Title: Across The Troubled Seas
Author: Dev Keshav
Publisher: Evincepub Publishing
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.in/Across-Troubled-Seas-Dev-Keshav/dp/9373352296
About The Book
Across the troubled seas” is the story of my life. Written on scraps of paper to share the loneliness of a sensitive child with myself. Writing was my comfort and refuge from a world I perceived was not my world. I wrote of feelings, experiences and some abstract perceptions. There were many ‘footsteps in the sand’ parts of my life which were ‘written’ in my mind so that no one may ever see them.
I would like to share this journey with you at the behest of someone close to me. There is a loose timeline which one can easily perceive as I walked along my path in search of the divine. From sadness came brushes with understanding, joy and revelations. My wife, friend and soulmate Hemlata was privy to the depths of my mind. The birth of our son Dhruv, whose life we believe was touched by the Grace of God rekindled my desire to pursue the spiritual path.
Feel free to read between the lines, have empathy or see a connection with your life. May you also recognise your own ‘footsteps in the sand’ and find comfort as I did. I trust this story of poems will touch your heart, or at the least leave some impression.
About The Author
Dev Keshav was born in a pious Gujarati family in Gwelo, Rhodesia in 1953. His exposure to Gurus from India who visited them nurtured his desire to follow a spiritual path as a child.
He left school early, spent time in Malawi and travelled around Mozambique. A scholarship from the Indian government took him to Bombay travelling by ship along the coast of Africa.
On his return to Zimbabwe, he was conscripted into the Rhodesian army. He left the country when his childhood friend died in an ambush. He returned at the height of the war, got married and served until independence.
His life was filled with tribulations, but he later realised that those were his “footsteps in the sand” moments when the Divine carried him over all the obstacles.
It was his childhood desire which made him stop the world at the age of 40 and get off. He sold what he could, packed his bags and took his wife and 5-year-old son on a spiritual quest of a lifetime. It took them to the holy land of Vrindavan. They lived there for seven years in the association of saints and were initiated by Shri Radha Sarveshvar Sharandev Acharya of Nimbarka Sampradaya. Dedicated to the spiritual path they spent the ensuing years between India and Zimbabwe.
They were living in India until just before the covid pandemic when he was diagnosed with a rare Incurable autoimmune illness Myasthenia Gravis.
They moved back to Zimbabwe and eventually at the age of 70 returned to his place of birth, Gwelo where he now spends his time in prayer and writing.
Neel Preet: Across The Troubled Seas feels deeply personal. How much of the book is autobiographical?
Dev Keshav: This book is the story of my life. Feelings, experiences and my thoughts are intertwined. It’s all true. However, one has to read between the lines
Neel Preet: Your poems move through war, migration, and spirituality. Was this structure intentional?
Dev Keshav: They were grouped in that way which follows a loose timeline. Some of my poems under the “Travelling” section were written before the war when I was young and single. The others were of our travels as a family after the war ended and we went on our spiritual quest to India.
Neel Preet: Which poem in this collection was the most difficult for you to write, and why?
Dev Keshav: I would say that the most traumatic parts of my life were the most difficult to write about, considering what I was going through. Writing was not simply putting my feelings into words. There was a story behind every poem. I was pouring my heart out and it was for me alone. My poems were not intended to be shared, so having this book published was a difficult decision to make.
Neel Preet: How has your life across different countries shaped your writing voice?
Dev Keshav: Living in different countries didn’t change my writing. It only drew me closer to embrace mankind without prejudice.
Neel Preet: Many poems in the book carry strong anti-war emotions. Do these come from personal experiences or observations?
Dev Keshav: I was a soldier who served in an operational area of a guerrilla war and was privy to “Sitreps” which were confidential daily reports of the war. So, my feelings were based on true incidents and my personal experiences.
Neel Preet: Your poetry uses simple, direct language. Is accessibility important to you as a poet?
Dev Keshav: I wrote for myself, so it came out naturally without the need to polish it for a targeted audience. There was no one to impress on my ability to write poetry. The result is that everyone can relate to it and understand what I was telling myself.
Neel Preet: How do you balance memory and imagination while writing?
Dev Keshav: I would write a poem when I experienced something which touched me. It was fresh in my heart. Memories come now when I read my poems again. Imagination? Some poems are easy to pick out. I often used allegory and metaphors in expressing my thoughts and feelings.
Neel Preet: Did spirituality become stronger in your life before or after writing these poems?
Dev Keshav: This journey of my life is one of searching. My poems are a record of, and not a catalyst to spirituality.
Neel Preet: What do you hope readers feel after finishing this collection?
Dev Keshav: I hope that readers will find what they are looking for. I also hope that someone struggling in this sea of life will realize that there is always light on the horizon and recognise their own footsteps in the sand moments.
Neel Preet: If you could describe this book in one sentence, what would it be? Dev Keshav: A glimpse through the window to my soul.
