Book Review: A Study Of His Mind And Art by Vihang A Naik

Amazon 

The Blurb:

The present book is a humble attempt to look at the undertaken subject-matter with a fresh perspective in order to make the readers more enlightened. It is hoped that the present study will serve its purpose and all sections of readers shall welcome its advent.

Excerpt:

In the poem entitled ''Pen'', the poet shows his great concern that these days Pen is not able to make words for poem:

These days the pen

It's at the end 

Of making words

That could be 

A poem for you

 

Intolerance in the name of religion, and casteism is at the peak especially in Asian sub-continent. The writers are returning their awards to protest against this. The poet raised his voice also by poems like ''The Winter Pen''. He gives a voice to his pen:

You hear

The rattle of pain

Through your pen in turmoil 

 

About The Author:

Vihang Ashokbhai Naik, also known as Vihang A. Naik born in Surat, India on September 2, 1969, is a contemporary poet writing in English, widely published and won many awards.He is educated from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda with  English Literature , Philosophy and Indian Literature in English Translations. His travels gave him unique insight into life and humanity and he wrote “City Times and Other Poems” which enters Limca Book of Records : 2016. His collections of poems includes City Times and Other Poems (1993), Making A Poem(2004) and Poetry Manifesto ( New & Selected Poems) (2010). His Gujarati collection of poems titled Jeevangeet (Gujarati poems) (2001) is dedicated to the cause of victims of Gujarat Earthquake 26th January, 2001. He also translates poetry written in Gujarati language into English including his own Gujarati Language poems into English. His poems have appeared in some of the most noted literary journals and anthologies. He lives and works in Gujarat, India.

The Review:                                                        

This book is an acknowledgement to the versatile and renowned bilingual poet, Vihang A Naik. Various professors and research scholars have diligently analyzed his poetic creations and shared their perspective on the same, admiring Vihang A Naik sensibility and sensitivity. I believe for readers like me, there are two important points. One is for the good editing and the other, how it catches my attention. Kudos to this book for surpassing both the points. The book has been wonderfully edited by Dr. Sanjay Prasad Pandey and the eye catching book cover has been designed by Tirthankar Dutta.

The book has been divided into fifteen chapters, each of them has a critical analysis of the poems, a book review and lastly, a very interesting book talk between the poet and Dr. Sanjay Prasad. After reading ''Making of A Poem'', I already had decided to read more from him and this book definitely came to me as a pleasure.

Vihang A Naik is more vocal towards the urban lifestyle, optimism, bringing needful changes in society, power of the mighty pen and the poet. The beauty lies in poet's prowess at expressing his thoughts with sheer preciseness and clarity. In ''The Banyan City'' the poet has personified city, in his poem ''The Winter Pen'' he has given voice to his pen. While in his yet another masterpiece titled ''A Poem Comes Alive'' he suggests how to live life as he believes that poetry impacts human psychology. The most beautiful statement I found in the book is mentioned by Ms. Meenakshi Rana. Quoting her words, ''Love in human life has important value because only due to love every relationship can in life of a person. Love depends on person's trust or behavior. Successful versus unsuccessful love relationship develops under the situation that a successful love is measured by the desires of exchange of affectionate behavior between love and beloved whereas unsuccessful or failed love refers to be broken heart or scatter person.''

It is difficult to bring out the beauty of this book in this review because the kind of in-depth analysis and perspective the professors and research scholars have brought out can be felt and acknowledged by self-reading only. Overall, I would say, if you admire the literary gem, Vihang A Naik's previous works and readers who are keen at reading poems with an amalgamation of philosophy, reality and varied perspectives, must go for this enlightening book. 

Rating:  

Blurb: 3/5

Description: 4/5

Writing Style: 4/5

Editing: 4/5

Book Cover: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4 /5

Book Details:

Title:A Study Of His Mind And Art

Author:Vihang A Naik

Cover page designer: Tirthankar Dutta

Type:Hardcover

Publisher: Authors Press

Language: English

Pages:100

Year of Publication: 2018

Price: 400 INR

Buy: Amazon (Hardcover)

Stars… To this enlightening read, I give a 4 star rating. Recommended to poetry lovers.

I am glad to read and review it. The opinions expressed in the review are my own, and remain unbiased and uninfluenced. I have given a 4 star rating on Goodreads and Amazon as I felt nothing less than that would be fair.