সুনীল গঙ্গোপাধ্যায়ের হাতথ নিরার জন্যা

The primal inspiration behind all poetry in the world is woman. In Sunil Gangopadhyay’s poetry, that woman is named Neera. One wonders, is Neera, like Banalata Sen or Arunima Sanyal, a wistful imaginary name? Or is Neera somewhat different—a living idol of flesh and blood?

Sunil Gangopadhyay has been asked this question many times, in many ways. The answers he has given have only deepened the mystery. He has outright dismissed the question, saying, "I will not answer this question." The poems that Sunil Gangopadhyay has written, centered around Neera, at various ages, at different times, and moments, are extraordinary even as standalone poems. It is not known whether any other poet in the world has written such successful poetry using just one name. All these poems have been compiled into this remarkable anthology of love poems—‘Hothat Neerar Jonnyo’ ("Suddenly for Neera"). This book includes many poems that have never been published elsewhere before.