Joy Goswami
(India, 1954)
Joy Goswami is regarded as one of the finest poets in the ‘post-Jibananda Das era’ of Bengali poetry. He is the author of twenty-five collections of poetry, ten novels (one of which is in verse), and a book of critical essays. He is also assistant editor of the important literary periodical, Desh, and is in charge of the poetry section. Stylistically innovative, sensuous and imagistic, his poetry shot to prominence in the 1970s. Goswami has won numerous awards, including the Ananda Puraskar (in 1990 and 1998) as well as the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000. However, he remains wary of such recognition and the false sense of entitlement it can bring. “When I return to my writing table,” he says, “no award will help me pen my thoughts.”
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Joy Goswami was born in Kolkata and moved with his family at the age of 5 to Ranaghat, a distant suburb of the city. His father died when Goswami was just 8 years old, and his mother (who was the principal of a school) was to remain a vital presence in his life until her death in 1984. After completing his high school education in Ranaghat, he gave up formal education altogether.
At the age of 19, his poems were published simultaneously in three little magazines. In the next decade, his poems were to appear in several influential literary journals. In 1976 he started writing for Desh Patrika, an important literary magazine in Kolkata. His first collection of poetry, Christmas o Sheeter Sonnetguchcho (Sonnets of Christmas and Winter), was published when he was 23. After thirty years in Ranaghat, Goswami returned to Kolkata where he has continued to live ever since. In 2001, he was a participant at the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa through the US Department of State.
Once in the course of an interview, Goswami offered a fascinating biographical insight into the centrality of the image in his work. He recalled that he regularly maintained a journal as an introverted young boy. However, one day his brother happened to chance on one of these diaries and read his poems aloud to his friends. Deeply humiliated, the young poet decided to give up writing. On reflection, however, he resolved to continue, but in a manner designed to perplex any snooping sibling. “There was this simultaneous process of trying to give vent to my thoughts as well as an attitude of trying to hide what I was trying to express. That is what I would call the birth of metaphor.”
Goswami nurses no delusions about transforming the world with his poetry. “Will my poetry be able to change the world ravaged by the Gujarat riots?” he asks rhetorically. “My daughter once told me that she was becoming cruel . . . I just managed to stroke her hair. I knew my reaction wouldn’t help her be less cruel. My poems, like my strokes, . . . can only console, but not cure.”
The poems selected for this edition of the India domain are from Goswami’s book, Surjo-Pora Chhai (Ashen Sun). They have been translated by short fiction writer and poet, Sampurna Chattarji. Goswami acknowledges (in the accompanying interview) that the genesis of the book was a state of “terrible depression”. “The year was 1999. A lot was going on that was affecting me. The Kargil war, Kosovo, images of millions of refugees fleeing . . .”
The poems invoke a landscape that is mysterious, anguished and visionary all at once. The reader grows progressively aware of a sense of visceral unease, and is inclined to believe Goswami when he says that the book “took three months to write, from my fleeing-thinking stage to the final penning-down stage. I put it away and 6 months later, when I submitted my manuscript to the publishers, I found that I had been cured.”
Capable only of consolation, not cure?
Evidently, Goswami’s poetry is capable of much more than he had once modestly envisaged.
At the age of 19, his poems were published simultaneously in three little magazines. In the next decade, his poems were to appear in several influential literary journals. In 1976 he started writing for Desh Patrika, an important literary magazine in Kolkata. His first collection of poetry, Christmas o Sheeter Sonnetguchcho (Sonnets of Christmas and Winter), was published when he was 23. After thirty years in Ranaghat, Goswami returned to Kolkata where he has continued to live ever since. In 2001, he was a participant at the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa through the US Department of State.
Once in the course of an interview, Goswami offered a fascinating biographical insight into the centrality of the image in his work. He recalled that he regularly maintained a journal as an introverted young boy. However, one day his brother happened to chance on one of these diaries and read his poems aloud to his friends. Deeply humiliated, the young poet decided to give up writing. On reflection, however, he resolved to continue, but in a manner designed to perplex any snooping sibling. “There was this simultaneous process of trying to give vent to my thoughts as well as an attitude of trying to hide what I was trying to express. That is what I would call the birth of metaphor.”
Goswami nurses no delusions about transforming the world with his poetry. “Will my poetry be able to change the world ravaged by the Gujarat riots?” he asks rhetorically. “My daughter once told me that she was becoming cruel . . . I just managed to stroke her hair. I knew my reaction wouldn’t help her be less cruel. My poems, like my strokes, . . . can only console, but not cure.”
The poems selected for this edition of the India domain are from Goswami’s book, Surjo-Pora Chhai (Ashen Sun). They have been translated by short fiction writer and poet, Sampurna Chattarji. Goswami acknowledges (in the accompanying interview) that the genesis of the book was a state of “terrible depression”. “The year was 1999. A lot was going on that was affecting me. The Kargil war, Kosovo, images of millions of refugees fleeing . . .”
The poems invoke a landscape that is mysterious, anguished and visionary all at once. The reader grows progressively aware of a sense of visceral unease, and is inclined to believe Goswami when he says that the book “took three months to write, from my fleeing-thinking stage to the final penning-down stage. I put it away and 6 months later, when I submitted my manuscript to the publishers, I found that I had been cured.”
Capable only of consolation, not cure?
Evidently, Goswami’s poetry is capable of much more than he had once modestly envisaged.
Last updated: Jul 17, 2007
Also on this site
The Word as Sanctuary
Interview with Joy Goswami by Sampurna Chattarji.
Select Bibliography
Poetry
Pagli Tomar Songe. Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1994. 2nd Ed. 2nd reprint 2002. ISBN: 81-7756-148-0. Received the Sahitya Akademi Award, 2000.
Kabita-Songroho (in 3 Vols.). Ananda Publishers, Kolkata.
Vol. 1, 1990. ISBN: 81-7066-205-2. 6th reprint 2001.
Vol. 2, 1997. ISBN: 81-7215-750-9. 3rd reprint 2002.
Vol. 3, 2000. ISBN: 81-7756-088-3.
Suryo-Pora Chhai. Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1999. ISBN: 81-7215-773-8.
Jogotbari. Ananda Publishers; Kolkata, 2000. ISBN: 81-7756-107-3.
Horiner Jonyo Ekok. Ananda Publishers; Kolkata, 2002. ISBN: 81-7756-240-1.
Novel
Jara Brishtite Bhijechhilo (Novel in Verse). Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1998. ISBN:81-7215-566-2. Received Ananda Puraskar, 1998.
Brahma-Rakshas. Ananda Publishers; Kolkata, 1999. ISBN: 81-7215-929-3.
Dada-Bhaider PaaRaa. Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2000. ISBN: 81-7756-012-3.
Snaajhbaatrir Rupkathara. Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1998. ISBN: 81-7215-838-6.
Links
In English
The South Asian Literary Recordings Project
Biographical sketch and photo of Joy Gowsami, as well as readings of his work.
Wikipedia
Biographical note on Joy Goswami.
Bengal on the Net.com
Bio profile of Joy Goswami by Arindam Roy.
Bengal on the Net.com / Sahitya Akademi Award
On Joy Goswami’s award-winning book, Pagli Tomar Sangey, by Arindam Roy.
Parabas.com
Six poems by Joy Goswami, translated by Skye Lavin and the poet.
Parabas.com bio
Biographical note on Joy Goswami.
The Little Magazine.com
‘A Poem for the iron falcon’ by Joy Goswami (translated by Chitralekha Basu).
The Hindu Business Line
Short report on Sony’s distribution of a Bengali film based on Joy Goswami’s novel.
In Bengali
Calcuttaweb.com
Interview with Joy Goswami.
The Word as Sanctuary
Interview with Joy Goswami by Sampurna Chattarji.
Select Bibliography
Poetry
Pagli Tomar Songe. Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1994. 2nd Ed. 2nd reprint 2002. ISBN: 81-7756-148-0. Received the Sahitya Akademi Award, 2000.
Kabita-Songroho (in 3 Vols.). Ananda Publishers, Kolkata.
Vol. 1, 1990. ISBN: 81-7066-205-2. 6th reprint 2001.
Vol. 2, 1997. ISBN: 81-7215-750-9. 3rd reprint 2002.
Vol. 3, 2000. ISBN: 81-7756-088-3.
Suryo-Pora Chhai. Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1999. ISBN: 81-7215-773-8.
Jogotbari. Ananda Publishers; Kolkata, 2000. ISBN: 81-7756-107-3.
Horiner Jonyo Ekok. Ananda Publishers; Kolkata, 2002. ISBN: 81-7756-240-1.
Novel
Jara Brishtite Bhijechhilo (Novel in Verse). Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1998. ISBN:81-7215-566-2. Received Ananda Puraskar, 1998.
Brahma-Rakshas. Ananda Publishers; Kolkata, 1999. ISBN: 81-7215-929-3.
Dada-Bhaider PaaRaa. Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 2000. ISBN: 81-7756-012-3.
Snaajhbaatrir Rupkathara. Ananda Publishers, Kolkata, 1998. ISBN: 81-7215-838-6.
Links
In English
The South Asian Literary Recordings Project
Biographical sketch and photo of Joy Gowsami, as well as readings of his work.
Wikipedia
Biographical note on Joy Goswami.
Bengal on the Net.com
Bio profile of Joy Goswami by Arindam Roy.
Bengal on the Net.com / Sahitya Akademi Award
On Joy Goswami’s award-winning book, Pagli Tomar Sangey, by Arindam Roy.
Parabas.com
Six poems by Joy Goswami, translated by Skye Lavin and the poet.
Parabas.com bio
Biographical note on Joy Goswami.
The Little Magazine.com
‘A Poem for the iron falcon’ by Joy Goswami (translated by Chitralekha Basu).
The Hindu Business Line
Short report on Sony’s distribution of a Bengali film based on Joy Goswami’s novel.
In Bengali
Calcuttaweb.com
Interview with Joy Goswami.