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LEELA

NAVTEJ BHARATI

AJMER RODE

A collection of original Punjabi poems 

 Rainbird Press, 1999; Pages 1053; 

 Price: $20.00;  ISBN 0-9690504-9-6

 

Leela was first opened jointly by Punjabi Sahit Academy and Opinion Makers in Punjabi Bhavan, Ludhiana, India, in January 1999. The book was introduced by Dr. Sutinder Singh Noor. Surjit Pattar presided the function and Amarjit Grewal led the discussion after reading a paper. Staff of the Panj Darya in Ludhiana helped in the pre publication work of Leea and celebrated its first arrival from Delhi.

 

After its initial opening in Ludhiana, the authors have read from Leela at several places including, Punjabi Sahit Academy, Ludhiana (India); Punjabi University, Patiala; Punjab University, Chandigarh; Kurukashetara University, India; Delhi University, Delhi; Punjabi Academy, Delhi; and in Bombay; Asian Cultural Society, Southall, London; Kalman Da Kafla, Toronto (Canada); Punjabi Writers Forum, Vancouver (Canada); Halifax (Canada).

 

Leela has been widely acclaimed by critics and readers. Well known Punjabi essayist and critic, Gurbachan, has published a critique on Leela in the Nawan Zamana issues of 13 and 20 June 1999.

 

From the publishers

This collection of poetry in Punjabi by two of the most eminent Punjabi poets writing in Canada is the first book to be published by Rainbird Press in a language other than English. It inaugurates a projected Rainbird International Series. We are proud to open this series with such a superb and important work.- Peter Loeffler,  Lori-ann Latremouille

 

Navtej Bharati reading Leela manuscript. 

Punjabi poet Gurcharan Rampuri listening.

Photo: Narinder Bhagi

 

Comments on Leela

No critical commentary can appreciate the aesthetic fabric of Leela’s insights…. After the first reading the critic himself feels his critical faculties unfolding. Very few books posses power of this magnitude. It seems Punjabi language was waiting for such a book for decades - Dr. Gurbachan

The publication of Leela is a recent event in Punjabi literature the like of which rarely happens in the history of a language and literature, rare not only because of its unusual size (1053 pages) but also because of its internal poetic structure and experimentation. – Dr. Sutinder S. Noor, Delhi University.

I believe Leela is one of the most important poetry books of our century. It has a rare power to shake, pierce, and mesmerize you. – Surjit Pattar (Dr.), P.A. University.

I believe Leela will enthrall Punjabi poetry of the twenty first century the way Lyrical Ballads by Coleridge/Wordsworth enthralled English poetry two centuries ago. – Harinder Mehboob

Leela has changed the whole idiom of Punjabi poetry. It has presented for the first time an authentic postmodern model for it. This collection has redefined many theoretical notions of Punjabi culture and literature... It will not be possible for new poets to ignore this book.  -Panj Darya, a leading  bi-weekly.                             

Leela’s poetry inspires writing new poems. I have written seven new lyrics after reading it. - Dr. Mohanjit

Perhaps the ultimate complement a poet can give to another poet is by saying: after reading your poetry I feel inspired.' Leela has inspired me.  -Dr. Ambrish

The classic power of Leela lies in its rebellious themes that challenge the market culture of today. –Prof. Kesar Singh Kesar, Punjab University, Chandigarh.

The bold line Leela has drawn will become a hallmark for the Punjabi poetry to come. –Prof. Amarjit Singh Kang, Kurukashetra University.

Poetry is considered divine prophecy. It  is said that the poet in tune with the Creator, writes poems so beautiful that he later wonders if he was really the one who created them... Leela  illustrates this point with certainty. -Kuldeep Singh Bedi, Jagbani

Created in book form "Leela" is a great poetry that traverses the world from one end to the other. The poets believe that boundaries dividing the world are superficial and result from violent behaviors.... To experience the book in entirety is to experience the marvelous in the word interactions -Dr. Amarjit Kaunke 

I am still reading this book. Whatever I have read so far has filled me with light as well as with doubts.-Jagjit Sandhu

 

                      

                          Ajmer Rode, Navtej Bharati at Leela's Vancouver opening , 1999

 

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