SPECIAL EDITION ON THE OCCASION OF THE 16TH ANNIVERSARY OF URBAN SOLACE COMPRISING A 4-PART SPECIAL OF POETRY FROM THE HEART WITH 5 POETS IN EACH EDITION, MAKING IT A GRAND EXPERIENCE OF THE VERY BEST POETS IN BANGALORE, MAKING IT 16 POETS FOR OUR 16TH ANNIVERSARY.

This celebration of Urban Solace and our celebration of poetry spans 4 weeks with 4 poets each Tuesday, making it 16 poets for our 16th anniversary of Urban Solace.

The third edition of this special edition feature 4 of Bangalore’s most talented poets – Saranya Francis, Brinda Das, Anjani Raj and Sumedha Shukla

ABOUT TUESDAYS WITH THE BARD AT URBAN SOLACE

Urban Solace – Your Café for the Soul – is India's first true cultural café, established in 2009. As a pioneer in experiences centred on poetry, comedy, music, art, literature, and more, Urban Solace has nurtured creativity and expression for over 15 years.

“Tuesdays with the Bard @ Urban Solace” earned a place in the Limca Book of Records 2016 as “The Longest Running Poetry Event in India”, becoming a beacon for poetic expression.

For over 15 years, this event has evoked tears of joy, moments of reflection, bursts of laughter, and applause, creating a community bound by the magic of words. With every poet, Urban Solace has created a space where voices are heard and emotions transcend.

ABOUT THE FEATURED POET 1: Saranya Francis

Saranya Francis is an award-winning author, educator, and voice for women's rights, blending her passions into poetry that transcends cultural boundaries. As an English lecturer, life skills trainer, and secretary of the Zav Foundation, Saranya’s work has earned her the Star Ambassador of World Poetry and the Bharath Award for Literature. She serves on the Board of Directors of A Room of Her Own Foundation in New Mexico, USA, and is currently an assistant professor of English at St Paul’s College.

Saranya writes from Bangalore, where she lives with her family, creating poetry that echoes her global perspective and deep commitment to empowerment.

ABOUT THE FEATURED POET 2: Brinda Das

Brinda Das was born in the mist-kissed hills of Shillong in the 1990s, but for the past twelve years, she has called Bangalore home. What began as a move for education slowly unfolded into the centre of her professional life—and the nurturing ground for her many creative passions.

A seeker at heart, Brinda is drawn to the world of stories, colours, and quiet moments. Whether she’s painting, writing, or losing herself in the pages of a good book, her life is gently anchored by the love of her parents, strong coffee, and the gentle rule of her cat, Smollu.

Brinda is spiritually inclined, yet not bound by religion—always on a quest for depth, meaning, and magic in the everyday. For her, life is a delicate balance of creativity and connection, a quiet dance with wonder in both the ordinary and the extraordinary.

ABOUT THE FEATURED POET 3: Anjani Raj

Anjani is a jack of many trades and master of software engineering. She splits her spare time between reading the greats, the goods, the bbads andreviewing them. Her stories have been published in the Criterion and Out of Print blog as part of

R.K. Anand BWW short story prize shortlist. She loves music that's older than Jesus and can survive on whipped cream.

ABOUT THE FEATURED POET 4: Sumedha Shukla

Sumedha Shukla is a writer and artist who has previously written articles for India's youth publications and has been featured for her poetry in international web magazines like Isele, among others.