This book presents English translations of Madan Veera's poetry spanning five major works from 2001 to 2022. It includes detailed biographical analysis and critical examination of this significant post-revolutionary Punjabi poet's contributions to contemporary literature. The poems explore themes of social exclusion, identity, and marginalized communities in Punjab, and also includes:
- Comprehensive collection of Madan Veera's poetry spanning five major works from 2001 to 2022
- First English translation of a significant post-revolutionary Punjabi poet's complete works
- Detailed biographical sketch and critical analysis of Madan Veera's literary contributions
- Exploration of themes including social exclusion, identity, and marginalized communities in Punjab
- Academic examination of post-revolutionary Punjabi poetry and its contemporary relevance
With extensive notes and acknowledgements, this translation makes Madan Veera's important literary voice accessible to English-speaking scholars and readers interested in contemporary South Asian literature.
This title has been co-published with Aakar Books. T&F does not sell or distribute the print edition in South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Background to Madan Veera's Poetry
Madan Veera: A Post-Revolutionary Punjabi Poet
Madan Veera: A Biographical Sketch
A Note on These Translations
Poems
1. From Bhakhiya (2001)
The Spoken Word
Feet
The Lowborn
Nameless
Story of the Lost Man
Poetry and I
Face to Face
The Connoisseur
Taxidermied Man
Beyond the Fog
Horse
Rebellion
Relationship
Hope
2. From Nabran di Ibarat (2009)
Narrative of the Rebellious
Lesson to Learn
Refrain of Mutinous Words
Trial Court
Lamb's Testimony
Lowbred
I and My Poetry
Brickmaker
Rebellious–I
Rebellious–II
A Fully-fledged Man's Tale
The Common Citizen
Children of My Veheda (Thoughts on the Children's Day)
Rising India
A Glimmer of Light
The Village Knows
Twenty Yards Away
Gritty Irritant
Your India My India
Song of the Stateless
3. From Tand-Tani (2011)
Warp and Woof
Your Own Story
A Pod of Fire
Three Images of Democracy
Hypocritical Cat
They Don't Know Yet
Buddh Singh alias Buddhu Mazhabi
Plant a Rose Cutting
Ram Rakha Singh
A Child is Singing
Words Become Gritty Irritants
The Miracle of Feet
The Magic of Hands
Jai Ram
Yusuf (While thinking about Kashmir - I)
Living Corpse (While thinking about Kashmir - II)
Rising Flame
Three Faces of Chhajju's Humble Home
For the Magisterial Critic
4. From Khaara Paani (2013/2018)
Brackish Waters
Testimony of a Frightened Deer
Minion of Darkness
Which Hapless Womb…
A Chain of Green Words
A Daring Journey
In Fright
Featureless
Toll
Alienation
Brackish Waters
Identity
Poet and Poetry
Sculptor of Words
This
These Days
Counterfeit Coin
Identity
5. From Gherey to Bahar (2022)
Outside the Circle
Chaachi Jeet Kaur
Across the Fence
Red-hot Iron
Brand New
The Taste of Sherbet
Piece of Steel
Village
Jalebis
New Slate
The Stateless (During the Corona pandemic)
What the Earth Needs
Bonding with the Soil
Chacha Madho
A Fly in the Milk
Sattu the Mad
Maghar Singh Khalsa
Hapless Karma
Notes
Acknowledgements
About the Author :
T.C. Ghai has taught English language and literature at the University of Delhi, retiring as Associate Professor in 2002. His publications include Pattern and Significance in the Novels of R K Narayan, The Stricken Moth, and Alone in the Wilderness. He has translated into English the poems of Dr. Puran Singh Kanwar (A Season of Nights), the revolutionary poet Pash (Pash: A Poet of Impossible Dreams) and revolutionary-dalit poet Lal Singh Dil (Exclusion, Deprivation and Nothingness: Selected Poems).
Review :
“Trilok Chand Ghai, a native of Punjabi world, has not only captured the essence of Madan Veera’s poetry but also conserved its vernacular dictum. His brilliant and searching translation will carry forward legitimately the argot of Madan to a potentially much wider English readership.
This is his fourth English translation of Punjabi poetry. Ghai’s earlier translations of Punjabi poetry – of Baba Farid, Pash, Lal Singh Dil and Balbir Madhopuri – were well received both at home and abroad.”
-Ronki Ram, Professor of Political Science, Punjab University, India.
