Neera: Poems Translated by Arunava Sinha

Sunil Gangopadhyay, a prominent figure in the literary landscape of Bengal, was the foremost of the region's angry yet romantic young poets during the second half of the twentieth century. Throughout his writing life, he crafted a continuous sequence of love poems addressed to a mythical woman named Neera, which became a mantra for two generations of young women and men. From the ardent, sexually charged verses of early infatuation, through the demanding and sensual rhythms of a full-blown relationship, to the mellowing middle-age memories of romance, the Neera poems stand as a pulsating testimony to the cycle of passion, desire, and, inevitably, unrequited longing.

This selection presents the most stunning of Sunil Gangopadhyay's Neera poems, with many of them translated for the first time. These poems possess the power to ignite a hundred love affairs when recited aloud, captivating the hearts and minds of the readers. The Neera poems trace the evolution of a relationship, from the initial spark of desire to the ebb and flow of a mature love, and ultimately, the bittersweet pangs of unfulfilled yearning.

Gangopadhyay's mastery of language and his ability to capture the nuances of human emotion are evident in these verses. The early poems, imbued with the fervor of young love, are sensual and intoxicating, painting a vivid picture of the all-consuming nature of infatuation. As the relationship deepens, the poems take on a more complex and demanding rhythm, reflecting the passions and challenges of a fully realized connection.

Yet, even as the poems mature, they never lose their essential romanticism. The middle-age recollections are tinged with a wistful nostalgia, a longing for the intensity of the past, and a recognition of the impermanence of love. Gangopadhyay's poetic genius lies in his ability to weave together the threads of desire, disappointment, and the enduring power of the human heart.

Through these Neera poems, the reader is invited to embark on a journey of the heart, experiencing the full spectrum of love's triumphs and tragedies. The poems resonate with a universal appeal, transcending the boundaries of time and culture, and leaving an indelible mark on the souls of those who encounter them. Sunil Gangopadhyay's Neera poems stand as a testament to the enduring power of literature to capture the essence of the human experience, revealing the depths of our shared capacity for love, loss, and the bittersweet complexities of the human condition.

product information: