Talk to Isahitya : Sonnet Mondal

 “In ‘Talk to Isahitya’ we have Sonnet Mondal, a young Kolkata based internationally recognized poet and editor, who has the credit of inventing the “21-line Caudate Sonnet”. He is one of the probable Nobel Prize for Literature nominees, 2012 along with other Indian writers like Mahasweta Devi, Mahesh Duttani etc. Sonnet is probably one of the youngest poets ever to be nominated for the Nobel. So meet a brilliant poet Sonnet Mondal in an exclusive Talk with Isahitya. Even if he can’t make to this award, it is indeed a great achievement to be considered for one of the highest awards at such a tender age. Sonnet’s prowess as a poet and an editor is unquestionable as evident from his widely published works and from the fact that he is the founder & managing editor of one of the finest and widely read literary magazines, The Enchanting Verses Literary Review.”

In India, English Poetry is not much old but has influenced English Literature all over the world. Tagore, Sarojini Naidu, Agah Ali Khan, A K Ramanujan etc. are few big names in the list who has given a strong base and inspiration to all Indian English poets. Now Poets like Vikram Seth and Arundhathi Subramaniam have gained tremendous international fame and they have been directing Indian English poetry at international level.

But nowadays very few young poets are venturing into poetry or going into poetry because, there are very limited readers of poetry all over the world, which is a very uncomfortable reality for poets and poetry lovers. Many issues are there which have restricted Indian poets to go on a higher level and compete with the English poets in the international arena.

But today we are introducing a very hard working young poet who has got a worldwide recognition in literature at very young age and has a very bright future ahead. A Kolkata based Poet, Sonnet Mondal’s latest book Diorama of Three Diaries has already been praised by many International critics like Rita Dahl, Maurus Young, Albert Russo etc. and his own invented 21-line form of the Caudate Sonnet, which he calls the Fusion Sonnet, has most likely gained him a nomination for the Nobel Prize 2012 in English Literature according to our media sources. However, Sonnet personally has avoided commenting on this topic.

What is a 21-line Fusion Sonnet?

“A fusion sonnet is a 21-line caudate sonnet form invented by Sonnet Mondal, and introduced in his book 21 Lines Fusion Sonnets of 21st Century, published by Sparrow Publication in India in 2010. Unlike the more common 14-line format, these sonnets comprise 21 lines, with new rhyming variations. In each of these sonnets a 14-line sonnet with new variations is followed by a seven-line half sonnet…The volta or change in tone comes gradually through the ninth, tenth and eleventh… [and] twentieth [lines]… a fusion between contemporary and traditional styles, these sonnets deal more with social themes in contrast to other sonnets which are mostly written as lyric poetry.”

About Sonnet 

Sonnet Mondal is an award winning and widely published young Indian English poet and editor. He has authored seven books of poetry, the latest being "Diorama of Three Diaries" published by Authorspress, New Delhi. He is the founder and managing editor of The Enchanting Verses Literary Review, editor of Indian Section of Best Poems Encyclopedia, New York and the sub secretary general of Poetas Del Mundo, Chile. He is also editing the book “Sonnets in the New Millennium” to be published from Diamond Point Press, U.S.A. in 2012. to be cntd....

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In this exclusive Talk To Isahitya we bring you the young Indian poet Sonnet Mondal , whose remarkable accomplishments at such a young age , gives us motivation and proves the fact that hard work is key to success. 

Why poetry? English poetry is not so popular among Indian readers, but you accepted the challenge. What is the story behind between you and poetry which made you a poet at such a young age?

Not only in India but everywhere in the world poetry has limited readership or fewer readerships than prose. This particular phase of poetry or poetry related works has never been an issue for real poetry lovers or writers. Poetry is about life and life is special in each of its phases- childhood, youth, middle age or senescence. So poetry relating to any of these parts of life also must be special. It may not click to everyone but there must be some who might be able to connect to it.  Literally I write poetry out of my love towards this particular genre and thus far the readership of my verses has been good.   

I do not remember any such sequence of events that has led to my success. It has been a gradual process and about age, I would like to add that poetry is ageless and so are poets. Starting from Toru Dutt to Wilfred Owen more than a hundred poets can be named who are known for the poetry written by them at a very young age.

When did you seriously decide to write poetry and publish it? This question is because mostly poetry writers don’t like to publish poetry due to lack of readers.

I wouldn’t term it as a decision. Instead I would use the word ‘wish’. I have been wishing to pen good poetry since class three but I was successful in penning my first poetry in class nine. I never thought of publishing my poetry at the beginning but under the advice and guidance of Prof. Dr. Ramesh Chandra Mukherjee, I went for my first book in 2007, from a small publishing house run by him. Perhaps it was the time from when I started thinking seriously about writing more poetry.

Each of my books till date has sold a good number of copies if I compare it to general sales scenario of poetry books. So lack of readers hasn’t been a problem for me.

You are form land of Tagore?  Does he inspire you as poet? Tell me about your inspiration behind your poetry? Who is your favourite poet? To be a poet, Inspiration is all you want. So what is your inspiration?

For most Indian poets, Tagore is an inspiration. He is one of my favourites too. According to me poetry doesn’t really require any inspiration. If you pen a poem today you will feel to pen another next day and the chain goes on. For me, poetry itself has served as an inspiration. Poetry itself has been the base fire, the flames of which have made me a poet. My favourites keep on changing with my swinging mood.

Please tell me about your genre, as a poet. Which kind of poetry do you like to write?

I prefer to touch several notes with the piano of poetry rather than concentrating on a particular genre. Variety has been a specialty of my books and I wish to continue with it but yes, Sonnets are my favourite not because my name resembles it but I feel it to be an ideal form of poetry.

Your Poetry is recognized worldwide and you have won several reputed national & international honours. How do you feel?  You have got recognition at a very young age and you have enough time to use this kind of start. So what is your future plan, vision?  

Recognitions and honours are mediums of encouragement as they are directly proportional to readership.  I think blessings and well wishes are also necessary for earning these. Each of the recognitions brings in smile along with it but I shouldn’t allow even the highest of highest honours to stagnate my literary proficiency as, many a time their effects tend to be negative.

There is lot of time to write indeed and shape my future likewise but time is running faster and faster with the passing days. I believe poetry should not be market oriented but it should be what poetry is to the particular poet. Man is a slave of his own perspective and he should be one while penning. My future plan is just to write more and experiment with new forms. Appreciation or criticism will always be a part.

Any plan to publish in Bengali?  Also any plan to write novel or else?

No I am not thinking to publish in Bengali now. No, I am not planning any novel but a book of short stories sometime next year.

Again I come to issue of poetry work in India. As a young poet how do you see publishing scenario of poetry? Are you satisfied with the poetry publishing industry? Today publishing industry is converting into more profit based industry, and genuine literature is losing its value under the selling based market. How do you see the present and future? Same is happening with Bengali literature as well with Hindi poetry too.

Publishers run publishing houses for a source of income and poetry being a less read genre seldom clicks. Hence finding a traditional and commercial publisher for publishing a poetry book is tough indeed. While it is tough but there is always space for good quality works. So I hope if one has the quality with him he is sure to find a way somewhere. Fortunately attitude of publishers have been favourable to me but as I have been interacting with lot of people who pen poetry I can say the scenario of poetry publishing is declining and is becoming limited to well recognized and contest winners only.

Not only today, publishing industry has always been profit based but yes, I agree that big book publishers seldom publish good books of poetry nowadays. If one wishes to find good poetry, my advice is to go for medium or small publishing houses. I see the future of good poetry to be in the hands of medium or small publishing houses. An author may do well with these publishers too rather than signing a book with a big book publisher which will be out of print after a few years.

Genuine literature is not losing its value as the beginning of the 21^st century has seen a remarkable rise in the number of non profit poetry journals and magazines most of which feature a handsome number of quality works.

There are always challenges to be a professional poet or writer in terms of financial as well as social issues. Do you face any of the odd things in this profession?

I have decided to keep my profession and passion separate. Being a student of engineering, engineering will be my profession and poetry will continue as a passion. I will let the finance that comes through poetry, editing etc. act as an additional income. Writing poetry alone cannot be a sole source of income. If one wishes to make it a main source of income one must be a good editor along with it. Even if I take it as a profession with whatever I have earned till date, I haven’t faced any significant odds worth mentioning.

You are also working as editor in different reputed international journals as well as literary magazines. Tell us about your experience. Which are the projects in which you are currently working as editor?

I am currently working as the managing editor of The Enchanting Verses Literary Review, Editor of Indian section at Best Poems Encyclopedia project and currently I am editing the “Sonnets in the New Millennium” anthology to be published by Diamond Point Press, U.S.A. Working as an editor is painfully good. While I get the opportunity to read loads of good work, I have to limit my choices, which is painful, often rejecting such poetry which I would have preferred to keep if I had enough space and pages to feature them. Moreover editing is a wonderful experience and a excellent opportunity to learn and stick to quality.

What are you writing these days? What will be your next release? Tell us about it and also share about your latest release?

Presently, I am penning a book of short stories. This book is a mixture of horror stories, social stories and tragedies. I am planning to release the book in the first half of 2012.

My latest release is “Diorama of Three Diaries” published by Authorspress, New Delhi.

What is important to you to get published as poet? I mean many suggest that poet have to take time, enough time to get published, or wait for the right time. Are you agreeing with this point? Does timing matter?  If some new poet (young) asks you that, he wants to publish his poetry- what will you suggest him? When will you get decided that this is the right time?

It is neither about waiting enough time nor about waiting for the right time. There are lots of opportunities and one has to explore the right opportunities to break through.

My advice to the new poets is to start from journals and literary magazines and then explore the possibilities of getting a book published based on the feedback from the magazines. Most non profit journals and magazines deal with quality works and it will help new poets to know where they stand before approaching book publishers directly. Another advice that I often give to new poets is to get opinions of different writers and editors on their poetry by approaching them asking for help rather than submitting directly for the publications they edit. Reading good poetry books also helps a lot to keep in pace with latest styles and diction.

How do you take reviews, some time good but some time bad also? How do you judge your book success or you never think like that?

It is not bad when anyone writes bad or criticizes you but it becomes bad when critiques stop writing about you. Books keep receiving reviews from those interested in writing upon them. Whether it is appreciation or criticism a poet or writer must absorb it and respect all opinions of reviewers regarding his poetry.  Book reviews play a big role in the success of a book and helps a lot in opening new publishing opportunities.

Your advice or suggestion to new young poets? What is the first thing you want to say to young poets? And also any message to readers, for poetry lovers as well non poetry lovers too because non poetry lovers also need some message which will encourage them to read poetry.

My advice to all new poets is to get used to the latest trends in poetry writing and then start penning keeping pace with latest developments. As I have already mentioned, new poets must start their publishing career by approaching literary journals and magazines first.

To non lovers or non readers of poetry, my word is, poetry is a part of everyone’s life and it deals with human lives through different comparisons and unique phrasing. To read poetry is tougher than prose but the effect is long lasting and aesthetic. Just read a poem of a good poet, try to understand it, try to connect it with your life and decipher multiple meanings out of it. Poetry will never be a tougher or uninteresting genre after this.

And at last My thanks to Isahitya for arranging this interview and best of luck for future .And I hope it will continue its good work through its contents for many years to come. 

Thank You very Much Sonnet 

Isahitya

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