Where the Shadow Falls. Questo articolo non è disponibile.Where the Shadow Falls

We often play with our shadows. At times, when we are lonely. In loneliness, we seek joy. But in seeking, we tend to lose ourselves. Call it quiddity or sum of substance, the earthly notion is only ascribed to our notion of what we believe has a lifespan. Then what harm is there in ascribing the same to the shadows? Having an ephemeral quality defies that notion. However, you cannot protect a shadow; it is bound to fade. In the act of protection, you let it grow on you. Buildings, objects, bridges, tombs, highways, and any object with its material-tangible existence let their shadows take birth soon enough to disappear immediately when the sun goes overhead. Memories, longings, stories, and even existence tread on lines and patterns, which forms the essence of Raja Chakraborty’s Where the Shadow Falls. Unnerving dampness might breathe into the shadowy bosom, but the shadow might offer camaraderie, a shoulder to lean on, a hand to hold on to. The poetry collection puts forth the lustre that is juxtaposed against a murkiness and the contrast of dark-bright, warm-cold, fortune-misfortune, and everything that hangs in between with a fragmented visual. "You read on / never old enough to understand / the mountains (“Layers”). For mountains have stood erect for ages, with its head held high, and continues to murder chaos and offer stillness. There, Chakraborty seamlessly maps the aging mountainous bleakness to the last green of the earth. The hope is intrinsically planted in all its vigour and lushness. And therefore, repudiation of the dreary path would not in any way weaken the nexus of heart and mind. "gratitude is / a soft resonance … as I wake up / again and again /in this beautiful world (“Gratitude”). Chakraborty blends the melody and rhythm of life and never lets the stupor overpower them. Exuding optimism with every waking morning, embracing the shadow lines and walking with and not past them “in this beautiful world.” Where the Shadow Falls is divided into two sections, ‘Where the Shadow Falls’ and ‘Asphalt Dreams.’ This collection stands in contrast to the linguistic hegemony or jargon but is lucid. It finds coherence in vignettes and collages. Same as life does. Both meditative and profound, offering wide stylistic changes like a turn on the road, yet following the same trail.