Xanmiholi Barnamala

Life on a poetic canvas

Name of the book: Xanmiholi Barnamala

Writer: Harekrishna Deka

Publisher: Anwesha

Pages: 98

Price: Rs 88

Xanmiholi Barnamala is a collection of 46 poems of noted Assamese litterateur Harekrishna Deka.

As the name, which means “a potpourri of alphabets”, suggests, the book is a collection of poems depicting a variety of moods and emotions. The collection is divided into four categories, emphasising the range of the poems’ varied moods. While some poems are dark and biting, some are replete with hopeful undertones. But more often than not, the poet’s words hit home.

The inherent imagery in the poems is also simple and easy to visualise and serves the purpose it is meant for.

The imagery is striking in the poem Amar Bhoga Gadikhon (Our broken car), which highlights the intellectual divide between generations. Here, the poet beautifully depicts the car as a symbol for time and age.

He laudably paints a clear picture of development-induced displacement through the poem Hothat (Suddenly) and portrays the pitfalls of a materialistic society in Noxa (Sketch).

Shikhar Angulibur (Fingers of a flame) is a poem in which the flame of the funeral pyre of a youngster is visualised as fingers that point at us for being responsible for the prevalent brutality of which he was a victim.

In Aamak Kihobai Upangai Rakhisil (Something kept us floating) Deka laments that the ecstasy of love has become something of the past, while Pratnaj (Archeological) or Shishur Aaviskar (Child’s discovery) delves into the lack of creativity in present day society.

But all throughout, Deka neither preaches nor imposes his views. He is not concerned with any specific ideology; he writes from his own observations and experience, which have lent authenticity to his poems.

He, of course, is not without hope. In Tumalukoloi (To all of you), Deka hopes that the fire of the meji burnt in Magh Bihu will destroy all the divisive and destructive forces of our society to usher in peace, progress and prosperity and our traditional fairs and festivals will lead us along the right way. The importance of man and his innate creativity will return.

Fantasy and reality have been interwoven and treated which mastery; and here lies the poetic craftsmanship of Deka.

Pick up a copy when you’re in the mood for poetry. You will not regret it.

SYED MAHHAMAD MAHSHIN

Published on October 28, 2011

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