‘Poetry helps me navigate difficult times’

Nhasala Joshi, co-founder and executive director of Women Leaders in Technology, reflects on the transformative power of books. ‘Poetry helps me navigate difficult times’

Photo: Courtesy of Mohit Maharjan

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Timila Maharjan

Published at : December 12, 2024

Updated at : December 12, 2024 17:09

Kathmandu

Nhasala Joshi, co-founder and executive director of Women Leaders in Technology (WLiT), a non-profit that empowers young women in STEAM fields, sat down with the Post's Timila Maharjan. In this conversation, Joshi highlights the role of poetry and literature in her personal and professional growth. She is an engineer turned development practitioner, passionate about using data and technology to shape an inclusive digital future.

What sparked your interest in literature?

Since school, I have never been interested in reading textbooks. Instead, I was drawn to non-academic books. I still remember an activity from 8th grade in our Compulsory English workbook: I had to write a poem. My English teacher praised my poem and encouraged me to write and read more. That moment sparked my interest in poetry and creative writing.

I don’t recall the first book I read, but ‘Seto Bagh’ by Diamond Shumsher Rana is one of the earliest books I enjoyed. I read its English translation back then while trying to improve my English. To this day, it remains a book I recommend to everyone.

What encourages you to write poems?

I started writing poems for myself. It was a personal space to process and express my thoughts and emotions. I’ve performed slam poetry several times and shared some pieces on my Instagram. In fact, my first Instagram post was a poem.

When I was younger, I was influenced by the poems I read and often tried to emulate their style. Over time, I feel I have developed my voice, an accumulation of the different poetry styles I’ve encountered. At various points in my life, I was reading works by BP Koirala, Sarah Kay, and Pablo Neruda, each of whom deepened my love for poetry and shaped my perspective.

Although I’ve written poems only a handful of times, I want to continue exploring this creative outlet. However, there was a period when I became overly critical of my writing, which made me hesitant to share my work. On top of that, my busy work schedule interrupted my writing. Despite these setbacks, my passion for poetry remains, and I hope to return to it more consistently.

What kind of books do you read?

I don’t have a specific favourite book genre—it changes frequently. Over different phases of my life, I’ve explored a variety of books. During my school days, I was drawn to historical fiction and spent some time delving into books on Hindu mythology. While I read fiction in the past, my work has recently steered me toward nonfiction and leadership-related books.

Since I primarily work from home without fixed hours, my work often extends throughout the day. To maintain balance, I set aside two hours daily to read a few pages. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to keep up with that routine, though I hope to return to it soon.

These days, I find myself more inclined toward short stories. They’re easy to read, and I can finish them quickly, which fits well with my schedule. During the Covid pandemic, I was part of a small book group where we read short stories and shared opinions. At a time when nothing felt certain, reading short stories became the highlight of my day.

Since then, my interest in short stories has grown. If I choose to read fiction, I usually gravitate toward short stories. Even during busy times, I enjoy them because they’re quick to finish yet engaging.

Have books influenced your journey so far?

Every book I’ve read has influenced me in some way. While I can’t pinpoint specific books that have shaped my personal or professional journey, I believe all the books I’ve encountered have contributed to my nature, personality, understanding, and opinions. Each book leaves behind impressions, and certain parts always resonate with me, influencing me in one way or another.

Poetry books have influenced my journey, often helping me navigate difficult times. Books written by women and about women’s stories have shaped my understanding of feminism, womanhood, and even my work. Reading stories of women written by women became a way to share their vulnerabilities and learn from their experiences.

Books like ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ and ‘Invisible Women’ have deepened my advocacy for greater representation of women in technology. Additionally, Pablo Neruda's poetry has been a constant source of inspiration.

When I was working as an engineer, the book ‘Change by Design’ influenced me.

Name a few books that comforted you.

Books by Sarah Kay and Sabrina Benon have helped me in my hard times. ‘Depression and Other Magic Trick’ by Sabrina Benaim comforts me.

‘Leaves of Grass’ by Walt Whitman is one of the books I keep returning to. It is a poetry collection, and one poem, ‘A Song of Myself,’ is one of my favourites from the book. It calms me when I’m anxious and reminds me to slow down and appreciate life’s moments.

How has reading helped you lead your organisation?

Books written by women have played a key role in my leadership journey. When I started working in gender data and with WLiT, I came across ‘Invisible Women’. This led me to explore more literature on leadership, which has been instrumental in shaping my role at WLiT.

However, beyond books, I’ve found value in reading articles, blogs, and magazines like Harvard Business Review, Medium, Clark Magazine, and Granta Magazine. These resources have been helpful in session planning and developing organisational strategies. I remember searching for a book to understand organisational strategy when a friend, who was also leading a company, recommended Harvard Business Review. That recommendation shifted my focus to reviews and blogs.

Do you have a favourite place to read?

I love reading in the comfort of my bed, where I can have uninterrupted personal space. Public places like cafes don’t work because I need solitude to immerse myself in a book.

Nhasala Joshi’s book recommendations

Leaves of Grass

Author: Walt Whitman

Publisher: Self
Year: 1855

The story encourages you to pause and reflect on why you’re always in a hurry. It can soothe you when you’re feeling anxious.

Invisible Women

Author: Caroline Criado-Perez

Publisher: Abrams Press

Year: 2019

Criado-Perez’s book is an eye-opener on how systematic bias impacts women. This is a must-read for everyone.

We Should All Be Feminist

Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Publisher: Fourth Estate