovar. With a degree in English Literature from Hansraj College, University of Delhi and well versed with the nuances of classical poetry, Rithvik chooses free verse poetry to express himself. His videos reach over 40 million people every month. He’s the author of the National Bestselling poetry collection, I Don’t Love You Anymore that he initially self-published and has recently been acquired by Penguin Random House India along with his first poetry collection, Warmth.

Brevity over Literary Labyrinth
Rithvik began the event by prefacing to the crowd why he writes in a free verse. “I opt to craft my poetry in a manner that resonates with a wide audience, rather than catering solely to a specific group”, says Rithvik. The readership of his poems is mostly young adults, teenagers and youth who are just on their way to college. His poetry speaks to this age group, who is for the first time experiencing intense emotions like pain, grief, and love. He keeps his content short because today’s youth lack the attention span to read a book but still deserves to have their sentiments acknowledged and their experiences validated. Rithvik helps challenge the notion that poetry that uses simple colloquial language and brevity to reach its audience is without literary merit or that such poetry can never really be “good”.

Power of Poetry
Refusing to conform to traditional poetic structures, he emphasizes, “There is no meter to measure grief. You cannot put a number to it.” However, he embraces the art of alliteration, contrast, and rhyme in his compositions. Drawing directly from personal trials, his verses narrate tales of betrayal, abandonment, and hurt inflicted by others. “I have included hyper specific details in the pieces such that the person reading it would know that the piece is about them,” he affirms. Rooted in his own experiences of pain, his poems resonate with those who’ve been wronged or left feeling broken. “I bury pain on paper,” he explains. “People who write poetry, they don’t want an unbroken heart. People resonate more with pain than happiness.” Through his craft, he transforms his suffering into something tangible, offering solace to others who navigate similar emotional landscapes.

Patience in Writing
Reflecting on his publishing journey, he recalled writing his first book at just 15, read only by his mother and sister. Despite his sizable Instagram following of 2 lakh, his first works did not sell. Taking a break, he returned two years later with renewed vigour. His subsequent book, “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” defied expectations, selling over 25,000 copies in 10 days. This success highlighted the necessity of patience in the writing world.

Social Media Struggles
Speaking about the significance of writers’ online presence in the realm of social media, he emphasized the need to consistently engage with the internet to maintain reach. “To ensure the reach stays up, one needs to show up on the internet every single day,” he stressed, adding humorously, “It takes a lot of work to build an online presence when you don’t know how to dance.” He highlighted the importance of tailoring content for clarity and understanding, noting that brevity is key to conveying messages effectively online. “To make someone pause, watch, and reflect is a huge task,” he concluded, underscoring the challenges and rewards of engaging with online audiences.