The personal essay is such a fascinating form because it’s so, well personal. Our instructor, Ranjit Souri, has a new Mother’s Day essay printed in India Currents this month where he has a regular column. I’ve known Ranjit for a couple years now since he walked into the studio with a very organized notebook of essays and teaching materials. But what’s been lovely has been learning all the different facets to Ranjit, the many talents he was born with and has chosen to develop. For instance, I’ve seen Ranjit perform his comedy (really funny!), I’ve heard his songs and enjoyed his piano playing, and of course I’ve read his essays. But for some reason, this one really got to me. It’s a Mother’s Day essay so yes, it’s about his mother.

I won’t give you any more information but I do encourage you to take a read and then spend a few minutes to think about the power of the essay; its ability to keep you sitting in your chair long after you’ve finished reading. Its skill at getting to the heart of the matter in comparatively few words. And its potent look into an author’s soul.

Well done Ranjit!

(The essay is storming its way onto the radio waves a lot these days. If this is your genre, check out Writing the Radio Essay.)