Village Evening

Most of Verenkar's poems rotate around themes of village life, its landscaps, the erosion and corrosion of social values. His words become cinders while delineating socialistic content, revolt and rebellion. However, he writes quite sensitively when he deals with emotional themes, delicate issues and Nature. There are quite a few recurring themes like urbanization, insensitivity of humans, nostalgia and disintegration of joint-family system.

He often juxtaposes urban life with rural and is always concerned with delineating the contrast between the two. Obviously, he finds it difficult to reconcile with the changing times and elements brought in by changing social order.

He is forced to be an urbanite despite his reluctance. Yet, he handles his emotions and words quite delicately at times as the dictum goes: 'Delicate instruments should be handled delicately.

Writers and poets are, roughly speaking, of two distinct kinds: Some, who have something to say and others, who have to say something.

Sanjiv obviously belong to the first category. He has a lot to say and whatever he does manage to express, he does so quite effectively. There is a distinct note of complaining about the fact at the universal phenomenon of bigger fishes swallowing the smaller ones and huge trees casting their suppressive shades or shadows over the minor growth underneath, often eclipsing the latter altogether.

This leads his to accept a social commitment that he too, as a human being himself or his poetry should not follow this selfish path' He is a socialist, not only in his poetry but also equally, if not more, in real life.

This particular transparent aspect of his personality, a rare trait to be found these days, is one of the most pleasant features of this activist named Sanjiv Verenkar, which has always impressed me in my association with him over the last more than two decades.

SANJIV VERENKAR (born 1959) was born in a picturesque hamlet Verem in Ponda Taluka (goa). This village has serene natural beauty and that was the driving force to nurture the poetic talent in him. His encounter with poetry was at a tender age of 18 and since then has been consistently writing poetry and occasionally dabbles in one act play writing too.

Prof. Kashinath Naik has written a book entitled 'Sensitivity in Sanjiv's poetry'.

Sanjiv has won many accolades for his writings that include Konkani Bhasha Mandal Award for his poetry collections. He has participated in the National symposium of poets of All India Radio at Ujjain in January 2007. His poetry is translated into many Indian languages and some of his poems are included in the textbooks of college level. He won All India Radio annual Radio play award in 1999-2000.

For the last 25 years Sanjiv Verekar is working as a journalist for print media and at the moment working as a correspondent for NAVAPRABHA daily.

In this poetry collection VILLAGE EVENING, Sanjiv vehemently gives expression to changing human values, degradation of moral and social values, transforming rural life and environmental challenges thus paving the way for a newer dimension to Konkani poetry. His poetry has its own idiom, beauty and a rare undercurrent coupled with fine metaphors and imagery.

A generation of Konkani writers and poets that emerged in the post liberation Goa of which Sanjiv Verenkar arguably is an important name. He has been writing since the past three decades poetry and one act plays that have won him a critical acclaim and praise from his readers. Verenkar's poetry gives expression to human predicament. Displacement and alienation are the two recurring themes around which he weaves his poetic fabric.

"We all in fact had migrated to this city, together..."

The reason may be social and economic circumstances, admittedly it has inevitably effected the social psyche. Sanjiv is at pains to see the decline of social and moral values and interestingly when he gives expression to this, he does not sacrifice his poetry at the alter of social rhetoric which is quite commendable. His heart is filled with deep nostalgia for the bye gone days. To use a cliche his poetry holds mirror to the changing rural landscape. Without doubt he has enriched Konkani poetry beyond measure.

The renowned Marathi-Konkani writer Prof. Laxmanrao SarDessai belonged to the village of Savoi-verem in the Antruz Taluka which is known for its rich scenic beauty. He is regarded as a sage like huge tree. I am happy and proud to have been born in the same village.

Laxmarao SarDessai always provided a kind of a protective and encouraging umbrella of shade to young and budding writers like me. Hence we could blossom to a great extent. I started swimming in the literary lake through inspiration provided by this great man. Now I wish to cross the river someday. I take it as my duty to provide cool and encouraging shade to all those aspirants who may be following me. I am constantly aware of my own commitment.

Prof. Sar Dessai was great, not only as a writer, but also as a person, as a human being. I always get hypnotized by such personalities. It goes without saying that such persons have left lasting impressions on my personality as well as my writings, directly or indirectly. Therefore, I have come to believe that no matter whether an individual may be however great as a writer, if he doesn't measure up to the mark as a good human being, he fails to impress me.

**Contents and Sample Pages**