Our Poets Mentioned in ‘Literature, Critique, and Empire Today’

 

Some of our books published recently have been featured in ‘Literature, Critique, and Empire Today’.

Here is what the prestigious journal had to say:

“Purabi Bhattacharya’s Even Birds Go Home brings together her experience of being an outsider in her birthplace, Shillong.”

“Abdul Jamil Urfi, Professor at the University of Delhi, has brought out Shouting at the Dead. The poems reflect a gentle humour and wit that is endearing. The essay, “My Journey in Poetry Appreciation” (included in the volume), documents the poet’s exposure to the rich cultural environment of Aligarh, especially the Aligarh Muslim University, where he studied as an undergraduate student. New poetry collections by …Mohammad Zahid (Graffiti of Dreams) have appeared.”

“Ghazala Shamim Siddiqi’s debut collection Woman at the Traffic Signal carries poems on the multitudinous aspects of life. The world of “Kitti parties/Tombola/Coffee mugs/Sanitisers” stands in sharp contrast to the real world of the domestic helpers—“Relegated to distant lands/Some metres away/ So that their Covid/ Doesn’t disturb/ The quietude of the Covid/of the Coffee People!” The book also includes a section titled “Translations” that carries English versions of Shamim Hanfi’s Urdu ghazals along with other poems.”

“Belfast-based Pallavi Padma-Uday’s debut collection Orisons in the Dark has poems centred on a woman’s place in society. As the poet traverses through two different continents, she remains acutely conscious of the presence of patriarchy and women’s position in it—“I have changed countries, continents apart…the fries and salmons and prawns, all affirm/how some things may never change,/ like men and their love for food,/ the eagerness of women cooking for them.” Some more talented poets have made their debut…(including) In which Language do I Remember You? by Shruti Sonal (poems on personal loss).”

“A collection of haibun and haiku by Gauri Gharpure is titled Song of Sugar. Some of the haibun deal with unrequited love with a stranger—“Chirping together,/flying on different paths,/fading away.””