An evening of poetry, reflection and cultural diplomacy at the Brazilian Official Residence in New Delhi, marking the launch of Quatrains in Quarantine by Manish Chand. Heartiest congratulations to Manish on this evocative collection, born from the silences, anxieties and awakenings of the Covid years. Centred on the theme “Poetry and Literature in Times of Crises and Conflicts”, the discussion reminded us that literature is not an escape from difficult times, but a way of bearing witness to them. In moments of grief, isolation, pandemic and uncertainty, poetry gives language to what the heart struggles to hold. As I shared during the discussion, poetry cannot prevent crises, but it prevents suffering from becoming mute. It gives shape to grief when ordinary language fails, transforms pain into reflection, and reminds us that even in our darkest moments, faith, hope, love, imagination and the present moment remain our greatest sources of resilience. The evening brought together diplomats, authors, academics and lovers of literature in a thoughtful conversation on how words can heal, connect and illuminate. From the wounds of Covid to the wider challenges of our age, the discussion underlined the enduring power of poetry to transform suffering into reflection, silence into meaning and despair into renewal. Beyond the book launch, it was also a celebration of cultural dialogue and people-to-people ties. Literature, much like diplomacy, builds bridges across nations, languages and memories—reminding us that even in divided times, shared stories can bring us closer. My sincere appreciation to Ambassador Kenneth da Nóbrega and the Embassy of Brazil for hosting such a memorable evening of ideas, literature and friendship. @scepticcryptic @BrazilEmbassyIN @PavanK_Varma @MarjeLuup @NewSuriname @anilwad @keatsmat @RaviDammu #ProfMalashriLal #RukminiBhayaNair #ChandradathSingh #NeelamSabharwal #QuatrainsInQuarantine #BookLaunch #Poetry #Literature #CulturalDiplomacy #IndiaBrazilRelations #BrazilInIndia #LiteraryDiplomacy #SoftPower #GlobalDialogue – at New Delhi, India