Rudra Goswami’s ‘Bishonno Roddur’ is a song of conscience

People often struggle to express themselves in the era of digitisation. It is a time when we are convicted by censorship, causing the decay of emotion and the loss of the ability to stand out against oppression. Humans, as a result, struggle to survive meaningfully.

Bishonno Roddur (2022), the 7th poetry book by celebrated poet Rudra Goswami, is a song of conscience that touches one's sense of morality in a subtle way. The book has been published simultaneously in Kolkata by Obhijan Publishers and in Dhaka by Anindyo publishers at the 2022 Ekushey Boi Mela.

Goswami infuses some fundamental questions—about realising one's social strength, reacting against oppression, building empathy and so on—through the form of quatrains that try to raise awareness of what it is to be socially awake.

"I don't call these poems, they are consciences", Goswami told this reporter. "I always want to spread love and provoke our inner soul through my works, hoping to see a bigger change".

The 108 page-book consists of 100 quatrains exploring themes of love, nature, politics, and society, language, self-consciousness, the notion of existence, and so on.

"I will consider myself successful when these series of thoughts expressed in my book will start affecting people, and they will reflect through action", the poet said.

The wonderful cover illustration of the book is done by Charu Pintu, while Komol Pal, an emerging artist working on his first big project with this book, has drawn the line art that beautifully complements each of the poems.

"I would like to congratulate and express my heartfelt gratitude towards Komol for his excellent work", shares the writer.

The book is available at BDT 250 ($10), at pavilion no. 25, Anindyo publishers at the Ekushey Boi Mela.

Rudra Goswami will visit the fair from March 14 to 17 to meet and greet his readers.