Anthology of poems released at Cotton University

• Image Credit: Internet

• Oct 30, 2022 | Kabir Chakraborty

The book launch event included an engaging interactive session between the authors and noted author, translator and columnist Mitra Phukan as the moderator.

Digital Desk: At a book
launch event held at Sudmersen Hall, Cotton University, a book titled
‘Reflections from the Heart- Anthology of 100 Poems’ authored by doctor, artist
and restauranteur Bhaskar Bora, faculty, Department of English, Cotton University,
Dr Merry Baruah, and former Head and retired faculty, Department of English,
Cotton University, Santanu Phukan was unveiled.

The book launch event
included an engaging interactive session between the authors and noted author,
translator and columnist Mitra Phukan as the moderator. The latter posed
interesting questions to the authors regarding their anthology. One of the
authors, Bora, who was connected online from Copenhagen during the discussion
remarked, ‘Two students working together and creatively collaborating with
their teacher after 30 years, across different time zones virtually- the book
is certainly an outcome of our exemplary teamwork, love for poetry, deep bond
and strong emotional connect that we, the authors share among each other.’

When asked what made them
write these poems, Merry Baruah, one of the authors told Phukan that she always
believed that we come to this world for a short time and so one must sometimes
stop to reflect from our heart and soul. When asked regarding the germination
of the idea to have an anthology of poems, Santanu Phukan commented, ‘Well, I
always believe in creativity and productivity. All three of us love poetry. So,
we thought why not transform the pandemic time into something productive and
creative! And that’s how it all started.’

The authors also read
portions from the book, which gave the audience a glimpse of their
thought-provoking poetry. They reminisced during the interaction their
individual thoughts and their inspiration behind writing the poems.

At the end of the
interaction, Mitra Phukan  commented,
“One thing that really struck while reading the poems in the book is that, I
felt there was no hierarchy despite the fact that this book is a collaboration
between a teacher and his students and that is wonderful.’ The interactive
session was followed by a question and answer session with the audience.

The Vice Chancellor of
Cotton University, Prof. Ramesh Chandra Deka who was in attendance commented,
‘Poetry is the language of heart and it comes from deep emotions. Sometimes, it
might be hard for a lay person to understand deep poetry in one read, but I
wholeheartedly believe that poetry does express true feelings, sentiments and
ideas.’

The book launch event was
largely attended by a host of dignitaries, guests, members of faculty and
non-teaching staff members, alumni and students of the University among others.

The event was moderated by
Dr Kalpana Bora Barman, faculty, Department of English, Cotton University.

‘Reflections from the Heart-
Anthology of 100 Poems' is self-published by the authors and available at
Amazon, Flipkart reasonably priced at Rs. 325/-.