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Editor Speak
April 2026
April, famously called “the cruellest month” by T.S. Eliot, is also a time of abundance, of spring in full bloom, of colour returning to the rich canvas of Nature. It is this profusion that inspires our April 2026 edition: a celebration of literary abundance that mirrors the fullness and vitality of the natural world.
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In our Interview segment, we spotlight award-winning poet Arundhathi Subramaniam alongside Ashwani Kumar, poet and political scientist, in conversations that traverse poetry, philosophy, and the contemporary moment. We also speak with Sydney-based contemporary artist Harpreet Mand about her creative journey and artistic vision.
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As always, our Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Non-Fiction sections are brimming with voices from across the globe, diverse, resonant, and interconnected, reinforcing the idea that literature transcends boundaries, and that poets and writers together form a shared community.
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In the Visual Art segment, we turn our attention to the evolving role of curatorial mediation in concept-based contemporary art. Through essays by Rachna Singh and Naomi Leigh, we examine how curatorial frameworks can deepen understanding, while also questioning whether they risk limiting the very openness that allows art to endure.
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Our Review section features A River Runs Back by Amarjit Sidhu, thoughtfully reviewed by Dr. Pushpinder Syal. In Film Reviews, we explore Kohrra Season 2 and The Museum of Innocence, with insightful critiques by Ramandeep Mahal and Sunaina Jain.
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This month’s Wise Owl Picks include Vigil by George Saunders and A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot, works that resonate with the spirit of reflection and regeneration.
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We invite you to browse through this issue and immerse yourself in the richness it has to offer.
Interviews From the Wise owl Archives
Let's Talk Courage with Deepa Malik
An inspiring interactive session titled “Let’s Talk Courage” was organised for school students under the aegis of The Wise Owl, a platform promoting literature and art, in collaboration with Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF). The highlight of the event was an engaging conversation with Deepa Malik, India’s celebrated Paralympic silver medallist.
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The Wise Owl Events
The Wise Owl Literary Awards 2025
The 1st edition of The Wise Owl Literary Awards 2025 was a resounding success. Catch some glimpses of the Event
The Wise Owl Poetry Collective 2025
The Wise Owl Collective on 30th August celebrated different voices across languages.
The Wise Owl Poetry Collective 2025
The Wise Owl Collective on 1st November celebrated different voices across languages.
Our Daily Segment
The Daily Verse
To enjoy poetry everyday, take a look at The Daily Verse.
If you have a yen to share your poetry with our readers, just send in your submissions to editor@thewiseowl.art
The Birth of The Wise Owl
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The year was 2021. COVID-19 had upended our world and altered life as we knew it. Simple joys we once took for granted—meeting friends, shopping, watching films, being part of a crowd—had all been put on hold. I was then posted in Delhi as a senior IRS officer, managing work through the fog of uncertainty and loss.
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The pandemic’s toll was deeply personal. I lost a valued member of my staff—a hardworking office supervisor and cancer survivor—to COVID. Two of my colleagues, one of them a doctor who had volunteered at a Mohalla Clinic, also lost their battles. Another dear batchmate survived, but just barely. Conversations about the fragility of life, once philosophical musings, had suddenly become real and raw.
