An Ensemble of Uniformities: A Poetic Cartography of Contemporary Indian Voices

Review by Matralina Pati

A Book Review of Mapping the Mind, Minding the Map: Twenty Contemporary Indian English Poets, Edited by Basudhara Roy and Jaydeep Sarangi, Published from the Sahitya Akademi, India with ISBN: 978-93-5548-513-7; 2022, pp. 369.  Priced ₹ 400 INR

A pulsating rhapsody of culturo-linguistic harmonies wells out of Mapping the Mind, Minding the Map: Twenty Contemporary Indian English Poets, designed by Basudhara Roy and Jaydeep Sarangi. Amidst its pages a wondrous kaleidoscope of spatio-temporal-thematic pluralities lingers. As readers navigate through its rich mosaic of voices and vistas, they are initiated into the literary odysseys of twenty eminent Indian poets. This anthology resonates with the polyphonic literary esse of the nation. The poets' engagement with notions of identity, resistance, and belonging have refracted through the intersecting slants of postcolonialism, eco-criticism, feminism and transnationalism. This anthology encompasses the evolving contours of the postmodern Indian poetics.

Matralina Pati

The collection unfolds a captivating introduction with multilayered discourses, eliciting from the editors’ commitment to epistemic promises of poetry. The traditional Indian ethos of inclusivity in diversity is echoed through the thematic-stylistic breath of the anthology.

Across generations and geographies poetic voices are embraced. A veritable melting pot is forged wherein luminaries of yore such as Jayanta Mahapatra converge with burgeoning voices such as Sudeep Sen and Arundhathi Subramaniam. Thus, the dynamic evolutions and continuities of Indian English poetry are crystallised.

          The thematic concerns of the poets are as varied as their backgrounds. Obscure narratives of antiquity, staples of mythology, socio-political issues, personal experiences, and existential musings coalesce into pluripotent narratives. For instance, Mahapatra's poetry, steeped in his native land in Odisha, contrasts with the diasporic sensibility of Bashabi Fraser. This juxtaposition creates a dynamic interplay of local and global perspectives. Usha Akella’s poetry engages with realities of violence and displacement wrought by the socio-political turmoil of contemporary framework. Thereby, poetry wields its subversive and reflective potentials.

The anthology does not shy away from exploring complex and contentious issues. Anita Nahal's poignant exploration of race and identity in poems like "How easy it is for a Black life to be taken" resonates with relevance and urgency. The architectural finesse of the anthology, with each bard adorned with a constellation of ten meticulously chosen poems, permits an exhaustive exploration of their thematic preoccupations and stylistic idiosyncrasies.

The editorial decision to allow poets to select their own poems for inclusion is a unique and commendable aspect of this anthology. This approach ensures that the poems are not only representative of the poets' best work but also reflective of their personal and artistic priorities. The inclusion thereof imbues the compilation with an aura of authenticity and reverence for poetic agency.

Innovation pulses through the book as the poets explore a plethora of forms—from prose poems to experimental structures and traditional verse. K. Satchidanandan's masterful blend of form and content in "Burnt Poems" and "Gandhi and Poetry," or Mamang Dai's lyrical ode "The Voice of the Mountain," echoes the anthology's commitment to pushing the boundaries of poetic expression.

Visually stunning, the anthology’s cover painting by Geeta Dass sets the aesthetic tone for the collection. The scrupulous typesetting and printing further enhance the reading experience. Beyond its aesthetic and thematic allure, the anthology serves as a bridge between tradition and modernity. Poets like Ranjit Hoskote emerge as temporal cartographers. They traverse the corridors of time to unveil the continuity of cultural narratives.

The intricate symbiosis between topography and poetic sensibility are poignantly elucidated. Whether it be Yuyutsu Sharma's evocative delineations of the Himalayan expanse or Jayanta Mahapatra's palpable coastal imagery, the geographical anchorage serves as both a backdrop and a thematic nucleus. Identity, in its myriad facets, finds resonance within the verses. The poets grapple with the complexities of gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality.

Poets such as Keki N. Daruwalla, Adil Jussawalla and Tabish Khair have twirled their crafts to scrutinize societal concerns and historical chronicles, replete with a sense of immediacy and pertinence. The ruminant pens of Ashwath Kumar and Sanjukta Dasgupta seek to unveil the angst of the marginalised.

Intimate narratives are entwined with the evocative verses of Bibhu Padhi, K. Srilata and Smita Agarwal. Meditations on nature, encased in the poetry of Jayanta Mahapatra, lend palliative cadence to the collection. Arundhathi Subramaniam and Lakshmi Kannan defy orthodox perceptions as they plumb the depths of female consciousness. Likewise, Yogesh Patel and Bashabi Fraser engage with nostalgia and the disquiet of liminality. Their lyrical explorations of memory, home, and identity have added layers to the anthology’s examinations of human conditions.

Linguistic hybridity weaves through the fabric of the compilation. Incorporation of vernacular elements into English verses endows the poems rich textures. It not only reflects the multilingual reality of India but enhances the expressive potential of the poems. Thereby, the poets authentically capture the nuances of their cultural realities.

The most compelling feature of the compendium, perhaps, is its ability to evoke emotional resonance. The poems are instilled with a depth of feeling that transcends the pages of the book. Readers are invited into the emotional spheres of the poets. Be it the melancholic reflections on loss and longing, the fervent expressions of love and desires or the contemplative musings on life and death _ they congeal into a ubiquitous tenor of humane affairs. The anthology succeeds in crystallising the essence of human conditions.

The accessibility of the anthology renders it a precious resource for both the erudite and the uninitiated. By bridging the chasm between scholarly discourse and popular appeal, it fosters a broader understanding and appreciation of Indian English poetry.

In truth, this anthology intricately maps the expansive poetic landscape of the Indian Subcontinent. Titled ‘Mapping the Mind, Minding the Map,’ it aptly embodies a dual exploration: delving into literary-philosophical visions with ‘Mapping the Mind’ and unwinding geographical diversity through ‘Minding the Map.’ Thus, Mapping the Mind, Minding the Map stands out as a testament to the transformative power of poetry. Its rich tapestry of voices and motifs invites readers on a profound journey of self-discovery and introspection. The book transcends the limits of a conventional anthology. The yearnings of the enlightened and the obscure alike are corralled in its pages. The book shines forth as a beacon of future poetic innovations and ambitions.

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Bio: Matralina Pati, a Ph.D. scholar at Bankura University, specializes in marginal Bhasha literature in English translations. As a UGC-NET-JRF awardee, she holds an MA in English Literature, graduating First Class First in 2020. Her has presented her research articles and creative writings at various literary and academic forums. She is a budding bilingual poet and translator, based in Bankura, West Bengal, India.

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Setu, July 2024