Description
The poems in this collection stand as a testament to the enduring relevance of art in addressing the complexities of modern life. Through his masterful use of the poetic form, incisive critique of violence and apathy, and unwavering belief in the transformative power of poetry, Prafull Shiledar offers readers both solace and a call to action. His work reminds us that amidst the chaos, poetry can anchor us to our shared humanity, inspiring us to strive for a world where we live not against, but with and for, one another.
Thoughtful and luminous, these poems linger in the way fine poetry does. A book to savour. A book to revisit. — Arundhathi Subramaniam
Prafull Shiledar tries to bridge the gap between self and the other, the inner and the outer, the personal and the political. He avoids being loud and vociferous; he scratches ‘silence’. It is a silence, thoughtful and bold, not a withdrawal from the hustle-bustle, rumble-tumble of life. — Ashok Vajpeyi
These poems are like the utterances of a meditative mind speaking in a state of sadness, empathy and understanding. Although the poems express human tenderness, this tenderness is not limited to human beings, but their motherly affection goes out for all living beings. — HS Shivaprakash
Prafull Shiledar has a unique poetic voice that is luminous and lyrical. His poems invoke the subliminal movements of a reflective mind with ease and eloquence. — EV Ramakrishnan
Prafull Shiledar (b 1962) is an Indian poet writing in Marathi. He has four poetry volumes in Marathi, two in Hindi, one in Kannada, one in Odia, six translated books, five edited books and a book of prose writing. His poems have been translated into Hindi, English, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Manipuri, Gujarati, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Dakhani, Slovak and Turkish. His poems are included in national and international anthologies and taught in many universities in India. He has read poetry at literary forums in India, Europe, USA and Middle East. He is the editor of Marathi literary quarterly Ýugvani. He has translated Indian, American, European poetry into Marathi. His poetry and translations are honoured by awards including Maharashtra State award (Kavi Keshavsut Award) for best poetry collection, Kusumagraj Award, Sharachchandra Muktibodh Award and Sahitya Akademi Translation Award. He has been invited as a fellow writer to Art Omi: Writers, an international writers’ residency, New York, in Spring 2025. He can be reached at [email protected].
Reviews
Read an extract from the book in Scroll.in
Metaphors, in Shiledar’s poetry, serve as bridges that connect disparate ideas and realms of experience. They allow him to traverse the boundaries between the abstract and the tangible. The poet anchors his metaphors in the material world of human beings and also in the materials they are surrounded by. For instance, when he compares language to water, he captures its duality: its ability to nurture and erode, to reveal and conceal. … Through his metaphors, Shiledar explores themes of interdependence and interconnectedness. Each image or symbol he employs reflects a broader truth about the world’s shared essence. Whether it is the fluidity of water, the rootedness of a tree, or the resilience of an ant, his metaphors resonate with an authenticity that transcends cultural and temporal boundaries.
