# https://chaitalisengupta.com ## Posts - [Book Review: Across the luminous realms & other stories](https://chaitalisengupta.com/book-review-across-the-luminous-realms-other-stories/): Weaving History, Symbolism , and Fantastical Narratives By Aparna Singh Across the Luminous Realms and Other Stories, from Legends Myths and Fantasy is a translation from Louis Couperus’s Dutch Over Lichtende Drempelsand Legende, mythe en fantazie, into English by Chaitali Sengupta. Sengupta picks a novella and four fairy tales (Couperus wrote as a gift for his wife) to introduce the book to a new readership. Couperus’s Legende, mythe enfantazie (1918) is a collection of seven short stories blending history, myth, legends, and fantasy, drawing from various cultures and historical eras. These stories share common themes of ancient wisdom, spiritual seeking, and his theosophical belief in the oneness of the soul. They weave historical contexts with - [Book review: The Crossings speaks of survival & morality](https://chaitalisengupta.com/book-review-the-crossings-speaks-of-survival-morality/): By Navamalati Neog Chakravarti The Crossings are a collection of Chaitali Sengupta’s deeply sensitive poems. The fifty poems sorted into three groups dwell beautifully on the reality of war and the problems that come up after wars end. Wars are not the thought of magical talisman that ends problems. They are the beginning with no end. This is the writer, translator, reviewer, and journalist Sengupta’s second poetry collection. With wars abounding in our twenty-first-century world, and men grossly bent on killing each other, one is reminded of Oscar Wilde’s saying, “To live is the rarest thing in the world.” Indeed, we - [Book review: The Crossings](https://chaitalisengupta.com/book-review-the-crossings/): Poems that map the complex historical, mythical, and ideological trajectory of power and powerlessness A review by Aparna Singh in the literary journal MUSE INDIA Chaitali Sengupta writes and translates fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. The Crossings, her second poetry collection, envisions a world around war, migration and survival—the three sections into which these poems are neatly divided. Bashabi Fraser, in her insightful foreword to the collection, writes, “The impact of conflicts on individual lives is powerfully captured in poem after poem […]” Sengupta’s stark bristling anger strikes us at the very onset, “And then, one day they left. Castrating our future - [Book review: Divisions and Displacement- Chaitali Sengupta's The Crossings](https://chaitalisengupta.com/book-review-divisions-and-displacement-chaitali-senguptas-the-crossings/): Winner of Runners-Up award at the London Book Festival 2024 Reviewed by Anjana Basu Chaitali Sengupta’s The Crossings covers therelated worlds of war. Migration andsurvival – the sections into which the poemsare divided. These are world that shetraverses through her imagination andexperience some of them experiencedthrough the memories of relatives duringthe Partition, others from the stories of warand the constant interaction in the papersthat highlights the problems of those whowander from space to space with nowhereto turn.War and migration have gradually becomedeepening concerns for the world – Russia’sattack on Ukraine launched the firstEuropean war in decades, a conflict that stillpersists - [Book review: The Crossings, by Chaitali Sengupta](https://chaitalisengupta.com/the-crossings-poems-on-war-migration-and-survival-by-chaitali-sengupta/): A review by Shyamasri Maji in the World Literature Today Chaitali Sengupta’s The Crossings focuses largely on the pity that war entails. It presents war as having an intersectional trajectory of destruction, displacement, and dispossession. Sengupta, an Indian journalist, translator, and poet currently living in the Netherlands, examines this conflicted space in three sections, each taking a closer look into the collective consciousness of war victims and their progeny. Her diasporic experience familiarizes her with war-torn topographies beyond South Asia. She suggests that the continent of Europe, as it stands today, “is largely the outcome of two great wars,” stating that, “visiting - [Book review: The Crossings, poems on war, migration & survival](https://chaitalisengupta.com/book-review-the-crossings-poems-on-war-migration-survival/): The Crossings by Chaitali Sengupta: A Powerful Exploration of Migration and Identity Reviewed by Rebecca Rijsdijk, Editor in chief, Founder Poetry Press In a world plagued by conflicts and displacement, the poetry collection “The Crossings ” by Chaitali Sengupta offers a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the experiences of migrants forced to leave their homelands in search of safety and security. Through a seamless blend of history, mythology, and present-day realities, Sengupta delves into the profound impact of conflicts on individual lives, highlighting the struggles, resilience, and search for identity that define the migrant experience. “The Crossings ” is a - [1971, Noakhali](https://chaitalisengupta.com/1971-noakhali/): 1971, Noakhali  Noakhali is a landmine in her memory that only reels backward. Sits like a land   spreading its river of sorrow. A land thrice  partitioned. Each time she shuts her eyes,    a time bomb explodes in the scratch pad of  her brain. What happened to Zoya, my daughter?    Who knows where she went? Who knows  where she sleeps? And her brother?   What have you done to them? Who’ll bring my  message to them? In the naked sunlight of a    Kolkata camp, she sits, sticking to the lamppost,  like a flapping poster. Raped, like her land.    - [Book excerpt: 'In the memory of my father' by Rathindranath Tagore](https://chaitalisengupta.com/book-excerpt-in-the-memory-of-my-father-by-rathindranath-tagore/):   Rathindranath Tagore’s Bengali biography of Rabindranath Tagore is a empathic and nuanced portrait of his father, creating a portrait of his life and fortune–an excerpt from Chaitali’s translation-an exclusive Special Feature on Tagore’s birth anniversary. An excerpt from the memoir ‘Pitrismriti‘: Baba named our houseboat Padma. The name reflected the love he had for the river Padma. The boat was closely associated with Shilaidaha, located at the estuary of Padma and Gorai rivers. Although it was my father’s favorite boat, our family too have close association with the Padma boat. So, many things will remain incomplete if I don’t talk about it.              The boat carried a - [Poem: Bereaved words, discarded metaphors](https://chaitalisengupta.com/bereaved-words-discarded-metaphors/): By Chaitali Sengupta Sometimes, a few drops of ink,  create words, falling in a soothing rhythm, the ups and the downs, in a beautiful dance, of resisting and giving in, of grasping and releasing, of dissolving and merging, of holding each thought like the newborn drop of rain. And, sometimes,  the thoughts are like open wounds, no, they have no words. Only letters, on their way to self-destruction… Just like a heap of promises, never kept. Read it on the pages of Setu - [Review: Timeless Tales in Translation](https://chaitalisengupta.com/review-timeless-tales-in-translation/): By Lopamudra Banerjee “Translation is not a matter of words only: it is a matter of making intelligible a whole culture.” – Anthony Burgess While embarking on a journey of both reading and internalizing classic texts in translation, which attempts to bridge the gap between languages, cultures, continents, I have been always intrigued to know the literary or metaphorical truths that an author intends to depict in his literary work. Can a translator really transcribe those truths while translating the aforesaid work from the source language has been a quest for me as a reader always. Also, while translating Indian - [Review: The Vanquished queen: the diary of Kaikeyi](https://chaitalisengupta.com/review-the-vanquished-queen-the-diary-of-kaikeyi/): A review in SETU magazine by Chaitali Sengupta The Hindu epic Ramayan focuses on the legend of Lord Shri Ram- the supreme man (Maryada Purushottam) who perfected righteousness. Although the epic is peopled with several women characters, they are mostly portrayed as powerless characters who not only endure extreme events but are also secondary to the status of men. The women in this epic are examples of their indomitable sense of stree dharma, be it Sita, Kaushlaya, or Urmila. The only exception is Kaikeyi, the second queen of king Dasharath, the fierce, villainous stepmother of Shri Ram.  Ramkishore Mehta’s original book ‘Parajita ka Atmakathya’claims - [Poem: The path seeks you](https://chaitalisengupta.com/poem-the-path-seeks-you/): The Intercultural Poetry and Performance Library (IPPL)  has brought out two poems written by me in their current issue. Here is the first one. For all those who do not know- The Intercultural Poetry and Performance Library (IPPL) is a non-profit organization that aims to generate academic interest towards poetry, nurture creativity and reading habits. The IPPL is committed to bringing poetry to the heart of the nation. Luminaries like Sankha Ghosh (Former President, Advisory Board), Bashabi Fraser (Chief Ideator and President, Advisory Board), Sanjukta Dasgupta (President), Jaydeep Sarangi (Vice President) are associated with IPPL.   The path seeks you Sometimes, the sea within - [Translation: 3 poems from Tagore's LIPIKA](https://chaitalisengupta.com/translation-3-poems-from-tagores-lipika/): By Chaitali Sengupta The original prose poems by Rabindranath Tagore, Purono bari (The old house), Banshi (Theflute) and Prothom Shok (First sorrow) were collected in Lipika first published in 1922 (BE1329). It is a small book where Tagore introduced short poetic prose pieces. THE FLUTE The voice of the flute is an eternal one, a voice belonging to forever; just as the descent of theGanges, flowing out of the matted locks of Shiva, spilling upon the breast of earth. Like achild of heaven, she plunges down, wishing to frolic with the dust on earth, in her quest of theheavenly game. Standing on the wayside, - [Review: From India with love : Timeless Tales in Translation](https://chaitalisengupta.com/review-from-india-with-love-timeless-tales-in-translation/): By Muktha Kartik ‘Words travel worlds and the translator does the driving‘! Whoever said this has hit the nail right on the head. How else could great epics like Odyssey cross the shores of Greece and reach every corner of the world? In a world that is increasingly becoming international, stories from across cultures and languages take center stage. Award winning author Chaitali Sengupta takes the driving seat in ‘Timeless Tales in Translation‘ to bring selected classic Indian short stories to the Netherlands. Handpicked collection Chaitali has selected an ideal mix of short stories from various well-known Indian writers. From Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore - [Review: Varied Themes span a century in Twelve Translated Tales](https://chaitalisengupta.com/review-varied-themes-span-a-century-in-twelve-translated-tales/): By Prof. Seema Jain Translators are like architects, building bridges of communication, understanding and inclusivity across linguistic, geographical, cultural, and ethnic borders, unifying diverse people, cultures, and languages through their magic touch. Timeless Tales in Translation by Chaitali Sengupta is a unique work in the domain of translated literature, as it takes up prominent tales from the masters of the craft in Hindi, Urdu, and Bangla, spanning over a period of almost a hundred years (1855-1955). This expansive framework gives her the advantage of traversing the diversity of a country like India in the pre-and post independence era across the - [Visual verse: UNTOUCHED](https://chaitalisengupta.com/visual-verse-untouched/):   It opens up like a split-second vision in a thunderous flash, a fleeting, evanescent image conjuring up the past and future. Like a photographic ideal. Both for the seer and the seen. A moving mirror, like a sacred vision, pirouettes against the canvas of the blue limitlessness, rearranging the signs of the physical universe with an infinite array of glistening reflections. She feels as if she is looking through a glass of hard rock ice beyond the tunnel of her suffering. A passage from night to a bright day, when the image suddenly bleeds before her eyes, leaps to - [Poem: Draupadi](https://chaitalisengupta.com/poem-draupadi/):     From the womb of blazing sacrificial fire, She is born. A woman devoid of childhood, a feminine pawn. Split among five men She is yagnaseni, the daughter of fire. And forever she burns, in the patriarchal flame of hatred, greed, lust and ambition like an earth on fire.   Helpless, bleeding, wrapped in one cloth, she stands helpless, on the streets of history, bereft of honor, covering herself in shame. Her flowing mane, untamed, blood-red, twisted in the hands of tyranny causing a thousand pain. Her pain is the pain of each disrobed woman, her torment, a legacy, - [Translation: Jani tomar ojana nahi go](https://chaitalisengupta.com/translation-jani-tomar-ojana-nahi-go/): Jaani tomar ojona nahi go…… a melodious songby Tagore, with deeply spiritual meanings. This translation of mine was published in Geetabitan.com in the year 2016. The secrets in my heart, is not unknown to thee Much as I wish to keep it a secret, My eyes reveal every bit of it. Afraid of saying what I don’t mean I keep away, far away from you. On the wayside, I stay away And yet you come to know What lurks in the secrets of my heart. The shadowy silence, in my hidden, secluded altarIs shattered by your pealing laughter. Every desolate - [Translation: BOLAI, a story by Tagore](https://chaitalisengupta.com/bolai-a-translation-of-tagores-story/):   It has always been a desire to translate Tagore’s short stories into English. but the courage to do it was lacking. This translation of his famous short story Bolai I translated for the Singapore based literary platform BORDERLESS JOURNAL. BOLAI, by Tagore is the story of a young boy’s deep connection with Nature. You can read the translation here: It is often said that human life is a culmination of various other life forms in this world. In our daily lives, most often, we come across diverse characteristics of other animals in a human being. Honestly said, in the - [Review: All that Jazz and other pathbreaking Tales](https://chaitalisengupta.com/a-review-all-that-jazz-and-other-pathbreaking-tales/): In the recent days, I happened to come across Lopamudra Banerjee’s “All that Jazz and other Pathbreaking tales.” I was happy to review it and it found a place in the Setu Bilingual MAGAZINE. Captivating stories about ordinary lives In the recent days, I happened to come across Lopamudra Banerjee’s “All that Jazz and other Pathbreaking tales”. I often read and enjoy her brilliant write-ups on various online literary platforms. Lopamudra Banerjee is a writer, poet, memoirist in her own right; she has written and published “Thwarted Escape: An Immigrant’s Wayward Journey” – a memoir; two poetry collections and also - [Prose: Life, cognition & creativity](https://chaitalisengupta.com/prose-life-cognition-creativity/): When silence speaks through Nature…… Rustle of Nature. Through the pausing seasons, forming a lullaby. And to be a part of it, the feeling of oneness with it, can be an amazing experience. On an early morning walk through the woods nearby, when the world around is deep in sleep while you hold a deep conversation with the gentle breeze… the breeze that caress you and leaves you with that lingering smell of unknown flowers, like a parting gift… in that brief moment does it not impress upon your heart that the Nature is continuously in motion and yet there’s no - [Poem: Destined to go](https://chaitalisengupta.com/poem-destined-to-go/): "Of Everything there is a time...." - [Visual verse: What is over the exile fence?](https://chaitalisengupta.com/helper-pages/): Visual verse: online Anthology of Art and Words is a Berlin/London based Anthology of Art and Words. It is an Ekpharistic journal that gives a compelling image, challenging writers to come up with their own artistic inputs. The picture becomes the prompt. I tried this for the first time. Please find the work here: What’s over the exile fence? Life at our side of the exile fence is one of angst. Of not being sure. The fence, from my childhood, seemed to be great wall. One that fenced us in, within our lot. Here, we would often come, trailing after - [Translation: An essay by Tagore](https://chaitalisengupta.com/test-page-2/): The Library Translation is a difficult job. Translating Tagore is even more son. This particular essay is taken from his collection of essays called Bichitro Probondho. BORDERLESS JOURNAL has carried this one out in their December 2020 edition. Here is the link: - [Prose: The Rambling Path](https://chaitalisengupta.com/test-page/): 1. Here is the rambling path. It travels out to the fields, from the forest, and through the open fields to the river’s edge, trailing under the shade of the Banyan tree, just beside the ferry ghat. And then, it winds through the broken banks on the opposite shore, before meandering into the village. Further on, skirting beside the linseed fields, bowering through the shadows of the mango-groves, edging by the lotus-pond, passing by Rathtala, and finally reaching into a village unknown to me. On this path, so many have walked- some who have walked past me, some who have ## Pages - [Blog](https://chaitalisengupta.com/blog/): Blogs Across the luminous realms Aging All that Jazz Bangaldesh Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyay Captivating tales Chaitali Crossings dailyprompt dailyprompt-1884 Displaced people displacement Disrobed Draupadi Dutch Early Morning Fall Fantasy Forced migration Hindi short stories Horrors of War Indian classic tales Indian classics IPPL Kaikeyi Kolkata camp Lipika Lopa Banerjee Louis Couperus Mahabharat metaphors Migration Myths Nature Netherlands Noakhali Old age Partition of India Path Pathbreaking Tales Prose-Poems Quiet Refugees rhythmic rustling Sarat Chandra Chatterjee Season of Fall Seema Jain Separation Short stories Short stories collection Silence Survival survival of refugees Tagore The Ramayan The Vanquished Queen Timeless Tales in Translation - [Books](https://chaitalisengupta.com/books/): My Books A collection of award-winning works exploring the human condition through poetry and prose Honorable Mention award New England Book Festival Cross Stitched Words Poetry Collection A collection of prose poems that earned the ‘Honorable Mention’ award at the New England Book Festival in 2021.“Cross-Stitched words” is a collection of 45 short, free- verses that attempt to connect and engage the inner life of our hearts, through words, through poetry. The verses address themes such as love, loss, passage of time, impermanence, human frailties, empathy, sorrows, in short, life in its varied existential struggle. The verses are introspective in - [Contact Us](https://chaitalisengupta.com/contact-us/): Award-Winning Author & Translator Chaitali Sengupta Facebook Linkedin Pinterest X-twitter Youtube - [Interviews](https://chaitalisengupta.com/interviews/): Award-Winning Author & Translator Chaitali Sengupta Facebook Linkedin Pinterest X-twitter Youtube Interviews Lopamudra Banerjee talks with author and poet Chaitali Sengupta.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. https://www.setumag.com/2021/05/interview-with-chaitali-sengupta-poet.html Five questions with Chaitali Sengupta. Renowned author and poet Dr. Santosh Bakaya in conversation with Chaitali Sengupta http://santoshbakaya.blogspot.com/2022/01/five-questions-with-chaitali-sengupta.html An interview with Brandon Hartley at Dutch News. Brandon asks 10 questions to Chaitali Read it here: “Every immigrant has a fragmented identity within themselves” https://www.grooteindhoven.nl/neodirect/6/3/582433?t=Het-monnikenwerk-van-Chaitali&hash=5a28595ba1 https://myprivacy.dpgmedia.nl/consent?siteKey=mcv8h7juKXm7kdOx&callbackUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ed.nl%2Fprivacy-gate%2Faccept-tcf2%3FredirectUri%3D%252Feindhoven%252Fchaitali-uit-eindhoven-deed-acht-jaar-over-vertaling-couperus-in-het-engels-ik-wilde-geen-slordig-werk-doen%7Eadcf5daa%252F%253Freferrer%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.google.com%25252F Get In Touch - [Home](https://chaitalisengupta.com/): Award-Winning Author & Translator Chaitali Sengupta Facebook Linkedin Pinterest X-twitter Youtube Crafting stories that cross borders, bridging languages & cultures through the power of words. Chaitali Sengupta is an accomplished writer and translator, skilled in crafting fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. She studied (undergraduate and postgraduate) English Literature and Language in the prestigious University of Calcutta. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass communications as well as a Bachelors in Finance. Explore My Books Get In Touch About Me The journey of words, languages, and the stories that connect us all The Art of Literary Translation & Storytelling As a [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)