- By Varsha Singh
According to Edgar Allan Poe, “With me poetry has not been a
purpose, but a passion.”
Similar stature is that of
Santanu Haldar, for whom poetry has never been a purpose but his all-time
passion. In the words of Santanu, “I
write/for no reason,/only my love for it/compels me to write always/an urge from within,/a restless longing/I feel
in genes/in my veins/to write/as I do/now.”(p.28)
Santanu defines poetry in the utmost unique and truthful way, “Poetry is like a river/ which runs through my blood/ an
outburst of emotion/ which submerges me in a flood/ Poetry is a beautiful
picture/ envisaged in words/ an imaginative power/ which encompasses the mind’s
yard/ Poetry is a spontaneous flow/ deep rooted in my soul/an obsession,/ an
addiction/but immortal on the whole.” (p.24)
Being a teacher by profession and
a poet at will, Halder was born and brought up in a town named Bongaon, which
is situated near the City of Joy- Kolkata, West Bengal. He has great fondness
for his native land, which becomes visible in each of his creative work.
Bonsaied Rhapsodies is Haldar’s debut collection of fifty poems; in
which the first eleven poems, categorized as Divine Songs are about childhood days.
In the words of Jane Yolen, “Literature
is a textually transmitted disease, normally contracted in childhood;” Santanu
too caught this literary disease in his childhood days.
A New Dawn (pg.11)
Look at my eyes,/ Look at my face,/ Of
Sorrow or suffering/ There is no trace./ With innocent tongue,/ I cannot hurt./ Because
I am little,/ Pure is my heart./ Keep me in your lap,/ And look at my eyes,/ You
will find a dawn,/ A new sunrise.
It is a well-known fact that the
days of childhood are the most festive, dreamy and glorious days of life. Santanu
has done commendable artistry by bringing forth the festive, dreamy and
glorious days of life in the most simple, effective and eloquent manner through
his poetry.
Another 39 poems from this
anthology are varied and related to the experiences of life, writings, journey
towards destination, love, time, as well as existence.
Santanu, by dwelling through his beautiful
poems in Bonsaied Rhapsodies has not
found his life, but created one, for others to inspire. There is lot to witness
from more of his poetic ventures in the coming time. Hope he procures many more
insights in future for the aspiring readers.
About Santanu Halder
A teacher by profession and a
poet at will - Santanu Halder was born and brought up in a small town named
Bongaon, near Kolkata, West Bengal. He has done M.A in English Literature and
teaching university students for 6 years. A scholar, a translator,an
interviewer and a bilingual poet writing in both Bengali and English, Santanu
Halder has already authored three books, these are - (1) American Literature
for WBSU Students, (2) Old English Literature in a Nutshell and (3) a book on
translation.
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