* BALCONIES OF TIME NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!

To buy it in India visit http://www.hawakal.com/books/english-books/balconies-of-time/ 

To buy it in the UK visit https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/8193532538/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1509699824&sr=1-1&keywords=amit+shankar+saha 

To buy it in the US visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/8193532538/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509699753&sr=8-1&keywords=amit+shankar+saha 

* BALCONIES OF TIME

My debut collection of poems titled BALCONIES OF TIME is published by Hawakal Publishers and is available online at http://www.hawakal.com/books/english-books/balconies-of-time/ 

* Poem at Duane's PoeTree!

Read my poem "Where I Come From" here https://duanespoetree.blogspot.in/2017/07/amit-shankar-saha-writes.html 

* Publications!

Read my poems "Heartbreak of the Lost Earth", "Coral" and "The One I Should Not Name" published in The Cauldron, 7th Issue, 2017 - http://www.dolchhut.com/2017/06/the-cauldron-7th.html?m=1

Read my conversation with Pragati Gupta on love at Bonobology - https://www.bonobology.com/love/the-paradox-of-love/1037-the-experiences-of-being-in-love-with-many-men-and-women

Read my review of Prof. Sanjukta Dasgupta's fifth collection of poems Lakshmi Unbound at Setu Magazine - http://www.setumag.com/2017/05/lakshmi-unbound-sanjukta-dasgupta.html

* Poetry Chapbook Competition 2017!

* Spring 2017!

My research article "Existential Alienation and the Indian Diaspora: An Approach to the Writings of Anita Desai, Bharati Mukherjee, Sunetra Gupta, and Jhumpa Lahiri" published in CLRI journal. Visit: http://literaryjournal.in/index.php/clri/article/view/156

My book review of Lopa Banerjee's Thwarted Escape: An Immigrants's Wayward Journey published in Bonobology blog. Visit: https://www.bonobology.com/blogs/917-amit-shankar-saha/43-my-love-affair-with-lopa-banerjee-a-review-of-thwarted-escape-by-dr-amit-shankar-saha

My poems "The Bermuda Triangle" and "The Last Riverine Civilization" published in Tuck Magazine. Visit: http://tuckmagazine.com/2017/03/29/poetry-788/

My poem  "A Secret of Forests" published in Oddball Magazine. Visit: https://oddballmagazine.com/2017/04/12/poem-by-dr-amit-shankar-saha/

My poem "Autism" (#26) published in Different Truths online anthology on Autism awareness. Visit: http://www.differenttruths.com/literature/poems/an-anthology-of-poems-on-autism-awareness/

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Report 

"Workshop on "Songs, Roots, Inheritance: Caryapada to Gitagovinda, Samkhya to Sahajiya"

15th April 2017

On the first day of the Bengali New Year a one-day workshop on “Songs, Roots, Inheritance: Caryapada to Gitagovinda, Samkhya to Sahajiya” was organized by Shoptodina Foundation at Mahabodhi Society Hall, Kolkata.  The workshop saw three presentations starting with the playing of a song from the Caryapadas, the oldest existing text of Bengali literature. The first presentation was by Dr. Tamal Dasgupta who introduced the theme and said that song is the language that has connected human beings since ancient times. Perhaps the Neanderthals got extinct in competition because of the Homo Sapiens’ ability to sing. He went on to explicate from the 3500-year old Hurrian hymn on how the transformation of foraging culture to agrarian culture affected human beings. From Krishna’s flute to Shakti worship at Pandu Rajar Dhipi are all perhaps fertility rituals. He brought focus on Samkhya philosophy and how its development through stages of ancient, classical, Sahajiya, Tantric and other forms saw aspects of duality between Purusha and Prakiti. He also brought in psychoanalysis and logocentrism to explain the materialistic base and tragic vision of Samkhya. His thrust was on the concept that Indian civilization is Samkhya-based and not Veda-based. He then went on to elaborate on how Lakshman Sen’s court poet Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda has Sahajiya philosophy at its root.

Post lunch-break saw two presentations on Kirtan and Baul tradition by Sayantan Thakur and AnirbanMondal respectively.Sayantan Thakur interspersed his presentation with beautiful rendition of kirtans while expounding on the various types of kirtans like Naamkirtan, Lila kirtan, Suk kirtan, Gunakirtan, Dhopkirtan, etc. He said that the two prominent gharanas of kirtans viz. Garenhatigharana and Manoharsaingharana gave the 162 taals used in kirtan. He said that kirtan has six parts – Katha, Sur, Taal, Katang, Aakhor, Doha – and how Gitagovinda’staals are kholtaal and not of pakhwaj. Sayantan Thakur created an atmosphere of serenity through his excellent singing skills and knowledge of ragas. After him the presentation on Baul tradition saw AnirbanMondal elucidate on how Baul originated as an alternative to conventional religion and represented a social revolution. He said that the etymology of the word “baul” is from “batul” which means crazy. He made it pertinent that in the Baul tradition the status of woman was very high and a woman could also be a “guru” and give “diksha” to disciples. The Baul tradition attracted marginalized people across class, religion, social and economic backgrounds.

* Rhythm Divine Poets Blog!

Rhythm Divine Poets on its 2nd Anniversary launches its blog. Visit: http://rhythmdivinepoets.blogspot.com 

* Poetry on Tram and Hosting Nabina Das!

POETRY on WHEELS – YES on a TRAM!

Rhythm Divine Poets went reciting poems on a decked up tramcar around the city on the occasion of International Mother Language Day on 21st February, 2017. The event was part of CIMA, Chitrabani and Rotaract Club of Central Calcutta’s initiative to raise awareness about this eco-friendly mode of transport. The tram had paintings and photographs on display by various artists. The event was covered by Citi Cable and Friends FM. Apart from Rhythm Divine Poets there were other groups who joined the initiative, like Monmarte, as well as individual musicians like Akash Dasupta, Pavlu Banerjee and others. The ride started at Nonapukur Tram Depot around 2:30 p.m. and went all the way to Esplanade Tram Museum where there was halt for refreshment and then back to the depot. At the museum there was more of music and poetry recitation. Poets who recited included Anindita Bose, Amit Shankar Saha, Sufia Khatoon, Urvashi Mukherjee, Akash Sinha, Komal Khaitan and others. Many foreign students in Kolkata on exchange programme from the US too came on board to be a part of this novel ride. Trams have been a heritage of Kolkata but now operate only on a few routes in the city. Rhythm Divine Poets are happy to join this effort of bringing together art, music, poetry and our heritage the tram in an interesting combination that gives an amazing experience.

AN EVENING WITH NABINA DAS!

* Release of Rhythm Divine Poets Anthology!

Rhythm Divine Poets Anthology Volume 1 (2016) was released by noted Indian poet Sharmila Ray and US poet Neal Hall at Art Rickshaw on 21st January, 2017.

It was followed by a formal book launch at the Kolkata International Book Fair. 

Rhythm Divine Poets also did a poetry event at the US pavilion at the Kolkata International Book Fair.