Arji Manuelpillai

Arji Manuelpillai is an acclaimed poet, performer, and facilitator. His debut collection, Improvised Explosive Device, was shortlisted for the Derek Walcott Prize and selected as a Poetry Book Society Winter Recommendation. Arji has been commissioned to write poems for esteemed institutions such as the Tower of London, the National Trust, and high-profile figures including the Princess of Wales.

Arji is the current Poet in Residence for the National Remembrance Gardens, where he researches and creates poetry for installations, events, and services. As part of this work, he has spent time in conversation with veterans, serving Armed Forces personnel, historians, and others with personal and professional connections to military history, drawing on their experiences and perspectives to inform his writing and creative work.