Garhwal-born Mangalesh Dabral’s poetry is colloquial without being regional, direct without being didactic. The persistent sense of alienation and nostalgia for home is a constant theme in Dabral’s poetry, but he also expresses an acceptance of urban life with all its challenges, conflicts and rewards. When it comes to the shaili (style), Dabral’s poetry is remarkably accessible, unencumbered by the bureaucratic vocabulary and officious syntax of certain forms of literary Hindi. Both in the original Hindi and in the English renditions, Mangalesh Dabral’s voice remains true and honest, an eloquent cry from the mountains that echoes in the city. Dabral fulfils the role of a poet as an observer who allows us to see the world through new eyes.

Source: The Hindu July 02, 2016 20:37 UTC