Jeet Thayil is done editing anthologies. The poet, novelist, librettist and musician gave readers the gift of two important poetry anthologies in the past: 60 Indian Poets (Penguin, 2008) and The Bloodaxe Book of Contemporary Indian Poets (Bloodaxe Books, 2008). His edited anthologies have been the go-to guide to magisterially survey the scene of Indian poetry in English after Independence.
And now with the monumental mixtape that is The Penguin Book of Indian Poets, almost running into 900 pages covering 94 poets born from 1924 to 2001, one would not be able to work up an appetite for a more sumptuous spread. Among the collection are lost and out-of-print poems by major poets alongside essays that put entire bodies of work into their cultural contexts. Understandably, the 63-year-old poet, with four collections of poems behind him, wants to go back to his own writing now. With the anthology already a bestseller, waiting to go into its third print edition a month after its release, Thayil makes poetry look like a pop star in a world where most publishers consider this genre bad business. Excerpts from an interview:
Q How did you decide on the timing of the release of this volume?
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A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock