New Voices - in Indian Poetry in English
Editor's note
From time immemorial poetry has been striving to provide solace, psace, amusement and enduring pleasure to mankind. Primarily poetry imitates life and communicates this imitation to its reader.
Poet alone can influence the minds and hearts of masses and can help in changing their attitudes, views and beliefs. A good poet must bring about a permanent change in the minds of readers. Only poets with real concern and dedication to their art and genuine involvement in their contemporary, social and spiritual situation alone can reach the hearts of their readers.
Indian poetry is no more an infant, struggling to stand on its own legs. Now Indian poetry in English is a tradition and has established a significant place in the vast body of World Literature. Within a short span of three decades, we have already produced a group of talented poets who have achieved world esteem by their creative insight and artistic expression.
Nevertheless Indian Poetry in English must maintain its individuality and uniqueness. Our poets should strive to delve deep into the rich Indian ethos and bring out the timeless tradition and culture, imbedded from ages, without ignoring contemporary relevance of such ' Indianness '•
Indian Poetry in English must evolve evocative imagery which is our own. It must be based on our cultural aesthetics. Our poets must create images which express vividly the Indian moods, patterns, attitudes and traditions and this alone gives viability, individuality and universality. Indian poets must come out of their infatuation of the western influence and put across their own culture, tradition and hfetory.
Five years ago, I edited an anthology Indian Verse In English', hailed by the press and scholars as the most comprehensive and representative anthology of our time. Leading contemporary poets in English from all the regions of India were represented. Since then young and promising poets with flashes of their own asked for an anthology to encourage the budding and unknown talents. Hence this anthology to vehicle creative explosions from new frontiers.
Sixty six poets writing in English are carefully selected, representing all regions of our great country. This is just an experiment. I feel sure this anthology has a significant appeal in view of the documentary value of the thought, spirit and attitude of the 'New Voices'. It also endeavours to project a very comprehensive and representative panorama of the tradition, growth, achievement and historical perspective of the new generation.
I am grateful to Dr. Krishna Srinivas for his scholarly introduction.
I also thank all the poets in this collection for their variegated verses.
I am sure, these 'New Voices' will be heard and appreciated by poets and critics all over the world.
SYED AMEERUDDIN
( Book Description - NEW VOICES - in Indian Poetry in English - Sayeeda Publication - Chennai - India - in 1981 - 66 World Poet's Poetry Collcetion in 135 Pages )