Rachna Vohra
Montreal-born poet and spoken word artist Rachna Vohra dreams of a better world. With a goal of transforming minds, she found spoken word to be an empowering tool towards social change and critical thinking. Over the last few years, she has begun effecting change by addressing social, political, and emotional issues through her work. She has self-published two books; been published in magazines, zines, and anthologies; has been recorded on CD; has performed at a variety of literary and arts festivals; and has featured, slammed, and read at poetry and spoken word venues across North America.
CONCERNING CHANGE
“We can always justify our reactions, but we rarely think twice about the reasons behind them. My work aims to push activism inwards to help build awareness within each individual of our collective role in the crises that plague the world. It speaks to the kind of world we could live in if we took action in our own life, and the goal is to inspire listeners to develop their own belief systems and work at improving themselves. The purpose of the performance would be to encourage critical thinking and empower the audience to take back their thoughts and shake off inaction and complacency.
Poetry and spoken word are effective mediums to relay such messages because the pieces are short and have a high level of energy, reeling the audience in for just enough time to get through to them. Poetry also transcends barriers such as age, gender, and race, bringing listeners together as people. My works cover topics ranging from racism and women’s rights to environment and the media, and I use reflections from my experiences as a visible minority and a woman in today’s society to help the audience see the effects of social issues on everyday people. The message of the performance would be that we should all think for ourselves, and realize that if we change, the world can change.” – Rachna Vohra
CONTRIBUTING TO CHANGE
Spoken Word: All That You Can Be