She lives the poetry she cannot write
The most beautiful thing about being a writer is that no matter where you go, the work you’ve done will stay engraved in the heart of readers. Benazir Mungloo, the name that’s no longer foreign in the literary world. Her debut book as a poet ‘Scarred and Healed’ is a book that deals with diverse themes, namely: life blunders, loss, mistaken love, feminism, trauma and abusive relationship. Benazir sees life as a panorama that she likes to paint in poetry, prose and fiction.
Benazir’s words travelled more than her. Been published in various countries by now like USA, UK, Australia, Mauritius and India and has co-authored many books that are widely read by people. Not only she achieved a lot of literary success but also earned a popular fan base all over the world.
Let’s dive straight in the world of this amazing writer whose words had a lasting impact on the audience
About Journey
● Benazir, you’ve been published in the UK, USA, Australia, Mauritius, and now India—often in places you’ve never even visited. How does it feel to see your words traveling across borders and connecting with readers worldwide?
It’s incredibly humbling. As a writer, I work in solitude most of the time, to find the fuel for
crafting poems and stories that feel true to me. So, when those words get accepted by publishers
around the world – even in countries that I have never set foot in (i.e India, UK, USA as of now), I
feel a sense of relief, of pride, of reassurance that my works found the place where they belong in this
world. It reminds me that poems and stories are borderless.
There’s something deeply moving about knowing that someone in the UK, India, USA or Australia might be reading my work and finding something in it that resonates with their own life. It affirms the idea that language, emotion and the human experience can connect us even across oceans. I may not have been to all these countries physically but through my writing, a part of me has traveled there. And that’s a beautiful feeling.
● What inspired you to return to writing after your break, and how has this chapter of your journey felt
different from your earlier experiences?
I took a break from writing because I was working as a full time teacher in a public high
school in Melbourne. My priority then was only my job as a teacher as I realised the kind of duty of
care I had towards my students when occupying such a position. I never intended to quit writing
and knew I would come back to it at some point in my life. As, I was going through a major crossroad of
life, where a change of career and a big move elsewhere was on the platter. Hearing and feeling a
lot of noise around myself, making it hard to hear myself.
As a child, I always turned to writing to see what leaks out of me or what topics I seem to be more interested to write about, which educated me a lot about myself or what I was feeling in that particular moment. This is exactly what I have done this time. And that small gesture was enough to give CPR to the creative person, the ambitious writer who always had big dreams. This chapter felt different from my earlier experiences, as I have realized that despite the break, my writing has changed and improved a lot more. Age and experience makes a big difference.
I also seem to be interested in writing about other topics in poetry and short stories such as illness, science, migrants’ struggles, grief etc. topics that I have not written about before and that led to submitting my entries and manuscript to any publishing house or international writing competitions that I am interested in. I seem to no longer fear rejection, as I know very well that is part of the journey.
● You’ve participated in several writing competitions recently. How do those experiences shape your
creativity, and what do you enjoy most about the challenge?
Participating in writing competitions has really pushed me to step outside my comfort zone.
Each competition comes with its own theme, deadline and expectations. That forces me to think
differently and explore ideas I might not have written otherwise. What I enjoy most is the challenge
itself: the pressure of creating something meaningful within a limited time. It sharpens my creativity,
makes me more disciplined and reminds me that writing is not just about inspiration; but also about
perseverance and craft. Even if I don’t win, I walk away with a new piece of writing that I wouldn’t
have created without that push.
About Books
● Scarred and Healed is such a powerful title. What’s the story behind it, and what message did you hope to leave readers with?
The title “Scarred and Healed” is first and foremost symbolic of the narrative arc and structure of the book, which begins with what’s hurtful to navigating that until it becomes survival. To me, the title reflects the reality that life is never without its scars – whether emotional or physical.
But those scars don’t just mark pain, they also carry strength, resilience and growth. With this book, I wanted readers to see that being scarred doesn’t mean being broken. It means you’ve endured, survived and found a way to heal. My hope is that readers walk away feeling less alone in their struggles and more empowered to embrace both their scars and their healing as part of their journey.
● Benazir, You’ve co-authored five books, including Train River Poetry Anthology, WOMb, Poetica Volume 1, Words for the Ocean and The Bitter Taste. How does the process of collaborating with other writers differ from writing on your own?
When it comes to the books I’ve co-authored, the process usually begins with a call for
submissions to an anthology. Sometimes it’s open-themed and other times, there’s a very specific
theme to write about. I submit my work, which competes with a pool of writers from everywhere in
the world, and if it gets selected, the publishers get in touch and publish it alongside pieces of many
other writers. That’s how I’ve co-authored all 5 anthologies so far.
With that in mind, it is very different from writing a book on my own. Because instead of carrying an entire project myself, my voice becomes part of a bigger conversation. Each writer brings something unique and together the anthology creates a tapestry of perspectives. What I enjoy most is seeing how my piece resonates alongside others and how together we can reach readers in a way that feels collective, yet diverse.
● Do you notice cultural differences in how your work is received across different countries, or do you feel poetry speaks a universal language that transcends borders?
I do believe poetry speaks a universal language and that’s especially true with the kind of
poetry that I write. Most of my poetry so far, falls into what we call insta poetry. It’s written in very
simple, accessible language with the aim of reaching as many readers as possible, even those who
don’t have a literary background. I want people to connect with the emotions without feeling like
they need to decode the words first.
Of course, I still notice some cultural differences in how my work is received. Readers in Mauritius may connect with certain references or nuances that come from my own background, while international readers often connect more with raw emotions. But the simplicity of insta poetry helps bridge that gap. At the end of the day, human emotions are universal and that’s what my poetry tries to capture.
Writing Process & Inspiration
● Many of your poems reflect resilience and healing. How do you approach such deep themes while
keeping your writing authentic?
Resilience and healing are themes that require sensitivity and honesty in language. I approach
them by focussing on clarity and simplicity. The goal is to let the emotion come through naturally
without forcing it. I rely on imagery, similes, alliteration and metaphors that readers can relate to in
their own lives which helps my work stay authentic. Ultimately, authenticity in poetry isn’t about
how personal the writing is but how truthful it feels. If words reflect genuine human experiences
and are expressed with sincerity, readers are able to find their own stories within them.
● Who are the authors, poets, or even non-literary influences (music, art, nature) who inspire you most?
There are many others and poets who inspire me. But the ones who inspire me the most are:
Sharon Olds, Malika Booker, Rupi Kaur, Warsan Shire, Nikita Gill and Michael Fraudet.
● Do you see writing as a form of healing—for yourself, your readers, or both? Could you share a
moment where writing became a form of survival for you?
Writing has always been seen as a form of healing, both for the writer and the reader. For the
writer, it becomes a space to release emotions and transform them into art. For the reader, it offers
recognition- seeing their own feelings reflected back at them. Now, I cannot pick one moment
where writing became a form of survival for me.
Writing has always been my passion, my hobby until it became a career I fiercely wanted to pursue. So, irrespective of what emotions I was feeling, negative or positive, I found myself writing for various purposes. But if I really had to think of something, I would go back to my initial answer of how I got back to writing after a break: there was too much noise around me when a change in career and a big move was on the platter, so I needed to write to understand my own voice.
Light-Hearted & Fun
● If Scarred and Healed were turned into a short film, which actor would you dream of narrating your
poetry?
If Scarred and Healed were turned into a short film, I would love Emma Stone to narrate the
poetry. Her voice carries a natural warmth and sincerity and she has the ability to express both
vulnerability and quiet strength. That balance would reflect the essence of the book, the journey
from being scarred to finding healing and would make the poems feel personal and resonant to the
audience.
● What’s one quirky habit you have while writing that no one knows about?
One quirky habit I have while writing is just staring at walls, outside or eleven at my laptop,
while biting my pen and replaying scenes in my head, Slowly, that quiet staring turns into words. It’s
a strangely meditative part of my process and somehow it works!
● Finally, if you could describe your writing journey in three words only, what would it be?
Creative, Resilient, Tenacious.
PS – I am, absolutely honored and thrilled to have Benazir on board. It was refreshing to talk about her journey and the work she’s been doing. We wish her good luck for the upcoming anthology and for all the future endeavors. If you love her work, you can reach out to her here.