Neal Hall in Conversation with Anindita Bose
Hello Dr. Neal,
thank you for this moment. This is going to be an opportunity to know you through your words. (Dr. Neal Hall laughs)
1. What people or experiences have taught you the most and helped you to arrive where you are?
Martin Luther King, when he said amongst other profound remarks - Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy – urgency
Gandhi, when he said amongst other profound remarks freedom - by none violent means
Malcolm X, when he said amongst other profound remarks – freedom by any means necessary. Though it conflicted with Gandhi, merging the two has lead me to the belief of freedom by any lawful collective violent economic means necessary.
Michael Jackson, when he said - an artist must live deeply in his art as much as his art lives deeply him. My constant endeavor is to live deeply in my poetry and to have my poetry live deeply in me. Only then can one greatly impact oneself and the listener/reader.
2. What contribution did people and places make and how have they impacted your life personally and professionally?
We are a product of our genetics and the environment those genetics are exposed to. My very essence the product of the people and places I have encountered personally and professionally.
3. What is your philosophy in life and how do you maintain it?
1. I am no better, no lesser than the man or woman standing next to me anywhere in the world.
2. There is no democracy anywhere in the world. There are only degrees of tyranny. This realization does not leave me vulnerable to the lies of democracy.
3. Freedom is not free. There is cost to obtain it and a cost to sustain it. This is the one thing oppressed people have failed to realize in their fight against the oppressor. Socio-economic gains/privilege is why the oppressor oppresses you.
How do I maintain these truths – with each breath I take.
4. Considering your chronological age and the milestones in your career, would you share your views about politics?
Politics is the art of compromising and politicians are the artisans of politics. Politicians compromise the people’s rights under the guise of governance, in return for political power they transform into personal socio-economic gains over the people.
5. In terms of governance in India, to what extend would you say ‘India is civilized’ put on a global scale?
There are wolves and there are wolves in sheep’s clothing. India is no more civilized or uncivilized than any other part of the world governed by wolves or wolves in sheep clothing. All governance originates from the same playbook of oppression. It is just a question of which tactics governance chooses to use or not use. Whether they read from the right side of the playbook, the middle or the left side, the book ends the same – personal socio-economic gains and privileges under the guise of governance. The reason we need governance is because we the people cannot get alone as brothers and sisters of a common humanity.
6. You occupy such a space in the global market as a global citizen with multiple awards to your name. Seeing that your work complements your lifestyle, when will ‘enough be enough’?
I only occupy that part of the global market that lies beneath my feet. No greater nor nobler space than any other man or women on this earth.
My lifestyle compliments my work. My work is driven by my desire and that of all of humanity to be able to rise and fall on our own merits and not because of those man-made constructs man manipulate to control and exploit his fellow man i.e. class, cash, caste, color, gender, religion, politics, culture, tradition, anthems, slogan, flags and more.
When that day of freedom comes, enough will never be enough. Freedom is not free. There is cost to obtain it and a cost to sustain it. We must always be vigilant at collectively paying that cost.
7. Please list three most important words for the world today?
Forgive Them Not – an excerpt from my poem - A Poet’s Prayer
Poet’s Prayer
Father forgive them not
for they know what they do.
Their conspiracies unseen, hidden deep within
their plausible deniabilities.
Father forgive them not
for they know what they do.
8. What advice would you give to our readers and your fellows?
1. The world is neither me nor I, It is a We. It is a collective we inextricably tied together through our common humanity.
2. For the oppressor, there is but one law being there are no laws for him.
9. When you dream, what language do you use?
The tongue brutally forced by my enslaved forefathers - English
10. People are forever travelling to attend events (seminars, summits, conferences, workshops etc), but the media continues to show us variances in terms of nation building towards a peaceful future. Being a well travelled and extremely experienced individual, please do enlighten us on the following:
Why is cross-cultural education a must towards facilitating harmonious and sustainable development?
The answer is in the question.
11. Based on your life’s experiences, please do enlighten us on the following:
What criteria do you use when choosing the company (people) to be with at personal time and professionally?
I have no criteria regarding personal time. One should always leave oneself open to any and all experiences.
From a literary perspective, the best company for me as a wannabe writer is my loneliness, my solitude, my immersion into the deepest depth of my sadness.
And based on the notion that we’re all passers-by, in one sentence, what would your eulogy be?
He had rather face the truth of a tyrant than the lies of democracy.
12. What is your artistic philosophy and how do you maintain it?
To not be a writer but a transcriber of the ‘it’ that speaks to me and inspires me in verse.
13. As a writer, what do you mostly thrive on and why?
The “ IT ” that comes to me and speaks to me – unfortunately in its own time, space and place. In this regard, patience becomes one of the poet’s greatest virtues.
14. Given the choices you have for publishing your work, which one is your preferred format and why?
Self-publishing until I discover a publisher that will be true first to my truths of our oppression, before his truth of commercial success.
15. Provided the platforms you’ve already exploited to execute your work, which one do you most enjoy in working at and why?
I never exploit my platforms. I cherish the opportunities they provide me to connect with and engage the world.
As terrified as I was and to some extent still am, I love reading my work and engaging audiences in in-depth Q&As. Reciting my writing adds that 3rd dimension lost in just reading them.
The challenges of Q&A either affirms my current belief or facilitates my acquiring a higher, more informed belief. In either case, I grow personally and professionally.
16. How do you maintain the balance between working to live and living to work?
I have lived long enough to have worked long enough to now live and not have to worry too much about working.
17. What value does the title of ‘MD’ add in both your personal and professional life?
In both cases it provides varying degrees of benefit - depending on which part of the world I am in e.g. tolerance of my skin color along with some immediate and recognizable residue of respect.
18. Based on your life’s experiences, do enlighten us on the following:
(a) The most needed fundamental tools to becoming a success in your field of work.
1. Is to first define success for yourself and not success as defined by others for you. You either follow the path or create your own. I have taken the path less travelled and it has made all the difference (Frost).
2. Do not allow anyone to compromise your product, particularly for their commercial gain.
(b) Your one most favorite writer, dead or living, in each continent on planet earth?
I refer works and writings from Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Gandhi. My favorite poet is a spoken word artist named Luka Lesson from Australia.
(c) Advice to people aspiring to your accolades, to literary patrons and the general public?
Don’t aspire for my accolades nor accolades for the sake of accolades. They are fleeting and in many case a happening of being in right place at the right time. Aspire to find the real truths amongst the cascade of lies sold us daily. And if you cannot find the truths, create your own truths that will allow you to live harmoniously with yourself and your fellow man.
19. If you had to pay special tribute to five writers globally, who would they be and why?
The words and writings of Martin Luther King, Gandhi and Malcolm X. They have formed three of the four structural pillars of my life and beliefs.
20. Please say something about your poetry that is being adapted for a stage performance to be held March 18th & 19th 2017 at Rome’s Teatro Di Documenti.
I have pulled out of the project for now. I will look for another director that can move the performance in a proper direction and pace.
21. Had you not been into the literary industry, what other field would you have opted for – why, and what message would you give to the readers?
A university professional. I love engaging thoughtful minds. In doing so, I found the learning and personal growth can be reciprocal. It would also afford me the time to think and write.
thank you for this moment. This is going to be an opportunity to know you through your words. (Dr. Neal Hall laughs)
1. What people or experiences have taught you the most and helped you to arrive where you are?
Martin Luther King, when he said amongst other profound remarks - Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy – urgency
Gandhi, when he said amongst other profound remarks freedom - by none violent means
Malcolm X, when he said amongst other profound remarks – freedom by any means necessary. Though it conflicted with Gandhi, merging the two has lead me to the belief of freedom by any lawful collective violent economic means necessary.
Michael Jackson, when he said - an artist must live deeply in his art as much as his art lives deeply him. My constant endeavor is to live deeply in my poetry and to have my poetry live deeply in me. Only then can one greatly impact oneself and the listener/reader.
2. What contribution did people and places make and how have they impacted your life personally and professionally?
We are a product of our genetics and the environment those genetics are exposed to. My very essence the product of the people and places I have encountered personally and professionally.
3. What is your philosophy in life and how do you maintain it?
1. I am no better, no lesser than the man or woman standing next to me anywhere in the world.
2. There is no democracy anywhere in the world. There are only degrees of tyranny. This realization does not leave me vulnerable to the lies of democracy.
3. Freedom is not free. There is cost to obtain it and a cost to sustain it. This is the one thing oppressed people have failed to realize in their fight against the oppressor. Socio-economic gains/privilege is why the oppressor oppresses you.
How do I maintain these truths – with each breath I take.
4. Considering your chronological age and the milestones in your career, would you share your views about politics?
Politics is the art of compromising and politicians are the artisans of politics. Politicians compromise the people’s rights under the guise of governance, in return for political power they transform into personal socio-economic gains over the people.
5. In terms of governance in India, to what extend would you say ‘India is civilized’ put on a global scale?
There are wolves and there are wolves in sheep’s clothing. India is no more civilized or uncivilized than any other part of the world governed by wolves or wolves in sheep clothing. All governance originates from the same playbook of oppression. It is just a question of which tactics governance chooses to use or not use. Whether they read from the right side of the playbook, the middle or the left side, the book ends the same – personal socio-economic gains and privileges under the guise of governance. The reason we need governance is because we the people cannot get alone as brothers and sisters of a common humanity.
6. You occupy such a space in the global market as a global citizen with multiple awards to your name. Seeing that your work complements your lifestyle, when will ‘enough be enough’?
I only occupy that part of the global market that lies beneath my feet. No greater nor nobler space than any other man or women on this earth.
My lifestyle compliments my work. My work is driven by my desire and that of all of humanity to be able to rise and fall on our own merits and not because of those man-made constructs man manipulate to control and exploit his fellow man i.e. class, cash, caste, color, gender, religion, politics, culture, tradition, anthems, slogan, flags and more.
When that day of freedom comes, enough will never be enough. Freedom is not free. There is cost to obtain it and a cost to sustain it. We must always be vigilant at collectively paying that cost.
7. Please list three most important words for the world today?
Forgive Them Not – an excerpt from my poem - A Poet’s Prayer
Poet’s Prayer
Father forgive them not
for they know what they do.
Their conspiracies unseen, hidden deep within
their plausible deniabilities.
Father forgive them not
for they know what they do.
8. What advice would you give to our readers and your fellows?
1. The world is neither me nor I, It is a We. It is a collective we inextricably tied together through our common humanity.
2. For the oppressor, there is but one law being there are no laws for him.
9. When you dream, what language do you use?
The tongue brutally forced by my enslaved forefathers - English
10. People are forever travelling to attend events (seminars, summits, conferences, workshops etc), but the media continues to show us variances in terms of nation building towards a peaceful future. Being a well travelled and extremely experienced individual, please do enlighten us on the following:
Why is cross-cultural education a must towards facilitating harmonious and sustainable development?
The answer is in the question.
11. Based on your life’s experiences, please do enlighten us on the following:
What criteria do you use when choosing the company (people) to be with at personal time and professionally?
I have no criteria regarding personal time. One should always leave oneself open to any and all experiences.
From a literary perspective, the best company for me as a wannabe writer is my loneliness, my solitude, my immersion into the deepest depth of my sadness.
And based on the notion that we’re all passers-by, in one sentence, what would your eulogy be?
He had rather face the truth of a tyrant than the lies of democracy.
12. What is your artistic philosophy and how do you maintain it?
To not be a writer but a transcriber of the ‘it’ that speaks to me and inspires me in verse.
13. As a writer, what do you mostly thrive on and why?
The “ IT ” that comes to me and speaks to me – unfortunately in its own time, space and place. In this regard, patience becomes one of the poet’s greatest virtues.
14. Given the choices you have for publishing your work, which one is your preferred format and why?
Self-publishing until I discover a publisher that will be true first to my truths of our oppression, before his truth of commercial success.
15. Provided the platforms you’ve already exploited to execute your work, which one do you most enjoy in working at and why?
I never exploit my platforms. I cherish the opportunities they provide me to connect with and engage the world.
As terrified as I was and to some extent still am, I love reading my work and engaging audiences in in-depth Q&As. Reciting my writing adds that 3rd dimension lost in just reading them.
The challenges of Q&A either affirms my current belief or facilitates my acquiring a higher, more informed belief. In either case, I grow personally and professionally.
16. How do you maintain the balance between working to live and living to work?
I have lived long enough to have worked long enough to now live and not have to worry too much about working.
17. What value does the title of ‘MD’ add in both your personal and professional life?
In both cases it provides varying degrees of benefit - depending on which part of the world I am in e.g. tolerance of my skin color along with some immediate and recognizable residue of respect.
18. Based on your life’s experiences, do enlighten us on the following:
(a) The most needed fundamental tools to becoming a success in your field of work.
1. Is to first define success for yourself and not success as defined by others for you. You either follow the path or create your own. I have taken the path less travelled and it has made all the difference (Frost).
2. Do not allow anyone to compromise your product, particularly for their commercial gain.
(b) Your one most favorite writer, dead or living, in each continent on planet earth?
I refer works and writings from Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Gandhi. My favorite poet is a spoken word artist named Luka Lesson from Australia.
(c) Advice to people aspiring to your accolades, to literary patrons and the general public?
Don’t aspire for my accolades nor accolades for the sake of accolades. They are fleeting and in many case a happening of being in right place at the right time. Aspire to find the real truths amongst the cascade of lies sold us daily. And if you cannot find the truths, create your own truths that will allow you to live harmoniously with yourself and your fellow man.
19. If you had to pay special tribute to five writers globally, who would they be and why?
The words and writings of Martin Luther King, Gandhi and Malcolm X. They have formed three of the four structural pillars of my life and beliefs.
20. Please say something about your poetry that is being adapted for a stage performance to be held March 18th & 19th 2017 at Rome’s Teatro Di Documenti.
I have pulled out of the project for now. I will look for another director that can move the performance in a proper direction and pace.
21. Had you not been into the literary industry, what other field would you have opted for – why, and what message would you give to the readers?
A university professional. I love engaging thoughtful minds. In doing so, I found the learning and personal growth can be reciprocal. It would also afford me the time to think and write.
An internationally acclaimed award winning poet, Dr. Hall has performed readings throughout the U.S. and around the world. His poetic writings and readings bear strong witness to his passionate belief in equality and our collective rights to think, live and make harmonious decision based on our common good. Dr. Hall’s first international award winning book, Nigger For Life, reflects his painful discovery that, in “unspoken America,” race is the one thing by which he is first judged.
