Sikkim poet Devansh Sampang Rana’s ‘Pills and Potions’ sells out in Jamaica

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK,: Yet another milestone for Sikkimese poet Devansh Sampang Rana, whose poetry book ‘Pills and Potions’ has sold out in Jamaica, marking a significant international achievement for the young writer.

Earlier in January, Devansh made Sikkim proud by winning the prestigious 21st Century Emily Dickinson International Award for ‘Pills and Potions’, becoming the first poet from Northeast India to receive the honour.

Rana’s second book, ‘Pills and Potions’, is a profound and poignant narrative journey into the intricate and often painful emotional landscape of attachment. Moving beyond the sweet and certain romance of his debut, the book delves into the complex vulnerability that accompanies deep affection for another person. Through a series of interconnected stories, he examines the anxieties of commitment, the quiet fears of loss and the silent sacrifices people make in the name of love. His signature lyrical style has evolved into a bold and resonant exploration of the complicated territory of the human heart.

“I received a notification from my publisher, BookLeaf Publishing, informing me that ‘Pills and Potions’ had sold out in Jamaica. At first, I thought it was a prank, and it took me a minute before I could completely register and process the news,” Devansh told SIKKIM EXPRESS.

“It’s a big thing for me, obviously, because who wouldn’t like to be acknowledged by a wider audience? People liking my work from places like Jamaica and America is a testament that there indeed are no barriers, especially in art. My work being appreciated by people from different parts of the world means that my place is being recognised as well. Eventually, I am representing my country, State and hometown. It’s such an honour for me knowing that my State will be celebrated globally along with my work,” he said.

While Devansh believes the achievement could potentially be unprecedented for an Indian writer, he said he could not officially claim the distinction.

“I can’t claim it officially. However, Google, Wikipedia or any credible source doesn’t seem to have any writer who holds the record prior to me. If that’s the case, then it’s beyond comprehension for me. India is home to such talented and influential writers, and the pedigree is undeniable. To be the first one to achieve that feat would be not just unprecedented but also ground-breaking in the Indian literary landscape,” he said.

He said a representative of the publishing house had further encouraged him by telling him, “Devansh, I believe you are on the verge of making history.”

The poet also spoke about his longstanding fascination with Jamaica and its culture.

“I have always been fascinated by Jamaican culture, food, music and people. I think the Jamaican accent is one of the coolest, if not the coolest accent ever. Having said that, I never, even in my wildest imagination, thought that my book would one day sell out, let alone in Jamaica,” he said.

“I just believe in putting my stories out there. I have never tried to cater to anyone in particular, and I don’t think I ever will. If my work spoke to them or anyone from anywhere on the globe, then I’d consider myself privileged and lucky,” he added.

Devansh said he does not write with a particular audience in mind and credited Jamaican poet and writer Kei Miller for giving his work an additional push.

“I never target or focus on a particular group while writing. Kei Miller is a really underrated Jamaican poet and writer. He once mentioned my work on his social media, and that definitely was a huge push,” he said.

According to Devansh, a Jamaican retailer and 11 bookstores affiliated with his publishing house have confirmed the sold-out status of ‘Pills and Potions’.

While winning the international award was a major achievement, he said the response from readers has been equally meaningful.

“Winning the international award was great, but knowing that so many people were able to connect with my stories, and reading messages from people who resonated with my work, is just unreal. It’s quite a surreal feeling, to be honest,” he said.

Reflecting on the evolution of his writing, Devansh said his personal growth over the years has also influenced his work.

“I genuinely feel that I have matured as a human in the past couple of years. I have always believed that if you evolve as a human, then that will undoubtedly be reflected in your work too. ‘Iridescent’ is quite in your face, with some subtle undertones. It is mostly romantic songs, more or less, while ‘Pills and Potions’ is much more profound and delves into complex human emotions and how one learns to deal with them, hide them or try to ignore them, with a poignant commentary,” he said.

Coming from a small State with a relatively small literary landscape, Devansh said he initially had modest expectations for the book.

“Like I said, being from such a small State with a small literary landscape, I thought that my book wouldn’t sell more than 300 copies, let alone in Jamaica,” he said.

He believes the success of the book demonstrates the universal power of honest storytelling.

“It will sound cliché and corny, but I have always been a firm believer that it doesn’t matter where one is from. If you have interesting and honest stories to tell, then people will vibe with it regardless of where you come from. That’s the power of an honest story,” he said.

Asked whether he hopes his journey will inspire other young writers, Devansh said he would be happy if even one person picked up a pen because of his work.

“I hope it does. Even if a single person picks up the pen because of my work, then nothing would make me prouder and happier. As a matter of fact, I plead that they write about anything. Just write. Everyone has a different lens through which they view this world. Hence, they will paint differently, and that is exactly what’s needed,” he said.

Devansh also credited his publishing team for supporting him throughout the process.

“I was blessed to have such a supportive and professional team. I barely had to worry about anything. All the technical aspects were handled with excellent efficiency. I only needed to come up with new poems, and that was pretty much it,” he said.

On the interpretation of ‘Pills and Potions’, Devansh said he would rather leave the meaning open to readers.

“It’s open to interpretation. As a matter of fact, I would love to see people come up with their own interpretations and conclusions,” he said.

Devansh is currently working on his upcoming EP, which is scheduled to be released soon.

In 2023, his debut book ‘Iridescent’ secured a Top 10 spot at the 21st Century Emily Dickinson Award. The collection of poems was published by BookLeaf Publishing. The book features poems across different styles, including abstract poetry, blank verse, romantic poetry and reflections on life experiences. Devansh does not want to be confined to a particular genre and enjoys exploring new styles of writing and expression.

Devansh hails from Syapley Sardaray, Singtam. A singer-songwriter by profession, he was previously part of bands including Aarogya, Demigods and Maya. He is currently working on a solo project under his moniker ‘And Beyond’.

He is an alumnus of St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling, East Point Senior Secondary School, Singtam, and Singtam Senior Secondary School. He completed his graduation from N.B. Bhandari Government College and his post-graduation from Sikkim University before pursuing a B.Ed. from Soreng.

One of his poems, ‘Sempiternal’, was published by The Write Order in ‘Euphoria by the Youth of India’, a compilation featuring poems from across India.

The young poet cites Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Hunter S. Thompson, Bob Dylan and Oscar Wilde among his inspirations.