Kirti Sengupta’s ‘The Unheard I’

Dr Kiriti Sengupta’s “The Unheard I” is a reading wonder which unfolds a colourful image gallery of new trend in writing. It’s an enjoyable read even though a reader stumbles at several doors. When the doors are opened with master keys its an inviting discourse. I was fascinated by the interesting mix up of genres in the book. I read again to conceptualise my ideas. Is it a meta nonfiction? Possibilities are wide open. If we go by the present critical nuances the book is an interesting discourse where the author has made some deliberate choices.

It’s about the narrator; about writing and translation from Bengali. An orthodox reader may find the book “shocking”. It moves on! It moves our cerebral cells. Foreword of the book is a key to get into the book. Editor’s Note clearly mentions the idea behind the publication of the book. Don Martin states, “Kiriti was a joy to work with(.)” Joy spills over white pages of the book as we are whisked from one idea to another.

The book has three segments: A Serious ToF; Yogic Poetry; The Indian Heritage and The Translator I. Out of these three parts I personally like the second part where the author has introduced Indian heritage and Yogic poetry. The ideas are not definite but make sense. The author doesn’t try to historicise the traditional heritage. He makes his own selections and enjoys a licence. No reader should form a definite heritage out of this seemingly partial presentation of a tradition handed down generation after generation. It reminds me a modern trend in different parts of the globe where poetry is performance. I’ve attended a few of them in alien shores. It’s again back to our ideological position. Can poems be reflection of a meditative mind? Can poems be circulated and written for facebook community? I think the world is changing fast.There is a new threat for critics, writers and reviewers: requests flood like rivers in monsoon. There are so many types of writings as there are innumerable writers in the world. Life narratives emerge as a potent body of nonfiction. There is no hard and fast rule for its contents. It leaves possibilities open!

“The Unheard I” is a literary proto autobiography of a dental surgeon where the author moves out of his professional world and explores “self- realisations”. Some descriptions are sketchy and short. But there are rooms for improvement in the next updated edition. Writing is an ongoing process. It’s mutual. Both the readers and the author evolve over a period of time. And there is always a proper time for everything. Elegant production of the book adds a separate dimension. We do think that those who have a drive to write nonfiction, and who persist with the genre end up in good writing. Granted, everything is not attractive, but something is really engaging which pulls a reader back to his seat.

There are translations (from Kiriti’s mother tongue) of some poems in the book. Good or bad doesn’t matter. It’s a valuable reflection of a society/culture rich with art. The selection of poets is personal. It can go to any number. I was expecting a logic behind the selection of poems from the vast and encompassing reservoir. It’s about a very rich culture where one should be careful. Translation of a rich culture to the global readers is a serious act. I hope Kiriti has good answers to follow up. I’ll be happy if the book travels well in future. Hope it carries healthy food as baggage.

What I like most of the book is the ending of the book. It prepares us for the next book. Any way, the book promises to be a stable march for a better tomorrow. Happy surgery in words!

01-Sep-2013

More by : Prof. Jaydeep Sarangi

Top | Book Reviews

Views: 3614 Comments: 1

Thank you so very much, Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi for this brilliantly researched view. I feel extremely joyous.

I would like to mention that interested readers may grab their copies from the following sites:

Paperback:

1. http://pothi.com/pothi/book/kiriti-sengupta-unheard-i

2. http://www.flipkart.com/the-unheard-i/p/itmdnhzrdfz6q5cz?pid=9788192642222&otracker=from-search&srno=t_2&query=Kiriti+Sengupta&ref=38683f3c-1516-4b59-a13c-beef798a9786

3. http://www.amazon.in/The-Unheard-I-Kiriti-Sengupta/dp/8192642224/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376502371&sr=8-2&keywords=Kiriti+Sengupta

E-version (Smashwords edition):

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/335943

Dr. Kiriti Sengupta
01-Sep-2013 12:20 PM

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