On the Poet’s Birthday
(Tribute to Sankha Ghosh by Anita Agnihotri)
Translated by Nabanita Sengupta
I’ll go when I wish to. On the dawn of your birthday I shall place flowers and leaves at your doorstep. It isn’t time yet; I shall go when I am wounded, bleeding. when, at the end of the battle, my fluttering breath will say there’s time no more. Blood clotted, crawling on my breast across the city snow, I shall reach the dawn of spring where sunlight draws alpona1 in your garden where all the trees have forgotten the sagas of night I shall reach, not with flowers but pain, your touch shall heal me. This civilization will be cured. Komal rishav and dhaivat2 shall steer me home out of the constantly changing cityscape. What kind of assault makes us stand shoulder to shoulder, with arms around waist choral war songs become melodious lullabies! Will you teach me letters like the old times? I shall bring the inkpot and pen on your birthday.
1Alpona – traditional decoration made on floor during rituals in Bengali household. It is generally white in colour
2Komal rishav and dhaivat – rishav and dhaivat refer to two notes of Hindustani music, sung as re and dha. ‘Komal’ notes are softer than the rest.
Anita Agnihotri is an eminent voice of Bengali literature. A poet, short story writer, novelist and non-fiction writer par excellence she has received several awards such as Sahitya Setu Puraskar, Bangiya Sahitya Parishad Samman, Bhuban Mohini Dasi Gold Medal to name a few, for her literary creations. She was also awarded the Crossword Economist Award of 2011 for her short story collection, Seventeen. Some of her important works are Mahanadi, Rod Batasherpoth, Mahakantar, Amader Protibader bhasha.
