Setu 🌉 सेतु: Sangeeta Gupta

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KRYSTYNA LENKOWSKA क्रिस्टीना लेनक्वोस्का - 5

THE POEMS ORIGINALLY WERE WRITTEN IN POLISH AND TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY VARIOUS TRANSLATORS; ALMOST ALL OF THEM WERE PUBISHED IN POLAND IN POLISH AND SOME OF THEM WERE PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH IN US, NEW ZEALAND AND KENYA

13. KINGDOM OF KALINGA

Ashyuta Samantha has no relatives

not even a wife

he has 2700 boarding school kids

on his mind

they won’t return to their overpopulated

tribes over murky water

they won’t be selling fake corals and pearls

to tourists under the Konrak temple

they won’t become coconut

or plastic bucket sellers

and they won’t be coming home from work at night on motorbikes

nor at dawn transport groups of their children

without safety helmets

maybe they will go to England

and open plastic surgery clinics

maybe they will stay in the country

and become builders of luxury hotels

or Hindu temples

perhaps there is another Ghandi among them

or his adoptive daughter Indira

or maybe Krishna himself

maybe one of them will be the next Ashyuta Samantha

without relatives

without a spouse

with a boarding school on his mind

you will never run out of the poor or of orphans.

Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska

कलिंग का साम्राज्य

अच्युता सामंता के कोई संबंधी नहीं,

न कोई जीवनसंगिनी।

उनके मन में बस 2700

आवासीय विद्यालय के बच्चे हैं।

वे अपने भीड़भाड़ भरे क़बीलों में

गंदे पानी के किनारे नहीं लौटेंगे।

वे कोणार्क मंदिर के नीचे

पर्यटकों को नकली मूंगे और मोती नहीं बेचेंगे।

वे नारियल या प्लास्टिक की बाल्टियाँ बेचने वाले नहीं बनेंगे।

और न ही रात में मोटरबाइक पर काम से लौटेंगे,

सुबह-सवेरे अपने बच्चों को

बिना सुरक्षा हेलमेट के सफ़र पर नहीं ले जाएंगे।

शायद वे इंग्लैंड जाएंगे,

और प्लास्टिक सर्जरी क्लिनिक खोलेंगे।

शायद वे देश में ही रहेंगे

और भव्य होटलों या हिंदू मंदिरों के निर्माता बनेंगे।

शायद उनमें से कोई एक और गांधी होगा,

या उनकी दत्तक पुत्री इंदिरा।

या शायद स्वयं कृष्ण।

शायद उनमें से कोई अगला अच्युता सामंता होगा—

बिना किसी रिश्तेदार के,

बिना किसी जीवनसंगिनी के,

सिर पर एक और आवासीय विद्यालय का भार लिए।

कभी गरीबों की,

कभी अनाथों की कमी नहीं होगी।

***

14. THE SILENCE OF THE POEM

Behind the wall a great poet

in a small room

with a small balcony

overlooking the great sea

day after day

night after night

behind the shade built

from the noise of the street

hidden in the silence of the poem

so perfectly

that it leaves a black hole in the heart

for a long time

maybe for

we exchange notes pushed under the doors

she does not use the sounds of feet

windows doors keys elevate

behind the wall the great poetry is silent

I move closer to the wall

to hear the great silence

to go deaf for a moment

to touch the black void

to turn black or even gray

to become blind with a flash

the wall on my side is white

white paper

white pen.

Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska

कविता की निस्तब्धता

दीवार के पीछे, एक महान कवि

एक छोटे से कमरे में,

छोटे से बालकनी के साथ,

जो देखती है विशाल समुद्र की ओर।

दिन-ब-दिन,

रात-दर-रात,

गली के शोर से बनी छाया के पीछे,

कविता की निस्तब्धता में

इतनी पूर्णता से छिपी हुई

कि वह हृदय में

एक काला शून्य छोड़ जाती है,

बहुत लंबे समय तक,

शायद सदा के लिए।

हम दरवाज़े के नीचे

चुपचाप नोट्स सरकाते हैं।

वह पैरों की आहट नहीं होने देती,

खिड़कियाँ, दरवाज़े, चाबियाँ—

सब ऊँचे उठ जाते हैं।

दीवार के पीछे,

महान कविता मौन है।

मैं दीवार के और करीब जाता हूँ,

उस महान मौन को सुनने के लिए,

क्षणभर के लिए बहरा होने के लिए,

उस काले शून्य को छूने के लिए,

खुद को काला,

या शायद धूसर बनाने के लिए,

अचानक चमक से अंधा होने के लिए।

मेरी ओर की दीवार सफ़ेद है—

सफ़ेद कागज़,

सफ़ेद क़लम।

***

15. ODE TO SNOW

You fall like everything else

on this planet

you come from silence

from where we also come

you rest against freezing time and hard earth

deer leave traces over you

a dog sinks in you up to its ears with such obviousness

in his eyes as if he had understood

in Slocina in the Carpathian foothills you’re the same

as in Turkish Kars

Herodot’s legend

geometry on glass

black ice on the road

our fragile bodies crash

in your glazed splendor

under you - love death and trash

lightly patted over

fragments of rockets from Baykonur drop on your head

while you, unshakable equilibrist, lie

supine in the Altai mountains

my white idealist.

Translated by Ewa Hryniewicz-Yarbrough

बर्फ के लिए एक ओड

तुम गिरते हो जैसे सब कुछ

इस ग्रह पर गिरता है।

तुम आती हो मौन से,

उसी मौन से जहाँ से हम भी आए हैं।

तुम जमी हुई घड़ी और कठोर धरती पर ठहरती हो।

हिरण तुम्हारे ऊपर अपने निशान छोड़ जाते हैं।

एक कुत्ता तुममें कानों तक धँस जाता है,

उसकी आँखों में ऐसी सहज स्वीकृति

जैसे उसने सब कुछ समझ लिया हो।

स्लोचिना के कार्पेथियाई पहाड़ियों में तुम वैसी ही हो

जैसी तुर्की के कार्स में।

हेरोडोटस की कथा,

काँच पर बनी ज्यामिति,

सड़क पर जमी काली बर्फ।

हमारे नाज़ुक शरीर

तुम्हारी चमकती हुई सतह पर

टकराकर बिखर जाते हैं।

तुम्हारे नीचे—

प्रेम, मृत्यु, और कूड़ा,

हल्के से ढका हुआ।

बैकनूर से गिरे रॉकेट के टुकड़े

तुम्हारे सिर पर बरसते हैं।

और तुम, अडिग नटसम्राट की तरह,

अल्ताई पर्वतों में चित्त लेटी रहती हो।

मेरी श्वेत आदर्शवादी।

***

Setu, December 2025 - सेतु, दिसम्बर 2025

KRYSTYNA LENKOWSKA क्रिस्टीना लेनक्वोस्का - 4

Sangeeta Gupta

10. I’M A BITCH

lying on the sofa

fat and sprawling

I’ve given birth to three pups

lost two

the third one is trampling on me now

sucks my ear

looks into my eyes

I don't know if I can cope with

this trust

for as long as I can remember

I’ve been in postpartum

shock.

Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska and Cecilia Woloch

***

मैं एक कुतिया हूँ

सोफ़े पर पड़ी हूँ

मोटी और फैली हुई।

मैंने तीन पिल्ले जने थे,

दो खो दिए—

तीसरा अब मुझ पर चढ़ रहा है,

मेरा कान चूसता है,

मेरी आँखों में झाँकता है।

मुझे नहीं पता

क्या मैं इस भरोसे को

निभा पाऊँगी या नहीं।

जब से याद है,

मैं प्रसव-आघात में जी रही हूँ।

***

11. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE BORN HERE (OR THERE)

I was searching picking choosing

among grains of sand

drops of seawater

atoms of air

too cold too warm

too wet too dry

too dark too light

too tight

I’ve ended up where

it doesn’t matter

I'm made up wholly of inertial

from which I suck the strength

of the stump

of a phantom tree.

Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska and Cecilia Woloch

***

मैं यहाँ (या वहाँ) जन्म लेना नहीं चाहती थी

मैं खोज रही थी, चुन रही थी,

रेत के कणों के बीच,

समुद्र की बूँदों में,

हवा के कणों में।

बहुत ठंडा, बहुत गरम,

बहुत भीगा, बहुत सूखा,

बहुत अंधेरा, बहुत उजाला,

बहुत तंग...

मैं वहाँ आ गिरी

जहाँ कोई फ़र्क़ नहीं पड़ता।

मैं पूरी की पूरी

जड़त्व से बनी हूँ,

जिससे मैं चूसती हूँ शक्ति—

एक कटे हुए वृक्ष के

अदृश्य ठूँठ से।

***

12. DECOMPRESSION

Let go of my eyes

don't hold my eyelashes by the roots

let me close my eyes

at least at dawn

let them drink of rain

moisten with morning dew

it’s unheard of —

half a century

held by the eyes

umbilical cord and fallopian tubes

let go of my long eyes

I can't lend them to you

no matter how tightly

you hold the rope

I will take them with me, finally,

and put them into the living sockets

and you, rest solemnly

amid your precious organs

and return to the noble and dear

dust

Mom.

Translated by Cecilia Woloch and Krystyna Lenkowska

***

विसंपीड़न

मेरी आँखों को छोड़ दो,

मेरी बरौनियों को जड़ों से मत थामो।

मुझे अपनी आँखें बंद करने दो,

कम से कम भोर में।

उन्हें बारिश पीने दो,

सुबह की ओस में भीगने दो।

यह अनसुना है—

आधा जीवन,

आँखों से बंधा रहा,

नाभिनाल और फैलोपियन नलिकाओं से।

मेरी लंबी आँखों को छोड़ दो,

मैं उन्हें तुम्हें नहीं दे सकता,

चाहे तुम कितनी भी कसकर

रस्सी थाम लो।

आखिरकार, मैं उन्हें साथ ले जाऊँगा,

और जीवित कक्षों में रख दूंगा।

और तुम, अपने अनमोल अंगों के बीच

गंभीरता से विश्राम करो,

और लौट जाओ

उस उदात्त और प्रिय

धूल में।

माँ।

***

Setu, November 2025

KRYSTYNA LENKOWSKA क्रिस्टीना लेनक्वोस्का - 3

Sangeeta Gupta

7. SOLEC BORDER

Sudden twilight shoos the lifeout of the small health resortand you can no

longer see what’s night what’s smog or which comes in darkerthe old

bustle’s imprinted in window openings in doors without jambsand you

can't tell anymoreif these were warehousesor poor Jewish homesthere

flashes the sleepless eye of a TV from a foreign era a border draws a

borderclose byin Intensive CareEve S. goes to the other side and

backsince it all begansome Evethere and back

intensively.

Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska and Nasim Luczaj

सोलैक सीमा

अचानक का साँझ जीवन को

छोड़ देती है छोटे स्वास्थ्य रिसॉर्ट से,

और अब तुम नहीं देख सकते

क्या रात है, क्या धुंआ,

या कौन सा अधिक गहरा आता है।

पुरानी हलचल की छाप

खिड़की की खुली जगहों में,

बिना चौखटे के दरवाजों में।

और अब तुम नहीं पहचान सकते

क्या ये गोदाम थे

या गरीब यहूदी घर थे।

वहाँ एक टीवी की बिना नींद वाली आँख

झपकती है एक विदेशी युग से,

एक सीमा खींचती है सीमा

निकट ही,

गंभीर देखभाल में।

ईव एस. दूसरी तरफ जाती है

और वापस,

जब से यह सब शुरू हुआ,

कोई ईव,

वहाँ और वापस, गहनता से।

***

8. (I went out into space)

I went out into spaceas if into nightsneaking out of the houseto the

moonless yardand there nothing but darkI was surprisedit was so close to

mewrapped around in nothing that led to nothingdown a familiar path that

was not thereperfect symbiosisnothing with nothingwe who were

everything

Translated by Nasim Luczaj

(मैं अंतरिक्ष में बाहर निकला)

मैं अंतरिक्ष में बाहर निकला

जैसे रात में

घर से चोरी-चुपके बाहर

चाँदहीन आंगन में

और वहाँ कुछ नहीं, सिर्फ अंधेरा।

मुझे आश्चर्य हुआ,

यह मेरे इतना पास था,

कुछ में लिपटा हुआ

जो कुछ तक नहीं पहुँचता था,

एक परिचित रास्ते पर

जो वहाँ था ही नहीं।

संपूर्ण परस्पर संबंध

कुछ का कुछ से मिलन,

हम, जो कुछ भी थे।

***

9. POLISH NATIONAL RAILWAY

When I was youngthe trains were smellylate and crampedtoday in the

café car I eat bulgur with vegetablesand don't recognize my face in the

clean window I study the cycle of changethe law and lawlessness of fate

clean – dirtyfast – slowuncrowded - packed only handsome students

standingnear the WC haven’t changedand the pissed-on urinal.

Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska and Cecilia Woloch

पोलिश नेशनल रेलवे

जब मैं छोटा था,

ट्रेनें गंदी, लेट और भीड़ से भरी होती थीं।

आज, कैफ़े कार में

मैं बर्गर और सब्ज़ियाँ खा रहा हूँ

और साफ़ खिड़की में

अपना चेहरा पहचान नहीं पाता।

मैं बदलाव के चक्र को देखता हूँ,

क़िस्मत के नियम और बेक़ायदगी को—

साफ़ – गंदा,

तेज़ – धीमा,

खाली – भरा।

सिर्फ़ हैंडसम छात्र

जो टॉयलेट के पास खड़े हैं,

नहीं बदले—

और पेशाब से सना पेशाबघर भी नहीं।

सेतु, अक्टूबर 2025 :: Setu, October 2025

KRYSTYNA LENKOWSKA क्रिस्टीना लेनक्वोस्का - 2

Sangeeta Gupta

4. WHITE BLACK CRACOW

Now the city at night is

so white and vertical

people walk upright

pairs of white horses are sleeping

standing on their eight legs

white dro skies behind them

with white wheel spokes

and white girl cabbies

in white hats

with white pompoms

are looking out for vertical tourists

at the white Cloth Hall

and no one and nothing falls

except for two random mannequins outside the store

and the white star no longer falls

as it once fell on the horizontal night

black with some gray secrets.

Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska and Cecilia Woloch

सफेद-काला क्राकोव

अब यह शहर,

रात के आंचल में,

सफेद उजालों से खड़ा हुआ।

लोग सीधे चलते हैं,

सफेद घोड़ों की जोड़ियाँ

आठ टांगों पर सोती हैं

स्वप्न में मग्न।

पीछे बहती सफेद घटाएँ,

सफेद पहियों की तीलियाँ,

सफेद टोपी वाले

सफेद सारथी,

निहारते हैं खड़े मुसाफ़िरों को

सफेद बाज़ार चौक में।

यहाँ कुछ भी नहीं गिरता,

न कोई छाया,

न कोई स्वर—

सिवाय दो बेजान पुतलों के,

जो दुकान के बाहर

बेसहारा पड़े हैं।

और वह सफेद तारा

अब नहीं टूटता—

जैसे कभी टूटा था

एक समतल रात में,

जो काली थी,

कुछ धूसर रहस्यों से भरी।

***

5.* * * (This day and night come)

This day and night come

when we sit down to wine

which has matured

between steppes

in the vats of stagnant time

we dip our lips and fingers

as if we plunged in it whole

and bite after bite

draught after draught

we share this bread

this wormwood

somewhere between steppes

until blue absinthe covers

the table to the horizon

as if our last vat had cracked

and your eyes came to me free

they were the steppe.

Translated by Ewa Hryniewicz-Yarbrough

(यह दिन और यह रात आते हैं)

यह दिन और यह रात आते हैं,

जब हम बैठते हैं मदिरा संग—

जो ठहरे समय के घड़ों में

विस्तृत मैदानों के बीच पकी है।

हम अपने होंठ और उंगलियाँ डुबोते हैं,

जैसे समूचे डूब जाने की चाह में।

निवाला दर निवाला,

घूंट दर घूंट,

हम साझा करते हैं यह रोटी, यह कड़वाहट,

कहीं उन्हीं अनंत मैदानों के बीच।

जब तक नीला ऐबसिन्थ

मेज़ से क्षितिज तक न बह जाए,

जैसे कोई अंतिम घट फूट गया हो।

और तब—

तुम्हारी आँखें मुझ तक

मुक्त होकर चली आईं,

वे स्वयं एक विस्तृत मैदान थीं।

***

6. OVERDUE ATTENTION

In this time of plague when covered faces

flit about the street in a Theater of the Absurd

Jan comes

with an aura of overdue attention

he brings a dog a cat a hedgehog a thrush chick

thrown from its nest

finally, he brings a friend

Michael Jasper is a bit younger

but in different circumstances he too would need

mother’s milk

but now the boys need

neither need nor possession

they are independent

self-sufficient

autonomous

in fact

I bring them myself

and invent this plot

about their need for attention

now I will add touch

which they no longer remember

because touch is Here

and all the rest is There.

Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska and Dana Gioia

बेसमय ध्यान

इस महामारी के समय,

जब ढंके हुए चेहरे

सड़कों पर मंडराते हैं

जैसे किसी बेतुके नाटक के पात्र,

जन आता है—

एक विलंबित ध्यान की आभा लिए।

वह लाता है—

एक कुत्ता, एक बिल्ली,

एक साही,

एक नन्हा पंछी,

जो अपने घोंसले से गिर गया था।

और अंत में, वह लाता है एक मित्र—

माइकल जैस्पर।

माइकल थोड़ा छोटा है,

पर किसी और परिस्थिति में

शायद उसे भी चाहिए होता

माँ का दूध।

मगर अब—

इन लड़कों को न कोई चाह है,

न कोई अधिकार।

वे स्वतंत्र हैं,

पूर्ण,

निस्पृह।

असल में,

मैं ही उन्हें रचती हूँ,

गूंथती हूँ यह कथा

उनकी इच्छाओं की—

जो शायद कभी थीं ही नहीं।

अब मैं इसमें जोड़ूंगी स्पर्श—

जिसका एहसास वे खो चुके हैं।

क्योंकि स्पर्श यहीं है—

और बाकी सब बस

एक धुंध में विलीन।

Setu, September 2025 :: सेतु, सितम्बर 2025

KRYSTYNA LENKOWSKA क्रिस्टीना लेनक्वोस्का

Sangeeta Gupta

1.COSMOS

How many people

had to pass

how many houses

how many gardens

for me to see clearly

that back then every May

Lola sowed

Cosmos.

Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska and Nasim Luczaj

कॉस्मॉस

कितने लोग गुजरे,

कितने घर,

कितने आंगन,

कितनी बगिया,

तब कहीं जाकर मैंने जाना—

हर मई,

लोला बोया करती थी

कॉस्मॉस।

2.WAR!

You are guilty of this debauch

this sin

since you shoot

since you kill

since you die

you're alive you're guilty

you run

you're not running

you run to the shelter

you don't run down and listen to Bach

you catch whatever comes your way

baby cat dog

you run breathless

you carry the whole maidan

you can do nothing

you can't breathe you're guilty

you carry a sin

a sick dog on your back

you fall three times

there is only this dog

this cross

nothing more

you see nothing

you hear nothing

missile planes are in the movie

red wounds are in hell

gray smoke

yellow flames

blue fire outside the window

it's not really happening

it's just the mist

it’s its faut

it’s your fault

it’s my fault

you are blind

guilty

since you fight

since you don't fight

since you stay here

since you're running there

since you are hiding in a hole

since you are hiding in yourself

since you're putting yourself at risk

you are a hero

coward

mother

baby

soldier

partisan

you are horrible

you're beautiful

you are useless

nobody asked you here

you are a bastard

you grew up like a monster

come, let me hug you monster

hug me monster

die monster

my monster

my war

my guilt

not mine

wine

divine

human

inhuman

nobody's

yours

ours

his

pure

dirty

guilty

get out!

(Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska)

युद्ध!

तुम दोषी हो—

इस पाप के, इस विनाश के,

क्योंकि तुम गोली चलाते हो,

क्योंकि तुम मारते हो,

क्योंकि तुम मरते हो।

तुम ज़िंदा हो—

तुम दोषी हो।

तुम भागते हो,

तुम नहीं भागते।

पनाह खोजते हो,

या बस बैठे रहते हो,

बाख़ (Bach) की धुन में खोए हुए।

तुम जो भी मिलता है,

उसे थाम लेते हो—

बच्चा, बिल्ली, कुत्ता...

भागते हो बेतहाशा,

पूरे मैदान को समेटे।

कुछ कर नहीं सकते,

सांस नहीं ले सकते—

तुम दोषी हो।

तुम्हारी पीठ पर टंगा है एक पाप,

एक बीमार कुत्ते का बोझ।

तुम गिरते हो तीन बार,

अब बस यही कुत्ता है,

यही तुम्हारा क्रूस,

यही तुम्हारा शून्य।

तुम कुछ नहीं देखते,

तुम कुछ नहीं सुनते।

मिसाइलें, जहाज़—

यह सब तो बस फ़िल्मों में होता है।

लाल ज़ख़्म—वे तो नर्क में हैं।

धूसर धुआं, पीली लपटें,

नीली आग खिड़की के बाहर।

नहीं, यह सच नहीं हो सकता।

यह तो बस एक धुंध है—

इसी की गलती है,

तुम्हारी गलती,

मेरी गलती।

तुम अंधे हो—

दोषी हो।

क्योंकि तुम लड़ते हो,

क्योंकि तुम नहीं लड़ते।

क्योंकि तुम रुके हो,

क्योंकि तुम भाग रहे हो।

क्योंकि तुम गड्ढे में छुपे हो,

क्योंकि तुम अपने भीतर छुपे हो।

क्योंकि तुम ख़तरे में हो—

तुम एक नायक हो,

एक डरपोक हो,

एक माँ हो,

एक बच्चा हो,

एक सिपाही हो,

एक विद्रोही हो।

तुम भयानक हो,

तुम सुंदर हो।

तुम बेकार हो—

किसी ने तुम्हें यहाँ बुलाया भी नहीं।

तुम वहशी हो,

दानव की तरह पले-बढ़े।

आओ, मुझे गले लगाओ, दानव।

गले लगाओ मुझे।

मरो, दानव।

मेरा दानव।

मेरा युद्ध।

मेरा अपराध।

नहीं—

न मेरा, न तुम्हारा।

बस ख़ून।

बस ईश्वर।

बस मनुष्य।

बस अमानवीयता।

किसी का नहीं—

तुम्हारा,

हमारा,

उसका।

शुद्ध।

अपवित्र।

दोषी।

दूर हटो!

3.WHEN I WAS A FISH

When I was a fish

or a bird

I didn't need reputation

nor the safe tomorrow

nor a solid bed

with a soft pillow

for the body

I wasn't looking for reasons and answers

I wasn’t carving holes in the table with my elbows

nor in the mattress

I was keeping silent or singing

when I was a fish

or a bird.

Translated by Krystyna Lenkowska

जब मैं एक मछली था

या एक पक्षी,

मुझे न नाम की जरूरत थी,

न सुरक्षित कल की,

न एक ठोस बिस्तर की

नरम तकिए के साथ

जिस पर शरीर टिक सके।

मैं कारण और जवाब नहीं खोजता था,

न ही अपनी कोहनियों से

मेज़ में दरारें बनाता,

न गद्दे में।

मैं या तो चुप रहता

या गाता था—

जब मैं एक मछली था

या एक पक्षी।

सेतु, अगस्त 2025 :: Setu, August 2025

Insightful and Engaging Poems

Medusa and other poems
Author: Sangeeta Gupta
Prithvi Fine Art and Cultural Centre, New Delhi, INR-250/-

Reviewed by Gopal Lahiri, Poet and Critic

____________________________________

Poetry often, becomes the quiet thread connecting love, grief, memory, and the beauty of life. It uses silence, image and metaphor as tools to reveal what’s truly going on beneath the words.

Gopal Lahiri

In this collection of poems titled ‘ Medusa and other poems’. Sangeeta Gupta offers insights through the words of mythical history and unearth the truth beneath the narratives. Like her earlier twin collections of delicate poems ‘Hymn to Trees’ and ‘Rise from Your Ashes’ the poet takes the readers here on a reflective journey that open eyes to a new untrodden world.

And likewise her verse in this book looks like free speech with sentences piling up one another. To look into the poems one by one, the readers may find something much like themselves striding out in the poetic landscape.

As always, some of her poems in this collection have a mystic calmness, a cheerful simplicity. The words themselves seem decanted from a turbid surface and contrary currents.

In between layers of silence

there are words

restless as ever

unable to escape

the silence so pure

untouchable, unbearable (In Between)

Sangeeta Gupta

Her strength is the austerity and the effortlessness of her writing is remarkable. Alongside, her words with an accessibility and elegance, easily transports readers onto the poetic domain. And all these reflect a moving testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

More often, the poet opens the minute apertures within guilt and redemption, love and grief, and discloses intriguing moments of life. In the way, she crafts the complexities of human relationships with details and gives her readers a perspective of her layered works.

In the following poem, the poet digs deep and crafts a richly atmospheric and emotionally layered lines that explore the journey of self-discovery. She dissects her own mind as if to uncover the nature of consciousness and the fate of her world.

Life was spent
trying to be perfect
now I’m trying to be just myself
Once I become myself
I will not try
I will be. (Life was spent)

Her poems which are built of unadorned language and sharp imagery, stand loud and clear.

Standouts include the Silence is so perfect, Relationship, When you lose all, Your time is Sacred, We may, and Artist’s Dilemma.

In the following poem, the poet dives into emotional resonance, clarity, connection and then stresses the importance of vividness. You’ll be thinking about the wonder of existence long after the last line.

Know that
you are nothing
when you give love
you become something
when you receive love
you become everything
you are nothing
you exist
you become
only in love. (Know That 2)

There is a saying that poems must written in emotional freedom. Furthermore, poems are not language but be the content of the language. And a poet should be truthful to oneself.

Sangeeta’s poem set an easy and readable pace and help us to enjoy the moments. The tone is without the tightly coiled force. The few lines here, when read, will feel as spontaneous, as true to the moment, as one’s own free speech. All attention is drawn to it.

some bonds are beyond

the realm of reason

come to me

when you cross these boundaries

I wait the eternal wait. (I deeply Care For)

Here the poet deconstructs the myths and describes Medusa as a saviour rather than a demon and salutes her. Her poetry reflects on inheritance, struggle, and what it means to grieve across time and distance.

you returned as a saviour

that was your sweet revenge

and unconditional love for Athena

Medusa, let me salute you. (Medusa 2)

Sangeeta’s gift of transfiguring the ordinary and pointing the wonders and warmth at the heart of daily life is exemplary. Her soul searching poems are hauntingly beautiful.

With astounding openness the poet asserts, ‘ let the insanity/brew within you/inspire you/to put out the unique/make friends with/ your insane passion. (Honour The Storm).

Drawing from psychology, philosophy, and personal inquiry, Sangeeta offers a thoughtful approach to connection in a world where so many feel invisible.

She anchors her reflections firmly on the universe, not merely on our planet and surprises the readers with rare discernments in the following poem. The following poem presents a tonal shift. By moving from the concrete to the abstract, the reader is aware of an important transition.

We touch each other’s soul
in thousand ways
we mirror each other’s passion
and yet remain who we are
you, the moon
I, the sea. (You The Moon)

Furthermore, with accurate observation, the poet guides its readers on engagement and awareness and her pensive and spirited words can stir in others as well.

Perhaps the “you” also heightens the poem’s sense of disembodiment, that all of these intense thoughts and feelings are happening to the speaker, but the speaker feels outside of his own body. The narrative certainly feels autobiographical, yet eerily familiar.

No is a complete sentence

Remember that

Find time and space

To explore your inner landscape. (Your Time Is Sacred)

The poet strikes a right note if the reader is able to understand the nuances of the poetry, In the following lines, she introduces a sense of hope, takes on a fleeting quality, as do all the glimmers of light in this piece. And finally the insight that life has meaning.

Share your harvest
with those around
trust that everything
you put into the cosmos
will come back
to you manifold
stay in the energy
of abundance.(Share Your Harvest).

Sangeeta Gupta is a poet and painter as well. The poet revels in capturing the lifeline at its zenith and exploring even the darkest moments in the course of life. ‘Medusa and other poems’ is a fascinating book, which, unfailingly burst with life and emotion.

The cover page design is evocative and the artwork is created by the poet herself. And surely, this book is a poetry lover’s delight.

***

Gopal Lahiri was born and grew up in Kolkata, India. He is a bilingual poet, writer, editor, critic and translator and published in Bengali and English language. He has authored thirty books to his credits His poetry is also published across various anthologies as well as in eminent journals of India and abroad. His book reviews have been published in Indian Literature of Sahitya Akademi, (Print journal), Muse India, Scroll.in, Different Truths, International Times (UK), Kitaab (Singapore), Setu (US) online journals and many others. He has been nominated for Pushcart Prize for poetry in 2021. He is the recipient of the Poet of the Year Award in Destiny Poets, UK, 2016, Setu Excellence Award, 2020, Pittsburgh, US and first Jayanta Mahapatra National Award on literature in 2024.

Sangeeta Gupta is a Delhi-based bilingual poet, artist, writer, and filmmaker. She has held 36 solo exhibitions and authored 36 books, including 26 poetry collections in Hindi and English. Her work has been translated into 11 languages. As a filmmaker, she has directed 36 documentaries, six of which are archived in the Library of Congress, USA. Her creative biography Song of the Cosmos reflects her rich legacy. She received a D.Litt. at the 42nd World Congress of Poets (2023) and was recognized by Destiny Poets, UK. Her memoir Sigma Woman was published in 2025.

Setu, July 2025

Book Review: A COSMIC ODYSSEY

Lakshmi Kannan

Sigma Woman, Memoir by Sangeeta Gupta, Prithvi Fine Art and Cultural Centre, New Delhi, 2025. ISBN: 978 -81- 973394- 3-1

Sangeeta Gupta is a multi-faceted personality who has established the Prithvi Fine Art and Cultural Centre that is buzzing with activities. Her recent textile art exhibition ‘Aadiyog Shiv Indigo: A Journey in Cosmic Indigo’ attracted many eminent art lovers.

Sigma Woman is more than a memoir. It unfolds as a travel recording the self-actualization and self-discovery of a bureaucrat as an artist, writer and documentary film maker through which we come to know the person. Written with an unhesitating intellectual honesty, the book comes across as a quest: ‘how to find fullness in emptiness’.

One is still a work in progress’, declares Gupta (Prologue: To Come Into Your Own). Toward the end of the book, she says ‘we are imperfect’ (Epilogue). We can understand how she lived between these two very profound realizations, a reader has to let her/himself into the book, completely.

Identifying herself as a child of ‘a generation of change makers’, the bureaucrat as a young boss was ‘often the only woman in the room’. She addresses the asymmetry squarely: ‘I had enough of the world telling me and all women that they’re not enough. As I learnt to rely on myself by looking both inward and upward, I was ultimately reminded that we’re more than enough.’ (Prologue). It is looking ‘both inward and upward’ that has made a huge difference to her life and that is what we get to read in Sigma Woman.

Lakshmi Kannan

Shattering the myth that bureaucrats enjoy an easy life that comes with their enviable status, we see how responsibility brings on challenges that get tougher for a woman officer. As a sincere bureaucrat, she is a workhorse whose conscience never sleeps. Her belief in herself, together with the high standards she sets for herself make her a Sigma woman- independent, self-sufficient and resilient in navigating her life through setbacks, serious health issues and an accident that injures the wrist that wields the brush!

The book is not structured on a linear pattern. The bureaucrat, the artist, the writer, and the seeker spill over in an interesting profusion overlapping the chapter headings. It begins with the poetry of her childhood, captured charmingly in the section ‘Early Life’, an idyllic phase spent with close proximity to a doting grandfather, ‘the most lovable creature on this earth’. Gupta is sheltered by her protective elder sisters, a retinue of loyal servants at her beck and call, and a beautiful, elegant and educated mother who ‘didn’t allow herself to be treated like a lesser dumb mortal’ by her father. Gupta, the shy but precocious child does exceedingly well in her studies. You would become a “collector” says the proud grandfather and the little girl does not have the faintest clue to what a collector could be. She does not fail to note the complexity of her father, ‘an intellectual giant’ who was a ‘Hitler’ to his children, but nice ‘to his friends’. Her maternal grandfather is a noted Indologist from Allahabad University who later went to Jesus College, Oxford University. Endowed generously with good genes, Gupta fans out as a multifaceted personality.

Her College Days expose her to a wide range of experiences in the School of Life. Many people persuade to prepare for Civil Services. She cracks the exams and soon finds herself settled in the Revenue department. She continues to seek Gurus, mentors and teachers ardently. She finds them. The renowned artist Sanat Ray in Calcutta becomes her mentor. He is hard task master who puts her through the most basic paces. Gupta goes through the grind ungrudgingly. The little girl who found her potential for drawing in her Botany and Zoology classes, now unfurls her wings and soars as an artist and an eternal learner. . She could paint on any fabric, and use different materials for her art work. Meeting a Guru like Sri Sri Babathakur through her Danish friend Sushmita is a mystic experience. Perhaps unwittingly, they realise they need each other in a guru-shishya bonding that is one of the most nourishing happenings in life. Her teacher in Carmel School, Tripti Banerjee awakens in her a love for literature. Gupta writes poems in Hindi, allowing painting and writing to feed on each other in subtle, indelible ways. Her a section Creative Togetherness includes the renowned Mahadevi Verma who writes a Foreword for her first collection of poems Antas Se. Other writers mentioned are Mahasweta Devi, Sunita Jain and the most courageous of writers Mridula Garg on whom she makes a perceptive documentary film. Dr. A. P.J. Kalam, Ashapurna Devi and other names enrich the list.

Calcutta was a transformative phase during which time she meets Mother Teresa who inaugurates her first solo exhibition in 1995. On her advice, Gupta donates the entire proceeds of the sale to CRY, to be used for its educational center for children. Shifting to Dhaka to her son Tanmay’s house, she resumes writing in a tranquil ambience that reminds us of what Virginia Woolf meant by a A Room of One’s Own for women writers. With a caring son around, Gupta wrote and edited this memoir, met many eminent artists through Nisar Hossain, the Dean of Fine Arts Department, visited Kala Kendra that displayed art work on denim textile and did small mono prints and the National Museum of Bangladesh. At Dhaka, she buys lots of indigo stoles for herself, and some handmade paper made in Bangladesh.

These lines by Gupta would resonate with writers and artists:

‘Finding oneself’ is very important for an artist, a writer and anyone in a creative medium. Much as we hype about what a writer or an artist seeks to do, the medium and style also chooses a writer’. How true

Sigma Woman has life lessons. It is a book to be treasured for oneself and gifted to friends.

***

*Sigma: The 18^th letter of the Greek alphabet.

Setu, May 2025

Translation: Zimira Poran Zion (Hebrew Poetry)

Yoni Hammer-Kossoy

Any Moment You’ll Give Birth

Any moment you’ll give birth.

Big round belly

pushes out from your body.

Can’t believe

this body in the mirror

is hers.

Every motion,

Zmira Poran Zion

everything moves

like ground shifting

over deep wells,

like a powerful river.

Any moment you’ll give birth.

How will her body burst open?

Howcan thisbe?

Already a month she can’t sleep

her eyes wide open to heaven

as she listens to the life

moving inside.

Fear in the center

of the rooms

in her heart.

Any moment you’ll give birth.

And on that morning

summer scent wrapped the garden

flower stamens fluttered,

buzzing and bird calls

crossed the cold morning air,

giant dahlias, red and orange

stretched their necks

and honey jasmine

deepened white yellow green

and climbed high to the roof,

while she ripened

like a blushing peach.

Any moment you’ll go

to a strange place you don’t know

where it will happen,

wearing a thin cotton dress

paintedwith shapes

of pomegranates and grapes

on white cloth.

Green-crowned shisham

and rosewood trees

tangle in the air

with sun-kissed birds and bees.

The bag packed and ready to go

into the unknown.

And in one moment you’ll know there’s no way back,

that you’ll never again

be the woman you were.

What’s so deep inside her must go out.

Must.

And her body stormed and her panicked legsfailed

and a great flood washed down and they ran in the halls

the bones of her pelvis jammed and slid aside

the birth canal opened and a round head

pushed on her belly

with nothing to numb,

she’s wide awake and seeing all.

You’ll remember forever

the moment her son separated from her

and a mother was born.

She is the new here

with the world in her hands

a moment of soft grace

and amazement.

***

Sangeeta Gupta

किसी भी पल तुम जनोगी

किसी भी पल तुम जनोगी।

गोल, उभरा हुआ पेट

शरीर से बाहर छलक आया है।

यक़ीन नहीं होता—

आईने में दिखती यह देह

क्या सच में उसी की है?

हर हलचल,हर स्पंदन

मानो धरती हिल रही हो

जैसे कोई उफनती नदी

गहरे कुओं के ऊपर से

गुज़र रही हो।

किसी भी पल तुम जनोगी।

कैसे फटेगा यह शरीर?

कैसे संभव है यह चमत्कार?

महीने भर से नींद नहीं आई,

आंखें टंगी हैं आकाश पर,

सुन रही है अपने भीतर

धड़कती ज़िंदगी को।

डर पसरा है

कमरों के केंद्र में

उसके दिल में।

किसी भी पल तुम जनोगी।

और उस सुबह

और उस सुबह,

गर्मियों की ख़ुशबू में

लिपटा था बाग़,

फूलों के केसर कांप उठे,

भंवरों की गुनगुनाहट,

पंछियों की पुकार,

ठंडी हवा में तैर गई।

लाल-नारंगी डहलिया

गर्दन उठाए खड़े थे,

और मधु - सी चमेली

गहरी सफ़ेदी में घुलती,

पीली-हरी लहराती,

छत की ऊँचाइयों तक चढ़ गई।

और वह—

गुलाबी पड़ती एक आड़ू की तरह

धीरे-धीरे पक रही थी।

किसी भी पल तुम चल दोगी

एक अनजान राह पर

न जाने कहां

बस तन पर हल्की सूती पोशाक,

जिसकी उजली सिलवटों में

अनार और अंगूर के रंग खिले हैं

शीशम और सागौन के दरख़्त

अपनी हरी चादर ताने

हवा से उलझ रहे हैं

सूरज के चुम्बन से जगमगाते

पंछी, भंवरे मधुर गुंज से भरे

सामान बांध लिया है

सब तैयार है

बस एक कदम और

अज्ञात बुलाने लगेगा।

और एक पल में जान पाओगी

वापस लौटने का कोई रास्ता नहीं

कि जो तुम थीं

वह अब कभी न होगी।

भीतर जो सबसे गहरा था

उसे बाहर आना ही होगा

आना ही होगा

शरीर बिफरा,

टागें घबराई, कांपी,

एक बाढ़ उमड़ी,

सब बहा ले गई।

गलियारों में दौड़ते कदम,

हड्डियां अटकीं, खिसकीं,

जन्मद्वार खुला,

गोल सिर पेट से टकराया,

कोई राहत नहीं,

तुम पूरी तरह जगी हुई हो

सब देख रही

वह पल

सदा याद रहेगा

जब तुम्हारा बेटा

तुमसे विलग हुआ

और

एक माँ जन्मी

अब वह नई है,

अपने हाथों में संसार लिए

एक पल

कोमल अनुग्रह और विस्मय का।

अनुवाद: संगीता गुप्ता

***

Fata Morgana

Oh my heart my heart

don’t ask me

to reveal the secret

of my desire for him

Oh my heart my heart

don’t ask

I was like a tower of urges

a mountain of waking dreams

flowing from yearnings

Oh my heart my heart

don’t answer

his body’s passion

took flight and landed

on the sandy shore

of my life.

***

फ़ाता मोर्गाना

ओ मेरे दिल, मेरे दिल,

मुझ से

वह राज़ खोलने को मत कह

जिसकी चाहत में मैं सुलगती हूँ

ओ मेरे दिल, मेरे दिल,

मत पूछ

मैं जैसे

मीनार थी इच्छाओं की

पहाड़ थी जागते ख्वाबों का

एक तरसती बहती धारा

ओ मेरे दिल, मेरे दिल,

कुछ मत बोल

यूं लगा

जैसे हवा में पंख फैला

उड़ान भर

उसके जिस्म की तड़प

उतर आई

मेरी ज़िंदगी के रेतीले तट पर।

अनुवाद: संगीता गुप्ता

Dr. Zmira Poran Zion is a poet, playwright, artist, scholar, and activist. She is the author of two poetry collections, Forbidden to Write About Happiness and I Am Samar, published in Hebrew and English. Winner of the 2022 World Congress of Poets competition, and the 2022 Achy Prize for research, literature and art, her work appears in numerous international literary journals and anthologies. Mother of five, Dr. Zmira Poran Zion lives and creates in Yehud, Israel.

Yoni Hammer-Kossoy is a poet, translator, and educator. Yoni’s first poetry collection, “The Book of Noah” was published by Grayson Books in 2023, and his translations of Zmira Poran Zion’s collections, “I Am Samar” and “Forbidden to Write About Happiness” were published by Daisy Press in 2023 and 2024. The winner of the 2020 Andrea Moriah Prize in Poetry, Yoni’s poems, reviews, and translations appear in numerous international journals and anthologies. Originally from the US, he has lived in Jerusalem with his family since 1999.

Sangeeta Gupta is a Delhi based bilingual poet, writer, artist and filmmaker. Her achievements include 36 solo exhibitions of paintings, 35 published books, including 16 anthologies of poems in Hindi and 7 in English. 11 of her collection of poems are translated in German, Greek, Mandarin, Hungarian, English, Bangla, Dogri, Tamil and Urdu. She has directed, scripted, and filmed 36 documentaries; 6 are archived in the Library of Congress, US. Song of the Cosmos is her creative biography.

She was a highly commended poet of the year 2020 in the category of Faith-centred poetry by Destiny Poets, International Community of Poets(ICOP),Wakefield, UK. She was awarded a Doctor Of Literature honour by the 42nd World Congress of Poets (2023).

Her 36th solo exhibition of Textile paintings Aadiyogi Shiv a journey in cosmic indigo finds a place in Limca book of record (2020- 2022 edition)

This exhibition has been a travelling show and has now travelled to 17 destinations in India and abroad in last two years.

This solo exhibition started from Bikaner House, Delhi in October 2022.

It has been exhibited at three leading Museums of India, Bihar Museum, Patna , Bharat Bhavan Museum, Bhopal and Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad. It has also been exhibited at National Institute of Fashion Technology Delhi, Mumbai, Gandhinagar and Patna. It has also been displayed at Pondicherry University, Baroda Fine Arts gallery, University of Baroda, India Pavilion, Bharat Bhavan, Auroville, Kalaneri gallery, Jaipur.Abroad at Indira Gandhi cultural centre, High Commission of India in Bangladesh,Dhaka and at Zainul gallery,Charukola, Dhaka University in 2023.Then at Nehru centre,High commission of India in UK in August 2024

This exhibition was part of the event to celebrate the Opening of the Honorary Consulate General of India in Kraków held at the Sheraton Grand Krakow, Poland in September 2024 by the Embassy of India in Poland.

And at the University of Rzeszow in Poland in September 2024.

Three of these paintings are acquired by the Museum of Sacred Art, Belgium and were part of a collaborative exhibition with National Gallery Of Modern Art at Delhi and then at NGMA, Mumbai for several months.

One of the works acquired by Bihar Museum has been on their permanent display and now travelling to Kazakhistan.

One of these works has also been acquired by Bharat Bhavan Museum, Bhopal.

She is an IRS officer 1984 batch, former Chief Commissioner of Income Tax.

Celebrating Vasant Fest in Pictures: Sangeeta Gupta

Setu, March 2025 :: सेतु, मार्च 2025

Celebrating Vasant: A Report on the Three-Day Setu-Prithvi Fest

Celebrating Vasant, held from March 21 to 23, 2025, at Prithvi Fine Art and Cultural Centre, Delhi, in collaboration with Setu, Pittsburgh, USA.

Prithvi Fine Art and Cultural Centre in collaboration with Setu, Pittsburgh, USA, hosted the three-day cultural programme.

The event celebrated the spirit of spring through a harmonious blend of art, poetry, literature, film and music, drawing an enthusiastic audience of artists, writers, poets, and art lovers.

Day 1 – March 21, 2025

The inaugural day commenced with great enthusiasm at 4:00 PM, with the gracious presence of the two chief guests:

---Sanjeev Kishor Goutam, Director General, National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi
---Mridula Garg, Acclaimed Hindi Writer.

Opening Ceremony

The event began with the auspicious Lamp Lighting Ceremony, accompanied by Saraswati Vandana rendered melodiously by Jasbir Kaur. The chief guests shared words of wisdom, emphasizing the importance of cultural dialogues and artistic expression.

Art Exhibition – "Shabd Aur Rang" (Words & Visuals)
The art exhibition "Shabd Aur Rang", featuring the evocative works of artists Bharti Prajapati and Sangeeta Gupta, was inaugurated to much applause. The synergy of words and visuals captivated the audience, reflecting the essence of spring.

Book Launch – "Feminino: क़ुदरत-ए-कामिल"

The much-anticipated bilingual poetry anthology "Feminino: क़ुदरत-ए-कामिल", edited by Dr. Sangeeta Sharma and Neelam Saxena, with Dr. Sunil Sharma as the Consulting Editor, was officially launched. The anthology celebrates femininity in all its forms, resonating with the spirit of spring.

English Poetry Reading (5:00 PM – 6:30 PM)

A distinguished lineup of poets enthralled the audience with their soulful verses.
Participating Poets:
• Amrendra Khatua
• Malashri Lal
• Radha Chakravarty
• Mandira Ghosh
• Satbir Chadha
• Rachna Joshi
• Seema Jain
• Mukul Kumar
Anchor: Sangeeta Gupta

Shabd Raag (6:30 PM – 7:45 PM)

The evening concluded with Shabd Raag, a unique confluence of poetry and classical music featuring:
---Meeta Pandit, Classical Vocalist
---Sangeeta Gupta, Poet

Their soulful performance left the audience spellbound, marking a vibrant start to the festival.

Day 2 – March 22, 2025

The second day featured a rich tapestry of Hindi poetry, literary discussions, and a cinematic exploration of Kashmir.

Hindi Poetry Reading (3:30 PM – 4:30 PM)

Participating Poets:
---Mridula Garg
---Leeladhar Mandloi
---Anamika
---Savita Singh
---Sangeeta Gupta

Discussion: Relevance of Translated Verses (5:00 PM – 6:00 PM)

A thought-provoking panel discussion on the relevance of translated poetry featured:

---Radha Chakravarty
---Malashri Lal
---Anamika
---Rekha Sethi
---Seema Jain
---Sangeeta Gupta

The session highlighted how translations bridge cultural gaps, preserving the soul of poetry across languages.

Kashmir in Films: Myth and Reality (6:00 PM – 6:30 PM)

Anuradha Reddy, along with Sangeeta Gupta presented an insightful session on Kashmir, exploring the myths and realities portrayed in cinema and day today life in Kashmir.

Book Discussion (6:35 PM – 7:00 PM)

Chetna Keer, novelist, columnist, and poet, discussed her latest book, "Geisha in the Gota Patti," in conversation with A.J. Philip, Former Senior Associate Editor, The Tribune & President of Kerala Club.

Hindi Poetry Reading (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

Participating Poets:
Shovana Narayan, Laxmi Shankar Bajpai, Mamata Kiran, Renu Hussain, Anuradha and Sangeeta Gupta.
The second day ended on a poignant note with heartfelt poetry echoing through the venue.

Day 3 – March 23, 2025

The final day showcased an inspiring blend of Hindustani poetry, literary discussions, documentary films, and classical music.

Hindustani Poetry Reading (3:30 PM – 4:30 PM)

The poetry session featured eminent voices, including:
Naina Soi Sehar, Deo Prakash,Meenakshi Jijivisa,Sunita Singh,Amit Kaur,Jasbir Kaur and Aakshat Sinha

Book Discussion (4:30 PM – 5:00 PM)

Rachna Singh, novelist, discussed her latest book "Raghu Rai: Waiting for the Divine" with Mandira Nayar, a senior journalist based in Delhi.

Documentary Film Screening (5:30 PM – 7:00 PM)

The audience was treated to the screening of "Weaves of Time", a poetry film by Sangeeta Gupta, which beautifully portrayed the passage of time through poetic visuals.

Classical Music Performance (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

The festival concluded with a mesmerizing classical music recital by Kasturika Mishra, leaving the audience spellbound and marking a soulful end to the three-day celebration.

Conclusion

The Festival: Celebrating Vasant was a grand success, celebrating the spirit of spring through a confluence of art, poetry, literature, film, and music. With participation from some of the most distinguished names in the literary and artistic community, the festival reinforced the importance of cultural exchange and creative expression.
The event was a testimony to the power of words and visuals, echoing long after the curtains fell.

An Interface: An Innovative Attempt

Shabd - Rang: A Celebration of Words & Visuals

Shabd - Rang, an evocative confluence of poetry and visual arts, much admired by the audience; an innovative dialogue between art forms.

Featuring the works of two distinguished artists—Bharti Prajapati and Sangeeta Gupta—this exhibition is a dialogue between the written word and the painted form, where colors, textures, and emotions converge to create a profound artistic experience.

Bharti Prajapati: Weaving Rural Narratives into Art

Bharti Prajapati, a celebrated painter and designer, finds her muse in the resilient spirit of rural women. Their daily lives, bonds, and deep connection with the land form the heart of her visual vocabulary. With a rich tapestry of earthy tones and intricate patterns, her paintings evoke the grace and strength of women rooted in tradition yet evolving with time.

Her extensive travels across Indian villages have shaped a keen sensitivity towards the nuances of rural life, inspiring themes such as Mother Earth, Shakti, One Tribe, and Earth Story. These narratives unfold through a blend of textile-inspired designs, folk motifs, and organic textures, reflecting a tradition that is rapidly disappearing in the face of modernization.

A graduate of the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, Bharti seamlessly integrates her design sensibilities into her art, creating works that are both aesthetically captivating and deeply emotive. Her exhibitions have spanned the globe, from New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore to Singapore, New York, and London. She has also participated in prestigious showcases like the Harmony Show and Lakmé Art & Fashion Show, alongside international auctions supporting South Asian women artists.

Her contributions to the art world have earned her numerous accolades, including:

• Critics' Choice Award, World University of Design, Delhi

• Bharat Kala Ratna Award, Gujarat Kala Pratisthan

• Lalit Kala Gaurav Puraskar, Gujarat State Lalit Kala Academy

• FICCI Women Achiever Award, Gujarat

Through her art, Bharti preserves the essence of India's rural ethos, ensuring that its beauty and wisdom continue to inspire generations.

---Sangeeta Gupta: A Journey across Poetry, Painting, and Cinema

A distinguished poet, artist, and filmmaker, Sangeeta Gupta embodies a creative spirit that transcends boundaries. With 36 solo painting exhibitions and 35 published books, including poetry anthologies in Hindi and English, her literary and artistic works resonate across cultures, having been translated into German, Greek, Mandarin, Hungarian, Bangla, Dogri, Tamil, and Urdu.

Her textile painting series, Aadiyogi Shiv – A Journey in Cosmic Indigo, a groundbreaking body of work, has been recognized in the Limca Book of Records and has traveled to 17 prestigious venues in India and abroad. This includes exhibitions at India's leading museums such as:

• Bihar Museum, Patna

• Bharat Bhavan Museum, Bhopal

• Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad

Internationally, her works have been showcased at:

• Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh

• Zainul Gallery, Dhaka University

• Nehru Centre, London (2024)

• Sheraton Grand Kraków, Poland (2024)

• University of Rzeszow, Poland (2024)

Sangeeta Gupta’s artistic practice is deeply intertwined with her literary explorations.

Her creative biography, Song of the Cosmos, reflects her journey across disciplines, highlighting her ability to merge the visual and the verbal into a singular artistic expression.

As a filmmaker, she has directed and scripted 36 documentaries, with six of them archived in the Library of Congress, USA, a testament to their cultural significance.

Recognized for her literary achievements, she was honored as:

• Highly Commended Poet of the Year (2020) by Destiny Poets, UK

• Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.), 42nd World Congress of Poets (2023)

Sangeeta’s works have been acquired by renowned institutions, including:

• Museum of Sacred Art, Belgium (in collaboration with NGMA, Delhi & Mumbai)

• Bihar Museum, Patna, where her painting is part of their permanent collection and is currently traveling to Kazakhstan

• Bharat Bhavan Museum, Bhopal

Beyond her artistic endeavors, she has also served as (IRS) Chief Commissioner of Income Tax and as Advisor (Finance & Administration) at Lalit Kala Akademi and as Member Finance Committee, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi bridging the worlds of administration and creativity with remarkable ease.

Shabd - Rang: A Harmonious Fusion

Through Shabd - Rang, Bharti Prajapati and Sangeeta Gupta brought together their unique artistic languages—one rooted in the rural landscapes of India, the other traversing the cosmic and the spiritual.

In their works, words find colors, and colors echo poetry, creating an immersive experience that celebrates the timeless interplay of tradition, transformation, and transcendence.

---Sangeeta Gupta
Director, Festival: Celebrating Vasant
President, Prithvi Fine Art and Cultural Centre, Delhi, India

Setu, March 2025

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