- Subodh Sarkar
Subodh Sarkar, [সুবোধ সরকার] a major Bengali poet, writer and editor of India, and a Reader in English literature at City College,
Kolkata , was born in 1958 atKrishnanagar . His poetry is incisive, satiric, provocative, manipulative, and most of all, entertainingly contemporary which brings a fresh new idiom to Bengali poetry.Biodata
His first book of poems was published in the late 70s and now he has 26 books to his credit - 20 of poems, 2 of translations and one travelogue on America. His poems have been translated into English, French and several Indian languages and published in prestigious journals and anthologies.
External links
* [http://ide.synthasite.com/sites/D8d1/D447/D680/D699/U402881b2188cfb3401189960867441d8/402881b2188cfb340118996295c94203/INTERVIEW_of_POET_SUBODH_SARKAR.php An interview of Subodh Sarkar]
* [http://www.museindia.com/auth.asp?id=108 Muse India - Subodh Sarkar's Profile]
* [http://www.voanews.com/bangla/archive/2005-07/2005-07-24-voa1.cfm Subodh Sarkar Attends Bengal Conference in New York]
* [http://www.vedamsbooks.com/no24516.htm Signposts : Bengali Poetry Since Independence]
* [http://www.geocities.com/kavitayan/subodh.html Kavitayan I Indian Poetry I Subodh Sarkar]
* [http://www.bengalipoetsubodhsarkar.com/ Subodh Sarkar's Personal Website]
* [http://www.geocities.com/indian_poets/bengali.html Indian Poets I Bio-Notes on Bengali Poets]
* [http://www.pashchimi.org/ Welcome to Pashchimi - Home]Awards and Honours
*Shakti Chattopadhyay Binodan Vichitra Puroskar (1997)
*Bangla Akademi Anita-Sunil Basu Puroskar (2000)Editing
Subodh Sarkar is the Editor of Bhashanagar, a Bangla culture magazine with occasional English issues.
List of Publications- Books of poems:
*Kabita 78-80, Krishnanagar, 1980
*Riksha Mesh Katha, Krishnanagar, 1983
*Eka Narakgami, Kolkata, Prativas, 1988
*Maronottar Jal, Shatabdir Mukha, Kakdwip, 1990
*Maruvumir Golap, Amritalok, Medinipur, 1991
*Chandradosh Oshudhe Sarena, Prativas, Kolkata, 1991
*Adai Hat Manush, Boipara, Kolkata, 1993
*Chihh, Kalkata, Ananda Publishers, 1993, ISBN 81-7215-246-9
*Rajneeti korben Na, Kolkata, Prativas, 1997
*Dhanyabad Marichika Sen, Kolkata, Katha O Kahini, 1997
*Sab Rasta Rome-e Jae Na, Patralekha, Kolkata, 2001
*Bhalo Jaygata Kothae, Kolkata, Ananda Publishers, 2001,ISBN 81-7215-916-1
*Jerujalem Theke Medinipur, Srishti, Kolkata, 2001
*Kallu, Kolkata, Ananda Publishers, 2003
*Krittikae Sonnet Cangaroo, Saptarshi Prakashan, Kolkata, 2003
*Shrestha Kabita, Kolkata, Deys Publication, 2004
*Ami Karo Andhakar Noi, Kolkata, Prativas, 2004
*Manipurer Ma, Kolkata, Ananda Publishers, 2005, ISBN 81-7756-485-4
*Boma Bananor Class, Saptarshi Prakashan, Kolkata, 2006
*Ja Upanishad Tai Koran, Ananda Publishers, 2006*Pratibader Kabita, Deep Prakashan, Kolkata, 2007
*Prem O Pipegun, Aajkaal Prakashani, 2008Book of poems in English translation:
*Route Map 25, Bhashanagar, Kolkata.2004
Book of Translation:
*Biswa Kabita, Prativas, Kolkata, 199
Travelogue:
*Deshta America, Vostok, Kolkata, 1993
Books co-authored with Mallika Sengupta:
*Sohag Sharbari, Abhiman, Howrah, 1985
*Prem O Pratibader Kabita, Kolkata, Vikash Grantha Bhavan, 2001
*Subodh Mallika Square, Kolkata, Vikash Grantha Bhavan, 2006A sample poem by Subodh Sarkar
Where's the Good Place
When he got up from his nap, my three-year-old son said:
Papa, will you take me to a good place?
Surprised, I looked at the three year old ---
at three-year-old eyes, three-year-old lips,
at trickling drops of sweat.
I said: Go and get the zoo.
The lion's gotten very hungry, the tiger's chased the deer.
He said: No, take me to a good place.
He went to the next room, cried a bit,
Came back with a tattered Karl Marx calendar, and said:
We'll take this grandpa too, by train, by boat.
Hey, Papa, Papa, won't we go to a good place?
When I took him to Victoria, he said: No, this is no good.
When I took him to the Ganges, he said, It's only a river.
When I gave him ice cream, he walked along whining.
Disgusted, I took him home around eight and saw
tattered Karl Marx lying abandoned on the floor.
I told my son: Listen, this grandpa said
He would take us to a good place too.
That Sunday, there was no train, no boat.
Quiet for a moment, thinking who knows what,
he began whining again.
I gave him a ball, I gave him a robot, I gave him a ship.
Right when I was wondering whether to give him a spanking,
He asked all-time big question:
Hey, Papa, tomorrow, will you take me to a good place tomorrow?
"Translated By Carolyn Brown, Sanjukta Dasgupta and Ashesh K. Chatterjee"
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