Magic Moments

The poetry collection, 'Achinha Jahna' by Sumit Panda was selected along with other five, to be published by PEN IN books, and the authors were felicitated with Young Author Award at  Bhubaneshwar Poetry Festival 2017 . As a debut author, Sumit's works stood out in its simplicity. The easy language, common man's tongue and honestly in the portrayal of emotions made it a favorite among the readers. I had the opportunity to listen to him performing his verses in between hectic work hours to lighten the atmosphere and during the evening snack time at the food court. We colleagues would enjoy the poetry sessions a lot, lauding his choice of words and the vast canvas of emotions captured in just a pocketful of Odia words. He had the talent to mesmerize the audience, compelling them to repeat the stanzas again in their minds to recreate the magic. I remember busying myself in translating them to the best of my ability for those who couldn't understand Odia well...

Would I fade away in time? Would I fade away from your memory? Like the wisp of a distant wish, Like the figment of an imagination, Like the morning dream That ought to be forgotten. Or will I linger? Somewhere in the recesses of your mind, Somewhere in between remembrances Somewhere in the multiple folds of nostalgia. In wintry evenings, In the warmth of winter robes, In bubblegums and Cornettos In voices missed, In silences of words unspoken. Will I remain Somewhere in blurred videos And ill shot snaps. Somewhere in neon greens, In articulation of my name Somewhere in elevators and stairs And roads that perhaps go nowhere. Subscribe to our mailing list

About the Book: Aerogramme is a  collection of the poems  that have been read in poetry groups. Blame the group members if you find these ramblings nonsensical. Written in her journal, the poems are  signposts  along the journey called  ‘everyday’.  This is an attempt to recapture the thoughts over a period of the years  she lived away from home  yet moved closer to it. My Review: As the title suggests, it is a letter sent through air mail, snaps of life and jottings of memories. It is borne of nostalgia, from reminisces of the city the author lived in and other fond memories. I have been curious about what a poetry group must be like, a community that encourages and constantly gives you the much-needed feedback on your creative works. These verses took flight in Poetry Reading sessions in Secundrabad Poetry Club, that Nivedita was a part of. She recaptures time and events over the years through poetic verses, the only way to mo...

A book of poetry is never as you expect it to be. The foreword and preface made me request this book, and I thank Netgalley for this beautiful read. The introduction to the book was so full of wretched emotions that it choked me speechless; it spoke of pain, heartbreaks, and aches that dulled over time but never really went away. I knew I was in for a very emotional and cathartic experience. I knew I was about to learn the poet’s most vulnerable self, read the deepest corners of her heart through her work. All masterpieces come from a place of pain. And you can never ignore that which overwhelms you, gets on your nerves, reverberates in your mind, echoes your own being and leaves you with the lump in the throat. The prosaic poetry evoked memories of numerous helpless incidents in my life. There’s repressed hurt in the verses. There are confessions of deep-seated love inspite of all the hurt. There are regrets and guilt. And finally, yet unbelievably, there was liberation a...