Book Review: the ten hands of a fuchka seller

the ten hands of a fuchka seller by Daipayan Nair

Publisher: ‎ PENPRINTS; First Edition (Jan 1, 2024)

Language: ‎ English

ISBN-10: ‎ 8197403627

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-8197403620

Review by Satbir Chadha

Daipayan is a very good poet and I have always admired him. 

He is a good poet because he is a thinker, his thoughts are multi-dimensional, spanning the why, when and the therefore. He has written in many forms extensively, and he has mastered the haiku and senryu in his own inimitable way, each one tells a layered story of what is being thought, done, and the intention therein, so what the reader observes is a visual impact. 

All poems are scenes from every day urban lives, but framed like a particular potent moment in a motion picture that captures your imagination and becomes the defining moment of the whole film. The image created leaves room for several possibilities, though complete in itself. 

An example: 

“headless

at Kali’s feet

ash gourds”

The haiku :

“taking a dip

the sun on the tip

of her khadga”

Packs an epic in its essence.

I enjoyed the indigenous nature of the content and scenes that we can only see here in our country like:

“noon breeze

the labourer unties

her headgear”

The imagery is multi-sensory like soft, delicate and sensuous:

“a falling shiuli”

And aromatic like:

“sunday monsoon 

the sizzle of bay leaves

in grandma’s tale”

“50th anniversary 

dad asks

for a cup of tea”

is a beautiful comment as is:

“bhel puri

this misunderstanding

between us”

The rustic aura of:

“moist alum

the barber’s yawn

ends the gossip”

This book is an awakening to me about the power of these forms, and also the sensitivity and realism. 

I wait to see where Daipayan Nair will progress to after this and look forward to a sparkling new collection soon.

Bio: Satbir Chadha is the author of the highly acclaimed book, “For God Loves Foolish People”, for which she was awarded the Reuel International prize. Her second novel is “Betrayed, tale of a rogue surgeon”, a medical thriller. She has been published in over forty national and international magazines, including “Kew” published by Pangasinan Historical and Cultural Commission ( PHCC) Philippines, and “ Vibrant Voices” by the Sahitya Academy Delhi, containing poetry and short stories. She has four solo poetry collections to her credit, “Breeze”, “Glass Doors”, “The Last Lamp” and the latest “ I Want to go to Haldwani and other poems”. She was awarded the Litpreneur Award by Authorspress for her contribution to literature. She is also the founder of the NISSIM International Prize for Literature, awarded every year to upcoming writers of English prose and poetry. 

  Setu, August 2024