J.S. Ifthekhar
Hyderabad
Sometimes all it takes is a little trigger to unleash the poet in you. An opportunity, a compliment to let the creative juices running.
For Sadiya Sultana, it was her college magazine that turned her into a poet. Students writing for college magazines is nothing new. But when Sadiya was asked by her English teacher to contribute to the annual issue, she felt both thrilled and nervous. A first-year B.Sc. student of Smt. Allum Sumangalamma Memorial College for Women, Ballari, Sadiya had always loved poetry but had never tried her hand at composing it. The college publication offered an opportunity she did not want to miss. But what should she write?
She stayed awake late that night, pen and paper in hand. To her surprise, the words came rushing to her mind, and before long, she had penned a poem titled Paper Leak.
Herself a victim of the NEET paper leak, the matter was uppermost in her mind, and she gave vent to her thoughts through verses that reflected the frustration of students who work hard for their examinations, only to find their efforts undermined by unfair practices.
We studied beneath the sleepless night
Dreaming of futures, holding on tight
Every chapter, every line
We gave our days to make them shine
The poem concludes with a message of hope and a plea for fairness:
So hear the students when they speak,
Not because their voices are weak,
But because they still believe,
Someday hard work wins the way—not the paper leak
Pleased and surprised by her own effort, Sadiya shared the achievement with her parents, and they were mighty thrilled. However, her poem did not find a place in the college magazine, for reasons unknown to her. It could have been a discouraging experience and might have dampened her enthusiasm, but an encouraging word from her English teacher, Vijeyandera, made all the difference.
“You are a born poet,” he remarked.
The compliment proved to be a turning point. It strengthened her confidence and encouraged her to explore her creative abilities. Sadiya went on to write nine poems on different subjects, each reflecting her observations, sensitivity and concern about the world around her.
How did she begin writing poetry?
“I was always fond of English poetry, but it is only now that I wrote something meaningful,” says the teenager, a voracious reader.
Her first poem was titled Why Me, but she is reluctant to take full credit for it because she sought her parents’ help while writing it. Paper Leak, however, gave her a sense of discovering her own voice and the confidence to express her thoughts independently.
In Paper Leak, Sadiya highlights the injustice caused by examination paper leaks and their devastating consequences for students who prepare honestly for competitive examinations. Through emotional language and vivid imagery, she portrays how corruption can betray students’ dreams, hard work and right to a fair opportunity.
Her poem Protest is an expression of resistance against oppression, injustice and the suppression of people’s voices. For Sadiya, protest is not merely an act of anger or rebellion; it is a moral response to injustice. The poem conveys the belief that even a small voice can challenge powerful institutions when guided by truth, courage and a sense of justice.
In Whisper of the Soul, she displays a spiritual sensibility, weaving together faith, compassion, inner peace and hope in simple yet meaningful verses. The poem reflects a young mind seeking comfort and understanding through introspection and belief.
Her other poems, including When Moonlight Leaves, Unfinished Story, Know Your Worth and Invisible Ink of a Teacher, explore different facets of human experience. Together, they reveal an emerging writer interested in emotions, relationships, self-worth, education and social realities.
Though still at the beginning of her literary journey, Sadiya shows promise as a young poet with a reflective outlook and a desire to engage with meaningful subjects. With wider reading, regular practice and continued encouragement, her teachers believe, she has the potential to refine her craft and develop a distinctive poetic voice.
As Robert Frost said – being a poet is a condition, not a profession. For Sadiya too poetry remains a passion rather than a career plan. She is keen to pursue her studies in science and hopes to become a physics teacher.
Her story is a reminder that creative talent can emerge unexpectedly when opportunity meets encouragement. A college assignment gave Sadiya the occasion to write; a teacher’s appreciation gave her the confidence to continue. What began as a nervous attempt to contribute to a magazine has grown into a personal journey of discovery, expression and hope.
And perhaps that is what makes her journey special: she has found a way to balance a scientific ambition with a poetic imagination.
A single opportunity may awaken a talent, but a few words of encouragement can give it the courage to grow.
eom
