The Black Cat and Other Poems

About the Book

Shahabuddin Nagari Twentieth Century’s seventh decade was the matrix of productive literary activities in Bangladesh and to that effort Shahabuddin Nagari is a great contributor. Though as a man of myriad mind, Nagari traveled in varied field of literature with dexterity and ease, but his forte is poetry and rhyme. Poems are no longer products of only ‘emotion recollected in tranquility’ and Nagari’s poems bear eloquent testimony to that. Some of his poems are melody at its best when others are just the opposite. When he finds things of his liking alluring and repellent, he revolts with words and his rebellion is translated in poems. Nagari at times is a rebel against much social and personal hypocrisy and give vent to his feelings in no unequivocal term. As a poet Shahabuddin Nagari’s emotion erupt in his poems than in any other form of his writings. His books of poetry published over the years and held near the heart of readers bear testimony to this statement. Nagari’s preeminent presence in the literary firmament of Bangladesh is well established and with the passage of time it has a solid niche. A reader of Nagari will be amazed to see the fields of diversity Nagari has traversed. He is a passionate lover and at the same time distraught at the slightest neglect of the lady he loves. Readers of his poems in this volume, The Black Cat and Other Poems, will get the taste of a poet who is a passionate lover. Nagari is major poet of the language in which he writes—Bangla, a vehicle of expression for fine qualities of life. His appearance in English will augur well for Bangla literature which enjoys a wide readership. Shahabuddin Nagari’s entrance in world literature will be a commendable act.

About the Author

Shahabuddin Nagari is a person whose aptitudes spear into numerous genres of literature. The very alteration of creative writing occurred with the emergence of Nagari’s brilliance. His work expands from poems to novels and ceases to stop. Scriptwriting, composing, and singing his owns melodies, Nagari’s fountain of talent is highly evident, as his works regularly receive critical accolade. Poet Shahabuddin Nagari born in Shibnagar of Chanpainawabganj district of Bangladesh on October 6, 1955. His father, Late Mohammed Sabiruddin, was a government employee; hence, his job description required him to travel about Bangladesh. Nagari’s mother, Late Sayema Khatun’s contribution to the wellbeing of the family was enormous. He received education at the Chittagong University, Bangladesh. He started his career as a lecturer in Zoology at the same university but ultimately settle for the Bangladesh Civil Service. As a writer Nagari is versatile and of many dimensions. But his forte is poetry. Poets of 1970s have for themselves carved out a place in Bangladesh’s literary firmament. Among them Shahabuddin Nagari has steadily but surely created a niche for himself that has put him in a unique place. His every new poem is different from the one that it precedes, his mastery of mixing romanticism with instinct is amazing. His poetry faithfully captures his inner feelings and reminds Robert Frost’s famous saying that “All poetry is a reproduction of the tones of actual speech”. More then 50 books, out of 17 of poetry, now in his credit. Shahabuddin Nagari is such a poet, whose mastery of mixing romanticism with instinct is amazing. A very prolific writer of Bangla literature Nagari made his debut in 1978, with his book of rhymes Nil Paharer Chhara. He never looked back. His poetry faithfully depicts his inner feeling. His travel in myriad fields of literature is by this time well recognized by the exponents of literature. Till date, he has published eighteen volumes of poetry. During the last forty years of his literary pursuit he has carved out a niche for him, which is in itself a great achievement taking into consideration the span of time of his journey in the literary firmament. His world of verse has many splendour aspects. He sometimes describes his helplessness in certain and satirical way. When life becomes unbearable, after getting all the beating and bantering, he wants a recluse as a pet cat. But in the same breath he craves for a piece of land, rather a very ambitious asking for a hapless man. The poet's passionate love for women combines with nature in a number of poems. An optimist as he is Nagari foresees a bright future for the country. All told, as poet, both urban and as well as modern in attitude, Shahabuddin Nagari’s poems are intimate, emotional and thought-provoking. Readers will find in him a voice of the present time with eyes in future.’ His english book of poetry ‘Midnight Locomotive and Other Poems’ (2010) has been appreciated by the readers . His e-mail address is snagari55@gmail.com.