Interview With Zehn Kashyap

We decided to interview Zehn because she was a part of Delhi Poetry Slam's 'World Poetry Project 2025', a three day event bringing a myriad of international voices under one umbrella.

Zehn Kashyap is an internationally published writer and an active advocate for disability awareness. She uses her voice to speak out for the less privileged and has driven numerous programs to contribute to the lives of children with disabilities. Though she herself struggles with cerebral palsy, Zehn does not let her challenges define her and continues to help others, along with making waves with her literary work.

An award-winning speaker, Zehn has contributed to many international forums like the CBSE Board, Ashoka University, Girl Up Global Leadership Summit, People Matters, TribesforGOOD, Neuro Aid Foundation, PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Diversity Mahotsav, India Autism and Neurodiversity Summit, and Neurodiversity India Summit.

In recognition of her work for disability awareness, she was awarded the prestigious 2024 Diana Award.

She also has a podcast series, Personnae Extraordinaire, along with an audiobook of poems, L’Extraordinaire, that reflects her dedication to abolishing the stereotypes associated with disabilities.

Committed to fostering a world of open dialogue, equality, and positivity, Zehn believes in the power of kindness and empathy and continues to spread awareness and work for the betterment of society.

You are a published writer and also have an audiobook named L’(Extra)ordinaire. Can you tell us what it’s about?

L’(Extra)ordinaire  is a collection of poems written and narrated by me over the years, and it is my ode to the twin virtues of kindness and empathy. As a shy and reserved child with a very visible disability, I learned early on to hear beyond the spoken word — to notice emotions and thoughts left unsaid. Over time, writing, and especially poetry, helped me express my inner world, connect more deeply with my community, and advocate for those whose voices are often unheard. 

My audiobook was launched at the 2023 Hyderabad Literary Festival, and I chose to make it open access on YouTube to stand in solidarity with global disability advocates. Since its release, it has received appreciation from literary figures worldwide for challenging perceptions and creating space for honest conversations around mental health, diversity, and inclusion.

Can you take us back to the moment you first got into poetry? What inspired you?

Growing up with a visible disability often made me feel like I was constantly under a microscope. I dreaded speaking in class, convinced that every word I uttered would be judged. I wasn’t particularly articulate then, in fact, I struggled with both verbal and written expression, partly because I was trying so hard to stay invisible.

Ironically, it was the isolation during the COVID lockdowns that gave me unexpected freedom. Behind a screen, my differentness wasn’t on display. For the first time, I felt safe enough to submit a poem for a Disability Awareness competition. That poem, L’(Extra)ordinaire, unexpectedly won and was shared by the CBSE Board, and that moment sparked a chain reaction I could never have predicted.

Slowly, as invitations to speak at national and international forums followed, I realized the power of storytelling; and that even the quietest voices can make an impact. That journey nudged me toward reading more, understanding the mechanics of language, and finding my own style. Poetry, in particular, gave me the freedom to be honest, raw, and reflective; all on my own terms.

What began as a reluctant attempt at self-expression has since become a powerful tool — not just to share my own truth, but to advocate for empathy, inclusion, and change.

 How do your personal experiences and the world around you shape your poetry?

Growing up in a society that was focused on its parochial definition of who was considered normal, I learned how being a girl with a disability was a barrier to opportunity and grounds for lowering expectations. Even educational institutions, which should have been my refuge, pushed me to the margins, fixating instead on a parochial definition of success.

Hence, I looked inwards and I began to write all that I had wanted to tell the world. My scribbles eventually translated into a poem on disability inclusion. It won a competition and went viral on several forums. Not only did it open up countless opportunities for me to speak at prestigious national and international forums but more importantly, led me to the great discovery that I was not alone. I found camaraderie online on social media platforms where countless teens like me wanted nothing, but to be seen.

My poetry was and still is shaped by a dual lens: the personal pain of exclusion, and the collective need for empathy. In fact both my Audiobook, L’(Extra)ordinaire and my Podcast Series, Personae Extraordinaire, are my odes to the twin virtues of kindness and empathy. Through them, I amplified not just my voice but the voices of others who live in the margins. My poetry became my answer to a world that too often chose silence over conversation when it came to disability.

 What are your aspirations for your poetry and the impact you wish for it to create?

Poetry for me has always been a form of self-expression, a space where I can unapologetically be myself without fear of judgment. I hope my poetry creates that same space for others: a space for vulnerability, for awareness, and ultimately, for change. I want people to come away from my work feeling a little less alone and a little more seen. I hope it sparks meaningful conversations around mental health, inclusion, and empathy.

I dream of a world where inclusion is not an afterthought but a foundational value; a world where schools, communities, and institutions are designed to make everyone feel like they belong. I want to live in a world where no person has to fight alone to be accepted, and where we not just tolerate differentness, but rather celebrate it.  I believe that honest, purposeful storytelling, through poetry or otherwise, can shift both hearts and systems, and I hope my poetry does exactly that: light the spark that ignites the fire for meaningful change.

You’ve been an advocate for disability awareness and have also been awarded the 2024 Diana Award. You have contributed to many national as well as international forums like the CBSE Board, Girl Up NASSCOM, Ashoka University, Global Leadership Summit, India Autism and Neurodiversity Summit. Being an inspiration to many, is there a writer or role model who inspires you, and why?

One of the most influential figures in my life has been my mother. She was the one most deeply affected by my diagnosis and, although she (incorrectly) blamed herself for it, she never allowed that pain to define our journey. She refused to accept the limitations of my medical prognosis and fought tirelessly to ensure I had access to the best resources. She taught me to play to my strengths without shame and never once made me feel like my differentness was a disadvantage.