K3 Chapter Launched Amongst Discussions, Poetry, and Songs

Kavya Kumbh Kolkata (K3), the first of the many chapters, was launched in Kolkata amongst camaraderie, discussions, poetry, and songs, at the ICCR Library, on Saturday, May 20 — an exclusive report by Amit for Different Truths.

A Poetic Confluence was held on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at ICCR Library. The noted online journal, Different Truths, launched the Kavya Kumbh Kolkata (K3) Chapter in the City of Joy. Kavya Kumbh is the brainchild of Prayagraj-based author and journalist Arindam Roy, its Editor-in-Chief. The co-founder Anumita Roy, a US-based Managing Editor of the online journal, ably supported it.

Authors, poets, and artists from Kolkata attended the launch event. They were welcomed by the event convener Rituparna Khan and Editor-in-Chief, Arindam Roy. The first part of the event saw the opening remarks delivered by Arindam Roy. He outlined the historical connection between Kolkata and Allahabad (now, Prayagraj) and that the City of Joy led the Indian Renaissance. The first of the many chapters of Kavya Kumbh is thus at Kolkata, and there are prospects of starting more such regional chapters.

Kavya Kumbh anthologies on various themes published so far were also displayed, and the model of participatory publication was emphasised. The work done by Different Truths in publishing literary works, as well as championing the cause of autism and other such social responsibilities, were highlighted. Arindam stated that advocacy, media activism and participatory journalism have been its guiding principles.

Anumita Roy, the co-founder, also spoke on the occasion. It was followed by the introduction to the Kolkata Chapter President Sharmila Ray, Vice-President Aneek Chatterjee, and Secretary Rituparna Khan. Other members of the management committee of K3 are Joint Secretary Soumen Roy, Assistant Secretary Debarati Sen and Documentation Executive Shuvayu Bhattacharjee. The Advisory Board members of the Kolkata Chapter of Kavya Kumbh, Amita Ray, Ipsita Ganguli, Rajorshi Patranabis, Amit Shankar Saha, Gopa Bhattacharjee, Sutanuka Ghosh Roy, Mandikini Bhattacherya, Debjani Bose, along with Dr Sudipta Chatterjee and Nandita Samanta, who could not attend the session, were introduced by Arindam.

It was followed by two invigorating sessions chaired by Sharmila Ray and Aneek Chatterjee, respectively.

The discussants in the first panel were Dr Sharmila Ray, who spoke on Poetry: Then and Now; Amita Ray on Poetry in Translation; Mandakini Bhattacherya on The Outsider – Subaltern and Dalit Poetry; Sutanuka Ghosh Roy on Dark Poetry; Ipsita Gangul, on Borderless Poetry and Culture, and Debjani Bose, spoke on Nachni Nach, a 500-year-old folk dance form of the Manbhum region of West Bengal. The Chair, Sharmila Ray, President of the K3 Chapter, summed up the session.

In the second session, Vice President of K3 Chapter, Dr Aneek Chatterjee, deliberated on Poetry, Politics and Protest; Sekhar Banerjee, the press secretary of the West Bengal Governor, spoke on Poetry and Painting; Rajorshi Patranabis, a Wiccan, enthralled the audience with his talk on Poetry and the Supernatural; Amit Shankar Saha spoke on Love Poetry; Gopa Bhattacharjee deliberated on Poetry and Music; Rituparna Khan’s topic was Poetry and Nature. The discussions closed with Anumita Chatterjee’s gripping talk on Deaf Poetry, a lesser-known area. Dr Aneek Chatterjee, who chaired the session, summed up the discussions.    

The second half began with an excellent musical medley of Tagore’s songs by Shuvayu Bhattacharjee. After the musical performance, it was over to poetry reading by city poets. The poets comprising two panels, read poems in English, Bengali and Hindi. A witty and humourous poem by Soumya Mukherjee was applauded.

In his concluding remarks, Arindam cautioned that in an era of unrestricted access digital world, sharing one’s unpublished works on social media platforms has the risk of getting copied and plagiarised. To ensure safety against that trap, one can publish one’s work in Different Truths, an online journal or KKPC anthologies – or any online journals, magazines, newspapers, or books – before sharing it in other online mediums like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. Kavya Kumbh, powered by Different Truths, fulfils that function ably.

The event ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Anumita Roy, who expressed hope that the Kolkata Chapter of Kavya Kumbh would function efficiently under the newly formed committees.

Photos by Abizit Dutta and Hiran