Subodh Sarkar

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Subodh Sarkar, [সুবোধ সরকার] a major Bengali poet, writer and editor of India, and a Reader in English literature at City College, Kolkata, was born in 1958 at Krishnanagar. His poetry is incisive, satiric, provocative, manipulative, and most of all, entertainingly contemporary which brings a fresh new idiom to Bengali poetry.


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[edit] Biodata

His first book of poems was published in the late 70s and now he has 26 books to his credit - 20 of poems, 2 of translations and one travelogue on America. His poems have been translated into English, French and several Indian languages and published in prestigious journals and anthologies.

[edit] External links

[edit] Awards and Honours

  • Shakti Chattopadhyay Binodan Vichitra Puroskar (1997)
  • Bangla Akademi Anita-Sunil Basu Puroskar (2000)

[edit] Editing

Subodh Sarkar is the Editor of Bhashanagar, a Bangla culture magazine with occasional English issues.

[edit] List of Publications- Books of poems:

  • Kabita 78-80, Krishnanagar, 1980
  • Riksha Mesh Katha, Krishnanagar, 1983
  • Eka Narakgami, Kolkata, Prativas, 1988
  • Maronottar Jal, Shatabdir Mukha, Kakdwip, 1990
  • Maruvumir Golap, Amritalok, Medinipur, 1991
  • Chandradosh Oshudhe Sarena, Prativas, Kolkata, 1991
  • Adai Hat Manush, Boipara, Kolkata, 1993
  • Chihh, Kalkata, Ananda Publishers, 1993, ISBN 81-7215-246-9
  • Rajneeti korben Na, Kolkata, Prativas, 1997
  • Dhanyabad Marichika Sen, Kolkata, Katha O Kahini, 1997
  • Sab Rasta Rome-e Jae Na, Patralekha, Kolkata, 2001
  • Bhalo Jaygata Kothae, Kolkata, Ananda Publishers, 2001,ISBN 81-7215-916-1
  • Jerujalem Theke Medinipur, Srishti, Kolkata, 2001
  • Kallu, Kolkata, Ananda Publishers, 2003
  • Krittikae Sonnet Cangaroo, Saptarshi Prakashan, Kolkata, 2003
  • Shrestha Kabita, Kolkata, Deys Publication, 2004
  • Ami Karo Andhakar Noi, Kolkata, Prativas, 2004
  • Manipurer Ma, Kolkata, Ananda Publishers, 2005, ISBN 81-7756-485-4
  • Boma Bananor Class, Saptarshi Prakashan, Kolkata, 2006
  • Ja Upanishad Tai Koran, Ananda Publishers, 2006
  • Pratibader Kabita, Deep Prakashan, Kolkata, 2007
  • Prem O Pipegun, Aajkaal Prakashani, 2008

Book of poems in English translation:

  • Route Map 25, Bhashanagar, Kolkata.2004

Book of Translation:

  • Biswa Kabita, Prativas, Kolkata, 199

Travelogue:

  • Deshta America, Vostok, Kolkata, 1993

Books co-authored with Mallika Sengupta:

  • Sohag Sharbari, Abhiman, Howrah, 1985
  • Prem O Pratibader Kabita, Kolkata, Vikash Grantha Bhavan, 2001
  • Subodh Mallika Square, Kolkata, Vikash Grantha Bhavan, 2006

[edit] A sample poem by Subodh Sarkar

Where's the Good Place

When he got up from his nap, my three-year-old son said:

Papa, will you take me to a good place?

Surprised, I looked at the three year old ---

at three-year-old eyes, three-year-old lips,

at trickling drops of sweat.

I said: Go and get the zoo.

The lion's gotten very hungry, the tiger's chased the deer.

He said: No, take me to a good place.


He went to the next room, cried a bit,

Came back with a tattered Karl Marx calendar, and said:

We'll take this grandpa too, by train, by boat.

Hey, Papa, Papa, won't we go to a good place?


When I took him to Victoria, he said: No, this is no good.

When I took him to the Ganges, he said, It's only a river.

When I gave him ice cream, he walked along whining.

Disgusted, I took him home around eight and saw

tattered Karl Marx lying abandoned on the floor.

I told my son: Listen, this grandpa said

He would take us to a good place too.

That Sunday, there was no train, no boat.


Quiet for a moment, thinking who knows what,

he began whining again.

I gave him a ball, I gave him a robot, I gave him a ship.

Right when I was wondering whether to give him a spanking,

He asked all-time big question:

Hey, Papa, tomorrow, will you take me to a good place tomorrow?


Translated By Carolyn Brown, Sanjukta Dasgupta and Ashesh K. Chatterjee