Jayanta Mahapatra - The Poet of the Common Men

Jayanta Mahapatra (b. 1928.) is one of the leading contemporary Indian poets with an authentic voice. He has evolved a certain creative indirectness of approach. The book is the most up to date study of Jayanta Mahapatra's anthologies and is significant for students, teachers and research scholars. It deals with the problem of identity in his poetic works in relation to Indian sensibility, suffering of the poor, women, the down-trodden, the drought-stricken people of Kalahandi, the painful and pathetic condition of a widow, a riot between the Muslims and the Hindus, the age old sorrows of the society and a gravid sociology of the human soul. His love of common men and the world at large is very well revealed in his verses and is not much sex-oriented. In addition whatever query I had during writing I corresponded with Jayanta Mahapatra and he replied me soon.

Dr. Pawan Kumar Jha (b.1970) is Assistant Professor in English at S.R.B. College, Vedivan - Madhuvan. He has been posted as the Law Officer, in K.S.D.S. Univerisity, Darbhanga. He was awarded Ph.D. from B.R.A. Bihar University, Muzaffarpur. He has read out several research papers in National and International seminars and conferences. He has been a life member of the association for English Studies of India, ile published some research papers in reputed journals and a story in Festival Poetry (Andhra Pradesh). While completing his research work regarding Ph.D. he corresponded several letters with Jayanta Mahaptra who replied him by return of post immediately.

Among the Indian English poets in the post-independence era Jayanta Mahapatra is a significant poet who received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book Relationship in 1981. He has pub lished 17 volumes of poetry in English, 8 translations of poetry, 5 anthologies of Oriya poetry, a book of short-stories, a few other books and a number of articles to his credit.

The study of this book is divided into eight chapters. Chapter 1 describes Mahapatra's poetic vision, imagery, aspiration of higher potentiality and intensity of passion. It makes a brief survey of major Indian English poets with reference to their quest with a view to as sessing Mahapatra's poetic achievement in the contemporary literary scenario.

Chapter 2 deals with the traditional and historical description. Mahapatra affirms his staunch belief in history and tradition drawn from his immediate surroundings. They naturally come to him and become a way of life.

Chapter 3 represents religious and social culture. The widow devotees want to spend their rest days of life at Puri and be cremated there. Women generally play a minor role even in festive occasions. Festivals in Orissa are male centric. Whereas woman has either dei fied as Goddess and Mother or debased as Evil Incarnation but never treated as a human being with an individuality of her own.

Chapter 4 shows the thematic study of sociological changes in the contemporary society, the landscape, the pains of common people the lustfulness of leaders, social injustice, the plight of the Indian women and prostitution.It also deals with Indian sensibility, tradition , culture, complexities of society, history, memories of the past, neutrality of religion and the disturbing present with an approach to inheritance.

**Contents and Sample Pages**