By- Varsha Singh
“Writing since more than two
decades, Dr.Ratan Bhattacharjee has earned a name for himself as a poet and a
critic. His nostalgia for the lost glories of his race make him a true poet of
the soil. He is a gifted poet with a humanitarian approach, fascinated by
ecological concerns. Bhattacharjee’s sense of belonging to the socio-cultural moorings
widens the scope and vision of his poetry.”
—Dr.Nandini Sahu, Associate
Professor of English, Poet & Editor
Ratan Bhattacharjee’s poems are always
an uncommon pleasure to read for all the poetry lovers. Being defined by their
hospitable grace; they're easy to take in yet anything but superficial: they
repay return visits, as I personally feel. After reading his poems, anyone may
trace his belief that love is the utmost spirituality which must come before
God as well.
After the huge success of his anthology
of poems Melodies and Maladies: A Bouquet
Of Love Poems the poet comes back with another sensual ecstasy The Ballad of the Bleeding Bubbles: A
Fabulous Bouquet of Love Poems with two parts subtitled as Melodies Of Love and Maladies of Love.
How does this poet end up with
such intensity of love and passion in his writings? Bhattacherjee clarifies his
stand by stating, “These poems of The Ballad of the Bleeding Bubbles are the
outcome of my interactions with men and women in reality and dreams. I talk
with my characters in my poems and there are still some with whom I had an
imaginary conversation. Even the most fabulous characters are all real to me.
My passions and feelings are all genuine. They are quintessentially tangible.
Like the frustrated people, I never take refuge in Philosophy.” Well, the poets stand is quite thought
provoking and as engaging as his poems.
Ratan Bhattacherjee writes mostly
about the agonies of human life, “Legend says, / When you cannot sleep at night/
You may be lost in someone's dream/ Legend says, / When memory is liquid like
milk/ Sorrow is its delicious cream. / Legend says, / When you cannot walk
alone/ Your hand may be in a good friend's hand/ Legend says, / When you do not
see the rivers/ They are lost in the sand.”; about tragic severance, “There is
none, none at the/ End of the long road/ Waiting for me at sunset. / My bus
moves fast on the highway/ and all around are gay. / There was none that night
at the end of meadow/ Where the champaks bloomed in a dark shadow/ I had many
moons glistening above. / There is none for me to wait with a touch of love. / When
she was not there and I was alone, / In the sky above the stars only shone. / I
groaned under the sorrowful chains/ None was there at the end of the road/ To
carry the sorrowful load/ When I suffered from writhing pains.”; about failure,
“I didn’t mean what I said/ I was always so afraid...../ When I see the wind
blowing/ I am scared to discover its fury/ My life is so cursed, I never hoped/
Anything good.... I have lost faith in life”; and most vividly about love, the
ever vital passion in human heart, as the poet considers it “When I loved you/ You
kept silent/ Like the olive sky/ With none to ask ‘why’. / When I loved you/ You
sang a song/ About the rains To wash out all my ‘pains’. / Loved you so much/ As
the birds love the nest/ I was so tired/ I craved for rest. / Why I loved you/ Nobody
knew/ I loved you/ A bud clothed in dew..”
According to an eminent poet and
academician Jaydeep Sarangi Bhattacherjee’s poems are “record blue and liquid
whisper of hearts where rolling and sparkling lines become reflections of his
petty little corner of mind. His theme song is deeply human and thus deeply
universal.” Elisabetta Marino, the poet and versatile writer and academician of
the University of Rome wrote about the poet “Bhattacherjee’s poems are a noble hymn
to universal love, harmony, and brotherhood. In his compelling lines,
continents meet, men and women discover subtler channels of communication, and
nature ceases to be a mystery, while turning into a friend, ready to share joys
and sorrows. Ratan Bhattacharjee’s words are a soothing balm, restoring peace
to the troubled heart.” In the words of Dora Sales “Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee is
a valuable poetic voice to be heard. He has written a compelling collection of
love poems that cover many hues of love: softness, longing, desire… all written
with a simple and delicate poetic touch.”
To conclude, it would be a great suggestion
for the readers to delve deep through the beautiful poems of this collection
without missing the spontaneous overflow of emotions, feelings, pathos,
thoughts – captured well and versified.
About the Poet
Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee , the bilingual
writer and academician is at present the Chairperson of the Post Graduate
Dept. of English and is also associated with teaching in the PG Dept of English
of Rabindra Bharati Univesity , both in regular and distance. He is the
Executive member in the International Advisory Board of International Theodore
Dreiser Society, USA http://www.dreisersociety.org/
His book of poems The Ballad of the Bleeding Bubbles is a
milestone of poetic literature. He was formerly associated with the Indian
Association of American Studies (IAAS) as a member of the Executive Body and
now he is the Founder Director of the newly inaugurated Dattani Archive and
Research Association (DARA), Kolkata. He edits the Journal VIEW (Voices of the
Indian English Writers) He has to his credit nearly five books on British and
American literature and nearly 650 articles. And 200 poems and a good number of
short stories all in English.
His email id is
drrb07@gmail.com
Phone :
08961688870
Address
988, Jessore
Road, Satgachi, Rupalaya Apt. Kolkata-700074, West Bengal
About the book
Author: Ratan
Bhattacharjee
Binding:
Paperback
ISBN:
9788182534469
Publisher:
Cyberwit.net
Pub. Date:
2013
Price: INR 175