A journey from real to unreal from living to un-living through Animals of Dawn
A Review by Runa Bandyopadhyay for Animals of Dawn by Murat Nemet Nezat
Animals of Dawn
(One character in search of five acts, performance notes for Hamlet)
by Murat Nemet-Nejat
Publisher : Talishman House, Massachusetts, U.S. – 2016
Murat Nemet-Nejat – Poet, Essayist and Translator Murat Nemet-Nejat was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and lived in the United States since 1959. He studied literature at Amherst College and Columbia University in the United States. Murat Nemet-Nejat is the author of several books of poetry like The Bridge, The Spiritual Life of Replicants, Structure of Escape, a 7 part long poem and most recently Animals of Dawn. He is the editor of Eda: An Anthology of Contemporary Turkish Poetry (Jersey City: Talisman House, 2004). His books of translations also include Ece Ayhan,’s Blind Cat Black and Orthodoxies (Los Angeles: Sun & Moon Press, 1997) and Orhan Veli’s I, Orhan Veli (New York: Hanging Loose Press, 1989).
A journey from real to unreal from living to un-living through Animals of Dawn
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A Silent and Eternal Homeland of Swadesh
A Review by Runa Bandyopadhyay for Swadesh Sener Swadesh by Swadesh Sen
Read full review at Dispatches Poetry War
Swadesh Sen-er Swadesh (Homeland of Swadesh Sen)
A collection of Poetry
by Swadesh Sen
Publisher : Kaurab, Kolkata, India, 2006
Swadesh Sen (1935-2014) was the last milestone of the traditional mainstream of Bengali poetry with respect to his poetic thought and the first milestone of the New Bengali poetry with respect to his borderless poetics. When we all were trying to understand our external world, he was exploring the interior world, the inside of our inner home, joy 
and sorrow of our very own home. When we were busy with clever competition with language and its form in poetry, he sat coolly in his inner home, rediscovering and rearranging the ordinary words to represent his own household. He believed that the tradition, reformation and discovery of roots, feelings and values can accumulate and intensify all our isolated consciousness. In the process of endeavour his language and its use became the new light of the Bengali poetry world, the Homeland of Swadsh Sen. He was born in Borishal, a village of present Bangladesh and brought up in Tata, Jamshedpur, a steel city in eastern India. He was one the core poets of the Kaurab’s experimental literature in 70’s. He authored several books, Rakha Hoyechhe Komlalebu (The Orange is Placed) in 1982, Matite Dudher cup (Milk Glass On The Floor) in 1992, Chhayay Asio (Come In the Shade) in 1998, Swadesh Sen-er Swadesh (Homeland of Swadesh Sen, Collection, part I) in 2006, Apple Ghumiye Achhe (The Sleeping Apple, a Collection) in 2018. He was awarded Bibha Chattopadhyay Smarak Award for literature in 2012.
Here is a glimpse of his poetry from Homeland of Swadesh : (Translated by Runa Bandyopadhyay)
How when
There are silent and eternal words
Now stopping here, coming quietly, I’m silent
Adding all Maya, these included words
I have to know in my life.
Man is one, his mind moves in so many directions
Just think, in these universal eyes
everything and far reach here
Repeatedly we know various directions of
permanent modest clear sky and air
We see a lot without looking it, intense unknown observation
The nut tree takes our game full of nutshell.
I could see fixed spots on the face, opening in rebuke
Brings a kind of confirmation of looking it better
That is the kindness which gives space
That is the courage which opens before everybody
All of them come as words at some midday.
Coming quietly, could be seen silently
How much could be seen or known
When our belief shakes up,
how everything left away.
More words of human’s friend and foe relationship
How much can give us
daughter wife brother sister tradition
One who writes marriage-paper
which ecstasy makes him to write?
A Silent and Eternal Homeland of Swadesh
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A journey through the Hymns of Poetry
A Review by Runa Bandyopadhyay for Kobita Chalisa by Barin Ghosal
Read full Review at Dispatches Poetry War
Kobita Chalisa (Hymns of Poetry)
by Barin Ghosal
Publisher: Kaurab, 2009
Barin Ghosal (4th Dec 1944 – 28th Oct 2017) – Barin Ghosal, an introducer of new literary theory – Expansive Consciousness – that provides a novel semantic-semiotic analysis of poetic language and thought in early 90’s. About this theory his famous collection of essays, Otichetonar Kotha (Tale of Expansive Consciousness) published in 1996 won him critical acclaim. He was a co-editor and a pivotal member of the Kaurab group. Kaurab is a Bengali language literary magazine representing innovative, alternative, non-mainstream and experimental genres of Indian literature with an emphasis on poetry and poetics. Barin Ghosal was one of the most innovative anti-mainstream writers of his generation, focussed on alternative literary pursuits and experimented on contemporary poetic language. He had been felicitated by several Bengali literary organizations. His first poetry book Sukher kalakram o Sommujwal Dukkha (Chronology of Joy and Bright Sorrow) published in the year of 1973. After that he authored several poetry-books, Maayaabee Simoom (Enigmatic Simoom) in 1985, Hashish Taranee (Hashish Boat) in 1992, Guinea-pig, ekti tathyachitra (Guinea-pig, A Documentary) in 1995, Mukhasta Daalim (Verbalized Dalim) in 2000, E Lulu (Hey Lulu) in 2006, Borkhaland theke (From BorkhaLand) in 2011 to name a few amongst them. His book-length poem Satkar (Cremation) is a rare feat in Bengali poetry. Barin Ghosal also authored three famous novels, MaTaam (Tiltmeter) in 1989, Ek Bharatio Sheeth (An Indian Winter) in 1994 and Udom Danga (Naked Land) in 1996, where he has rigorously experimented with the structure of the modern Bengali novel. He had also authored a collection of short stories, Jindabad Khalko O onanyo Golpo (Long Live Khalko and Other Stories) in 2017. Barin Ghosal also authored two numbers of collections of review series Amar Somoyer Kobita (Poetry of my generation) in 1996 and 2016 with an explorer’s reviews on contemporary poetry.
A journey through the Hymns of Poetry
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The Excavated Imprints of the Interior World
A Review by Runa Bandyopadhyay for Antarlok by Alok Sarkar
Read Full Text at Dispatches Poetry War
Antarlok (Interior World)
by Alok Sarkar
Publisher: Kaurab, Kolkata, India, 2012
Alok Sarkar,
a renowned Bengali poet (23 March 1931 – November 2016), was born and brought up at Kolkata, India. He was a professor of Bengali literature. He was focused on alternative literature and experimenting with contemporary poetic language. His first poetry book, ‘Utal Nirjan’ (Restless Solitude) was published in 1950. After that he authored several poetry and prose books. ‘Roudramoy Anupasthit’ (Sunlit Absence), ‘Nibhritalok’ (Secret World), ‘Bishudha Aranya’ (Pure Forest), ‘Andhokar Utsab’ (Dark Festival), ‘Alokito Samonoya’ (Illuminated Synthesis) to name a few amongst them. His published poetry books are about 35 in numbers. He also author of several plays, novels and short stories. His poetry anthology, ‘Kabyo Samagra’ (Poetry Collection) was published from Diya publication, Kolkata, in the year of 2010. His prose anthology, ‘Antarlok’ (Interior World) was published from Kaurab publication in the year of 2012. His poetry collection ‘Shono Jabaphul’(Listen Hibiscus flower) received ‘Rabindra Purashkar’ (Tagore Award) for literature, the highest state award in Bengali literature.
The Excavated Imprints of the Interior World
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Swapan-Trip with Melted Ice cream on My Tongue
A Review by Runa Bandyopadhyay for Ice Cream…With a Smile
Read full review at Galatea Resurrects
Ice Cream…With a Smile
A Bilingual Poetry book by Swapan Roy & Arka Chattapadhyay
Publisher: Ekhon Bangla kobitarKagoj, West Bengal, India, 2016
Swapan Roy is one of the most innovative Bengali writers of 80’s. He focused on alternative literary pursuits and experimenting with contemporary poetic language. Swapan Roy was born and brought up in Jamshedpur and Raurkela, India. The first co-edited magazine by Swapan Roy was ‘Dridim’ (published from Raurkela). In the year of 1984, his first book of poems ‘Ami Aschi’ (The Arrival) was published. After that, he authored several poetry and prose books: ‘Che’ (poems based on Che Guevara’s diary), ‘Kuasha Cabin’(Misty Cabin), ‘Lenin Nagari’ (Metro, named Lenin), ‘Deshraag’ (Deshraag, a melodic mode in Indian classical music), ‘Cinema Cinema’, ‘Swarger Focus’ (heavenly focus). … to name a few among them. His poetry anthology ‘Swapane banano Eka’ (Made in Swapan Alone): Edited by the poet Barin Ghosal and published by ‘Kaurab’ publications in the year of 2009. He is a hard-core traveller. Tracking for poetry takes us a long way…Where? Swapan has kept a footprint for that journey in his prose anthology ‘Eksho Surje’ (In the 100th Sun) published by ‘Notun Kobita’ in the year of 2009. He’s the co-editor of magazines ‘Kabita Campus’ and ‘Natun Kobita’ for more than 10 years. Swapan Roy bagged many awards for different books.
Arka Chattapadhyay – He has a background in Literary Studies. After completing his BA, MA and Mphil in English literature from Presidency College and Jadavour University respectively, he has finished his PHD at the University of Western Sydney. Apart from being an academic literary critic, he wears the creative hat as a Bangla story writer, translator and essayist. He has been actively engaged in the Bengali Little Magazine movement for the last decade. He co-edits ‘Ashtray’, an online and print literary magazine and a section on ‘Golpona’ at ‘Baak’, one of the oldest webzines in Bengali. He has been translating contemporary poets and prose writers from Bengali to English and vice versa for ‘Ashtray Online’, ‘Journey 90s’, ‘Nilgiri Wagon’, ‘Cafe Dissensus’, ‘Baak’ as well as translation anthologies and ‘Notun Kobita’ website.
Swapan-Trip with Melted Ice cream on My Tongue
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With the Fair Parts of Shadows in Dhiman’s Labonya
A Review by Runa Bandyopadhyay for Chhayader Bhalotuku by Dhiman Chakraborty
Read full review at Galatea Resurrects
Chhayader Bhalotuku (The fair parts of Shadows) – Collection of Bengali Poems
by Dhiman Chakraborty
Publisher :Bhinnomukh, Kolkata, India, Jan 2015
Dhiman Chakraborty is an important Bengali poet of this time. He was born and brought up in Kolkata. The first edited magazine by Chakraborty was Aalaap 
(Introduction / Conversation). In the year of 1987, his first book of poems Aapnaader Smarane (In the Memory of You) was published. After that, he authored several poetry-books. Aaguner Aaraam kedaaraa (The easy-chair of Fire), Chander Sapludo(The Jigsaw Puzzle of the Moon), Saadaa Aashroy (The white Shelter), Paakhider Robbaar (Sunday of The Birds), Sthanio Rong (Local Colour) to name a few amongst them. His poetry anthology Dhimaner Charaachar (The Universe of Dhiman) was published by Kaurab Publications in the year of 2008. He’s the editor of Bhinnomukh (The Other Face) for more than 15 years. Dhiman Chakraborty bagged many awards for different books: Vishnu Dey Award (1990), Kausav Award (1997), Kabita Pakkhik Sammanona Award (1998), Sei Sandipan Sammanona Award (2001), Manjush Dasgupta Sammanona Award (2003), Sahitya Rongberong Award (2007) etc. Dhiman is an iconoclast & he tries to destroy our traditional culture of language and words and in fact, he intends to surpass our age-old aesthetics with his different acoustics.
Here are few sips of kisses from Dhiman’s Labonya:
(Poems are translated from Dhiman Chakraborty’s book The fair parts of Shadows by the poet himself)
“Labonya and Riya -3”
I picked up some dreams today on my bed,
with a scent of soap .
Who cleaned them up?
Love and pieces of sunlight take a long way.
Many people know the roads — are able to say —
how many fallow the path ?
Grey hair is flying on the metal door.
Our group photo with half opened mouth
was never here — alone .
The ring, very slowly finding through the corn-field
picks up an old age home ,
take its favourite lipstick .
Twinkling lights on the wrist sings
a bit peacock , sings a
scarfed green girl
I sit inside the room silently
A different Dhiman on the road
walks in between Riya and Labonya ,
whistling
“Nowadays”
When flying windows give some rain,
the flute can hear you
everywhere . Wound and caring —
alarm-clock sits silent in front of it .
wherever choral goes , it puts in
few worlds within the school bag .
A golden disc is walking towards us,
come, let’s celebrate his birthday .
Someone said — it is a long cherished dream
of a broken scooter , someday
I’ll sit beside him and sing along.
See long-distance light
of water and sadness .
Every Sunday counts grain —
dangle a little the half-rocking chair .
Sitting in front of a triangle,nowadays
I don’t judge the correct or
mistaken. At night when no one is
hear by, my shadow talks to me,
to my defeated songs .
———
“Longing”
Your room is full of snails, a piece
or two of light . Car melting through
the cloud . We pronounced some
questions and some breath .
A middle aged man with buzz,
after breaking the egg- shell throw away
four darkened voices .
Walking a few paces front
I knot ten ends of water.
Walking through the brim
the envelop gave the joy of echo
to the prolong oxygen .
After taking out the
neon-light, our hang out
counted the raincoats of life and death .
Today sometimes with that flash
you want to mend birds laughter ,
all the best of a sunset .
“Going”
Though largely inclined night
is not being able to touch me .
Contrary to what are,
want to learn hand-print ,
school frocks set on fire .
Seeing the almanac corn-field
hums something unknown . Spider
spreads web on the bed .
Twelfth of the zodiacal stars
weaves life alongside .
What those grey cells lay down by
flipping memory , that wants to
fasten you by the stories of fossil .
As the cold eyes do not want to give
any interview , bird-clad mask
shows the road to the carpet .
Runa Bandyopadhyay 