5 poetry books by Sumitranandan Pant that will change how you see nature and life

A timeless voice, Pant’s poetry is a reflection of the inner self and the exterior world.

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• Pallav-

“छिपा दो मुझे निज नयनों की छाया में, यही कुछ समय है।”

(“Hide me in the shadows of your eyes, this is all the time we have.”)

– From the poem “नयनों की छाया” (In the Shadow of the Eyes)

Establishing the base for modern Hindi poetry, Pallav is called the ‘foundation of Chayavaadi’ poetry. Published in 1926, this collection of poems navigates and connects one’s soul to nature. Through imageries and personification of flowers, mountains and forests, these poems describe the beauty of nature and its impact on the life of an individual. Pallav is not just nature, it is the beauty of emotions found in nature.

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• Gunjan-

“नभ के पार पंछी बोले — जीवन क्या है? प्राण क्यों डोले?”

(“Birds cry beyond the sky — what is life? Why does the soul flutter?”)

— From the poem “जीवन का प्रश्न” (The Question of Life)

Gunjan or humming is a collection of poetry that hums introspection, looking beyond the meaning of the world. Holding on to the magic of the Chayavaadi literature, these poems branch into the search of the hidden meaning of life that reverberated through generations.  Where rhythm meets music, through this collection, Pant takes his readers into the meditative world of poetry where the rhythm of emotions meets the feeling of the melody of the soul.

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• Gramya-

“मैं ग्रामों का कवि हूँ, नगरों से दूर जहाँ जीवन है।”

(“I am a poet of villages, far from cities where true life resides.”)

—From the poem “ग्राम्य जीवन” (The Life of Village)

The nature of beauty shifts to the everyday realities of rural life. Exploring and empathising with the lives of villagers, Pant traverses through the beauty and struggles of the rural people of India. Inspired by the journey of the countryside Indians through the Indian independence movement, Pant draws his readers to a poetry collection that aesthetically blends beauty and realism, as he becomes the voice of those countless people who could not be heard. A must-read for all poetry lovers, this self-conscious collection of poems reflects the beauty of romanticism with the compassion of the rural Indians.

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• Lokayanta-

“मनुष्य का शाश्वत अभ्युदय लोकायत में है।”

(“The eternal rise of humanity lies in the collective spirit.”)

— From the poem “लोकायत” (worldly view)

Honoured with the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, Lokayanta walks down the path of Marxist philosophy, while comprehending the ideals of the society. From philosophy to politics, this collection marks the transition of Pant from a romantic poet to a visionary. Awakening the readers through his lyricism, Pant, along with his readers, embarks on the journey of progress, equity and maturity. Combining manifestation with meditation, Pant reflects on the progress of dignity and justice that an individual holds.

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• Kala aur Budhdha Chand-

“पुलकित धरणि, पुलकित अम्बर, पुलकित मेरे जीवन का स्वर!”

(“Thrilled is the earth, thrilled is the sky, thrilled is the music of my life!”)

— From the poem “पर्वत प्रदेश में पावस” (Rain in the Mountain Region)

Piercing through the spirituality of nature and the connection of cosmic power, the Kala aur Budhdha Chand was granted the Jnanpith Award in 1968 for its fusion of reverence with idealism in the artistic literary form. Each word of the title explores the themes of the silence held within the universe, self-realization and introspection, the aesthetic beauty of the natural world and detachment from the external world. Unifying beauty, spirituality and reflection in his work, Pant takes his readers on a thought-provoking exploration of spirituality and art. He makes his readers question the reality and identity that symbolize the life of an individual. 

(The writer is an intern with The Indian Express)