Kolkata,
July 20 : Renowned bilingual poet, author and educationist Anish Kanjilal has
launched his latest Bengali poetry collection, "Ami Nari O Onnanno
Prosongo "(I, Woman and Other Contexts) , a work that offers an evocative
exploration of love, memory, identity, mortality and the complexities of human
existence. The collection was formally introduced at a press conference held at
the Kolkata Press Club on July 15, 2026, with celebrated filmmaker and actor
Goutam Ghose attending as the chief guest.
Born
in Kolkata on June 23, 1976, Kanjilal has established himself as one of the
distinctive voices in contemporary Bengali and English literature. A bilingual
poet writing in both Bengali and English, he is also the Director of EDUCARE
The Institute and Head of its Department of English. His literary works,
academic contributions and research have consistently reflected a commitment to
human values, philosophical inquiry and social consciousness.
Published
by Dey's Publishing, Ami Nari O Onnanno Prosongo is more than a collection of
poems. It is an introspective literary journey that traverses the emotional,
philosophical and social landscapes of contemporary life. The volume brings
together poems that contemplate love, loss, death, dreams, freedom, memory, hope
and the search for meaning, while inviting readers to engage with fundamental
questions of identity and existence.
The
collection charts an expansive poetic journey—from the microscopic world of
"Pipre" (The Ant) to the contemplative finality of
"Bisorjon" (Immersion)—symbolically leading readers from the smallest
forms of life to universal consciousness, and from personal emotions to shared
human experience. Throughout the volume, Kanjilal presents poetry not merely as
an artistic medium but as an instrument for understanding life itself.
Love
remains one of the central threads running through the collection, though never
in a singular or romantic sense. Poems such as Likhechhinu Lipikhani
Priyotamake, Prem O Biplab and Premer Samadhi Tire explore affection, longing,
separation, transformation and emotional resilience. These works are balanced
by poems that interrogate society and identity, including Mukhosh, Mondo Narir
Pandulipi Theke and Ami Feminist, where the poet raises compelling questions
about gender, power structures and the evolving discourse surrounding
womanhood.
Mortality
occupies an equally significant place in the volume. Rather than presenting
death as an end, Kanjilal approaches it as a profound philosophical reality
that illuminates the meaning of life. Poems such as Duare Mrityu Asa Bhalo,
Ekti Chuchor Mrityu and Mrityumichhil examine the inevitability of death from
multiple perspectives, while Swapna Holeo Satyi and Mokshalabh suggest
spiritual awakening, liberation and self-realisation beyond material existence.
The
poet's imaginative landscape seamlessly blends mythology with modernity. Poems
including Medusar Grahan, Brindaban and Brihannala reinterpret mythological and
historical symbols to address contemporary concerns, while works such as E
Shohor Ghumiye Ache Kobore and Madhyanna portray urban alienation, emotional
fatigue and the existential anxieties of modern society.
Stylistically,
the collection moves effortlessly between simplicity and complexity. At times
intimate and lyrical, at others symbolic and philosophical, Kanjilal's language
remains emotionally authentic throughout. Poems such as Akibuki, Album and
Kabyer Smritite delicately reconstruct memory, time and personal history,
transforming individual experiences into universal reflections.
The
volume also bears the imprint of the poet's deeply personal experiences.
Several poems are inspired by memories of his mother, lending the collection
emotional depth and an unmistakable sense of intimacy. Together, these personal
narratives enrich the broader philosophical concerns that define the work.
According
to the publishers, Ami Nari O Onnanno Prosongo is not simply a poetry
collection but an invitation to self-discovery. It brings together imagination,
resistance, compassion and hope, encouraging readers not only to appreciate
poetry aesthetically but also to encounter it as a mirror of their own lives.
Every poem presents questions, conflicts, silences and possibilities, inviting
reflection rather than offering definitive answers.
Speaking
about the spirit of the collection, Kanjilal encourages readers to experience
the poems beyond their literal meanings. "Do not merely read these
poems," he says. "Feel them. Listen to the quiet music beneath every
word, and discover your own life reflected within them."
Ami
Nari O Onnanno Prosongo is published by Dey's Publishing and is now available
for readers.
Book
details: https://www.deyspublishing.com/books/ami-nari-o-anyanya-prasanga