Arun Kolatkars Poetry

Arun Kolatkar (1932-2004) was a poet from Maharashtra who wrote in each Marathi and English. His poems reveal a keen eye for observation and deciphering issues. Seven years post his death; his poems in either language continue to inspire poets and readers alike. Kolatkar initial burst into the limelight with his collection Jejuri (1977). The 31-poem collection begins with poems on the bus journey that has a whiff of some metaphysical encounter. Chronologically, with biting humour, satire, indifference and a distant compassion, Kolatkar describes a journey to the temple of Jejuri, an hour's drive from Pune. He talks of the legend of Khandoba, the god of the temple, of greedy priests, and temple dogs, beggars and ruins.

Midway via this Commonwealth Writer's Prize-winning collection, the poem 'The Butterfly' brings out the talent and eye of the poet. The concluding lines that describe a tiny yellow butterfly go: Just a pinch of yellow, it opens just before it closes / and it closes ahead of it o / exactly where is it? Meanwhile, Kolatkar, a student at the J.J College of Arts was pursuing his profession as a graphic artist at an marketing firm.

The poet was quite reclusive (Which includes: No phone) and it was soon after a extended period of time that Kolatkar's subsequent collection in English came out. Meanwhile his Marathi collection Arun Kolatkarcha Kavita (Poems of Arun Kolatkar) came out in 1977. The two collections - Chirimiri and Bhijki Vahi came out considerably later in 2004, the latter won the Sahitya Academy Award the very same year. One more collection Droan came out in the similar year.
Kolatkar was pretty reluctant to publish his English verse; it was only when he was diagnosed with cancer that Kalaghoda Poems (2004) and Sarpasatra (2004) have been released. Each books are notable for their wit, observation and the poet's unconventional, humorous use of language. The poet utilised to observe the life of South Mumbai from his café table at Kalaghoda, and that is exactly where most of the poems originate. Be it the street dog that is shaped like the state map, or the beggar, the crow that is undecided to choose up a twig for its nest, the collection is a sheer delight. Similarly, Sarpasatra is a biting take on the Mahabharata, and mirrors the present day situation of riots, injustice and communal disharmony.

We can safely conclude that Arun Kolatkar's verse would be continued to be read, for he was of some spoilt-youngster, rebellious College of poetry. He wrote some actual groovy stuff, for positive.

Anju Batra is a writer primarily based in India. She like to write on Social and cultural topic. She has writer lots of Articles on the topic of Arun Kolatkar, Book Evaluations on his books.