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Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 1:51
In conversation with Author Supriya Newar about her collection of verse " Kolkata Classics"
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Let me start by confessing that your book, the Collection of Verses Kolkata Classics, makes me feel like I have lived in Kolkata myself, though I have only been a visitor and my knowledge about the city and culture is through books, cinema and music. So while this collection seems like a work of self expression, an ode of love to your city, it also serves as a sort of handbook on this ancient city, its people and culture. What was on your mind when you envisioned the book?
Supriya Newar
@SupriyaNewar · 2:48
Look at those elements closely, which are very ordinary, common, everyday elements, and present them to the reader, whether he or she is a local Bengali, a non Bengali, an outsider, someone who's never visited, only heard about the city, someone who's visited and has some memories. But you present through verse, through poetry, a collection of poetry
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15
Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 0:16
Thank you, Supriya. I felt that the city as I know it from these verses is in a time walk. Is it the quality of the city that is spilled onto your writing? Or is it simply the way you would like to remember it?
Supriya Newar
@SupriyaNewar · 4:59
Also, I have obviously not included the It quarters, the modern Avatars, the malls, all the glitzy ends of the city, because I think those have happened only in the recent years. And that's not what, you know, Kolkata for maybe 20 years down the line. If I were to write Kolkata classics, some of those classics may get altered. But today, I think these 24 subjects, poems chosen very much fit into a classic terminology of
Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 1:36
Now, these I could very easily relate to Kerala or Mumbai or Hydropathy and so on. As a writer who has also penned travelogs, do you feel that these cultural nuances are somewhere very similar across the length and breadth of this country, and yet you unique in their expression?
Supriya Newar
@SupriyaNewar · 4:07
Shija. I think being an enthusiastic traveler, as someone who deeply enjoys exploring both far away lands as well as, you know, her own next door by lane or backyard, two, three things happen. One is, of course, you understand that superficially look and seem completely different. Finally, there is a thread that binds humanity and human emotions are human emotions anywhere around the world, and whatever is your field of work or your status or, you know, so on and so forth
Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 0:24
Thank you so supriya for that very rich perspective. Can I request you to read out a few verses from the book for the benefit of our listeners, please? And thank you so much for coming on. I know you're very, very busy. Thank you for taking the time time out to come onto the Readomania swell cast and talk about the book. Thank you very much. Bye
Supriya Newar
@SupriyaNewar · 3:00
Thank you. Thank you, Sija. Thank you for having me on. Swell cast. My debut, really on this platform, and it's been well, let's see what the readers feel. I'll quickly read out £2 with your permission. They are both entirely different in their favor. The first is called Monkey Cap, which is a fun poem and I'm sure many would be familiar with the monkey cap
Supriya Newar
@SupriyaNewar · 2:34
And this one is called Bilanes. This is how it goes meandering and maze like, narrow and bent many of these lanes may look weather beaten or spent but if you go and look deeper and take a leisurely stroll you will find timeless tales hidden in its bosom, its soul. There is a modikana at one end minded by Kaku, its owner. He knows when you come down to his shop you'll need his phone to phone her
Sreeja V
@Wordsmith · 0:15
Thank you Supriya. So much more delightful to listen to this in your voice. I'm sharing a link to the book here for all our listeners who can order a copy. Thank you so much once again for coming on to Swear
Rima Nath
@Rima_Nath_99 · 0:13
Ma'am, this is an amazing, amazing poem. I really love it. It reminds me of my childhood when my mom and the same procedure made me wear this monkey cap. OMG
Ashita Bajpai
@ashyyyyyy · 1:19
So it's the beauty of Kolkata and bias of the place that keeps it still alive. So, I guess. Pretty Calcutta. We miss you as a city. I've never visited one. My friends have and colleagues have, so I have been in touch with them for quite some time. I have witnessed the culture a little bit since normal speakings and talkings. Looking forward to reading this amazing genre book or maybe an audio podcast or just reading a few lessons would be enough
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