What He Lives With

the half-confession: soulful poems

Jaydeep Sarangi

Penprints, Kolkata

₹ 350/-, Pp 95

Reviewed by Shrabana Adhikari

Jaydeep Sarangi, a bi-lingual writer from Jhargram, has made immense contributions in post- modern Indian English Literature. He is inspired by John Keats, Stephen Mallarme, Kalidasa, Jayanta Mahapatra, Salvatore Quasimodo and Bibhu Padhi. His eleven collections of anthology of poetry make a significant standpoint in the corpora of poetry in English. His writing can be considered as a voyage towards the inner self as well as ancient civilization, history and nature. This use of fragmented images and the unconventional rhyme pattern create a unique sense of perception among the readers. The repetitive imagery of the river portrays a dynamic aspect of life, longing, love, memory and emotion. The poems also carry self reflection and ambiguity. These poems are also allusive in nature. What is important to note is that the poet leaves the metaphorical expressions open to interpretation for the readers.

Jaydeep Sarangi

The poet has given shape to his boundless imagination through metaphoric use of language. In the very first poem entitled ‘Speaking with My Unspoken Words’, the poet represents his, spiritual journey along with mythological reference-

I meet Arjuna, Karna and Krishna in my dreams,

Never find something like a window to hold.

Sarangi’s fascination for describing the ruins of the past is well known. His love affair poetry began very early in life. His relationships with doyens of contemporary poetry made him a special person. He has intermingled his own reflective mood with the reference to ancient archaeological sites like, Jericho and geographical underpinnings-

Shrabana Adhikari

I am safe, Anubis protecting my genes

Of dreams sleeping for ages near the walls in Jericho,

Under the stones, a diabetic life is all Nazca lines

drawn in different lights, at different times.

(‘Patterns on Stones’).

The unique use of language left a remarkable impression in the arena of Indian English poetry. The poems are loaded not only with various images and wit but also with significant ideas which provide enough food for thought to the readers from different cultural spaces. Sarangi is a seasoned poet and poetry reviewer who is a voracious reader of poetry. Many of the poems in this collection are confessional; intimately love offerings to an eastern muse who can be his partner of poetry for whom his ‘moon months’ wait. In love’s mind he can listen to the oracles of the rivers and he thinks someday his beloved will visit his hometown, Jhargram. This collection, for the first time, registers Sarangi’s excessive engagement with the theme of loss and absences. His unquiet heart laments near a small window from where he can remember his muse closely and personally. His poem ‘Don’t be Far Off’ is a plea to his muse that she shouldn’t be far off from the poet, come what may.

By pointing to Knocker- uppers, the poet not only recalls the era of Industrial revolution in England where some people were assigned to wake up other people as there was no alarm clock but also he refers to his own Provence Kolkata which carries Indian ethos and essence of Indian culture and ambience-

There are knocker-uppers to live with

There is time to get up, work

Time to leave out in slow pace

reminding time to have business

Time moves slowly, slow as traffic in a busy Kolkata street

Slow arrival of the dawn has the fairest colours

Where wearied minds rest from the rush,

daily rust, some ancient scars or to fight a war.

(‘Knocker-uppers’)

In the poem titular, ‘the half-confession’, the poet recollects his childhood memories as well as upholds the most notable historical event which has its reverberating effect till now-

I was born in a December cold

with marks on my walls of faith

Bengal became two parts

Fractured lives and separated siblings.

The poet also comes back to his present self in the same piece of poem and meditates on his desires and haunting of time-

Now at fifty-one, invisible signals remind me

of matters related to the heart-

of all the small wishes, frail faiths and links

days’s shifting light rides on affections and desires

I long for time’s wandering eye mocking at me from a distance.

Sarangi’s poem is charged with musicality, a sense of belonging and profound respect for ancestors’ contribution to his personality development-

I remember my grandfather calling me many times

To meet his grandfather by our ancestral pond

The last time he spoke of ice, snows in the mountains

I was sitting near him listening to stories to travel.

(‘Ancestor’s Grail’)

The poems are written with intense emotional approach and in direct tone through a language that is confident and intuitive. Some poems reflect the poet’s personal yearnings to meet his lost muse. Sarangi’s profound faith in the muse is adorable. The recurrent use of the imagery of the river ‘Dulung’ in most of his poems indicates the incessant flow of his emotions and feelings. The use of colloquial language distinguishes him as a poet in Indian English poetry where he reigns in his own unique poetic sphere-

I speak of my inkling mind, eyes connecting eyes.

Some say, I write for my father

Seen him growing old with Dulung water.

The poet alludes to great king Ashoka and Attila, the Hun and eminent poets like Pablo Neruda, Jibananda Das, Quasimodo etc. while portraying the memories of his childhood–

Searching under these old books of Mathematics

for the last place where the long

journey with my father’s hope is complete---

Ahoka, the great to Attila, the Hun

Distinct nights snarl deep as I leave myself for the world.

(‘My Father’s House’)

Sarangi is inspired by heightened experiences of love through poetic collaborations. His hearth within is a matter of the heart. The poet’s poetic impulse turns into universal appeal. His reference to the Bhagavat Gita, ancient places in India, Egypt and Greece, rivers (Ganga, Nile, Dulung), mythological characters highlight the essence of Indian Culture, as well as the global culture. Each poem has its own way of approaching the readers and each poem is insightful. The poems suggest that the poet’s imagination is boundless and he deals with poetic fervour with utmost passion and intellect. This poetry collection is a remarkable treat for the lovers of poetry and this poetic oeuvre spreads sublime multilayered interconnectedness beyond sensual perception. It’s a must read for the students of poetry!

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BIO- Shrabana is pursuing her Ph.D as a Junior Research Fellow at Gujarat University, Navrangpura Ahmedabad. Her research area focuses on South Asian Diaspora. She is also interested in Dalit Literature, Plant Studies and Environmental Humanities. In her leisure time, she enjoys writing poetry in Bengali and English. She loves to sing Rabindrasangeet and her hobby is gardening.

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Setu, December 2024