US-based poet interacts with Punjabi writers

US-based Punjabi poet Ravinder Sahraa’s new poetry book ‘Kujh Na Kaho’ being released by Punjabi Virsa Trust at Phagwara

India Post News Service

US-based Punjabi poet Ravinder Sahraa interacted with Punjabi writers on the occasion of the release of his new poetry book titled Kujh Na Kaho. The ‘Ru-b-Ru’(interface)-cum-book’s ‘release function was organized by Punjabi Virsa Trust here on March 14.

The NRI poet was feted with a ‘Lohi’ (shawl).

Noted Punjabi writers, columnists, journalists,critics and poets, including fire-brand nonagenerian poet Giani Pritam Singh Azad, Gurmit Singh Palahi, Jagir Singh Noor, T.D. Chawla, Bhajan Virk, Manoj Phagwarvi, Jaswant Singh Gandam, Baldev Raj Komal,Ravinder Chot, Sukhwinder Singh, Raghbir Mann, Sital Banga, Canada-based Amrik Palahi, Gurmel Rai, Banso Devi Virdi and SGPC member Paramjit Singh Raipur attended the event.

Sexagenarian Sahraa has penned over half a dozen books. He hails from village Raipur and is now settled in Pennyslvania state of the USA.

He was accompanied by his wife Neeru.

He went down memory lane during the interface and became emotional.

As he had studied in a local college and had been state President of Punjab Students Union during his student life, he reminisced many incidents and events of over 40 years back.

He read out two poems from his new poetry book.

These included the title poem ’Kujh Na Kaho’ and ‘Galbaat Pind Naal’, with the latter taking him on a trip to his rural hamlet’s narrow by-lanes, old friends and the village’s social milieu.

Discussing various aspects of his poetry in context of his new book, noted analysts and critics Jaswant Singh Gandam, Jagir Singh Noor and Gurmit Singh Palahi opined that the title of the book Kujh Na Kaho was symbolic.

“Rather than forbidding us from saying anything, it says too much itself and prods us to say too much too”, Gandam said.

“Moreover, it says things closer to the poet’s heart,” he said.

Commenting on the narrative of nature in it, he said that the poet not only talks about nature but also talks with it, making us talk to it too.

Gandam said that the poet humanized nature. Calling it poetry of socio-political concerns, he said that it covered various issues, ranging from the self to cosmos.

He said the book’s simple style was its beauty.

“Though it has dialogue of silence that speaks louder than words, and there was a little sadness too, the poetry simmers and sizzles, with the poet clearly standing with the struggling classes and against war-mongers, communal, tyrannical and fascist forces”, Gandam said.

Eminent critic Jagir Singh Noor said that the poet was completely successful in conveying his message in a lucid style.

He said that the poet regretted the disappearance of personality from a person and humanism from humans.

Interface organizer Gurmit Palahi called the book a fine blend of the individual with the universe.