Bio

My name is Priyamwada, and I reside in this wonderful city of bridges and
boats—Rotterdam. Like many of its inhabitants, I am an immigrant.
But let’s start at the beginning.

My life in India (1989 -2017):

My father—a blue-eyed, white-skinned Canadian seeker—journeyed in search of stories
to the dry, dusty streets of western India, where he met and instantly fell in love with my
mother. She, a dark-eyed, brown-skinned Dalit —once considered untouchable— and a
Maharashtrian, a native of the western Indian state of Maharashtra. Together they
established and ran an alternative school with creative learning and meditation at the
heart of its philosophy.

My art and much of my life’s work has been shaped by going to this school in Jejuri: a
small town famous for its hilltop temple, a town protected by its mountains and awash in
pomegranate orchards.

Education and Pune years

At sixteen, I moved to Pune to study, completing an M.A. in Psychology at Savitribai
Phule University (formerly known as University of Pune).Following my graduation, I
embarked on a career as a behavioral psychologist and communications specialist at
the multinational tech company KPIT
Technologies. In this role, I employed positive psychology and creative therapies to
recruit, train, and cultivate a work environment that nurtured both personal and
professional growth.

The spoken word movement and social initiatives
During my college years, I actively participated in amateur dramatics, a widely
embraced cultural activity in Pune. As my interests evolved, I delved deeper into spoken
word poetry, eventually co-founding Bullock Cart Poetry, and I am proud to say it has
been a pivotal force in shaping Pune’s spoken word scene.

Under the Bullock Cart banner, I initiated a poetry and writing program for girls from the
Adi, Galo, and Mising tribes in the remote state of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India.
Supported by the Bajaj Foundation, two of the girls showcased their talents to an
enthusiastic audience at the Pune International Literary Festival.

Beyond this, my involvement extended to designing educational outreach programs
through poetry as a creative consultant with the National Center for Biological Sciences,
Bengaluru. Additionally, I crafted poetry and education programs for esteemed
institutions such as the Pune International Literary Festival, Goa International Literary
Festival, IIT Kharagpur, and various other organizations across India.

A noteworthy privilege was collaborating on the creation of high-quality spoken word
videos with artists from the immensely popular Indian channel — Being Indian.

My life in the Netherlands (2017 to present):
After India, I have had the privilege of designing and facilitating long-term programs for
institutes in the Netherlands. These initiatives focus on equipping educators with
impactful tools, including creative writing, storytelling, and spoken word poetry to
enhance language and communication skills.

My collaborative work extends to community centers such as Wijkcentrum Post West,
Kleine Rotterdam, and Gallarie Niffo. Here, the fusion of spoken word poetry, clay, page
poetry, and painting serves as channels for expressive potential.

Gallarie Niffo recently showcased my book, “Children of the Mountains,” unveiling a
virtual tour of the picturesque temple town of Jejuri in Maharashtra. The exhibition
featured my poems, ceramic wall hangings, and Gond (Indian tribal art) style paintings,
narrating the unique story of the Indian temple town where I spent my very happy
childhood and young adulthood.

I have performed at various galleries and venues across the Netherlands and in cities
like Antwerp and Paris. I also host a monthly poetry open mic at Mathenesserweg
Rotterdam – at Poiesis Pod, in collaboration with Smaak 81. Our shared goal is to curate
a space that amplifies diverse voices.

Translation work:
Writing my own poems sparked my interest in earlier Marathi women poets, leading me
to translate their work into English. The first of these poets, Savitri Phule, is a
well-known social reformer and educator, honored by renaming the University of Pune.
Despite the high quality of her poetry, it has largely been ignored. This endeavor has
resulted in a book of her poems in translation, titled “Kaavya Phule.” I am currently
preparing a version that will provide insight into the poems in the context of her life and
the late nineteenth-century India, marking the beginnings of the freedom movement.

The second Marathi woman poet I have translated is equally intriguing, Soyarabai. She
was a 13th-century dalit poet-saint, a time when lower castes and women had minimal
representation. While I have shared some translations in my spoken word
presentations, the book is still a work in progress.

Visual Art:
Drawing and painting are hobbies that have evolved into another form of artistic
expression for me. I have illustrated four books, two for children and two for my poetry
works, and will soon be publishing a children’s coloring book. Additionally, I have started
exploring the world of ceramics and pottery under the guidance of a very talented clay
artist in Amsterdam.

Gond Art:
The Gonds are a tribal group in India with a highly developed visual art culture. It has a
simple basic style, is nature-oriented, and uses natural substances as pigments. These
qualities make it a fulfilling style to work in and an excellent basis for art therapy. Few
would argue that one of the overriding problems with modern societies is how much we
have lost touch with nature and, therefore, with ourselves and our roots. I am
increasingly using this art form with Dutch groups, both old and young, and finding it
universally well-received.