Poems of Rajasthan  (Paperback, Supriya Saxena)

‘Poems of Rajasthan’ is a unique and probably the only published collection of travel poetry about Rajasthan, the largest and the most vivacious state of India, in English and Hindi. The book is written by Supriya Saxena, who grew up in Uttar Pradesh and currently lives in Navi Mumbai. Supriya’s interest in travel, especially in rural India, took her to Rajasthan where she spent ample time experiencing the culture and reading literature about the state. This collection of thirty-nine poems captures images from different aspects of Rajasthan, an amalgam of the poet’s thoughts and feelings related to the people, art and craft, rural life, the flora and fauna of the desert, architecture, food, ethnicity, misfortunes, and the current situation. The poems are written in English and Hindi with some usage of Rajasthani words. Translations and footnotes are provided wherever necessary. There are thoughts on a panihaarin (water bearer), the battlements of Mewar, the Gangaur festival, and Jaipur’s bazaars, to name a few. The poems are written in an easy-flowing narrative style and transcend through leisure-cum-art-cum travel reading. The colourful illustrations add a very immersive dimension to the writing and help the reader connect with shades of Rajasthan’s art and culture. Supriya’s poems create an arabesque of the innumerable miniatures that come together to represent the vastness of Rajasthan. The collection documents her love for this land and its people. The book can be a good companion for anyone travelling through the state or reminiscing memories about past travels. Or, for someone who simply wants to understand what makes Rajasthan so unique.