Today after a long time I happened to contact on phone a poet friend Agnishekhar, who lives in Jammu. We call him rarely since we all know that he is quite busy with his mission. This time when I called, he conveyed to me the shocking news that a poet named Kuldeep had died. He was on hunger strike for long time, and today he read his own poem and left this world. I know TV channels show little if no interest in such news, newspapers may mention it in a few lines. Being a poet is not a big thing in India, then why did this young poet sacrifice his life for a social cause?

I was astonished to know that there were people like this poet who could sacrifice their lives for a good cause in this money minded world? A sacrifice for the society, and not for any selfish motive! Can poetry give so much strength to a young mind that he uses it as a weapon? Does the society around him have any notion of the power of genuine poetry and the magnitude of such a sacrifice? A hundred questions could be added to this list in my mind.

I experienced a feeling of happiness in that there lived real poets in these cruel times. I was somewhat relieved on visualizing a death which could be ideal for me. (As after seeing a number of deaths in my family, I was greatly worried about the helplessness before death.) Now I could not imagine a better end for any poet. But again the question surfaces - will his death help society? Can he awaken the sleeping hearts of politicians?

I am not very hopeful, but I know that sometimes a small spark is the seed for a big fire. And I hope and wish that the hearts of people and politicians wake up, let the power of poetry come back, let the last wish of that wonderful poet be fulfilled. Amen!

This issue is dedicated to that poet who died with poetry.

The artist of this issue is Samira Eskandarfar, from Iran, who is related to film and art, both. Sketches are made by Radhelal Vijdhavane , Rajendra Pardeshi, and Nagdev ( taken from Hindi journal Prerana) . This time we bring you very painful but strong poems of a Polish American poet John Z. Guzlowski in the section Editors Choice. Roberto from Rome is talking about word power and poetry in the section - In The Name Of Poetry. I am sure that readers will as usual enjoy the variety of poetry in the section - Poetry in Our Time.

With best wishes

Rati Saxena

Please check the link for Poetry festival-   kritya2008