“To be a woman is great, but to be a sensitive woman makes all the difference.” Nita B George
Khursheed Wani
At 54, out came the verses from a lady who is genetically connected with ‘the Bard of Bengal’. Nita B George retired as an Associate Professor of English, Arts College, Osmania University, Hyderabad. She has authored three anthologies, Reflections – published in 2012; Confessions and other poems- published in 2016; A Book Lover to His Darling- published in 2020. Moreover, she has also authored a collection of short stories titled Encounters – published in 2014 and a memoir, A Speck in the Universe- published in 2018.
On 15 Jun, I came to know about the author through online, I found in her a walking genre of literature. Every lobe of her brain is inundated with pure literary genres. She is very creative in her poems, the way she writes, the way she imagines, and the way she portrays her real life experiences is unparalleled. If truth to be told, I can say that she is not a student of literature but the literature herself. The poet’s style is unique and her literary journey is an absolute enlightenment for others. She suffered a lot, suffered a lot and did not give up. Eventually, the verses came like a magic potion that restored her strength. So far she has authored five books- a complete package of her agony, pain and life experiences. She depicts human emotions where joy and sorrow predominate, moving the heart to poetic pleasure through pain. In memoir, she said, “Undercurrents in my mind keep telling me that ‘Knowledge’ is an ocean and what I have acquired but a few drops. There is so much to do, so little’s done. This mind is a hungry soul looking for fodder all around. Nothing can ever satiate it. Learning has no boundaries, no limits and we, its seekers, sip on!” Undoubtedly, that poet had a thirst to acquire mastery of literature from the very beginning. As I said she has a unique style of writing, in memoir, one cannot find a set of chapters as the whole book moves in thematic swings, a reader can trace the evolution of the impeccable soul. The reader can read about this at P55 where she wrote about her passionate mind, joining a creative course two years ere her active teaching career. She did, thereby empowered herself more; in fact, she wanted to do something constructive in life in the post-retirement days. At P99, she wrote about her son, Amit, she said, “An extremely intelligent child, he took delight in all he did.” Alas! She lost him in an accident when he was only 20 years old, (P34). A dagger went through my heart when I came to know the plight of a helpless mother who stood in the ICU by his bed, holding his lifeless hand, unable to do anything for him. P115, she recounted an experience she had during her college days – 97’s influence, faith in it, and a swirling web of illusions and delusions. I suggest all readers to read it at leisure – a must read book.
Let me take you on a tour to introduce you to some pages of ‘A Book Lover to His Darling’ – an anthology written in 2020 contains 72 invaluable poems. Nita Ji has dedicated this treasured souvenir to Amit and Arun. P15 ‘Thoughts’- Though it is a micro poem but very intriguing and succinct in which the author aptly used similes to captivate the reader. How well she compares thoughts with a cow chewing the cud or the corpse exhumed. Believe me; it will take the readers deeper than they think as it hides a distant sea. P21, ‘The Temple Road’, a superb poem indited exclusively on expectations, everything has been said in this poem of 39 words. Deftly, a bitter truth depicted by the poet. I’ll say! The air around Nita Ji is filled with an endless collection of poetic words. P38, ‘Peace and War’ is an excellent piece of poetry that compares Peace and War in a very artistic way with the help of virtual imagery. The poem consists of two stanzas. In the first stanza, she exclusively describes the salient features of peace and in the last stanza the darkness of war that destroys everything in a battle shock. How beautifully she has used onomatopoeia in this poem that captivated my senses. P49, ‘When the Crow Cawed’, is a beautiful poem that reflects the superstition prevalent in the Indian Culture. She witnessed some superstitious beliefs and practices in her own life. In the poem, she includes solar eclipse and pregnancy. Here, she also listened to her heart and put the research of modern science on the back burner. It reminds me of an experience a long time ago that I had almost forgotten, and then I read somewhere that the ancients around the world believe that the movements of the celestial bodies affect all lives the whole nine yard. They used to say, we are interconnected, a slight movement in the position of the celestial body would affect people’s mind and bodies. P59, ‘Ecstasy Re-lived’, is a spellbinding poem that reflects the intense moments of love and how it exudes fragrance of love and pure longing everywither, is a perfect piece of art. In the poem, readers will surely be mesmerized as Nita Ji skillfully uses the same verse twice but with different meanings. It seems that there is magic in her pen. P76, ‘To the Unknown Man Who Drowned Himself’, is a poem written so beautifully and dedicated to the unknown man who drowned himself in the lake. There is no doubt that it must have been a time of chaos, shock and apathy. But as the author presents, I can say that every utterance of her imagination is a moment of reflection.
Nita B George epitomizes sincerity, knowledge and expertise. In her poetic taste, I found a unique element ‘unsaid’ which will surely captivate the readers. She has a strong grip on diction. She is one in a million. She writes with her heart. She made an excellent use of language to create impact and effect. Her subtlety reflects her sensitivity to life. Moreover, she is a zoophilist and has ‘green hands’. Let’s give respect where respect is due and acknowledge and appreciate her contribution to the literary field. May her pen flow and scale heights! I wish her the best of luck.
Khursheed Ahmad Wani is a poet, co-author, reviewer, and teacher. He is the author of ‘The Seraphic Garland’ and can be reached at khursheed1605@gmail.com
