Oneness

by Kiriti Sengupta, Pintu Biswas (illustrator), Samir Mondal (illustrator)

54 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2024

About the author

Kiriti Sengupta, the 2018 Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize recipient, has poems published in The Common, The Florida Review Online, Headway Quarterly, The Lake, Amethyst Review, Dreich, Otoliths, Outlook, Madras Courier, and elsewhere. He has authored fourteen books of poetry and prose; two books of translation; and edited eight anthologies. Sengupta is the chief editor of Ethos Literary Journal, and he looks after the English language division of Hawakal Publishers Private Limited, one of the leading independent presses founded by Bitan Chakraborty. Sengupta lives in New Delhi.

Reviews

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice poems and artwork.

[Onkar Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiriti Sengupta's pocket-sized poetry collection 'Oneness' offers a mixed bag of contemplations, often accompanied by intriguing paintings that amplify the emotions depicted in the poems. While the visual element adds a unique dimension to the reading experience, the poems themselves vary in their impact and execution.

Particularly in Haiku pieces and 'Descent of Grace', Sengupta displays a knack for concise yet evocative imagery, capturing moments of beauty and reflection. The longer narratives, such as 'Antara Marwah Walks the Ramp' and 'The Man in the Rain', attempt to delve deeper into human experiences. The former goes deeper in its exploration of societal expectations, while the latter, though atmospheric, puts human conscience in the witness box.

'Primordial Leaning' stands out for its questioning of gender roles and societal expectations, but its message, in my opinion, is somewhat obscured by its confrontational tone. Maybe, Kiriti draws the equality parameter on all scales for both genders.

Overall, 'Oneness' showcases glimpses of Sengupta's talent for crafting poignant moments.

[Sutanuka Ghosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiriti Sengupta's "Oneness" a festival of feelings and emotions evokes an ambiance of celebration replete with different forms of poetry. The haiku poems meld with the short poems and prose pieces. The slim volume showcases Sengupta's aphoristic style and teases out the magic of words with great subtlety. The paintings accompanying the poems spread the colours of poetry and paint a memorable canvas for the readers.

[Malashri Lal · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Oneness’ is Kiriti Sengupta’s amazing portmanteau carrying a range of emotions from grief and isolation to tenderness and care. That’s the ‘oneness’ we belong to despite many troubling fragmentations. This is impressive, short, sharp poetry with deep roots.