Shuvashree Chowdhury's Blog, page 17

‘Entwined Lives’— poetry or prose, few excerpts.

 

 

Poetry or prose, you decide

‘Acquainted with Isolation’: in Lockdown

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I’ve been acquainted with being on my own,

even when all around there was commotion –

on play fields, at lunch times, in locker rooms

I’ve been alone with myself – my thoughts.

In my mind there’s always constant dialogue,

so I don’t need external noise stimulants;

or the company of people hurling arguments

in trying to gain each other’s banal affirmations.

Yet I enjoy a sincere one on one conversation –

to listen to your soul as you do not your own;

for you’re not connected with your core

in trying to mask from me – or your soul!

Isolation has been a choice I’ve made in life –

yet try me, I’m deeply connected to this world:

for noisy, cluttered minds sink with judgement

in looking out to sea for lifeboats of validation.

My reactions to painful experiences in life –

have been as milk boiling over with froth:

even if it’s bubbling from my various facets

I don’t jump out – it settles on stoves of pain.

In trying to withstand life’s difficult situations

till I can stand the searing heat no more:

perhaps steaming in tears – I’ll calm down

and become immune to this virus for life.

There are times I’ve cooled my saucepan –

then someone recreates tough circumstances

to put me back on the heat of the stove:

but I sit through – if it’s worth the relationship.

After a point with close people I lose patience –

as with those I don’t care to waste my emotions:

so I cut off all their gasoline supply into my life,

to power off negativity – I disconnect their stove.

Company of people I seek only out of choice –

that’s what gives me self-assured strength:

for without the ability to tune inward to yourself,

loneliness will come visiting you for a lifetime.

Imposed isolation now is a medication for those

who do not choose it in fear they’ll be alone –

if they stand by their opposed self convictions,

to create formidable strength from deep within.

— Shuvashree Chowdhury

PS – This prose poem is the froth from the pan of my current novel I’m writing

‘Space’: thoughts in the time of Corona

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“Space”

We all seek it; we all own it –

yet we are all lonely in it:

as, who really knows

how much is too much –

or for that matter who knows

how much is too little!

I need to call you – to come over,

also check if you have time for my visit:

when all I’m really doing is –

hiding in a soulless internet vacuum,

till there comes a point in time

when you will no longer seek me –

for the space between us

has grown further than the horizon

I view – looking out to sea,

from where you seem so remote,

I cannot even invite you to tea.

As a child, I went out visiting –

my Baba, Ma, sister and me:

we called upon friends and family

who welcomed us graciously,

as there wasn’t need for

ringing of remote bells,

to awaken love that was reciprocal;

as it wasn’t constricted in form

io spaces of isolation we’re now in –

for haven’t we beckoned it for long,

begging for Space – unwittingly!

*****

Don’t take life so seriously. It’s not like you’re going to get out alive – we are often told, in various ways, whether in seriousness or in jest.

I for one, have always been told this. People will say to you, don’t take things, or let’s say, life – so seriously, loosen up, let it go, just laugh… or whatever it is that will ease our anxiety or our worry. But in all my working life, that I spent training and coaching youth – often my age or often much older, I realised it is this lack of taking things seriously since childhood, that we are encouraged to do – more so in adulthood when it is of utmost importance, that is the root of most of the problems we face today.

We do not take anything seriously, do we – not our words, neither our actions, and least of all our views and scathing criticism of others and its repercussions, or let’s say even our lavish and undue praise that can topple and ultimately uproot the self-esteem of a person who has little ability left for judgement of his strengths and weaknesses to decide on the profundity of his behaviour or his next course of action.

So what I really want to convey now is this…For heaven’s sake, take life seriously. Even if it means that you love seriously, even if you hurt very seriously, also cry and laugh sincerely, till you really feel all of yourself inside your gut and in your soul.

Don’t laugh, when all you want to do is weep and don’t cry for the world when all you want to do is laugh at the absurdity of what’s happening around you. Have the courage to be real and to be ‘you’, so as to feel everything deeply and connect to your core self, not to do what is expected of you – thus turning yourself into a shallow creature, that keeps flapping its wings with all the other ducks – but has no inherent strength in its wings to fly alone.

You don’t have to be grumpy, boring, whiny and obnoxious to be seriously sincere in life, you can enjoy your life hilariously, uproariously, and be as silly as you please when the mood strikes, but you need to be deeply connected to yourself, to form sincere connections with people and the world and thereby take responsibility for your words, opinions, actions and behaviour and their impact on others. Happiness, especially peace, I believe, stems from taking onus and responsibility for your words, actions and yourself.

That’s why I look you straight in the eye, with conviction – as I’ve always done as a trainer and coach…and continue the same as a writer, even if all you do is merely comment on the photos. I’m not deterred.

— Shuvashree

The fallout of the above attitude I advocate is described in this quote, but well worth it: “And that’s the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too.” — Khaled Hosseini

 

#caronavirus #selfisolation #isolation #seriousnessinlife #thoughtsonlife #selfmotivation

Holy month of Ramadan: excerpts from my novel ‘Across Borders’

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At the start of the holy month of Ramzan, all over the world, sharing relevant excerpts from my novel – ‘Across Borders’: a historic, literary fiction novel…inspired by true incidents. 

***

Soon it is time for Ramadan. In 1964, the first day of Ramadan of the year 1383 AH, is the 16th of January. It has been over ten days that I am living in Zaina’s house. It is here and now that I gain understanding about the actual significance of Ramadan. Muslims around the world anticipate the arrival of this holiest month of the year and unite in a period of community-wide fasting and spiritual reflection.

***

However, in spite of being part of a Muslim household, since I am a Hindu, I have religious independence and am not expected to observe the fast like everyone else. The children and I are exempted from the fast, but I participate in other activities with the rest of the family. Particularly during this time, as well as other times of the year, Muslims are encouraged to read and reflect on God’s guidance. The first verses of the Quran had been revealed during the month of Ramadan and the very first word was: “Read.” I spend considerable time trying to understand the learning’s of the Quran from Uncle and Aunty. I sit with the family when they have their meal at 4am. Though they do not eat anything till sunset, the children and I have our breakfast and midday meals as usual, prepared by the cook. I look forward to Iftar with the family. Iftar is the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

***

I am certain God will reward Farouk uncle and his family for their benevolence in hosting me, feeding me and keeping me under-cover all through Ramadan. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for this family, for hosting me during the sacred month, especially when other Muslims are out there killing Hindus in the riot. There cannot be a better form of charity than protecting and feeding the child of perhaps another God. Allah chose this family to give me a new lease of life, but more, to teach me to respect and love people of all religious faiths.

I will later learn of the killings of a number of my close I will later learn of the killings of a number of my close kin by Muslims in the current riot and the subsequent ones leading to the formation of Bangladesh in 1971. But my private experience of living amidst a Muslim family, who adopted me in turbulent times when not even my family or those close cared to find out whether I was still alive, will always spearhead my reverence for the faith. This incident will never allow me to hate Muslims like most Hindus and people of other religious faiths of my times, who in addition to their own hatred, will leave behind gory tales to feed the hatred of subsequent generations to come.

Anywhere in the world you can order your copy of Across Borders from the platforms here — https://shuvashreechowdhury.com/2019/02/19/international-sales-platforms-for-my-set-of-just-released-4-books/

If you want to know more about the book you could read the media reviews of the first edition in 2013 here: https://shuvashreechowdhury.com/2013/09/13/the-telegraph-reviews-my-book-across-borders/

*******

Sharing with you a relevant view…The most glowing compliment I’ve received so far for my book is from Dr. P.V. Krishnamoorthy, the first director-general of Doordarshan (Indian National Television), who was 93 in Nov 2013 when I received this letter:

‘My dear Shuvashree,

Often I pride myself that I know Bengal and the Bengalis as I have lived among them and understand their psyche. Eminent musicians of Bengal have sung my compositions and I have even dared to sing Rabindra Sangeet.

But your book Across Borders threw new light on the Bengalis. You are an engrossing story teller and your characters come to life. They are so real, so natural. I was happy that you brought in the Muslim family who sheltered Maya at great risk. I heard similar stories when I visited Dacca.

It might interest you to know that my father-in-law in Delhi protected a Muslim watchman from being massacred during the Pakistan riots. It is heart-warming to know that there are sane people across borders.

Your delineation of characters was superb, so true and real that I was able to identify myself with many situations. I happen to share many of the traumatic predicaments in which Maya finds herself specially the trials and tribulations she had to undergo when man killed man. I was a sad witness to many killings in anti-Indian riots in Burma and the slaughter of Muslims in Delhi.

I was deeply touched by the story of the Muslim family which sheltered Maya during the anti-Hindu riots in East Pakistan. I heard many such stories during my visit to Dacca years later. I was reminded of how my boss Prabhat Mukerji and I ventured into Paharganj to rescue a Pathan broadcaster and his wife. Such stories need to be told.

I wish this book is read by non-Bengalis. It unobtrusively brings out our shared cultural and social norms…that in spite of apparent diversity there is a silken thread of unity that binds us all. Was it Gurudev who said, “Ek sutre bandhi acchi sahasra jibon?”

I finished reading your novel in two straight sittings. Need I say more?

P.V. Krishnamoorthy.’

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#novel #religioustolerance
#historical-fiction #bangladeshliberationwar1971 #1964riots

#Ramadan #Ramzan #Literaryfiction

“Where My Books Go”- William Butler Yeats: A brief on my books.

Shuvashree Chowdhury

Here’s  a Brief on my set of four books: Novels, Poetry and Short fiction. 

The global sales links of all paperback and the digital/E-books are in this link:
https://shuvashreechowdhury.com/2019/02/19/international-sales-platforms-for-my-set-of-just-released-4-books/

Across Borders: A Novel

All media reviews and coverage of Across Borders and it’s first launch in 2013, are in the link: https://shuvashreechowdhury.com/2018/07/16/across-borders-my-debut-novel-the-republished-version/

Excerpts from Across Borders, in the words of the protagonist Maya…

Chapter 1: That day in 1948, Kalpana and I left to cross over to another life with Ronjit uncle across the Pakistan border. There was no Bangladesh yet and was not going to be for a long time. Mihirpur is a small town near the city of Dacca, in erstwhile East Pakistan, currently Bangladesh. I was about to transcend the border of my childhood. After the age of eight, I was sucked into adulthood like quicksand. It would only be fifteen years hence that I would again…

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INTERNATIONAL SALES PLATFORMS – for my set of 4 BOOKS.

I wasn’t sure why I took on so many digital E-book versions when my books released… on almost all global reader versions. But now I see, God’s handiwork in guiding me to share my work.

Protected: Ganga Kutir, Raichak: Pieces of Shadow on Jasmine scented Canvas

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

Protected: “Pieces of Shadow: on Jasmine scented Canvas”

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

“Feast of Lights: A Banarasi Sunrise”

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I walked in the direction of an impending sunrise,

from Gowdali chowk to the Daswasmedha ghat,

past the Vishwanath Gali’s entrance starting life –

way before the rest of the arising eastern world.

 

Flower sellers tried to waiver my steady attention 

as I hastened on to celebrate in the feast of lights;

even as beggars flanking the path since predawn 

tried to steal my mind’s eye from a diffident Sun.

 

My vision dodged arched frames, flags, canopies

to detect the grey sky burst into streams of light –

which grew so intense as I watched their gleam,

till they erupted into fissures of tangerine delight.

 

Orange streaks of light spread diffusing grey sky,

as rituals of custom, religion, picked momentum;

past unflappable orange flags on pole lined ghats 

the fleets of boats stood guard – as Sun emerged.

 

Sun now decked in a silverlined orange turban –

bridegroom’s face glorious with the silken halo:

his lovelorn face took on a tangerine hued glow 

in lifting princess Ganga’s dark azure sari hood. 

 

An orange feast of light announced to the world,

that the royals Sun and Ganges are now wedded: 

as men, women turned to priests for ceremony –

hailing the couple, partaking love’s visual buffet.

 

PS: Please click on this youtube link to listen in and recreate the meditative mood I wrote this with: https://youtu.be/9WkvGRNIfDU

#banaras #varanasi #sunrise #ganges #wedding #love #poetry ##daswasmedhagjhat

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INTERNATIONAL SALES PLATFORMS – for my set of 4 BOOKS.

Dear friends,

All the international links below include ebook options, in case you’re looking out to read during the lockdown.

Shuvashree Chowdhury

“These books by Shuvashree Chowdhury now available globally. Titles include Across Borders, Entwined Lives, Existences, and Fragments. Besides lovely books to read, they also make for very thoughtful gifts!” — Cinnamonteal Design & Publishing.

*****

The links of INTERNATIONAL PLATFORMS (US, UK, Canada, Europe, Australia, South Africa, Japan and others) for the EBOOK and PRINT version for my set of just released historical/literary fiction 4 BOOKS – ‘Across Borders’ & ‘Entwined Lives’ (Novels); ‘Existences’(26 short-stories); ‘Fragments’ (poetry – 90 poems): I’ve elaborated on the books – which you may click the photos of to read the blurbs, in my last post in the link here: https://shuvashreechowdhury.com/2019/01/23/kindness-is-not-an-act-it-is-a-lifestyle-my-just-released-collection-of-short-stories-existences-and-the-set-of-4-books/

You may buy the 4 books as a set as they are all interrelated, and therefore released together, or any or more you like. Anywhere in the world, including in India if you prefer to, you may order your paperback and e-book versions of…

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