What do you think?
Rate this book
The Book Of Bihari Literature
A family is unable to decide whether a parrot who has landed in its garden is a Hindu or a Muslim.
A courtesan loses her ancestral mirror to rioters. The family that now possesses it finds itself transformed.
Mutta celebrates her freedom from domestic drudgery.
Vatsyayana hands you the keys to sexual bliss.
Hira Dom berates the caste system.
Over the centuries, many great empires and kingdoms took root in Bihar and, along with advancements in mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, science and statecraft, they produced exemplary works of literature.
The Book of Bihari Literature is a vibrant collection of writings-poems, essays, stories-that have flowed from the pens of the great poets, thinkers and writers across millennia, who were born or lived in what is modern-day Bihar. This book makes accessible to English-speaking readers the bounty of Bihari literature, and brings to the fore works in neglected languages by ancient philosophers and celebrated contemporary authors alike.
A courtesan loses her ancestral mirror to rioters. The family that now possesses it finds itself transformed.
Mutta celebrates her freedom from domestic drudgery.
Vatsyayana hands you the keys to sexual bliss.
Hira Dom berates the caste system.
Over the centuries, many great empires and kingdoms took root in Bihar and, along with advancements in mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, science and statecraft, they produced exemplary works of literature.
The Book of Bihari Literature is a vibrant collection of writings-poems, essays, stories-that have flowed from the pens of the great poets, thinkers and writers across millennia, who were born or lived in what is modern-day Bihar. This book makes accessible to English-speaking readers the bounty of Bihari literature, and brings to the fore works in neglected languages by ancient philosophers and celebrated contemporary authors alike.
- GenresFiction
462 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2022
6 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Abhay K.
22 books13 followersAbhay K. is a poet, editor and translator. His recent translated book includes Fool Bahadur (Penguin Random House). He is the author of several collections of poems including Celestial (Mapin), Stray Poems (Poetrywala), Monsoon (Sahitya Akademi, India), The Magic of Madagascar (L'Harmattan, Paris), The Alphabets of Latin America ( Bloomsbury India), The Prophecy of Brasilia (Colletivo Editorial, Brazil),The Eight-Eyed Lord of Kathmandu (Bloomsbury) and The Seduction Of Delhi (Bloomsbury). He is also the editor of The Book of Bihari Literature (HarperCollins India), The Bloomsbury Book of Great Indian Love Poems, The Bloomsbury Anthology of Great Indian Poems covering poems from 28 Indian languages and over 3000 years of Indian poetry, and CAPITALS--a poetry anthology on the capital cities of the world. He is translator and editor of New Brazilian Poems (Ibis Libris, Rio). His poems have appeared in over 100 literary journals and magazines, including: Poetry Salzburg Review, Asia Literary Review among others. His poems have been translated into over a dozen languages. Abhay K’s poem-song, ‘Earth Anthem’, has been translated into over 150 languages. He received the SAARC Literary Award in 2013. He was invited to record his poems at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC in 2018. His translation of Kalidasa's Meghduta and Ritusamhara, both published by Bloomsbury India, received KLF Poetry Book of the Year Award
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 6, 2022
This book was my very first introduction to Bihari prose and poetry. It provided me with a glimpse of the rich world of Bihari literature in English translation. Bihari literature, spread over two millennia, consists of literary works produced in the various languages of Bihar. These include Magahi, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika, Bajjika, Hindi, Urdu, Persian, English, and classical languages such as Sanskrit and Pali. Most of the Bihari poems and stories in this book are the very first English translations that you'll find.
This book contains a wide range of poems and prose. I found so many stories that were revolutionary and way ahead of their time. There are stories and poems based on the great economic divide in Bihar, the effect of caste-based reservations, inter-faith relationships( friends and lovers), the plight of young widows, the effect of communalism, the miseries of laborers, the effect of Partition, and many such stories of courage, love, hope, and hopelessness.
One of my favorite poems from this collection is Famine and After by Nagarjun which sheds light on the plight of humans and animals during a famine. I found it to be deeply moving and thought-provoking!
Among some of my favorite stories from this book is Fish. I found it to be both humorous and heartwarming. It highlighted the power of love that enabled the protagonists to look beyond their culture and their everyday habits. Some of my other favorites were A Hindu Parrot, Chilled to the bone, Babu, Nameless Relationship, The Turning, Jugaad, and The Goon. All of them had super interesting premises and unexpected, thought-provoking endings. Like the premise of 'A Hindu Parrot' is that a wounded parrot is saved by a Muslim family. They are surprised to hear him speak the names of Hindu Gods. This was the very first story that I read from this collection and the plot turned out to be very different from what I had anticipated. ☺️
Overall, I enjoyed reading this very diverse collection of Bihari prose and poetry. Would love to know your thoughts on this!☺️
This book contains a wide range of poems and prose. I found so many stories that were revolutionary and way ahead of their time. There are stories and poems based on the great economic divide in Bihar, the effect of caste-based reservations, inter-faith relationships( friends and lovers), the plight of young widows, the effect of communalism, the miseries of laborers, the effect of Partition, and many such stories of courage, love, hope, and hopelessness.
One of my favorite poems from this collection is Famine and After by Nagarjun which sheds light on the plight of humans and animals during a famine. I found it to be deeply moving and thought-provoking!
Among some of my favorite stories from this book is Fish. I found it to be both humorous and heartwarming. It highlighted the power of love that enabled the protagonists to look beyond their culture and their everyday habits. Some of my other favorites were A Hindu Parrot, Chilled to the bone, Babu, Nameless Relationship, The Turning, Jugaad, and The Goon. All of them had super interesting premises and unexpected, thought-provoking endings. Like the premise of 'A Hindu Parrot' is that a wounded parrot is saved by a Muslim family. They are surprised to hear him speak the names of Hindu Gods. This was the very first story that I read from this collection and the plot turned out to be very different from what I had anticipated. ☺️
Overall, I enjoyed reading this very diverse collection of Bihari prose and poetry. Would love to know your thoughts on this!☺️
January 7, 2023
Abhay K (pen-name of Abhay Kumar) is an IFS officer from Rajgir, a small town not far from Patna and capital of Magadh before Patliputra. He had his schooling in Rajgir and then went to KM College Delhi and JNU. He is also a well-known poet who has been translated into several languages.His poem 'The Partitioned Land' was taught at the Cornell University. His book-length poem 'Monsoon' has been chosen by Harvard University as reading material for a book project on Climate and Literature. He is also an award-winning translator of Kalidasa’s Meghdoot and Ritusamhara. India's Pablo Neruda!
The book he has now edited consists of English translation of poetry, fiction, sacred text, history, and travelogues, from various dialects and languages spoken in Bihar by Bihari writers ranging from Buddha's contemporaries to present times, showcasing “Bihari literature in all its linguistic and cultural diversity”.
The anthology begins with short poems by two 6th century BCE Buddhist nuns Mutta and Sumangalmata who contributed poems to Therigatha, which Abhay describes as one of the first poetry anthologies in the world.
We get glimpses from Kautilya’s Arthashastra (4th century BCE) as also Vatsayayana’s Kama Sutra (2nd century CE).
The anthology covers such medieval writers as Vidyapati (14th century) and the 17th century Sufi, Abdul Qadir Bedil. We also get to read an excerpt from The Travels of Dean Mohamet written by Patna born Deen Mohammad (1759-1851). Incidentally, Deen Mohammad was the first Indian to publish a book in English and amongst the earliest non-European immigrants to the West.
The book introduced me to Heera Dom (1885–not known) who was a Bhojpuri poet from Danapur, Bihar, who contributed significantly to Dalit literature. He is credited with crafting the first poem about Dalits. The poem, ‘Acchut Kee Shiqayat’, was printed in Saraswati (Allahabad, 1914).
Coming to modern writers we meet the obvious ones like Bhikhari Thakur, Shivpujan Sahay, Benipuri, Dinkar, Renu, Nagarjun and Tabish Khair.
I loved Renu’s The Messenger as he subtly presented the conflicting roles that we play in life.
The book also gives generous space to lesser known writers who write in Angika, Bajjika, Bhojpuri, Magahi, & Maithili. And what a rich fare they spread. I was specially attracted to The Invisible Bond by Surendra Mohan Prasad (translated from the Bajjika) which dealt with two lovers from disparate classes maintaining their love yet accepting their limitations with grace.
A Hindu Parrot by Pandey Surendra (translated from the Bhojpuri by Gautam Choubey ) and Transformation by Kavita (translated from Hindi) were mature and elegant stories of love transcending religion and age respectively.
I enjoyed this book. Abhay K is to be commended for this obvious labour of love and pride. He has concluded the anthology with two of his own historical poems on Nalanda (next-door to his roots in Rajgir). Both nice. I can't give stars but I generally categorise books in 3 groups - Avoidable, Readable, Buyable & Readable. I place this one in the last category.
The book he has now edited consists of English translation of poetry, fiction, sacred text, history, and travelogues, from various dialects and languages spoken in Bihar by Bihari writers ranging from Buddha's contemporaries to present times, showcasing “Bihari literature in all its linguistic and cultural diversity”.
The anthology begins with short poems by two 6th century BCE Buddhist nuns Mutta and Sumangalmata who contributed poems to Therigatha, which Abhay describes as one of the first poetry anthologies in the world.
We get glimpses from Kautilya’s Arthashastra (4th century BCE) as also Vatsayayana’s Kama Sutra (2nd century CE).
The anthology covers such medieval writers as Vidyapati (14th century) and the 17th century Sufi, Abdul Qadir Bedil. We also get to read an excerpt from The Travels of Dean Mohamet written by Patna born Deen Mohammad (1759-1851). Incidentally, Deen Mohammad was the first Indian to publish a book in English and amongst the earliest non-European immigrants to the West.
The book introduced me to Heera Dom (1885–not known) who was a Bhojpuri poet from Danapur, Bihar, who contributed significantly to Dalit literature. He is credited with crafting the first poem about Dalits. The poem, ‘Acchut Kee Shiqayat’, was printed in Saraswati (Allahabad, 1914).
Coming to modern writers we meet the obvious ones like Bhikhari Thakur, Shivpujan Sahay, Benipuri, Dinkar, Renu, Nagarjun and Tabish Khair.
I loved Renu’s The Messenger as he subtly presented the conflicting roles that we play in life.
The book also gives generous space to lesser known writers who write in Angika, Bajjika, Bhojpuri, Magahi, & Maithili. And what a rich fare they spread. I was specially attracted to The Invisible Bond by Surendra Mohan Prasad (translated from the Bajjika) which dealt with two lovers from disparate classes maintaining their love yet accepting their limitations with grace.
A Hindu Parrot by Pandey Surendra (translated from the Bhojpuri by Gautam Choubey ) and Transformation by Kavita (translated from Hindi) were mature and elegant stories of love transcending religion and age respectively.
I enjoyed this book. Abhay K is to be commended for this obvious labour of love and pride. He has concluded the anthology with two of his own historical poems on Nalanda (next-door to his roots in Rajgir). Both nice. I can't give stars but I generally categorise books in 3 groups - Avoidable, Readable, Buyable & Readable. I place this one in the last category.
December 30, 2023
'The Book of Bihari Literature' by Abhay K, published by HarperCollins India, is a collection of writings from poets, thinkers, and authors from Bihar, including Angika, Bajjika, Bhojpuri, English, Farsi, Hindi, Magahi, Maithili, Pali, Sanskrit, and Urdu. The book showcases the rich literary tradition of Bihar, including prominent figures like Tulsidas, Vidyapati, and Kabir. It offers accessible translations and comfortable font sizes, making it a must-read for Bihar literature enthusiasts.
April 27, 2023
Some of the short stories in this book left a mark. None of the poems were to write home about. However, it didn't leave me learning anything new about Bihar as a state per se
January 10, 2023
Once a region known for its riches in knowledge in fields as diverse as mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, science, spirituality, literature, politics; now a victim of primitive assumptions. But that is a discussion for another day.
The Book of Bihari Literature is an irresistible platter of Bihari literary cuisine compiled as a book. It serves literature translated from different spoken languages of the region like Magahi, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika, Bajjika, Hindi, Urdu, Persian, and classical languages such as Sanskrit and Pali translated into English curated with maximal ingenuity by the editor Abhay K.
Through various poems, stories, essays in the book, the reader gets a deep dive into the lush culture, practices, traditions of Bihar and its people while it is just a gateway to the literary prowess of the region.
It has an excerpt of Sheikh Deen Mohammad published his first book, The Travels of Dean Mahomet, in 1794 in England. The first Indian to publish a book in English, hails from Bihar. Two poems from Mutta and Sumangalmata, two buddhists nuns from 600 BCE speak about drudgery of human life and emancipation of women.
While I relished the entire collection slowly and steadily along with my cup of coffee and the little fragments of sunlight that winters in Delhi graced my balcony with, I have some favourites that I would like to mention, in no particular order.
🌿The Untouchable's Complain by Hira Dom - talks of the caste system
🌿A Bowl of Sattu by Chandramohan Pradhan - a testament to small acts of kindness
🌿Fish by Rajkamal Chaudhary - a cute story of overcoming barriers of language, culture and food for love
🌿The Dressing Table by Shamoil Ahmad - highlights the greed of a man who steals something from a prostitute then somehow transforms into a pimp
🌿Damul by Shaiwal - talks of bonded labour and oppression they face from affluent class
🌿The Turning by Aniruddha Prasad Vimal - a woman chooses whom she wants to love
🌿Jugaad by Prem Kumar Mani - shows that contentment doesn't need hefty resources
🌿Transformation by Kavita - an aged mother abandoned by her children wishes to remarry
🌿The Scam by Tabish Khair - journalist tries to investigate a case of caste atrocity
🌿A Twist of Fate by Hussain Ul Haque - a Muslim woman with uncertain future and a crippled husband after partition
I'll stop now.
Go and relish this bihari literary delicacy for yourself.
The Book of Bihari Literature is an irresistible platter of Bihari literary cuisine compiled as a book. It serves literature translated from different spoken languages of the region like Magahi, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Angika, Bajjika, Hindi, Urdu, Persian, and classical languages such as Sanskrit and Pali translated into English curated with maximal ingenuity by the editor Abhay K.
Through various poems, stories, essays in the book, the reader gets a deep dive into the lush culture, practices, traditions of Bihar and its people while it is just a gateway to the literary prowess of the region.
It has an excerpt of Sheikh Deen Mohammad published his first book, The Travels of Dean Mahomet, in 1794 in England. The first Indian to publish a book in English, hails from Bihar. Two poems from Mutta and Sumangalmata, two buddhists nuns from 600 BCE speak about drudgery of human life and emancipation of women.
While I relished the entire collection slowly and steadily along with my cup of coffee and the little fragments of sunlight that winters in Delhi graced my balcony with, I have some favourites that I would like to mention, in no particular order.
🌿The Untouchable's Complain by Hira Dom - talks of the caste system
🌿A Bowl of Sattu by Chandramohan Pradhan - a testament to small acts of kindness
🌿Fish by Rajkamal Chaudhary - a cute story of overcoming barriers of language, culture and food for love
🌿The Dressing Table by Shamoil Ahmad - highlights the greed of a man who steals something from a prostitute then somehow transforms into a pimp
🌿Damul by Shaiwal - talks of bonded labour and oppression they face from affluent class
🌿The Turning by Aniruddha Prasad Vimal - a woman chooses whom she wants to love
🌿Jugaad by Prem Kumar Mani - shows that contentment doesn't need hefty resources
🌿Transformation by Kavita - an aged mother abandoned by her children wishes to remarry
🌿The Scam by Tabish Khair - journalist tries to investigate a case of caste atrocity
🌿A Twist of Fate by Hussain Ul Haque - a Muslim woman with uncertain future and a crippled husband after partition
I'll stop now.
Go and relish this bihari literary delicacy for yourself.
January 26, 2023
Reading translations and collection of stories sourced from the vernacular is always a wonderful experience. Abhay has sourced some excellent pieces of work across the languages. The book is a mix of stories and poems that give you different flavors as you go through it. The choice of the pieces of work he’s included in the book cover a variety of regional languages as well as type of work. The thing that worked for me was the fact that each piece is unique, and since there are a variety of authors and translators, each story presents itself in a unique manner. The idea to bring forth stories from the treasure trove of Bihari literature is commendable. What didn’t work for me was the fact that since the stories are quite short, the collection becomes quite long, and personally, the book was not engaging enough to keep me hooked to keep turning the pages. The language of the book is simple and easy to understand. While the idea is good, the translations individually felt flat for most of the stories and the emotions that were supposed to come out, didn’t jump out. Overall, the collection is unique and for a reader who loves to read short stories and poems, it would be a wonderful read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews