Kavyanjali (poetry collection)

Not to be confused with Kkavyanjali.
Kavyanjali
Cover of Vol.1
AuthorHaldhar Nag
TranslatorSurendra Nath
LanguageEnglish
Release number
5
GenrePoetry, epic poem, biography
PublisherIndia Zenith Star[1]
Publication date
October 2, 2016 (2016-10-02)
Publication place India
Media typePaperback, e-book

Kavyanjali[note 1] (Odia: କାବ୍ୟାଞ୍ଜଳି[2]) is collection of English poems by the Indian Kosali poet Haldhar Nag, translated by Surendra Nath. The book was first published in 2016 with a foreword written by Odia writer Manoj Das. The poems cover various themes such as spiritualism, social reality, cultural identity, etc.[1] As of 2022, a total of 5 volumes of Kavyanjali have been published;[3] the Vol.3 and Vol.4 are not collections of poems, but are epic poems and biographies respectively.

Contents

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Vol.1

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The first volume (ISBN 9781696148337) was released in Bhubaneswar on October 2, 2016.[4][5] It has a total of 268 pages and contains 24 poems.[1] Nag's debut poem "Old Banyan Tree" is also included:

  1. Five Nectars of Immortality
  2. The Great Sati Urmila
  3. Old Banyan Tree
  4. Make No Silly Excuses
  5. Demon
  6. The Minister and the Beggar
  7. A Cubit Taller
  8. Wine
  9. River Ghensali
  10. The Cuckoo
  11. Bulbul
  12. What Else Could Have Happened
  13. The Harlot of Tikarpada
  14. The Soul is Real
  15. First Clean Yourself
  16. Bhai Jiuntia[note 2]
  17. Greatness
  18. The Year
  19. Too Much
  20. The Dove is My Teacher
  21. Light of the Earthen Lamp
  22. Conscience
  23. Why Did He Leave His Home
  24. A Letter to Poet Haldhar

Vol.2

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The second volume (ISBN 9781695954281) was released in Sambalpur on October 10, 2018,[4][6] with a total of 244 pages, including 28 short poems and 2 long poems:

  1. Lies Lead to Hell
  2. Shri Samlei[note 3]
  3. Our Village Cremation Ground
  4. Profit
  5. For a Little Broth of Rice
  6. Kunjel Para
  7. The Morning of March
  8. Danseuse
  9. Market of Illusion
  10. Kamdhenu
  11. Just Think of It
  12. The Jealous Always Suffer
  13. On the Death of Budhadev Das Cries Mother Samlei
  14. Animals and Humans
  15. Warning
  16. Swachh Bharat
  17. Butterfly
  18. Smeared with Colours, The Old Man Was Cremated
  19. The Matter Ends Here
  20. The Younger Brother's Courage
  21. A Song in Sanchar Tune
  22. Regard for Soil
  23. Untouchable
  24. Lantern
  25. Fire
  26. Summer
  27. Rains
  28. God Kalia of Priest Luru
  29. Slumber
  30. Chhanda Charan Avtar

Vol.3

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The third volume (ISBN 9781701787070) was released in Bargarh on November 22, 2019[4] and has a total of 400 pages. Its content is different from the poetry anthologies in the first two volumes. It is an epic poem with a total of 21 chapters and 1,340 verses, titled "Manifestation of Love"; the illustrations in the book are by Rhiti Chatterjee Bose,[7] the female illustrator from Kolkata. The author tells the story of Krishna from birth to death in a new light:[4]

  1. Kamsa and Devaki
  2. Balram is Born in Gopa-pur
  3. Kamsa and Pootana. Incarnation of Krishna
  4. The Prison Guard
  5. Crossing of Yamuna
  6. Nature Blooms in Gopa-pur
  7. Mother Pootana
  8. Twin Trees Yamla-Arjun
  9. Yashoda’s Vision of the Universe
  10. Balram is Named Haldhar
  11. Mohan Flute
  12. Rasleela
  13. Akrur Fetches Krishna, Balram
  14. Mathura
  15. Death of Kamsa
  16. Disrobing of Draupadi
  17. Karna the Charitable
  18. Shyamantak
  19. Sudama
  20. Radhe-Krishna
  21. The End of Dwapar Yuga

Vol.4

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The fourth volume (ISBN 9798696248189) was released on October 11, 2020, with a total of 368 pages. It is the biographical story of revolutionary Surendra Sai, poet Bhima Bhoi and Gangadhar Meher.

Vol.5

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The fifth volume (ISBN 9798792985353) was released on December 30, 2021, with a total of 304 pages and contains 31 poems:

  1. Tulsi Das
  2. River and Ocean
  3. Mahua Tree
  4. Neem Tree
  5. Spring Tune
  6. Shivaratri
  7. Bracelet
  8. The Witch They Slapped with Slippers
  9. What Do We Do
  10. Goat
  11. That Village Kuchipali
  12. Dussehra Festival in Ghess
  13. Attire
  14. Tara Mandodari
  15. Only Because You Exist
  16. Victory Song
  17. The Power of Goddess
  18. Kirtan
  19. Arrived Dussehra
  20. Squirrel
  21. The Little Calf
  22. Five Orphans
  23. Wooden Leg
  24. Nuakhai Festival Meet
  25. Pushpuni[note 4]
  26. Give Me Some Medicine
  27. Forest Jasmine
  28. Blessings of Guru
  29. The Disrobing
  30. Juapuni
  31. The Village Chowkidar

Origin

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Haldhar Nag was awarded the Padma Shri in a vest, taken on March 28, 2016.

The translator, Surendra Nath is a retired naval officer. In early 2016, he happened to see a post that went viral on social media: a dark-skinned man with long hair, wearing a vest and dhoti, and barefoot, receiving the Padma Shri from Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India. Therefore, he became curious about this "The vest poet" and began to pay attention to his works. Understanding that language was a barrier between Haldhar Nag's rich literary work and the rest of the world, Nath decided to translate Nag's poetry into English so that a wider audience could read it.[8]

In addition, Nath also embarked on an autonomous project called "Project Kavyanjali", to translate and publish all the works of Haldhar Nag into English.[9][10]

Notes

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  1. ^ This is the transliteration of the Sanskrit "काव्यांजलि", which literally means "dedication of poetry". It is also used as a female name in India.
  2. ^ A traditional festival in western Odisha, held every September to October.
  3. ^ Samaleswari, the goddess believed in in Western Odisha.
  4. ^ a Odisha festival

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kavyanjali: Selected Poetic Works of Haldhar Nag". Purple Pencil Project. Tamishra Swain.
  2. ^ "ଆମେରିକାରୁ ଉନ୍ମୋଚିତ ହେଲା ହଳଧର ନାଗଙ୍କ କାବ୍ୟ". Argus News. Manini Pattanayak. 2020-10-13.
  3. ^ "IGNOU students to study Haldhar Nag's poetry". newindianexpress.com. 2022-11-24.
  4. ^ a b c d "3rd volume of Kavyanjali released on 22nd November 2019 in Bargarh". OdishaDiary. 2019-11-23. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  5. ^ "Padmashri Haladhar Nag's Kavyanjali to be launched on Gandhi Jayanti". OdiaLive. Mrudu Malay Mohapatra.
  6. ^ "Padma Shri Haldhar Nag's Poems Translated Into English Will Be Released On 10 October 2018". Odissadiary. Odisha Diary Bureau. 2018-10-05.
  7. ^ "Rhiti Chatterjee Bose". Blue Pencil.
  8. ^ "Interview with Surendra Nath, Author of Kavach of Surya - @Surendra_Kloud9 HistoricalFiction". Debdatta Dasgupta. 2020-08-10.
  9. ^ "Odisha Poet Haldar Nag's Works Translated Into English". OdishaBytes. OB Bureau. 2018-10-12.
  10. ^ "Poems of Haldhar Nag Translated into the English-2016". nuaodisha. 2016-09-29.
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