Gangtok, January 20: Sikkim’s young poet Devansh Sampang Rana has brought laurels to the State as his second poetry collection, Pills and Potions, won the 21st Century Emily Dickinson International Award, making him the first poet from the Northeast to receive the honour.
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Expressing his joy, Rana said he was initially informed by his publisher that Pills and Potions had been nominated for the award. “When the award was announced recently, I couldn’t believe that I had won. It took me some time to process it, as I had not expected this,” he told Sikkim Express.
A postgraduate in English, Rana said literature has played a transformative role in his life. He credited the works of Emily Dickinson as a major influence, particularly her poem Because I could not stop for Death, which inspired him to pursue poetry seriously.
Building on themes of love explored in his debut book Iridescent, Pills and Potions offers a deeper, more introspective journey into emotional attachment. The book examines vulnerability, fear of loss, commitment, and sacrifice through interconnected narratives, reflecting an evolution in Rana’s lyrical style. The collection was recently reported to have sold out at Barnes & Noble.
“I am beyond stoked. It is a huge deal for any writer, especially an aspiring writer like me. The American Poetry Society also recognised my work,” Rana said.
Earlier, in 2023, Iridescent secured a top-10 position at the same Emily Dickinson Award. Published by Book Leaf Publishing House, the book featured poems across varied styles, including abstract, blank verse, romantic themes and lived experiences.
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Hailing from Syapley Sardaray in Singtam, Rana is also a singer-songwriter and has performed with bands such as Aarogya, Demigods and the Nepali band Maya. He is currently working on a solo musical project under the moniker And Beyond and was previously employed as a PGT English teacher at Chujachen Senior Secondary School.
An alumnus of St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling, East Point Senior Secondary School, and Singtam Senior Secondary School, Rana completed his graduation from NB Bhandari Government College, post-graduation from Sikkim University, and later pursued B.Ed from Soreng.
One of his poems, Sempiternal, was published in Euphoria by the Youth of India by The Write Order. Drawing inspiration from literary and musical greats such as Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Hunter S. Thompson, Bob Dylan, and Oscar Wilde, Rana is now preparing for the release of his upcoming EP this August.
