IMPACT OF LATERALIZATION IN THE POETRY

OF AKIF KICHLOO

Mohnia Mushtaq

ROLL NUMBER: Bs-lhr-126

Faculty of English Language, Literature &

Applied Linguistics

National University of Modern Languages,

Lahore Campus

2016-2020
IMPACT OF LATERALIZATION IN THE POETRY OF

AKIF KICHLOO

INTERNAL SUPERVISOR

Ms. Faiqa Rashid

BY:

Mohnia Mushtaq

A Research Article Presented to the

Faculty of English Language, Literature & Applied Linguistics

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MODERN LANGUAGES

LAHORE, PAKISTAN

In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

BACHELORS OF SCIENCE

IN ENGLISH LITERATURE AND LINGUISTICS

January, 2020
 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MODERN LANGUAGES
FACULTY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE, LANGUAGE
& APPLIED LINGUISTICS

IMPACT OF LATERALIZATION IN THE POETRY OF

AKIF KICHLOO

Submitted by: Mohnia Mushtaq Roll # BS-LHR-126

BS English Literature & Linguistics

Ms. Faiqa Rashid

Internal Supervisor Signatures

Dr. Shaista Zeb

Head of RIW Signatures

Ms. Faiqa Rashid

H.O.D Signatures

Brig. (Retd) Manzur Qadir

Regional Director Signatures

Date: ___________
 RESEARCHER'S DECLARATION

I, Mohnia Mushtaq, do hereby solemnly declare that the work presented in this research

has not been previously submitted to any other institution for a degree.

MOHNIA MUSHTAQ.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, praises and thanks to the ALLAH, the Almighty, for

His showers of blessings throughout my research work to complete the research

successfully. I would like to say Thanks to my mother for her love and her

availability throughout my research work. I would like to express my deep and

sincere gratitude to my research supervisor, Ms. Faiqa Rashid for giving me the

opportunity to do research and providing invaluable guidance throughout this

research. I also greatly appreciate her reading of the research article, helpful

suggestions and support. Moreover I would like to thanks the most important

person in my research MR. AKIF KICHLOO, who permitted me to do research

on his poetry and for mailing me all his books all the way from USA.

MOHNIA MUSHTAQ
 ABSTRACT

This research work unfolds the amalgamation of two halves of brain and its effect on

poetry. Through content analysis the poems are analyzed in order to gain an insight of the

effect of lateralization in the poetry. Lateralization theory was given by French Physician

Pierre Paul Broca. It tells about the dominance of one side of brain in human beings. Akif

Kichloo is an analytical person as he is doctor of medicine but as he is writing poetry he

has a creative side too. This research analyzes the poetry which shows the integration of

both logical and emotional sides of brain. This research will help the future researches to

understand the concept of lateralization in poetry as it has not been discussed in this way

before.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………....... 1

1.1 Background of the Research …………………………………………..……... 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem …………………………………………….…....... 2

1.3 Objectives of the Study……………………………………………….…....... 2

1.4 Research Questions………………………………………………….……..... 2

1.5 Significance of the Research ………………………………………..……...... 2

2. LITERATURE REVIEW ……………………..…………….………………. 3

3. METHODOLOGY ……………………………………………..……....... 6

3.1 Research Paradigm…………………………………………………..……..... 6

3.2 Method………………………………………………………………….......... 6

3.3 Sample…………………….………………………………….……….…....... 6

4. CONTENT ANALYSIS ……………………………..………………...... 7

5. CONCLUSION ………………………………………...…………….…... 16

5.1 Findings………….….......................................................……………….. 17

5.2 Recommendations ………………………………………………………….. 17

5.3 Concluding Remarks …………………………………………….…...……... 17

BIBLIOGRAPHY……..……………..…….…………..………………....... 19
 1

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of The Study:

Akif Kichloo is an American resident doctor and poet. His poetry paved the way for a rare

new voice in contemporary poetry. He says that ‘’I have been eating my shoelaces because I am

a doctor who decided to write poetry”.(Poems That loose). He has penned down all the emotions

which all of us have experienced. Akif Kichloo is a doctor by profession. His father did not

allow him to be a poet he says that poetry will not pay your bills. How much loss one has gone

through that he has decided to write poetry. Though the reader and the Poet have nothing in

common but his poetry unites them.

In Psychology Lateralization is a theory of 1960’s, theory is based on the fact that the brain’s

two hemispheres function differently. This first came to light in the 1960s, thanks to the research

of psycho-biologist and Nobel Prize winner Roger W. Sperry. that tells us about the two sides of

the brain and its functions. Left brain side is pragmatic and right brain is creative. Left side is the

room of all logical and analytical thoughts and the right side of the brain is imaginative, artistic

and creative. Poets are considered to be right brained. But Kichloo is a doctor as well as a poet.

His poetry shows us that how the unification of left brain and right brain affects the poetry. The

researcher asks him that what inspires you to write poetry and he says that ‘’Life, this horrible

amazing, terrible yet wonderful life. Sometimes, people in general and sometimes, little

idiosyncrasies in people”. The present study will focus on the poetry that is produced due to the

amalgamation of the left and right brain.

 2

1.2 Statement Of The Problem:

The left brain is the part that focuses on analytical, linear thinking and logical thoughts. The

right brain is the home of all things creative, artistic, holistic thinking and imaginative. Poets are

usually considered as Right Brained. But Akif Kichloo is a doctor of medicine and he writes

poetry too. The practical demands of being a doctor and the aesthetic realities of being a poet are

not easily reconciled. Poetry is meant to be flowery but the poetry written by the unification of

left and right is different it is creative as well as logical and practical. So, the aim of the research

is to analyze that how Akif Kichloo portray the integration of left brain and right brain in his

poems.

1.3 Delimitation:

Akif Kichloo has a collection of poetry that is produced through the imagination but this study

will focus only on the poetry that is produced due to the amalgamation of left brain and right

brain. Six poems from his collection will be taken.

1.4 Objective Of The Research:

To analyze the amalgamation of the left brain and right brain in poetry and affect it has on

poetry.

1.5 Research Question:

How the unification of left and right brain affects the poetry of Akif Kichloo?
 3

1.6 Significance Of The Study

The significance is that this research is highlighting the fine blend of reason and emotion

among the readers. This also facilitates to learn how the poets of modern age get influenced by

current knowledge and blend it with human emotions. This research will give an insight to the

concept of lateralization. Lateralization is known as the dominance of one side of brain in human

beings. Being a doctor of medicine Akif writes poetry that shows the integration of logic and

feelings. The research will analyze the poetry and tells the effect of lateralization in poetry of

Akif Kichloo.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

This provides an overview of the background research that conducted in order to gain guidance

for this research. A good deal of work has been done on the Lateralization theory.

Mr.Numi (2013), in his article, Right brain poetry versus left brain poetry argues that the brain

is divided into two sides, Right Hemisphere and Left Hemisphere. Many Individuals in this

world have a dominant instead of having the same sides of left and right brain. If a person is

meant to be artistic and have to go through struggle while solving any mathematical or analytical

problem. Then the person is more likely to be right brained person. His right is more dominant as

compared to the left side. Mr. Numi argues that if a person more likely to used rationality or

logic in his problem then he is ought to be a left brained person. He further says that if both of
 4

them will combine then the writing would be different. On one hand there would be floral verses

and on the other hand there would be rough, dull, dry poetry that would be somehow more

innovative.

Julie Kane (2007), in her article Poetry as right hemispheric language, says that left side of

brain is believed to be the “seat of language”. A subtle linguistic role is encoded on the right

side. She gave the example of T.S Eliot in her article and says that Eliot said “We are sometimes

told to look in and compose into our heart and write. But that does not look deep enough .You

have to dig into cerebral cortex, the nervous system”. Jane argues that major literary

characteristics are focused on the right hemisphere to be processed. Jane goes on and gives the

example of a British neurologists, John Hughlings says in 1868 that left side of brain was the

“leading side” in many people. Artists are believed to be right brain.

Rose Bromberg (2008), writes an article in the journal The Medscape Journal of medicine,

the article is named as Poetry and Medicine. Rose argues in the link between medicine and

poetry. She says that there is a strong relationship between poetry and medicine. Poetry can

sharpen the skills and it can refine the artistic approach to reach medicine. Poetry that is linked to

medicine not only discusses the symptoms or diagnosis but the experiences and consequences

which the afflicted has gone through.

Ray Lucero (2016) writes an article Right Brain versus Left brain says that the classification

of the left brain and right brain in his poem. He argues about both hemispheres of brain in

general. He further pictures that right side of brain is creative.On the other hand,

gives meaning to the left side of the brain.The brain's right side is innovative, and the left side is 

pragmatic and analytical.
 5

Carole Brooks (2011) writes in his book, In Their Right Minds: The Lives and Shared

Practices of Poetic Geniuses, In the chapter 8 of his book he discusses about the lateralization

impact in the work of Sylvia Plath that show the signs of atypical lateralization. Women never

show bilateral representation of language than men but Sylvia Plath shows the lateralization in

her poetry. Her writings show her extreme emotional and traumatic significances.

Ultiius (2015), wrote an analysis on left brain and right brain says that psychology references

are often made to the alleged differences between both the sides of brain. In psychology

references are made to be alleged differences between left-brained and right brained. Left

brained are considered analytical and right-brained are considered to be creative brain. In fact,

however, the human brain is divided into two cerebral hemispheres at the level of function and

structure. All sides also lead to all kinds of human decision making from rational and logical to

imaginative. The left side is commonly thought to be linked to critical thinking, rational

mindedness, and objectivity; which therefore makes left-brained people more pragmatic, and

adept in fields like math, science, and technology. The right side is generally believed to nurture

sentimental thinking, emotional mindedness, and subjectivity; which in turn makes right-brained

people more impulsive and prone to talents such as acting, art, and poetry.

Michael Collier (2016), says in his book Poetry in Medicine: An Anthology of Poems about

Doctors, Patients, Illness and Healing 1st Edition, that poets have explained the ailments and

diseases of a body and how to treat them. In his poems he explain poetry have a healing power

that is used along with the medicine. Being a neurosurgeon Michael wrote about the poets and

poetry.
 6

Stephen D. Christmas, (2009) writes in the journal Laterality Asymmetries of Brain, Behavior,

and Cognition”, portrays that In order to bring the attention of the wider community of laterality

scholars, a collection of poems based on left-handedness in particular, and handedness in

general, is introduced. The symbolic nature of the poems is explored, along with a brief

reflection on the right hemispheric basis of poetry and the emergence of left-handedness among

creative writers.

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

3.1 Research Paradigm

Paradigm of this research is qualitative in nature.

3.2 Sample

These specific poems of Akif Kichloo that has been taken as a sample are produced due to

integration of both sides of brain.

1) A Pandemic and I am determined to cure

2) PLMD

3) The snapshot of a scientist frozen in time

4) How we evolve

5) Rumi was right

6) My Father says poetry will not pay your bills, Clinical practice will.

7) The dilemma
 7

8) One of the many introductions to the concept of mortality

3.3 Method

Content Analysis

4. CONTENT ANALYSIS

Akif Kichloo is a well-known poet of USA. Being a doctor he wrote and rejected the

traditional conventions of rhyme and meter in his poetry. Lateralization theory says that left

brain is verbal, logical and is connected with facts. Right Brain have holistic thinking and linked

with imagination. Surrounds by pain the doctors turn to poetry, to cope with the loss. Right

brained people tend to be more focused on imaginative things like music, art, poetry, emotions

and feelings. Left brained people are organized planners and they are more logical. Poets are

considered to be right brained people. Akif Kichloo creates poetry that is more moving and

understandable. He writes the poetry of love and imagination but as a doctor he incorporates

logic, science and medicine in his poetry by using both the sides of his brain. The poetry which is

produced as a result of amalgamation is more soothing. . In content analysis the poems will be

analyzed the poems on three different levels, Vocabulary, themes and assigned role

1).Vocabulary:

When we think of doctors writing, we tend to picture illegible prescriptions, not lines of

poetry. When we think of doctors writing, we tend to picture illegible prescriptions, not lines of

poetry. Doctors deal with so many difficult situations each day, “Poetry opens our minds to
 8

asking patients the right questions, while helping us address the emotional demands of doctoring,

especially in the formative years,” said Dr. Thomas Duffy, a professor of medicine. While being

a doctor he is writing poetry therefore his poetry reflects the jargons of medical profession. For

Akif Poetry is a way to embrace and to escape the hospital encounter. Akif Kichloo’s poetry

shows us the unification of left brain and right brain. And how the amalgamation, produce the

poetry that is logical, analytical as well as creative and appealing.

Vocabulary of Common Use:

Poems usually exhibit the vocabulary of common use to create an appealing effect. Being a

doctor it really does not mean that his poetry only exhibits the jargons of medical profession but

it do reflects the words of common use. He used the common words to make his approach more

appealing. In his poem “A Pandemic I’m determined to cure”, the poet uses the word like “soul”.

Soul is a common use word and it is related to spirituality. He used this word to give an

appealing effect to his poem. In the initial lines of the poem the ideas are conveyed through the

vocabulary related to the medicine but by the end of the poem the idea of spirituality totally

overlapped the idea of physical existence. So he discusses the theme of physical existence

through the vocabulary of medicine that is totally converged by the end to the idea of spirituality

using the words of common use. He uses the common words in poem “A snapshot of a scientist

frozen in time”. Akif Kichloo apply the words like “cold summer’s night, writing in agony” to

show his agony of pain. The start of the poem is all related to the vocabulary of medical field but

by the end he presents the idea “agony of pain” by using the words of common use. The theme of

logical is overlapped by the common use words to the theme of emotional. He used the

vocabulary of common use to make the poem more appealing to readers. He uses these words to

create a sense of connectivity with the readers. By using these words he tries to reflect the
 9

sufferings and calamities of anyone’s life. Use of vocabulary in “My father says poetry will not

pay your bills, clinical practice will”, Akif uses words like “father egging on me, mother’s

beautiful eyes, forgetting my name, God’s wrong”. By using the words of common use Akif

represents his passion, lacking, guilt and desire. Poet inter mingles the vocabulary of common

use and medicine in order to present his idea of Imposed Profession and self-imposed desire.

Vocabulary Of Medicine:

Poetry has been linked to medicine. In mythology, the Greek God Apollo was responsible

for healing and poetry. The poets like John Keats and William Carlos were well-trained doctors.

William Carlos defined “poetry and medicine as two parts of whole”. Akif rejected the

conventional and traditional types of poetry. In poem “A Pandemic I’m Determined to cure”,

Akif used the words like “disease, cure, medicine man” to present his idea. These words reflect

the vocabulary of medicine. He used these words to show the physical calamities of human life

and the sickness of body. These words paved the way for the main theme of the poem. By the

end of the poem the theme of physical is overlapped by the theme of spirituality. In the poem

“PLMD”, the title itself is the depiction of medical vocabulary in the poetry. PLMD is a disease

it can be used in a symbolic way to represent the restlessness in one’s life. The words “restless

leg syndrome, restless limbs, disease and PLMD” shows the bodily afflictions. The theme of

physical malady is depicted through the vocabulary of medicine in the poem. By the end the

theme of physical malady is over lapped by the spiritual malady. The medical vocabulary is used

to represent the calamities of human life. In the poem “The Dilemma”, words like “paralysis,

disease, tetanized, paralysis and sickness”. These words in the poem are used to portray the

bodily contractions. He used the medicine words to illustrate the idea of physical existence in an

enlightened way.
 10

Vocabulary of Ailment:

Ailment is something that is related to both the common use and medical field. Physical

ailments in poems can be related to the medical profession and spiritual ailments can be related

to the common man vocabulary to appeal the reader. In the poem “A Pandemic I’m determined

to cure”, Akif talks about the physical ailments from the start of the poem. He painted the words

like affliction, disease, sickness in order to give a sense of bodily maladies but by the end of the

poem he used the words like “sclerosis of soul” that is truly a depiction of spiritual ailment.

There is overlapping of physical and spiritual ailment. He does this to create a sense of

connectivity. In poem “PLMD”, Akif uses the vocabulary of ailment when he portrays the words

like “disease, PLMD”. He delineates the “bodily aches” by using these words. The idea of bodily

ache is overlapped by the end to the theme of Emotional affliction. In “Rumi Was right”, he uses

vocabulary of ailment in the words like “terminal diagnosis, terminal illness”. These words

portray the bodily maladies of humans. By the end he concludes the poem on the idea of self-

annihilation. He overlapped the theme of illness to “be freed by the self-annihilation”.

Vocabulary of Tiredness:

There is a difference in being tired and being ill. Being ill is a physical malady but being

tired can be on emotional level or spiritual level as well. In his poem “My Father says poetry will

not pay your bills clinical practice will”, Akif says that “I run from room to room, patient to

patient, with my father egging on me”.(27).These words give the “sense of tiredness”. In poem
 11

“The Dilemma”, the poet says “I failed to understand”. (32).When a person is psychologically

tired then he failed to understand. The vocabulary in the poem sets forth the idea of bodily

contraction that is later on by the end of poem overlapped into the theme of “emotional

shrinking”. In poem “How We evolve”, the words like “Obscurity, anonymity, solitude, silence”,

develop a sense of tiredness in the poem. Poet pictures these words by the end of the poem. The

theme of “growth” is overlapped by the idea of “stagnation” by the end of the poem. Poet

illustrates the vocabulary of tiredness in order to unfold the exhaustion and weariness of human’s

life.

Akif Kichloo has amalgamated both sides of brain to set forth the poems that are

incompatible to other pieces of literature. He used the vocabulary related to medicine and

common use to make the poems more appealing and to get the connectivity with readers.

2. Themes:

Themes of Physicality versus Themes of Spirituality:

As Akif Kichloo is a doctor, his poetry exhibits the themes that are resulted due to analytical

thoughts but that are overlapped by the creative and imaginative themes. Both sides of brain

unified to produce the themes that are appealing to readers.

Themes of physicality versus spirituality prevail through the poems of Akif Kichloo. In poem

“A Pandemic I’m determined to cure”, the initial verses illustrate the theme of Physicality. Being

a doctor, he talks about the physical ailments of human beings. He portrays that how human

beings being mortal have to suffer through the diseases. Later on, by the end of the poem the

theme of spirituality overlaps the theme of Physicality. Being a doctor poet thinks that he can
 12

cure every disease but still he is unable to cure the soul. In the poem he says, “Able enough to

cure everything, still not able to cure the sclerosis of souls”.(6).In poem “How We Evolve” he

talks about the “physical transformation” of a being. That is by the end converged to “spiritual

transformation”. Poet gave the remedies for the physical transformation that how someone can

transform themselves from a rigid person to a soft person. But by the end of the poem the theme

is overlapped to the theme of spiritual transformation. At the end of the poem he amends the

readers that in silence and solitude one can achieve the level of spirituality.

Theme of Profession versus Passion:

Theme of Profession versus passion portrays in the poem “My Father Says Poetry Will Not

Pay Your Pay Your Bills, Clinical Practice Will”. Theme of profession is related to his medical

field. In the beginning of the poem Akif state that his father forces him to be a doctor. This is

rather painted as an imposed profession. He sacrifices his dreams and surrenders. Then by the

end of the poem the theme of profession is overlapped by the Theme of Passion. Poet says that

“In my Profession I Right my God’s wrong but in passion I wrong my father’s right”. (27). He is

bewildered that how this art came to him. He pictures that every petty mater in his life force him

to write poetry. Poetry as a passion for him is a source for Catharsis.in the poem Akif Says, “I

never spot peace in my mother’s eye and I write a poem. My brother keeps forgetting my name

and I write a poem”. (27).In the poem theme of profession is overlapped by the theme of passion.

Amalgamation of both sides of brain allows the poem to be more appealing.

Theme of Reality versus Escapism:

Reality is the state of things the way they are. It is opposed to imagination. In his poem “One

of many introductions to the concept of mortality”, Akif Kichloo pictures the real facts of aging.
 13

He portrays that how our physical appearance changes when we get old. He set forth the example

of his mother’s aging skin, “Ebbing Skin, transparent, you could see her blood through it”.(17).

These lines depict the reality of human existence. But the end of the poem he denied this fact and

tries to run away from reality. This portrays the theme of Escapism. Theme of reality is

overlapped by the end of the poem to the theme of escapism. He escaped from reality like all

other poets. He escaped and said “I do not want my mother, to be my mother’s age”. (18). Theme

of reality in the poem exhibits his analytical approach towards the thing but soon his escape gave

his emotional approach towards the things. In “Rumi Was Right”, he gave the reality of mortality

in human beings. How these disease are taking us towards our end. He called the diseases as

“Lingering pain”. He display that these disease were there inside us from the start and will take

us to our reality which is death. As The biggest truth of life is death. But soon by the end of the

poem the theme of escapism start prevailing when he denied this fact and said “If you want to

liberate yourself, annihilate yourself today”(8). So for poet the only way to escape from the

diseases and from the harsh reality is to suicide. By the end of the poem Akif overlapped the

theme of reality to the theme of escapism.

The themes of the poetry exhibit many a themes that shows the unification of both analytical

and emotional approach. In the poems there are sub-themes like “bodily contraction versus

emotional shrinking, Mortality versus immortality, natural death versus self-annihilation,

bounded by illness versus freed by death”. All these themes portray the amalgamation of both

sides of brain. Every theme that exhibits the analytical approach towards life by the end is denied

and overlapped by the themes that have emotional approach and arouse feelings.

3. Assigned Role:
 14

By analyzing the poetry of Akif Kichloo, one can truly comprehend the roles which he has

assigned to himself in the poems. His poetry is a depiction of his profession and passion. In the

poem he assigned him roles that portray his passion and his profession of medicine.

Panacea:

In the poem “A Pandemic I’m determined to cure”, Akif assigned himself the role of a

Panacea. Panacea is a Greek Goddess who can cure everything. In the poem he says that

“Learned Enough, Able Enough to cure everything”.(7) He believes the fact that he can cure

everything means every ailment every affliction and physical malady. In poem “My Father says

poetry will not pay your bills, Clinical Practice will”, he says that “I cure every illness my God

has conjured. See, I my profession I correct my God’s wrong”. (27).In these lines he portrays the

role of Panacea that how he is able to cure every disease that God has conjured. He believes that

he has the power to cure God’s wrongs. The role of panacea pictures his profession of medicine.

Afflicted:

In the poem “PLMD”, poet illustrates the afflictions from which he suffered. He portrays his

disease of PLMD. He painted himself as an afflicted person. He explains his physical malady

that how his disease is stealing his joy and contentment from his life. He presented himself as a

victim of affliction. In the whole poem Akif seems to be helpless towards the syndrome. May be

it’s a symbolic representation of the restless in his life. In poem “The Dilemma”, Akif pictures

himself as an afflicted person. He illustrates his physical ailment in the poem. He says that there

is something terrible in his heart and it’s a disease that he failed to understand. Role of Afflicted

prevails throughout the poem. In the end of the poem Akif says “All I know is that I am tetanized
 15

to the point of paralysis”. (11).So, the role of afflicted person is induced in the poems of Akif

Kichloo.

Medicine Man:

Akif Kichloo is a doctor and he writes poetry too. Being a doctor his poetry exhibits the

assigned roles of Medicine man. He induced his profession in his poetry. For Akif poetry is an

escape from his daily routine. In his poems he introduced himself as a medicine man. In poem

“A Pandemic I’m determined to cure”, He introduces himself as a doctor. Akif says “I- A

medicine man”.(7).In the poem “My Father says poetry will not pay your bills, Clinical practice

will”, Akif Kichloo assigned him the role of a medicine man. He induced his profession in

poetry. He says in poem “I run from room to room, patient to patient”. He also says “See, in my

Profession I correct my God’s wrong”. (27).So, the role of medicine man is assigned to himself

in the poem.

Escapist:

Poets usually escape from reality and in order to do this they write poetry. In poem “Rumi

Was Right”, he escapes from reality by introducing a remedy of self-annihilation. For him all the

disease will came to an end if he will self-annihilate himself. He assigned him the role of an

escapist in the poem. In poem “My father says poetry will not pay your bills, clinical practice

will”, His father forces him to be doctor and says that poetry will not pay your bills. By the end

of the poem he assigned the role of an escapist to him. He portrays that in order to escape from

the reality he write a poem. He became tired from his profession and wrote a poem. His mother

cannot find peace in her life and he writes a poem. His brother forgets his name and he write a

poem. So every matter in his life forces him to write poetry. For Akif Kichloo the only way to
 16

run away from reality is to write a poem. Akif assigned himself the role of an escapist in the

poem.

Akif Kichloo assigned himself the roles according to his profession (doctor) in poetry. His

poetry is resulted due to the amalgamation of both sides of brain. The poetry which is produce as

a result is more enchanting, captivating and fetching.

5. CONCLUSION

5.1 Findings

This article is entirely inclined on the poetry of Akif Kichloo. The aim of this research is to

find the lateralization in the poems of Akif Kichloo that how he has used the jargons related to

Medical field in his poems. His poems show the integration of both sides of brain. Poems exhibit

the vocabulary that is related to his profession. Jargons of medicine are used in the poems. He

used the vocabulary that is both related to the common use and his profession of medicine. He

used the vocabulary of a medicine man, ailment, tiredness and common use. In his poems “the

snapshot of scientist written in time and a pandemic I’m determined to cure” he used the

vocabulary that is related to “common use”. The poems “PLMD and The dilemma” exhibit the

vocabulary of medicine. He used the words that depict his profession as a medicine man. In the

poem “Rumi was right” Akif Kichloo used the vocabulary that is related to ailments. He portrays

the physical ailments in the poem. He also used the vocabulary of tiredness in the poems “My

Father says poetry will not pay your bills and The dilemma”. Amalgamation of both sides of

brain results the poems to have themes that are related to his profession and passion. Poems
 17

exhibit the themes that gave the notion of analytical and logical approach versus the emotional

and creative approach. Poems picture the themes like reality versus escapism, Profession versus

passion and Theme of physicality versus spirituality. The roles in the poem which he has

assigned to him portray the unification of both sides of brain. He assigned him the role of an

escapist, afflicted person, panacea and medicine man. All these aspects truly show the

amalgamation of both sides of brain that is depicted in the poetry of Akif Kichloo.

5.2 Recommendations for Future Researchers:

This research will help the future researchers to understand the concept of lateralization in

poetry. This will help the readers to understand that how the amalgamation effect the poetry.

This research can break the notion of the dominance of one side of brain. As Akif Kichloo is a

doctor he is aim to be logical and analytical but his passion is to write poetry that shows his

creative and emotional side. This research shows that how both sides of brain work together and

what kind poetry is produced as the result of that.

 This research proves to be an open window for researchers who can easily understand

that what lateralization is and how it affect the poetry.

 I found that the topic was taken for this research was not discussed before and this

research would be more applicable to readers, they will come to know about new terms

that I discovered in my research.

 Future researchers may also apply the theory of lateralization to other works of literature.

 Future researchers can conduct a research on the representation of spirituality in the

context of Akif’s poetry.

5.3 Concluding Remarks:

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Akif Kichloo is the writer of three poetry books. His poems clearly show the unification of

both sides of brain. Being a doctor the only way to escape from the daily pathetic routine is to

write poetry. His poetry pictures the use of vocabulary, themes and assigned role that are both

related to medicine and common use. He set a new path for contemporary poetry. His poetry is

distinctive from other poets as he induced his profession into the poetry that makes it more

fetching, appealing and readers do find the connectivity with his poetry. Each poem that has been

taken as a sample in this research work clearly shows that initially the poems picture more

analytical and logical thoughts that shows the working of Left side of brain. He induced the

themes and jargons of medical profession. By the end of each poem, themes inter winged and the

poem ends on an artistic and emotional way that shows the dominance of Right side of brain.

Akif’s poetry clearly portrays the blending of both sides of brain.

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