Kabita Samagra by Pranab Kumar Mukhopadhyay [Hardcover]

Poet Pranabkumar Mukhopadhyay’s first poem was published in November 1952 in the weekly Desh magazine, when he was just fifteen years old. Now, at eighty, he has a total of only seven poetry collections to his name over his long sixty-five-year poetic career. This isn’t due to a lack of writing or any hiatus—his poems continue to appear in recent issues of Krittibas. Rather, he is exceptionally meticulous in selecting his works. Countless poems have emerged from his pen—some like sola flowers, some like incense, some as offerings, or as a wisp of straw behind the lion’s head of the main deity. Many of these poems, unable to find a place in his primary collections, remain scattered across various magazines. These have now been included in this complete Collected Poems as "Uncollected Poems," as excluding them would leave an incomplete picture of his poetic identity.

A master of meter, he believes that without understanding rhythm, one cannot truly break it, and while complexity can exist in poetry, it should not be impenetrable. From the very beginning, his poetry has taken a unique approach. He observes how even waiting has its own color, how water can burn, or how the wings of a shadow-bird flutter restlessly—these subtleties are captured only through his vision. Thus, he can effortlessly describe his poetry as, "It will shape itself, break itself, / Slightly proud, a bit stubborn, / My god, my poetry."

This collection brings together all his published works as well as numerous uncollected poems, offering a complete view of his poetic journey.