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Two and a Half
$16About the Book
Yogesh Patel's poems in "2½" are “sparks of fire”, igniting language into flames of inspiration in a world that fails us, but only if we permit it. Patel magnifies the
humanitarian failures in our world society with poetry of vision that is at once daring and profoundly humane. These are tales of hopes…and lost dreams, rising out of the simmering ash of society's arrested conscience, into the healing blaze of universal truths. One cannot fail to be inspired by the power of compassion in these poems.
– James Ragan, author of ‘The Hunger Wall’ and ‘The Chanter’s Reed’ and
recipient of a Poetry Society of America citation and Swan Foundation Humanitarian
Award==============
These poems are filled with recurring potent images of place and personal histories which successfully invite the reader into intimate spaces. Those spaces include everything from socks to shaving brush but also bravely address disturbing and distressing subject matter. The violence at the heart of this collection is never expressed directly but infuses the poetry, so that the reader is left shaken and thoughtful.
– Maura Dooley, Judge’s comment, Aryamati Prize 2023
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Maniyachi Duniya
$16About the Book
Maniyachi Duniya is a place where every poem begins in one register and slips, almost mischievously, into another. A phrase might start in the noise of a Mumbai street, brush against an old folk cadence, then suddenly tilt into the rhythm of an Instagram reel or a meme you half-remember. This referential drift isn’t random; it is the way we actually live now, surrounded by isms, social-justice vocabularies, shifting identities, and constant tech updates that rewrite our attention every few hours. Each poem absorbs that swirl and lets it tilt toward something unexpected, sometimes absurd, but always resonant and strangely tender. And though the work is laced with wit, it’s never sarcasm. Its irony is gentler. It is the kind that knows its own limits, that stays aware of the fragility of meaning, that smiles at the world without dismissing it. The delight of these poems comes from how they recognize the chaos of the present moment and still manage to turn each reference, each tonal slip, into a small, generous surprise.
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Chukichya Bhashet Janmala Aalo
$20About the Book
Saleel Wagh’s poetry represents a "post-nineties" (Post 90’s) shift in Marathi literature, characterised by a break from traditional lyricism toward a more fragmented, analytical, and metropolitan sensibility. His work explores the friction between a deeply rooted historical identity and the disorienting acceleration of the modern, globalised world.
1. The Linguistic Crisis: "Born in the Wrong Language" The central theme of Wagh’s work is the concept of linguistic inadequacy, as seen in the title "Chukichya Bhashet Janmala Alo" (I was born in the wrong language).
The Mismatch: This suggests that the inherited Marathi tongue is insufficient to articulate
the hyper-real, digital, and corporate experiences of the 21st century.
A New Idiom: By acknowledging this "wrongness," Wagh creates a space where slang, technical terms, and abstract philosophical inquiries can coexist with standard Marathi.
2. Temporal and Spatial Dislocation Wagh frequently uses imagery associated with time and physics to describe psychologicalstates:
The Mechanical Self: References to the "Minute hand" (Minutekata) and the act
of "jumping" suggest a life lived in increments of high-pressure bursts rather than a
continuous flow.
Hyper-awareness: The phrase "Kanat pran alela" (Life-force gathered in the ears)
depicts a state of modern anxiety and extreme sensory alertness.
Global Scattering: The poet observes that "the world is everywhere" and that the
self—likened to scattered beads—is dispersed across the world (Jagbhar), signalling
the loss of a localised, stable home.
3. Historical vs. Modern Landscape
A striking feature of Wagh's poetry is the juxtaposition of ancient geography with modern
existential dread:
Ancient Markers: By invoking "Bharatvarshe,"
"Jambudvipe," and "Dandakaranye," he places the reader in a vast, mytho-
historical timeline.
The Modern Ghost: Within these sacred spaces, he positions "Saleel
Prete" (Saleel’s ghost/corpse), suggesting that the modern individual exists as a
hollow or spectral figure within their own heritage.
4. The Fragmentation of Thought
Wagh’s imagery often focuses on the breakdown of unity:
The Broken String: He writes of the "string of the mind breaking" (Manachi maal
phutte), leading to a state where thoughts and identities—represented
as "beads"—are lost or scattered.
Sudden Flux: The description of "rafters whirring rapidly" (Sapasap vase phirle)
mirrors the chaotic, shifting architecture of both the modern city and the modern
mind.