Remember - By Diya Sarah

Written By: Diya Sarah

Category: Essay

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the thought-provoking essay "Remember," Diya Sarah delves into the transient nature of recognition and legacy, exploring what it truly means to be remembered. Presented as part of Hashtag Kalakar's Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this essay invites readers to reflect on the impermanence of fame and the nuanced layers of human existence. Through eloquent prose, Diya Sarah poses questions about the essence of memory and the pursuit of immortality, engaging audiences in a profound dialogue on what remains when the sands of time shift.

About the Work

"Remember" is a contemplative piece that examines the ephemeral nature of human memory and legacy. Diya Sarah artfully juxtaposes the allure of eternal recognition with the inevitable fading of names into obscurity. The essay is rich with introspection, urging readers to consider the depth beyond mere historical mentions. Through poignant reflections and vivid imagery, it raises questions about identity, personal history, and the aspects of ourselves that remain unseen and unremembered by history.

Remember

Original Submission by Diya Sarah

Remember

“My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

(Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley)

Surely today’s recognition is tomorrow’s remembrance. Public memory is ridiculously short but for the infamous, the incredible, the insane, surely exceptions are made. Surely to be revered is to be remembered, and to be remembered is to be immortal.

Humanity loses today in the pursuit of the day after tomorrow. For today is a moment of toil and inhumane debasement, for naturally we must break first to be built up into anything at all. Tomorrow is when we shall reap the sweet rewards of our labour, see our faces on billboards and revel in fame and power. But the day after tomorrow? That is what we are really working for. The day after tomorrow is when history books will carry our names, when the masses will quote us with awe and wonder; the day we will finally be remembered. Running, reaching, razing- all for the day after tomorrow.

Yet, the cruel rhythm of fleeting human memory ensures that even the lucky names fade over time, from glowing headlines to the quiet corners of textbooks, to the silent spaces between the lines- just barely visible upon close inspection, until they ultimately disappear without a trace. No one lives forever.

I can hear the objections that indignantly stand up in opposition in your mind now because surely the world remembers Aristotle and Plato and Alexander the Great, surely some names cannot be entirely forgotten. To that, dear reader, I would say that you are indeed not entirely wrong. There are countless examples of names that have stood the test of time, monikers that echo through the halls of history, eliciting praise or repulsion even centuries since their owners were buried. A person, however, is far more than a name.

History has an odd way of reducing individuals to merely a combination of alphabets. We remember achievements and the names attached to them but does that mean we truly remember anyone at all? When our day after tomorrow dawns, who is going to remember who we truly were? Who will remember all the parts of ourselves that we could not love? Who will know all the secrets we enjoyed? Who will know of the silent tears we shed? Who will recount all the times we fell in love? Who knows all the things we laughed at? Who will ever know what we felt at every instance of time? Who would even want to know?

There are many things we will take to the grave- private, precious and forgotten in history, dear reader, and I’m afraid our self is on that list. Our memories, feelings, thoughts, jokes, insecurities, reservations, and every other part of us, dies with us. We will not be remembered. No one lives forever. Maybe that’s what makes life worth living.

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a distinguished platform celebrating the art of words. It welcomes participants from around the globe, offering them a stage to express their creativity and share their unique perspectives. This annual competition is known for its diverse range of submissions, encompassing poetry, essays, short stories, and more, fostering a vibrant community of writers and thinkers.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Diya Sarah for sharing her insightful essay "Remember" in the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her exploration of memory and legacy offers a profound perspective that resonates deeply with readers. Thank you, Diya, for your contribution to this literary journey.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.