Kavita K. Hansla is an award-winning poet and spoken word artist based in London. Her name means poetry in Hindi, reflecting just how much poetry is a part of her identity.
With over 100 performances to her name, Kavita has shared her unique voice on a variety of stages, from Wandsworth Arts Fringe and Generation Hackney to the iconic Jawdance at Rich Mix.
Blending humour, vivid storytelling, and sharp wordplay, she crafts experiences that resonate deeply with audiences and linger long after the final word. In February 2025, Kavita was honoured with the Best Poet and Spoken Word Artist Award by the Mainstream UK Awards, a national competition where winners were selected by an independent panel.
Her poetry goes beyond the stage where her written work has been published in Kite String and King’s Cross Word Space Magazine, where her words continue to engage readers in fresh and meaningful ways. In 2024, Kavita broadened her creative reach, performing at and leading workshops in schools, colleges, and businesses.
She has also taken on the role of being a poetry judge for student poetry competitions, which was published on TfL for World Poetry Day, further engaging with the literary community and public. She also launched her Instagram page, @kavitalks, a vibrant space for live videos, page poetry, and original illustrations.
My Inspiration Comes from…
Poetry moves beyond borders, just as I do. My art begins with my own experience, but it does not end there. Even my name, Kavita, means poetry in Hindi - perhaps a quiet sign that words were always meant to be part of me.
But a pen made in one place does not only write of that place. The ink is what carries the story.
I embody all parts of my identity. I am a proud Indian woman, a poet, a scientist and so much more. I am the bridge between my parents’ past and my present and future.
The Story…
The story behind the piece I am showcasing is about connection - a bridge between past, present, and future. Poetry is my own bridge - between worlds, between time, between people. It connects me to where I come from and allows me to step into where I am going.
This piece, like all of my work, is an offering. Poetry allows me to step outside myself, to see the world through different eyes, and to create spaces where stories meet, evolve, and transform.
This piece is about that movement - how love, memory, and belonging transcend generations, cultures, and borders. It is a reminder that we are always in the process of becoming, always in the middle of our stories.
Perhaps this piece is about searching, or belonging, or simply being. Whatever it is, it carries a part of me, and perhaps, in reading it, it might carry a part of you too.
A Hidden Hero to Highlight…
The unsung heroes I don’t nearly thank enough are my parents, Pinky and Ashwini Hansla. They are the quiet force behind everything I am. My Dad came from Nairobi, Kenya, when he was just a few years old, and my Mum moved here from Delhi at the same age. Two journeys, two worlds, both shaping the home they built for us.
My Dad is the smartest human being I know - a scientist, a mathematician, a man of great discipline. Through his actions, his wisdom and through his quiet strength, he is the anchor of our family. He doesn't just provide guidance, he embodies it.
My mother is the artist, a teacher, a nurturer, the one who loves with both actions and words, filling every space with warmth and care. She lights up every room so generously - always raising everyone up.
My siblings and I are reflections of both of them - logic and love, reason and creativity, discipline and heart. Though they had very different upbringings, my parents have always been one - a union of two worlds that they passed on to my three siblings and me.
Through love and care, they have taught me that love is not just something we say, but something we do.
