From Engineer to Poet: A Journey of Rediscovery at 78

An inspiring story of Pulak Nath Sinha (Khyaal Club Member)

“My name is Pulak Nath Sinha, 78 years from West Bengal. I completed my engineering from NIT Durgapur in 1968. Looking back, academics came naturally to me. I never stood second in class. But more than marks, what stayed with me was a piece of advice from my school physics teacher. He once told me, “You have talent. Don’t become just a money-earning machine. Express yourself.” At that time, I did not fully understand the depth of his words, but life has a way of bringing such lessons back to you. After graduating, I began my career with the Fertilizer Corporation of India, worked there for over 25 years, then joined Lurgi India, until 2011, and continued as a consultant until 2015. In 2015, I made a conscious decision to step away from work and move to Mumbai to support my daughter. That phase marked the end of my professional career, but unknowingly, it was the beginning of a more personal journey.

Writing had always been a quiet companion in my life. During my working years, I would occasionally jot down experiences, stories of people, challenges at work, and small but meaningful life incidents. These weren’t poems, just reflections. I never imagined that writing would one day become very close to me.

Everything changed in 2023 when I lost my wife after 51 years of married life. Her sudden passing left a void that words cannot fully describe. Loneliness is not just about being alone; it is about the silence that follows a life once shared. In those moments, I realised that while people can offer comfort, the true depth of loss can only be felt by the one who experiences it.

A few months later, while I was staying with my daughter in Kharagpur, I picked up a piece of paper one day. I didn’t plan anything. I didn’t think. I simply wrote what I was feeling. Six lines. That was my first poem, “Sangi” (Companion). It was not written with technique or structure. It was written with pain. With longing, with love that had nowhere to go.

I quietly kept that paper aside. But when my daughter read it, her eyes filled with tears. That was the first time I realised what I was feeling inside could reach someone else. Encouraged, I decided to get the poem printed. At the small Xerox shop, I handed over my writing. The girl there asked me to send it on WhatsApp so she could print it properly. I stepped out for a few minutes. When I returned, I saw her still looking at the screen. She wasn’t printing anymore. She was reading. And then I noticed… her eyes were filled with tears. She looked at me and said softly, “Sir, you have written this? Please don’t stop writing. Whatever is in your heart… put it on paper.” She didn’t know me. She didn’t know my story. But she felt my pain. That moment stayed with me. I realised something very powerful: when emotions are real, they don’t need introduction. They find their way into other hearts.

From that day, I began writing more. Since then, I have written around 15 poems, each rooted in real experiences, whether it is loss, humanity, or small acts of kindness. One such poem was inspired by a young girl selling balloons in Varanasi, reminding me that compassion itself can be a form of prayer.

My journey took a new turn when I came across Khyaal’s “50 Above 50”, India’s Biggest Talent Hunt for Seniors. I was hesitant at first, after all, I had just begun writing poetry. But with encouragement from my daughter, I participated in the poetry category. And something completely unexpected happened. I received the call that I was a finalist!! I was truly overwhelmed. Standing on that stage in Mumbai, receiving recognition for something I had discovered so late in life, it felt like a milestone I never expected. In that moment, I realised that it is never too late to find a new purpose. Khyaal didn’t just give me a platform; it helped me discover a part of myself I didn’t know existed.

Today, I continue to write. My daughter often tells me that one day, my writings will become a book. Perhaps they will. My message for fellow seniors is: Live for yourself now. You have fulfilled your responsibilities. You have given your time to others. Now, listen to your heart. There is still so much within you waiting to be expressed. And trust me, it is never too late to begin.” - Pulak Nath Sinha (Khyaal Club Member)