Poetry Wrap: Goan Travels through India Besides readings in Delhi in 2008, Goan poet Brian Mendonça made whirlwind visits from Delhi to mop up a few more states, viz. Kerala and Jharkhand to include in his second volume of poems 'A Peace of India: Poems in Transit' (Forthcoming 2009).
This autumn Brian was welcomed at Jamia Millia Islamia, Central University, at New Delhi. The event was the annual Talimi Mela or Educational Fair. Professor Shyamala Narayan, Head, Department of English, who graciously extended the invitation, had also reviewed Brians debut volume Last Bus to Vasco: Poems from Goa in the prestigious 'Journal of Commonwealth Literature' published by Sage, London (Dec 2007, vol 42.1). [Brians] first book of poems . . . owes a lot to his travels through India. Goa is at the centre of the poets sensibility, even as the poet faithfully captures the colourful variety of multicultural, multilingual India, she writes. Arriving at Jamia, Brian presented Prof Narayan a set of Mario Mirandas exquisite Postcards of Goa done in sepia as a souvenir of Goa. Dr Baran Rehman, Coordinator Book Fair, met them at the venue which was a warm pandal sprouting from the road itself, amidst the lush greenery of the campus. Brian seemed quite at home among the University students. He had interacted with the students of Portuguese, at the Luso Fest organized by the Department of Romance Languages, University of Delhi, same time a couple of years back. After being introduced by Prof Narayan, Brian began by reading his poem Last Bus to Vasco following it up with Requiem to a Sal, UIMCF, and May Queen. He then played a mando and dulpods on his guitar. A new feature this time was a preview of the poems from his forthcoming book 'A Peace of India.' Brian had brought a wall map of India. He then asked the young audience to look at the map and call out the name of a State he would then supply them with a poem written in/on it! Haryana was the first called out and Brian read out NH 1 earlier published by the Sahitya Akademi; UP [Uttar Pradesh] said another and they were not disappointed with Mathura. Kolkata said a third, and Down by the Hooghly written at Prinsep Ghat regaled the listeners. Prof Narayan, not to be left out, said Kerala. Brian rose to the occasion with Chingam 1written in Trivandrum. Time, of course, was running out. In the open session Brian read out a rarely-read poem In Conclusion after which he sat on the platform of the dais and strummed Goa Dourada in Portuguese which had all clapping their hands and humming the tune. The unforgettable event ended with a sumptuous repast at the Jamia dining hall where succulent shammi kebabs, mutton do pyaza, pulao and gobi awaited us. Welcome to Jamia wrote the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mushirul Hasan, who was having his lunch. Come again, he added, beaming. It was more than Brian could ask for on that 3rd of November! Brian looks forward to a reading in Anjuna, Goa before the year is done. www.lastbustovasco.blogspot.com
