kabisava

on CREATION

SUKUMAR CHOUDHURI, the lucid prose writer

He enjoys an enviable reputation. Brimming over the geographic confines of Bengal as well as Vidarbha, his fame has now permeated throughout the Globe. We, the moulders of words who perpetuate deeper sensitivities through verbal expositions, pause for a moment whenever we find the glimpse of Maratha in the media or anywhere else and recollect, “That’s where our Sukumar ………. His susceptibilities are many. Among them, his love for literature is foremost. He may rightly be called the mainstay of the life force of the 80’s world of Bengali Poetry. Forsooth, the ever-reactionary transit of Bengali poetry had never known so much of virulent and dynamic probing into the abysmal threshold of vivisecting self-analysis leading to precariously revealing impacts. Never had so much of unmatched translations of elusive humane experiences found such bohemian ebullitions. To date his publications number only ten volumes, each tracking a different trail. The diversity of style, the floridity of expressions and the varied nuances rather suits him because he writes ‘to transgress art to reach the art beyond’. He loves diversity and therefore ponders over man’s contrasting and contradicting role and its gamut of variations. Life reveals its little secrets before us in bits and pieces and intellectual perceptions can manage to grasp only a tiny flitting glance of them. The remaining only rest in the realms of imagination. This aspect of life is his pet theme and therefore always exists as a signature refrain in his writings. This is also the reason why a veil of romantic mysticism prevails around him.

The person, like his poetic frugality, is a spartan in speech. He is the Editor of ‘Khanan’, the only Bengali Little Magazine of Vidarbha. A little more about Sukumar, who is averse to publicity and is leading a self-exiled life in Maharashtra. He was born on 14th January 1962 in Balarampur in the Purulia District of Bengal. He had his childhood days in Jhalda. One of his poetry work in local dialect of Jhalda, has initiated a storm of controversy. The book has already been awarded by ‘Durer Kheya’ of Kanpur as the best book of the year. His works has widely been translated in Marathi, Hindi, Kannad, Urdu and Telugu languages. We are amazed at the effortless ease with which he courses into the various tributaries of literature besides poetry and drawing. He has been awarded “Ekhon Kabita Puraskar’ for best poetry, ‘Maya Megh Puraskar’ for best short story, and ‘Mahadiganta Puraskar’ for best editing. Little Magazine Library O Gabeshana Kendra of Kolkata and Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan of Nagpur felicited him in the year 2000 and 2002 respectively. His creativity had widely been projected in different "Who's Who' of prominence Besides he has been awarded with the prestigious ’Sahitya Setu Puraskar’ for his sincere contribution to the world of Bengali literature. Moreover his well-researched papers presented in different platforms and occasions triggered the mankind for his unparallal evaluation on specific issues. As on date his published works are 'Manush Hey '(Eng Translation ~ 'Hello Men' by Kamalesh Bandopadhyay), 'Mangso O Manisha', 'Mayer Baper Bari', 'Aamader Parjyatan', 'Chhannamoteer Kuhu' (Eng Translation ~ 'Bohemian Songs' by B Sudipta), 'Lal Leel Hoeelda Tin dikey Jhaeelda', 'Fanimansar Ulu', 'Libidore Haarmala',, 'Padya Pratibeshi' and 'Gadya Pratibeshi'. He prefers working on different tributaries at a time. Presently he is working on his forthcoming poetry collections titled 'Atmacharit', 'Kabitapath' and 'Rumar Jannye', essay books titled 'Susamachar' and 'Shilpo ebong Uttaran' and few more creative works like 'Ulanga Diary Theke', 'Unsung Days', 'Chingri Fisher Deem', 'Hriday', and couple of books yet to be named. He is bit slow in processing his creations, as he believes in spontaneity. His creation can only be compared with the virgin dew drops. Most probably he defined it as ‘silent notation’ in his poems. Whatever it may be, with his non-stop creations everybody thus experience the flow of his witty love and finest feelings for literature.

~ B Sudipta/Andhra University

On creation
By Sukumar Choudhuri

Not because writing in English has become extremely popular, flow of English Mags are enormous these days………… moreover encouraging readership……..tempting offers………… Not bad indeed ! May be these are the reasons as to why the wide canvas of English writing is religiously stroked by Writers from different origins of India.

Primacy was Bengali and I had to present couple of my Bengali poems in the beginning of a multilingual poet conference held at Rashtra Bhasha Bhawan some time back. Mere honour or defensive appreciation…………whatever it may be…………it is beyond doubt that due honour is being restored these days to Bengali Literature by other than Bengali-speaking people only…………..and not the Bengalees. To establish it rather………..while quitting the dais…….. after my inaugural Bengali poems…………. must be a student of adjacent L A D………. Jeans, Baggy T-Shirt, Pony tail…….. smartly interacted me in polished English………. and asked……….. whether I have any English Book in my credit……….. even mere translation of my work will do……...

I could recollect very well as Ms Arundhati Deshmukh……in her golden voice………performed beautiful Rabindra-songs that day. Later………after a prolonged poetry session of different origins……………..while listening to the rich Urdu-geets of Dr Mansha…………I was totally covered by the appeal of that loving youngster. It was evident…………she got nothing out of my Bengali recitation besides the sweet melody of the language. My voice is dull and unimpressive too. May be that is the reason…………..the poor girl was enquiring the references of my English work……...if any……to gather its unsung essence. Throughout the karikram I kept on thinking and I realized…….her demand was absulately genuine………….I appreciated………she was not only beautifully bold but our next generation too……..

Soon after that what arrested me………. was my poor English works. Longing in Vidarbha since so many years………….I had to contribute a lot in English though from the very beginning itself I have always been reluctant to create something in English. Frankly……..urge was never from within but from the place itself where I am surviving………demand was from the friends who do not know Bengali. Besides invitations were there……….umpteen and unavoidable……to contribute on different topics. Otherwise………I swear………….I have never felt the necessity of creating something in English before landing Maratha in 1980. But natural !

In that sense……..I surrender………….such creations are utterly clerical even if buttered……… ‘cause it is obvious………………….none of my benglish was tried originally in English. Most of them are mere translations. We may call them ‘transcreations’ to glamourise our inability.

Many a times……I wonder…….it is simply wastage of time……..as I sincerely feel…….. it is not the responsibility of a Writer of any specific origin …….to arrange……….to make any of its creations………. universally viable……..

_____________________
Source : From the Naked Diary (27.7 1999)

Salim Reza Newton wrote

Apnar kobita'r link'ta khullam.
Print nie poRe tarpor apnake janachcHi kemon laglo.

Nah! ekhuni poRe pheli, kemon?
Etai to, tai na?: (onnerao poRuk...)

SUKUMAR CHOUDHURIr Shilpo
ShilpoPakhir basar kafrigandhamoy snanghare tomake dekhabo charuisangam
E dekha shoar aage dudando blu-film dekha noi
E dekha sparsher mato jaibojateel, swamehosantap
Tumi dher pabe jadi chao, proti roamkupe romancher gaan
Tomake vejabe thik
Jounobeed charai-er birotipraban jatra e rakam sammohak
Jounobeed charai-er birotipraban jatra e rakam amishashi
E rakam dirghasutree, nirodhbeeheen
Shabdo korona tumi bathtub-e fenamoy shuey thako choop
Anek dekhecho tumi academy, galareer art
Porecho nandanshilpo, moulikata niye dher baktime shunecho
Kinecho neelim aalo, Kohinoor, Liciaar jadu
Aaj ooi samadhistho jugalpakhir krida dekho shilpomoy.....

Bhaloi laglo. Besh bhalo. Jounota nie porishkaar kothabarta amader kobita kom-i bolen. Jiboner shottikaar jounota'r shathe apni je 'virtual' 'digital' 'nirodhee' [ nirodh apnader okankar ekta condom'er naam, tai na? ] blue film'er shomporko bichar korte shahoshee hoecHen sheita amar bhalo legecHe. kintu bath-tub'er proshongo (apni besh boRolok naki, bhai?) abar blue film'er kotha'i mone korie diecHe, ami antoto bhoi peyecHi. Kobita ekebare purusher chokh die dekha-lekha. naree'ke khuje paowa ehane ektu katHin'i... Kobita'ta tobu amar bhalo legecHe 'consumer culture'ke challenge korar uddog ete acHe bole.

bhalobasha...

bhalo thakben...

newton

NB: Tapan Bagchi'da abar eto lomba lekha dekhe bhoi peyen na. sukumar'da west bengal'e amader compu-bangla poRte paren na. jodi pari ei lekha'o banglai word/pdf kore re-posting korar cheshta korbe kemon?