Distinguished Poets of India By M.A. Rathore

Distinguished Poets of India

By M.A. Rathore 

Literature records all that comes into contact with an author and a poet. The literature in the local language is influx but as far as English is concerned it is also widely written in most parts of India. Still English is the most favoured language in which we find distinguished poets in India. Here are some of them we are profiling.   

NO-1: PROF. BIPLAB CHAKRABORTY

Prof. Biplab Chakraborty, Ph.D. (Literature), Ph.D. (Linguistics), D.Lit is currently attached to the University of Calcutta (Bengali and Comparative Literature). He was a Senior Faculty Member of the Center for Advanced Study, Dept. of Bengali, and University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India for more than two decades. He worked as a Visiting Fellow, at the University of Tripura, India for more than five years. He taught as a Visiting Professor at the Post-Graduate dept of History, Archeology, and Folklore, University of Thessaly, Greece in 2005. He also taught at Kenyatta University, Kenya Africa in 2008. He has published nearly 100 papers and 60 books in English and Bengali. He contributed many articles to the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INDIAN LITERATURE, Sahitya Academy. He has attended various National and International Seminars and Conferences in India and abroad. He was honoured with the ASIATIC SOCIETY GOLD MEDAL (2010), SARAT CHANDRA CHATTERJEE SILVER MEDAL (2015), and EMINENT EDUCATIONIST AWARD (2016).

NO 2: Dr. Saroj K. Padhi  

MOON MOMENTS is the sixth collection of poetry by Dr. Saroj K. Padhi who is an Associate Professor of English in the Govt. of Odisha and is at present working at Sailabala Women’s College, Cuttack. Born in 1962, he has been writing poems in English and Odia since his school days. To date, he has published innumerable poems in most of the leading magazines of the country. He has published two books of criticism: 

1. JAYANTA MAHAPATRA’S RELATIONSHIP: A CRITICAL STUDY 

2. ENGLISH ESSAYISTS: A CRITICAL STUDY and about 12 research articles in different journals and five anthologies of poems in English namely PEARLS OF DEW, SHATTERED I SING, and RHYMING RIPPLES, PETALS IN PRAYER and SILENT SIGHT. He has done his Doctorate in Indian English Poetry from Berhampur University, Odisha under the guidance of eminent poet and Prof. Dr. Niranjan Mohanty. He is also an active member of various poetry communities on the website where he regularly posts his poems. He also has his poetry blog www.sarojpadhi.blogspot.in and his poetry page ‘Saroj Poetry’ where he regularly posts his poems. 

Email address: skpadhi407@gmail.com   Mobile: 09861160236

 

No 3: Dr. Poonam Dwivedi

Name: Dr. PoonamDwivedi

Designation: Assistant Professor, Department of English

Baba Balraj Panjab University Constituent College, Balachaur-144521 (S.B.S. Nagar) Punjab, India

Date of Birth: 23rd September 1983

Birthplace: Allahabad

Father: Keshav Chandra Dwivedi

Mother: Pushpa Dwivedi

Education: D.Phil. in English Literature in 2011 from the University of Allahabad

M.A. (English) in 2006 from the University of Allahabad with 63.67% 

Alma mater: University of Allahabad, India

Award: 

1. Readers & Writers Society of India (RWSI) was awarded for its valuable contribution to Literature.      
2. Awarded for Social & Scientific activities at State and National Level 1996-97.

Experience of Job: Five years working experience as an Assistant Professor, presently working as Assistant Professor in English at BB Punjab University Constituent College, Balachaur-144521 (S.B.S. Nagar) Punjab. India.

E mail:poonam.dwivedi83@gmail.com

Phone: 07814431575

NO-4 Dr. K. V. Dominic

Dr. K. V. Dominic, English poet, critic, short story writer, editor, and publisher, is a retired professor of the Post Graduate & Research Department of English, Newman College, Thodupuzha, Kerala, India. He was born on 13 February 1956 at Kalady, a holy place in Kerala where Adi Sankara, the philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta was born. In addition to innumerable poems, short stories, and critical articles published in national and international journals, he has authored/edited thirty books so far. His books include five collections of poetry in English, one collection of poems in Hindi and Gujarati, and a collection of short stories in English. A French translation of his poetry collection by Dominique de Miscault is in the press. Translations of his poetry are being done now in the Indian languages of Bengali, Telugu, and Tamil. Prof. Dominic is the Secretary of the Guild of Indian English Writers, Editors and Critics (GIEWEC), a non-profitable registered organization having now two hundred and fifty members mainly consisting of university/college professors, research scholars, and professional English writers. He has conducted several national seminars and workshops all over India. He is the Editor and Publisher of the international refereed biannual journal, International Journal on Multicultural Literature (IJML), and Editor-in-Chief of the Guild’s international refereed biannual journal, Writers Editors Critics (WEC). He is also the publisher of the internationally refereed annual fiction New Fiction Journal (NFJ). Two critical studies on his poetry have come out from the USA in 2016 intending to include his poetry in the syllabus of South Asian Studies in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. He can be contacted at www.profkvdominic.com, www.profkvdominic.blogspot.in, and prof.kvdominic@gmail.com

NO-5 Prof. Rajendra Kumar Padhi 

Prof. Rajendra Kumar Padhi received the “Universal Inspirational Poet Award’’ at the World Friendship Poetry Meet in Africa in 2016, he also received the “Award for Literary Excellence” at National Poetry Meet in Gujarat, Ahmadabad, he has remained a judge for International poetry writing, Rabindranath poetry Award, story writing. His poems have been published in more than 50 International Anthologies from the USA, Germany, Africa, Nigeria, and India, he is also the Editor of three International Anthologies, and he has written reviews, blurbs, prefaces, and introductions of International anthologies, he has also written four poetry books, “THE LIVING TOUCH”, “O EARTH!”, “SONGS OF VOID”,” SUNYATARA PRIYATAMA” and one novel “THE DARK HOURS “published by Alfa Publications and Paragon International, New Delhi, his Interviews are published from USA and India, his poems are found in blogs and internet, all information is available in www.google.com. His email address is rajendrapadhi62@gmail.com.

NO-6: MRIDULA MENON

The writer of these poems is a postgraduate in English literature. She is also one of the directors of her family concern. She loves poetry and is a homemaker. And one who longs for peace and happiness to prevail in the world. 

NO-7 Lily Swarn

Lily Swarn recently won the Reuel International Prize for Poetry 2016 and was recognized by the World Union of Poets as a Global Poet of Peace and Universal Love. She is a postgraduate in English from Punjab University and has taught degree classes. A gold medallist and a university colour holder for dramatics and histrionics, she was the editor of the college magazine and also wrote middles for newspapers! Poetry as passion blossomed after her young son's sudden demise in 2013. She writes with a poignant touch in English, Hindi, and Urdu. Her weekly columns Cantonment Calling and History Mystery of Food are highly popular. Lily’s poems can be read in many anthologies and have recently been translated into Italian too. She is widely read in the internationally famous atunispoetry.com, Poem Kubili, and The garden of poetry and prose. Her work has been recognized as explosive, outstanding, and powerful by different poetry groups and they often turn their spotlight on it. Her Facebook profile has many followers. Married to an army veteran she lives in Chandigarh, India. 

NO-8: VIJAYALAXMI POTU

Vijayalaxmi Potu is one of the contemporary major women poets of India. Her poems are subtle, powerful, and sometimes tragically satiric. She is also a short story writer and translator. She has also started writing poetry in Telugu. She worked as Lecturer and Assistant Professor in degree and engineering colleges. She was a director of an STPI-registered software company for seven years. At present, she is pursuing research. She believes in the dissemination of knowledge. Her favourite poets are Shakespeare, Keats, and Emily Dickinson. In Telugu, her favourite authors are Nanduri Ramam Mohana Rao and Sathyam Sankaramanchi. She writes in simple language. She is good at creating oxymorons and Anaphora or deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence. Mostly, she uses images of nature. [vijayalaxmipotu@gmail.com]

NO-9: Ravi.S.Ranganathan       

Ravi Ranganathan is a retired Banker leading a quiet life in Chennai, very much interested in poetry. Writes poems on all topics that catch his fancy and his poems on various online poetry pages are very well received. He has contributed to many anthologies of poems and won many awards in poetry competitions. He has to his credit a poetry book containing a collection of his poems entitled "Lyrics of Life" published by Xpress publications.

NO-10 Padmaja Iyengar – Paddy

Having explored the worlds of banking and urban governance in senior positions, Padmaja Iyengar – Paddy is currently the Hon. Lit. Advisor of The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA). She recently compiled, curated, and published for CCVA the International Multilingual Poetry Anthology ‘Amaravati Poetic Prism 2016’ which has a record 527 poems in 53 languages! It has been recognized as a Unique Record of Excellence by the India Book of Records. Another International Multilingual Poetry Anthology of Women Poets ‘WWW – Women, Wit & Wisdom’, compiled, curated, and edited by her (219 poems in 31 languages) is shortly to be launched. She also manages an online literary networking forum www.ratemyliterature.com that provides a free platform for writers to showcase their works. Her English poems, articles, short stories, etc. have appeared in numerous e-zines, leading newspapers, and National and International anthologies. Paddy’s maiden poetry collection ‘P-En-Chants’ has been reckoned as a ‘Unique International Record of Excellence’ by the India Book of Records and the Wonder Book of Records International for Never-before-attempted Movie Reviews and Management Topics in Rhyming Poetry form. Paddy is also regularly invited to literary and poetry events to present her poems, the latest being an invitation to Malaysia to read her poems at the 7thPangkor International Poetry & Folk Song Festival in Malaysia in December 2016 and to the SAARC Literary Festival at New Delhi in February 2017 as an Indian Delegate to read her poems. Paddy regularly participates in discussions on civic and urban governance issues on electronic media. She was a part of the Round Tables on Smart Cities organized at Hyderabad by the Deputy British High Commission and Foundation for Futuristic Cities. Paddy writes for pleasure – finds humor in everything…P G Wodehouse being her all-time favorite and inspiration!

NO-11: MANTHENA DAMODARA CHARY

Manthena Damodara Chary was born into a family of poets at Elukurthy Haveli in Warangal District in India on 15th January 1957. Under the guidance of his father, he evinced an intense interest in education and became the first postgraduate in English Literature in his village in 1979. Mrs. Ranganayakamma, his mother influenced him as she was a renowned Telugu poetess.   Mr. Chary undertook the profession of lecturer in English at Government Junior College at Wyra in Khammam District in 1980. He used to contribute articles to newspapers on matters of academic significance. He won acclaim as an efficient teacher of English. He taught English to the utmost satisfaction of his students for over twenty-two years. He was promoted to the position of principal in 2002. He rendered his service remarkably in the tribal agency of Bhadrachalam. He was promoted to the post of Regional Inspection Officer and posted to Mahabubnagar in 2012. He obtained the age of superannuation in 2015. After retirement from active service, he evinces a keen interest in writing essays and poems every day. He is in association with more than fifty poetry forums on Facebook. He has been continuing his poetic Odyssey. His rewarding journey is resplendent with awards.  Many organizations have honoured him with awards in recognition of his poetic merits. He enjoys the love of his readers in the world of poetry.

NO-12 DR. NIKHAT BANO

The author, Dr. Nikhat Bano, is an assistant professor (adjunct) at a central university of India, teaching English since 2005. She is a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in ESP i.e., English for Specific Purposes. At the beginning of her career, she taught the English language to undergraduate engineering students, presently she is teaching first-year Polytechnic students. Her career spans almost a decade now. Born in a small town in Bihar, her early life was spent in various cities of India, as her father was a central government employee and worked in the Directorate of Telecommunication. Right from her childhood she grew up listening to Hindi and Urdu songs and poetry. Her family was fond of Hindi and Urdu literature, art, and cinema. Four of her siblings, she was the eldest and only she inherited the passion for poetry. Initially, this passion was limited only to her native language but as she grew up she got the opportunity of cross-cultural and cross-linguistic interactions. She completed her schooling in the Science stream and took admitted to the Bachelor of Science, but soon left it and joined the Bachelor of Arts taking English Literature and Psychology as her main subjects. These subjects helped in acquainting her to human emotions at conscious and sub-conscious levels. They increased the panoramic view of the human world and its strengths and weaknesses. They established her association with nature and with its flora and fauna. At present, she is working on two poetry books and two English language teaching books – one at the senior secondary level and another at the undergraduate engineering level. Very soon these books will be visible on the shelf of bookstores.

NO 13: Dasharath Naik

Dasharath Naik, born on 23 June 1964 in a middle-class family in the district of Sundargarh, Odisha, has been serving as Lecturer in English at P. S. College, Bargaon since 1987. As a student of English Literature, Sri Naik likes all genres, especially Poetry, and loves reading magical lines by mighty minds. He writes about what he feels within and sees around him. His main concern is Humanity and Universal Peace. In his own words, "...my tears form my thoughts and my drops of blood paint them into beautiful words in my poems". Many of his works are already published in several national and international magazines/journals and Anthologies and are widely acclaimed. He has been the recipient of several awards with Certificates of Appreciation from various literary groups on FB. His collection of works SONG UNSUNG: A TRIBUTE TO HUMANITY is about to release shortly. 

NO-14: RAJBABU GANDHAM

Rajbabu Gandham has been writing poetry since his school days. His works have been published initially in a school magazine. His earliest writings were in his mother tongue Telugu. His Telugu poems were published for several weeks under "krotta kalalu" in the weekly magazine 'Andhra Jyoti'. In his College days, he was attracted to the writings of Srirangam Srinivasa Rao, popularly known as” Sri Sri”. Later days started writing in English; some of his works were published in the Women’s Era and in 'Image' and 'Vimanika' In house Magazines of Indian Airlines/Air India, where he was employed. Actively writing on Facebook for four years he writes in English, Telugu, and Hindi. His poems have been published in 12 Anthologies (totaling about 26 poems). His poem entitled “who am I? He won 3rd place in a contest held by the World Union of Poets-India Chapter in May 2016. He also received a Certificate of Excellence for his 2 poems, participating in the Poetography Contest in September 2016 on the Theme “Healing the Planet (Environment) Through Sublime Arts” from Satyam Shivam Sundaram of Sri Yayati Madan Gandhi ji. He participated and read his poems at National Poets Meet in Kolkata in May 2016 and International Poets Meet at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh in September 2016. He attends regular meetings of Poets, Writers, and Artists in Hyderabad. He is a vivid reader, reading books on Philosophy and writings of various noted philosophers. His works are based on his self-inquiry and the very quest for the human being to know more; the very purpose of our existence. He also writes poems on love, tears, pain, and social inequalities. His first poetry book is in the process. Mob-9849542127

NO-15 M.V. SATHYANARAYANA (MAHATHI)

MYDAVOLU VENKATA SESHA SATHYANARAYANA (pen name Mahathi) was born on 12fth June 1958 at Nellore town of Andhra Pradesh. He did B.Sc at Kakinada and Machilipatnam, then B. L. at Nellore and M. L. from Nagpur University. Between 1982 and 1984 he practised as a lawyer in Nellore and then joined the Salt Department, Government of India as an Inspector of Salt. In May 2014 he took voluntary retirement as Superintendent of Salt. His father late M. V. Ramakrishna Rao also worked in Salt Department and retired in 1982. Besides, his father was a great theatre artist and singer. His mother Mydavolu Sarojini is a housewife. He has no siblings. Sathyanarayana's life was mostly spent in small villages. He lived almost a lonely life in remote Salt departmental quarters, which are usually a few furlongs or even kilometers from the nearest villages, except for about 3 years he spent in Kakinada as a student and 5 years at Madras during his early years of Government service. His poetic endeavour started somewhere in 1987 when he was working in the Madras and he wrote just a couple of poems (LONE OX and LONE TRAVELLER both poems reflecting the loneliness he experienced in his life). Those 2 poems are not available now. His further efforts did not continue till 2000 or so. But he took to poetry more seriously only in 2005 when he penned the poem GOLDEN LOTUS. His poetry took a new turn when Dr. Tulsi Hanmanthu, a modern-day doyen of English classical poetry, read his poem SENSES, and so impressed and advised him to try classical forms of English poetry. Many years of great efforts, at last, moulded him as one of the finest classical poets of the modern era. So far 8 poetry books of Sathya Narayana were published. From his 5th book, I CHANT, CHANT AND CHANT he adopted the pen name 'Mahathi'. Mahathi is the divine Veena of the divine sage Narada of Hindu epics. Sathyanarayana is a staunch devotee of Sage Narada. 

NO 16: Cijo Joseph Chennelil

Cijo Joseph Chennelil is a remarkable literary figure with spontaneity and genuineness. He was born on 28th October 1979 in Kuravilangad village situated in the Kottayam District of Kerala, India. From childhood onwards, he was drawn to literature. The nature around him captured his attention and he started his writing career in the formative stage of his life. After having completed his schooling, he took up English literature as his area of specialization at the college level. He excelled in his studies and brought about commanding results. In his post-graduation in English Literature, he got First Rank from the School of Letters, Mahatma Gandhi University College. After having finished his B.Ed., he entered the teaching profession and has had an illustrious career in it for the last fourteen years. He has been teaching at Kristu Jyoti College of Management and Technology situated in the Kottayam District of Kerala for the last four years. He has published around 20 articles in ISBN journals of national and international repute. Today he stands as an amazing critique of various poems emerging out of India and abroad. He is a motivational figure and an orator of the highest pedigree.

NO-17: DR. SIGMA SATHISH

A widely published poet in various national and international arenas, Dr. Sigma is currently an Asst Professor of English at vitmnss College, affiliated with Kerala university Trivandrum Dt. Besides being a poet and an article writer, she is also an editor, reviewer, and advisory board member in seven international Journals.  It could be noticed at first sight that her rich and thematically assorted poetry is characterized by ethical aspirations with an eloquent feminist, human, and features of intimacy. Dr. Sigma has got eleven years of teaching experience as a Professor in India and abroad. She authored four poetry books and recently her 'Feminine Blues' got translated into the Serbian language. 'World Institute of Peace' Nigeria awarded her 'World Best Poet of the year 2017'. Recently she received the 'Mirabhai Literary award' from the Organization of united working Journalist forum supported by the Public Relations Department, Puri, Govt. of Odisha on National Press day 2016. She is an international director of the 'World Union of Poets' and has participated in several prestigious National and International Poetry festivals.

 

NO-18: Nandita Samanta

Nandita is a science graduate and an ex-teacher, multilingual poet, short story writer, artist, and dancer. She was born in Burdwan, West Bengal, and is presently a resident of Kolkata, India. She spent her childhood in different states which enriched her literary journey. Her writings are published in various International and national anthologies, magazines, webzines, and journals. She writes on vivid themes that are based on her observations on life, love, ambition, nature, culture, folklore, mythology, etc. 

Profiling Contemporary Romanian Poets of 21st Century By M.A. Rathore

 Profiling Contemporary Romanian Poets of 21st Century

By M.A. Rathore

 

Literature opens the gate to the hearts of people living together. The world is home and literature is its reflection of heart and mind. While profiling some of the contemporary Romanian poets and novelists of the 21st century, I feel enthusiastic and have the sense of fulfilling my obligation to my dear fellow poets. The poetry they write is as deep as we come across in English poetry. Their works are remarkable and worth mentioning. Here are some of the poets and artists from Romania.  

 

No: 1

Trandafir Simpetru

Trandafir Simpetru is a prestigious literary figure both locally, in Romania as well internationally. He has been writing poetry since he was 14 years old and right now he has published over 28 books of poetry and novels, and numerous collaborated anthologies, locally and internationally. He holds prestigious awards internationally and in Romania, he holds the most important award called “The Union of Romanian Writers Prize”. He is a highly appreciated editor and publicist, being involved lately in promoting Romanian talents locally and globally. In terms of poetry writing, his literary pen can be described as being exquisitely nostalgic-erotic, making use of powerful suave sensuality, moving between temptation and ardent sensory desires. He describes nature in all its forms, as a beautiful painting. His poetic language contains a special colour and tinge, and his lyrical composition is balanced and harmonious, flowing as a beautiful serenade. He is a profound artist, whose name deserves to be among the global poetic stars.

 

No: 2

Cristina Cretu

 

Cristina Cretu is a young voice but well known among Romanian poets, graduated in Journalism and Media Communication, she is a prominent figure in various Romanian anthologies, as well international ones. How did she decide to start her literary activity? A life-challenging event in Cristina’s life took place, a threatening disease that made her ponder that life is such a gift, and it is so very important to share your soul with the world. Her poetry was “born” from pain and it is her ultimate lyrical scream to say to the whole world: “This is me!” Cristina also cannot hear properly, but she considers the power of poetry helps her to sharpen all her artistic senses, therefore allowing her delicate soul to express herself even with more ease. Her poetry is like a continuous look for the ineffable, though expressed in powerful nostalgic sometimes elegiac notes; her candid lyricism simply takes hold of your spirit. 

 

No: 3

Nina Tarchila

 

Nina Tarchila feels that writing poetry is indispensable. As her body breathes to stay alive, as well the breath of her soul happens through the word. “I laugh and cry through words and that is the only song that fits the whole momentum, the soul’s song. When my soul descends on earth I let it fly before my own words, in a world full of rainbows, to gather from there its heavenly syllables and sounds, to bring a new world, always anew, always narrated again and again, with different shade colours, as parallel mirrors inside an endless puzzle!”

 

No: 4

Diana Olteanu

 

Once upon a time!... The stories start like this, right?

... Look, dear man, on the left bank of Jiu river, towards the "gate" where the waters say "farewell", from the highlands continuing smoothly its sway below, towards„the beautiful green-eyed” beauty: the Oltenia Plain. Here, in the center, in the fortress of the Principe Michael, she appeared with the dawn, in 1962, the second day of Prier. She has been always writing wholeheartedly, what her soul has whispered she will write because she loves the words, she loves mankind, for each given syllable. If she had to choose, she could have chosen to be a bird… a lark! From there, from the sky, she would have sent with the winds the melodies of her heart, because indeed, poetry is the melody of the soul. And when the soul is candid, the song sounds divine. 

 

No: 5

 

Maria Niculescu

Poet, culture editor of Paradox Magazine, member of the cultural association Perpessicius-Crihana – Bucharest, awarded for two of her poetry books, multi-awarded in various magazines, published in various anthologies. Maria considers herself a Cosette (the heroin of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo), as her life was not an easy one. Shy by nature, Maria comforts herself through writing for delicate souls. Her writings “breathe” an existential sadness, however, the melody of her verses always brings hope, as she has respect for life itself. The poet’s naturalness can be felt easily in her poems, she simply writes to share her beautiful thoughts, an authentic scribe of beauty in all its forms.

 

No: 6 

Ultima Ediţie

 

Stones Sun

 

Morning undress roses

I dress embroidered with red thorns in them

Sleep on rainbow eyelash-crying comets

You laugh at the narrow lane of childhood 

Homing pigeon 

You caress me with sky sun tattooed chest

Limped few words

Painted blue on the road too slowly

I smell strawberries dress feet of river stones

You’re afraid of a magical love- a death

Fragile dreams I wearing clothes you wear two nights

My very dearest best by far

Lava digs words between November 7 lots

Rang bells hanging gardens

Between the stars loves morning dew pearl

Loves gossamer

Eyes lit senses a magical sky art

Empty words too sweet too bitter 

Rainbow over the sea cast.

 

No: 7

Jane Crisan 

JANE CRISAN is of Romanian nationality and an American citizen from Seattle, WA, USA.

A CRY FOR HELP

Oh, Mother Earth, 

 How ungratefully we betrayed you, 

 Growing up

 under the same Sun and Moon, 

 all children of yours!

 The air we breathe is contaminated

 by our war games.

 The flowers are crying. 

 The birds of steel are killing.

 There is no place on Earth, now,

 to feel safe.

 We're already looking 

 for another planet to move

 our bad habits 

 and to destroy it...

 Anyone, out there, can heal us?

 Anyone, out there, can stop us?

 We drown in rivers of tears

 and wash our hands with blood,

 but still pray for our souls...

 Do we still have souls to pray for?

 Save us from us!

No-9

Daniel Dac

Daniel Dac (his real name was Daniel Irimescu) is a "young" poet in the Romanian market; however, his literary achievements proved to be among highly remarkable poets in Romania. He was awarded nationally for his literary activities, and published in various anthologies in Romania as well he launched his first book in summer of 2016 called "Deciphering the Secrets"

 

NO-10

     

 

Agony

The frozen wind

Pushed a handful of stars

To the estuary of nowhere

Because of so many expectations…

 

The Moon coils herself

Inside the dragged curtain,

Sewn with the thread

Of the oblivion...

 

Since tonight little remained

For heaven to narrate,

A horizon of fallen words,

A promise seduced by shadows,

Remnants of dreams on sandpaper

 

The tree emerges with its pearls

Piercing the mist,

And blades of light

Are reflected by its leaves.

Top Ten Indian Authors for Reading By M.A. Rathore

 

Top Ten Indian Authors for Reading

By M.A. Rathore

India has been celebrated for its art, literature and philosophy since ancient times. There are over twenty languages spoken in India and literature that includes over twenty of these languages. However, not only do Indians take pride in the diversity of their languages but have a great command over the English language as well. As such, a wide variety of authors can be listed when it comes to Indian literature.  Here is an attempt to compress the list down to a simple number of ten; the Indian authors that must be acknowledged and their books that should be read.

1. Rabindranath Tagore

Even though Tagore received his education in law he took a great interest in Shakespeare and Renaissance literature. Therefore following his works, he became a poet and author. His first poem ‘Mansai’ was published in 1890 after which he gained immense popularity amongst Bengali readers. His most significant works include ‘Gitanjali’ which was a collection of poems and ‘Galpaguchchha’ which are eighty short stories. Gitanjali won himNobel Prize in 2013.

2. Khushwant Singh

He was a journalist, editor, and novelist born in Hadli during the time of British India. He received his degree at St. Stephen’s College in New Delhi and King’s College in London. He initially started his career as a lawyer after which he got the opportunity to become the editor of important journals and magazines. As an author, he wrote some outstanding novels like Train to Pakistan (1956), Delhi: A Novel (1990), The Company of Women (1999), Truth, Love and a Little Malice (2002), The Good, the Bad and the Ridiculous (2013).

3. R. K. Narayan

He was born in Chennai and due to his father’s transfers had to move around, therefore changing many schools. His interest in reading was evident from a very young age and his hobby soon became a habit. He later graduated and decided to become a stay-at-home writer. His initial books were not that popular until his third novel, ‘The Dark Room’. Narayan oublished many novels soon became a well-renowned author during his time in India.

4. Amrita Pritam

Amrita Pritam dabbled in poetry and literature at a very young age which inspired her to become a poet and novelist later in her life. She was a courageous woman who did not fear writing controversial texts during the pre-partition era. She suffered through tough times during the partition of India which influenced her to write the Punjabi novel ‘Pinjar’ (skeleton) which describes the helplessness of the women during that era and the discrimination they had to go through. The novel later was made into a Bollywood movie which was a hit throughout the nation.

5. Ruskin Bond

Bond was born in Punjab, British India, and attained his education in Shimla. After completing high school, he moved to the U.K to enhance his writing career. He started his career as a freelance writer and eventually got jobs as an editor in various magazines. It wasn’t until 1980 when his novel became widely admired amongst readers. His best-known work is ‘The Blue Umbrella’, a heartwarming story read worldwide.

6: Dr. Jernail Singh Anand

Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, the only Indian author to become an Honorary Member of the Association of Serbian Writers after Rabindranath Tagore, has authored more than 155 books in English poetry, fiction, non-fiction, spirituality, and philosophy. Anand  is credited with the theory of Biotext in Critical Theory, 9 modern classic epics including the Mahakaal Trilogy and the creation of the Corporate Monster Lustus. Conferred the Franz Kafka Laureateship 2022 and International Aco Karamanov Poetry Award 2022 (Mecedonia), Naji Naaman Literary Award 2020, Cross of Literature and Cross of Peace from the World Union of Poets, Italy. Univ. of Neyshabur, Iran published a Research Project Comparing the Poetry of J.S. Anand with Sohrab Sepehri and Furogh Farrokhzad under Chief Coordinator, Dr. Roghayeh Farsi.

7. Chetan Bhagat

Cited by The New York Times in 2008 as one of the biggest-selling English language novelists in India’s history, Chetan Bhagat is an author, screenwriter, columnist, and TV personality. He is known for Comedy-drama novels about young urban middle-class Indians. Some of his famous work includes Five Point Someone, 2 States, Half Girlfriend, and One Indian Girl.

8. Jhumpa Lahiri

Jhumpa Lahiri is well known for her novels, essays, and short stories. She was born in London but relocated to the United States to get her education at Barnard College. She went ahead for her masters and attained her degree from Boston University. She was a struggling writer and her work was initially rejected by the publishers until her biggest success, ‘The Interpreter of Maladies’. This was a compilation of all her short stories about the life of immigrants in post-partition India. After the runaway success, she wrote many other novels which are famous throughout the Indian continent and the world. Some of the most famous ones are; The namesake, Unaccustomed Earth, and The lowland.

9. Vikram Seth

Vikram Seth was born in Calcutta, graduated from high school, studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and graduated with a B. A. Degree in 1975. From 1975 to 1986, he pursued his Ph.D. at Stanford University, California, U.S.A. He is best known for his epic novel ‘The Suitable boy’.

10. Arundhati Roy

 Writer, essayist, and political activist, Arundhati Roy, is best known for her novel The God of Small Things which won her the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 1997. Some of her other works include The Algebra of Infinite Justice, Kashmir: The Case for Freedom, and Capitalism: A Ghost Story.