Description

An initiative of Red River and Indian Novels Collective

Hummingbirds are distinguished by their dazzling colours, diminutive size, and speedy flight, the only birds that can fly backwards, upside down, sideways, and hover in mid-air. Sighting a hummingbird also signals that challenging times are over and healing can begin. These little birds are also a sign of hope and spiritual significance. They are also critically endangered species, facing the prospect of extinction due to climate change.

Since publishing poetry is considered perhaps the most adventurous or perilous creative journey, curating a poetry series in the name of hummingbirds literally and metaphorically affirms our faith in the commitment and belief in the power of small to achieve the impossible.

Inspired by Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan activist and the first woman Nobel Peace Prize winner from Africa, who pioneered Green Belt Movement, and a great believer in the power of hummingbirds, we believe that our Hummingbirds Chapbook Series, a joint initiative of Red River and Indian Novels Collective, will energise poets and poetry lovers to come together and help create a republic of imagination.

Harekrishna Deka is a prominent and respected figure in contemporary Assamese literature. He has made significant contributions as a poet, short-story writer, novelist, literary critic, and essayist. Known for his intellectual depth and stylistic innovation, Deka’s writings span a wide range of themes, including personal identity, socio-political issues, and the human condition. Born in 1943 in Assam, Deka initially pursued a career in the Indian Police Service (IPS), eventually rising to the position of Director General of Police, Assam. As a poet, Deka is celebrated for his lyrical style, philosophical undertones, and introspective themes. Over the years, Deka has received numerous accolades, including the Sahitya Akademi Award. He continues to be a guiding light for young Assamese writers and remains an influential voice in Indian literature.

Pradip Acharya (b 1948) is an academic and social activist. He was the founder General Secretary of the All-Assam Democratic Citizens Association, the only forum to fight extremism in the heyday of the ULFA. He also translates for fun and pleasure and his translations have appeared, amongst others, in Verse (Oxford) and Poetry (Chicago). He has recently completed translating two verse chronicles of the Ahom days containing first-hand accounts of the Burmese Invasion and British Occupation. He retired as the Head of the Department of English at Cotton College, Guwahati, where he lives.