For better or Verse

The Attic in CP was packed on Wednesday evening, an encouraging sign for any artiste, but especially significant since it was for the launch of a new poet. Nitoo Das, a faculty member at IP College, launched her first collection of poems, Boki, and held the audience captive with her vivid descriptions and quirky insights with layers of gender commentary and violence.

Das read out pieces from her book, about Pandita Ramabai, about Sufi singer Swarna Noora and Doiboki, the title poem about a crazy woman from Das’ hometown in Assam. “I am passionate about Robert Browning and his dramatic monologue has influenced my writing,” said Das.

But, it was her comic works that were clearly a hit. Members of the audience, who have followed Das’ writings on her blog, requested for How To Cut A Fish, in which the prose hides subtle messages on gender equations.

The evening ended with a Bihu performance, a tribute to the land Das and Doiboki come from.