Vattacharja Chandan
Encyclopedia
Vattacharja Chandan is a bilingual (Bengali
and English
) writer, poet, composer and mail art
ist. He was born in 1944 in the small town of Tamluk
(now in Purba Medinipur District), which was the ancient Indian port of Tamralipta
in West Bengal. Chandan came to Kolkata
after finishing his high-school studies at Tamluk Hamilton High School
. After graduating from Asutosh College, he obtained his master of arts degree in political science from the University of Calcutta
. He hoped to become an experimental scientist like Jagadish Chandra Bose, Newton
or Edison
. Although Chandan did not accomplish this, he expresses his love of experimentation in art and literature.
In 1968 and for several years thereafter, he participated in poetry readings at the Saturday open-air MuktaMela fairs at the Kolkata Maidan grounds with other contemporary poets like Tushar Roy, Rabindra Bhattacharya, Bablu Roy Choudhury, Satya Ranjan Biswas, Pranab Basu Ray, Samar Bandyopadhyay and Abu Atahar; this taught him how to perform his poetry in later life. It was the launch-pad where he could mobilize his associates when, after editing a few hand-written magazines, he was trying to begin a new literary movement. At the MuktaMela he discovered Dilip Gupta, Ashis Deb and Shukla Mazumder, with whom he launched the Prakalpana Movement
in Bengali literature with the countercultural magazine Swatotsar in 1969.
Chandan authored the first prakalpana book, Porimandal, which was published on Prakalpana Day (6 September 1975). In the early 1970s he developed the philosophy underlying the Prakalpana Movement and its counterpart (the Sarbangin Poetry Movement), which he called Chetanavyas. According to Chandan, what is seen everywhere is change (in the outer world of matter and in the inner world of sense and consciousness). This is Chetanavyas, which is the conflux and interaction of chetana (sense) and abvyas (wont, or custom). "Sense" is assigned the widest conceivable meaning here, as the feature differentiating a living object with a lifeless one, and includes attributes of the conscious and subconscious mind. "Wont" (abvyas) is used here as the habit of living objects and the nature of non-living ones. As habit may be considered as "second nature", that second nature evolves over time; the smallest unit of a living organism works and perishes faster than that of a lifeless object like a granite stone. Thus the universe, which is perceivable only through the higher form of sense that is consciousness, is composed of sense-full and senseless matters acting, reacting and interacting internally and externally in accustomed ways during their respective spans of time. After this they degenerate, decompose and dwindle to dust or particles, to be regenerated and recomposed again in some form. Apart from Chetanavyasism and Prakalpana, Chandan's other teachings (part of the Prakalpana Movement) include Sarbangin poetry, flow verse, visual effects, "golden language", "proverse", mathematical dimensions and sonorous, musical and repetition effects. Appraisals of his prakalpana include:
, because he uses his drawings and symbols in his writings. Concerning this belief, Steve LeBlank (who interviewed Chandan in the early 1990s) commented:
Dilip Gupta, critiquing Chandan's Posha Paahkhi Hobona: I Won’t Be a Pet Bird, observed:
His literature and mail art have been published in magazines and online media in India, the US, Italy, Bangladesh and Brazil.
Chandan has been indexed in Who’s Who of Indian Writers (published by Sahitya Akademi
), Asian Writers Who’s Who, The International Authors and Writers Who’s Who, Reference Asia: Asia’s Who’s Who of Men & Women of Achievement, Asia/Pacific Who’s Who, Asia-Men & Women of Achievement (published in Malaysia), Asian/American Who’s Who, Who’s Who in Asia and Who’s Who in the World (published by Marquis in the US).
As an Indian delegate (with Sunil Gangopadhyay
and others) writers to the Asian Literary Leaders Conference in Washington, DC in 1997, he met Nobel laureate Derek Walcott
and other renowned poets and writers. Chandan was feted at the World Bengali Personality Conference Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2000 and 2004, and by Madhusudan Academy and the Bangladesh Poets Foundation in 2004 in Sagardanri. He has visited Europe, Africa and elsewhere in Asia, frequently performing a collection of his poetry entitled Chandan Gaan (Chandan Songs).
Chandan's album of musical poetry, Jug Jug Jio (Music Millennia, Kolkata) was released in 1999. His poetry has been included in The Sound of Poetry, a CD published by the International Library of Poetry in the US in 2002.
He has also introduced the concepts of Prakalpana art and Western mail art
in India through the Prakalpana Movement
. Chandan's bilingual (Bengali-English) magazines Kobisena and Prakalpana Sahitya: Prakalpana Literature have attracted readers, writers, mail artists and critics worldwide, including avant-garde writers and mail artists Richard Kostelanetz
, Sheila Murphy
, John Light
, John M. Bennett
, Don Webb, Brett K. Fletcher, Carla Bertola, Norman J. Olson and Jose Roberto Sechi. Interviewer Steve LeBlanc said:
Chandan's work, theories and role as a harbinger of the experimental and avant-garde
literary movement in India have surrounded him with controversy. However, he continues to march to his own drummer:
"I Can’t Say"
What day will you go?
I can’t say
Where will you go??
I can’t sayy
When will you go???
I can’t sayyy
Why will you go????
I can’t sayyyy
How will you go?????
I can’t sayyyyy
Only when you’ll not find me
realize I’m gone
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) writer, poet, composer and mail art
Mail art
Mail art is a worldwide cultural movement that began in the early 1960s and involves sending visual art through the international postal system. Mail Art is also known as Postal Art or Correspondence Art...
ist. He was born in 1944 in the small town of Tamluk
Tamluk
Tamluk is the district headquarters of Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. Though there is some controversy, scholars have generally agreed that present day Tamluk is the site of the ancient city variously known as Tamralipta or Tamralipti...
(now in Purba Medinipur District), which was the ancient Indian port of Tamralipta
Tamralipta
Tamralipta or Tamralipti was the name of an ancient city on the Bay of Bengal believed by scholars to be on the site of Tamluk in modern-day India.-References:...
in West Bengal. Chandan came to Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
after finishing his high-school studies at Tamluk Hamilton High School
Tamluk Hamilton High School
Tamluk Hamilton High School, India has its origin in 1852, five years before the birth of the University of Calcutta and is the second oldest school in the district of Midnapore. It has produced notable alumni like Saheed Kshudiram Bosu, Jadugopal Mukhopadhyay, Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee , Sushil Kumar...
. After graduating from Asutosh College, he obtained his master of arts degree in political science from the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
. He hoped to become an experimental scientist like Jagadish Chandra Bose, Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
or Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
. Although Chandan did not accomplish this, he expresses his love of experimentation in art and literature.
In 1968 and for several years thereafter, he participated in poetry readings at the Saturday open-air MuktaMela fairs at the Kolkata Maidan grounds with other contemporary poets like Tushar Roy, Rabindra Bhattacharya, Bablu Roy Choudhury, Satya Ranjan Biswas, Pranab Basu Ray, Samar Bandyopadhyay and Abu Atahar; this taught him how to perform his poetry in later life. It was the launch-pad where he could mobilize his associates when, after editing a few hand-written magazines, he was trying to begin a new literary movement. At the MuktaMela he discovered Dilip Gupta, Ashis Deb and Shukla Mazumder, with whom he launched the Prakalpana Movement
Prakalpana Movement
The Prakalpana Movement of Kolkata was sparked off in the Bengali language on September 6, 1969, by Vattacharja Chandan with the assistance of Dilip Gupta and Asish Deb. They later declared the day as "Prakalpana Day" because to them "the earth stood still" on the natal day of the movement...
in Bengali literature with the countercultural magazine Swatotsar in 1969.
Prakalpana and Chetanavyas
Chandan coined the word prakalpana (meaning "proper imagination"), an amalgam of pra from prabandha (essay), ka from kabita (poetry), lpa from galpa (story) andna from natak (drama). Later, he expanded its origins more globally: P for prose, poetry and graphics; R for story; A for art, Chetanavyas and essay; K for kinema; L for novel, culture and play and N for song. Although the word prakalpana is found in some Indian languages, Chandan used it as the name of a new form of composition and movement. That eventually led him to begin his ongoing magnum opus Atiprithibi 1. The first part of the Bengali version as well as the English version, Cosmosphere 1http://smashwords.com/b/46742, have been published.Chandan authored the first prakalpana book, Porimandal, which was published on Prakalpana Day (6 September 1975). In the early 1970s he developed the philosophy underlying the Prakalpana Movement and its counterpart (the Sarbangin Poetry Movement), which he called Chetanavyas. According to Chandan, what is seen everywhere is change (in the outer world of matter and in the inner world of sense and consciousness). This is Chetanavyas, which is the conflux and interaction of chetana (sense) and abvyas (wont, or custom). "Sense" is assigned the widest conceivable meaning here, as the feature differentiating a living object with a lifeless one, and includes attributes of the conscious and subconscious mind. "Wont" (abvyas) is used here as the habit of living objects and the nature of non-living ones. As habit may be considered as "second nature", that second nature evolves over time; the smallest unit of a living organism works and perishes faster than that of a lifeless object like a granite stone. Thus the universe, which is perceivable only through the higher form of sense that is consciousness, is composed of sense-full and senseless matters acting, reacting and interacting internally and externally in accustomed ways during their respective spans of time. After this they degenerate, decompose and dwindle to dust or particles, to be regenerated and recomposed again in some form. Apart from Chetanavyasism and Prakalpana, Chandan's other teachings (part of the Prakalpana Movement) include Sarbangin poetry, flow verse, visual effects, "golden language", "proverse", mathematical dimensions and sonorous, musical and repetition effects. Appraisals of his prakalpana include:
" The bizarre but compelling language is given an enhanced weirdness by the slightly awkward obviousness of its trans from Bengali sometimes resulting in an enjoyable ...effect."
" I enjoyed the most....the experimental fiction piece Aurora On The River Gour, which bordered on inaccessible at times but was interesting nonetheless..."
Sarbangin poetry
Some critics label Chandan's writings as concrete or visual poetryVisual poetry
Visual poetry is poetry or art in which the visual arrangement of text, images and symbols is important in conveying the intended effect of the work. It is sometimes referred to as concrete poetry, a term that predates visual poetry, and at one time was synonymous with it.Visual poetry was heavily...
, because he uses his drawings and symbols in his writings. Concerning this belief, Steve LeBlank (who interviewed Chandan in the early 1990s) commented:
“The visual element is important but not crucial. Chandan, for example, has developed his own key of signs and symbols which he routinely uses in writing. Symbols which, he says, help distinguish Prakalpana from other forms of writing……Chandan takes care to distinguish his symbols, and the way they are used from other types of writing and poetry which also rely on symbols, including visual and concrete poetryConcrete poetryConcrete poetry or shape poetry is poetry in which the typographical arrangement of words is as important in conveying the intended effect as the conventional elements of the poem, such as meaning of words, rhythm, rhyme and so on....
.”
Dilip Gupta, critiquing Chandan's Posha Paahkhi Hobona: I Won’t Be a Pet Bird, observed:
He employs his unique "golden language" – mixing refined language, archaic words, spoken language and the repetitive use of compound portmanteau words (like "wikipedia") coined by him, as noted by Paul McDonald:
“……he is the inventor and propagator of a separate, distinctive genre of literary forms.….Chandan says that it’s quite needless to knock on the head and pain it, it’s equally needless to read the stony book of prosody — prepare your ear’s ability and do not stop the flow of words coming ahead in your mind, let those come spontaneously. Then the inner inspiration will bestow a particular form, a particular meter, which suits you and the poem most, in which the theme of the poem will come out in a very easy and spontaneous style and meter— this is Flow Verse, verse that flows without having any pressure made by the poet’s intellect.….All these poems demands listening, not only reading — and these should be hearkened from Chandan’s voice— it’s a fantastic experience! I can say it with affirmation, as I have myself heard it. When Chandan from a stage recite these poems with music or modulation of tones, we don’t know what a game he then plays, whole audience becomes undulating…..he does it with the help of many objects and symbols— symbols may be in rhymes, may be in pictures, may be in music, the word-symbols or rhythmic orchestra, may also be mathematical— Chandan extends the dimension of the poem, its inner substance with the help of those scattered elements—scene-touch-taste-scent, every emotion coming out of those sensuousness suggested in a poem— and the poem becomes a Sarbangin Poetry (total poetry), which is the sole quest and attainment of Chandan”.
"You get the impression that Chandan is just having fun with language - chasing it around in the hope that it will lead him somewhere significant. As always, of course, significance resides in the chase itself.... His writing brightened up my day considerably."
Literary career
Chandan received an Alpha Beta Honorary Mention Award in 1971 for his first book of poetry, Byabiloner Shunya Baagaane.His literature and mail art have been published in magazines and online media in India, the US, Italy, Bangladesh and Brazil.
Chandan has been indexed in Who’s Who of Indian Writers (published by Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
), Asian Writers Who’s Who, The International Authors and Writers Who’s Who, Reference Asia: Asia’s Who’s Who of Men & Women of Achievement, Asia/Pacific Who’s Who, Asia-Men & Women of Achievement (published in Malaysia), Asian/American Who’s Who, Who’s Who in Asia and Who’s Who in the World (published by Marquis in the US).
As an Indian delegate (with Sunil Gangopadhyay
Sunil Gangopadhyay
Sunil Gangopadhyay , is a celebrated Indian poet and novelist.-Early life:...
and others) writers to the Asian Literary Leaders Conference in Washington, DC in 1997, he met Nobel laureate Derek Walcott
Derek Walcott
Derek Alton Walcott, OBE OCC is a Saint Lucian poet, playwright, writer and visual artist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992 and the T. S. Eliot Prize in 2011 for White Egrets. His works include the Homeric epic Omeros...
and other renowned poets and writers. Chandan was feted at the World Bengali Personality Conference Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2000 and 2004, and by Madhusudan Academy and the Bangladesh Poets Foundation in 2004 in Sagardanri. He has visited Europe, Africa and elsewhere in Asia, frequently performing a collection of his poetry entitled Chandan Gaan (Chandan Songs).
Chandan's album of musical poetry, Jug Jug Jio (Music Millennia, Kolkata) was released in 1999. His poetry has been included in The Sound of Poetry, a CD published by the International Library of Poetry in the US in 2002.
He has also introduced the concepts of Prakalpana art and Western mail art
Mail art
Mail art is a worldwide cultural movement that began in the early 1960s and involves sending visual art through the international postal system. Mail Art is also known as Postal Art or Correspondence Art...
in India through the Prakalpana Movement
Prakalpana Movement
The Prakalpana Movement of Kolkata was sparked off in the Bengali language on September 6, 1969, by Vattacharja Chandan with the assistance of Dilip Gupta and Asish Deb. They later declared the day as "Prakalpana Day" because to them "the earth stood still" on the natal day of the movement...
. Chandan's bilingual (Bengali-English) magazines Kobisena and Prakalpana Sahitya: Prakalpana Literature have attracted readers, writers, mail artists and critics worldwide, including avant-garde writers and mail artists Richard Kostelanetz
Richard Kostelanetz
Richard Kostelanetz is an American artist, author and critic.He was born to Boris Kostelanetz and Ethel Cory and is the nephew of the composer Andre Kostelanetz....
, Sheila Murphy
Sheila Murphy
Sheila E. Murphy is an American text and visual poet who has been writing and publishing actively since 1978. She currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona.She earned:...
, John Light
John Light
John Light may refer to:* John Light , an English cinema, television and theatre actor* John Light , Texas politician...
, John M. Bennett
John M. Bennett
John M. Bennett is an American experimental text, sound, and visual poet.- Writing and publishing :As well as steadily producing and distributing his own work, Bennett, through "Luna Bisonte Prods", a small press founded in 1974, has published thousands of limited edition items by writers who...
, Don Webb, Brett K. Fletcher, Carla Bertola, Norman J. Olson and Jose Roberto Sechi. Interviewer Steve LeBlanc said:
“…a revelation, a fragile literary missive lovingly produced, a message from one human being to another.”
Chandan's work, theories and role as a harbinger of the experimental and avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
literary movement in India have surrounded him with controversy. However, he continues to march to his own drummer:
"I Can’t Say"
What day will you go?
I can’t say
Where will you go??
I can’t sayy
When will you go???
I can’t sayyy
Why will you go????
I can’t sayyyy
How will you go?????
I can’t sayyyyy
Only when you’ll not find me
realize I’m gone
Published work
- Byabiloner Shunnya Bagane (poetry). Kolkata: Alpha Beta Publications, 1971.
- Saral Karo: Vaalobashaa (poetry). Kolkata, 1974.
- Posha Paakhi Hobonaa : I Won’t Be a Pet Bird (poetry). Kolkata, 1998 (ISBN 81-85304-83-1).
- Swaadhikar Sanad (essay). Kolkata, 1974.
- Prakalpana Andoloner Ishtahar (manifesto on the Prakalpana MovementPrakalpana MovementThe Prakalpana Movement of Kolkata was sparked off in the Bengali language on September 6, 1969, by Vattacharja Chandan with the assistance of Dilip Gupta and Asish Deb. They later declared the day as "Prakalpana Day" because to them "the earth stood still" on the natal day of the movement...
). Kolkata, 1974. - Porimandal (prakalpana). Kolkata, 1975.
- Atiprithibi 1 (prakalpana). Kolkata: Quark, 2009.
Anthologies
- Udvinna Prakalpana: Upsurging Prakalpana (prakalpana anthology, edited by Vattacharja Chandan). Kolkata, 1975.
- Sarbangin Kobita 1 (Sarbangin Poetry 1). Kolkata, 1978.
- Akhon Kobita Porchhen (poetry). Kolkata: Kanthaswar, 1973.
- Samabeto Kanthaswar (poetry). Kolkata: Kanthaswar, 1976.
- Sampadak Somipeshu (short story). Kolkata: Kanthaswar, 1976.
- Kobita: Shat Shottor (poetry). Baruipur: Mohadiganta, 1982.
- Shreshtha Shottor (poetry). Kolkata: Bishoy Kobita, 1999.
- Bharatbarsha-86 (poetry). Kolkata: Great Bengal.
- Ekaaler Bangla Kobita 3 (poetry). Kolkata: Rotnakar Prokaashon, 1978.
- Flying Petrels (poetry). Kolkata: Progressive Writers’ Guild, 1991.
- Under a Quicksilver Moon (poetry). US: International Library of Poetry, 2002.
Sources
- Purba Bharatiya Sanskritir Ruprekha, p. 271. Dr. Nilkanta Singh, West Bengal Government, 1977.
- Bangla Sahityer Nana Roop by Suddhasatwa Basu. Kolkata: Akshar, Bhadra 1380.
- Chobbi O Chhorar Album, p. 27, by Pabitra Adhikari. Kolkata: Great Bengal, 1988.
- Bangla Galpa-Kobita Andoloner Tin Dashak by Sandip Dutta. Kolkata: Radical Impression, 1993.
- Shater Kobita: Chinha Binyas by Prabuddha Bagchi. Kolkata: Patralekha, 1997.
- Who's Who Of Indian Writers by Kartik Chandra Dutt. New Delhi: Sahitya AkademiSahitya AkademiThe Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
, 1999. - Small Press Record of Books in Print (edited by Len Fulton). Paradise (USA): Dustbooks.
- Swatotsar, numbers 1-20 (1969–1979).
- Kobisena, numbers 1-44 (1972- ).
- Prakalpana Sahitya / Prakalpana Literature, numbers 1-23 (1977- ).
- Interview with Vattacharja Chandan by Charjyapad. Kolkata, Kobipokhha 1390.
- Interview with Vattacharja Chandan by Harina Harinir (number 3), Kolkata.
- Version 90,, "Songs of Kobisena" (interview with Vattacharja Chandan by Steve LeBlanc). PMS Cafe Press, Alston, MS, USA.
- New Hope International Review vol. 14 nr. 6, vol. 17 nr. 5, vol. 18 nr. 5. Hyde, UK.
- Zine World number 22. Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.
- Scavenger's Newsletter numbers 52, 127, 165. Osage City, KS, USA.
- Offerta Speciale number 37. Torino, Italy, 2006.
- Short Fuse numbers 69, 70, 72, 79, 80. Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
- Generator numbers 3, 4, 7. Mentor, OH, USA.
- The Drunken Boat vol. 1, nr. 4. Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Lost & Found Times number 33. Columbus, OH, USA.
- Absinthe number 1. San Francisco, CA, USA (1991).
- Anterem number 46. Verona, Italy, 1993.
- Filling Station number 26. Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Pense Aqui numbers 10, 18. Rio Claro SP, Brazil.
- Texture numbers 2, 4, 6. Norman, OK, USA.
- Kathay number 1. Providence, RI, USA (1992).
- The Small Magazine Review vol. 2, nr. 10 (May 1995). Paradise, USA.
- Ananda Bazar Patrika (daily). 30 December 1973, 2 January 1974, 1 April 1974, 28 February 1975, 22 September 1975, 25 December 1975, 24 October 1977. 23 Shraban 1390.
- Vishwamitra (daily). 16 September 1976.
- Satyajug (daily). 4 August 1975, 5 July 1976, 5 July 1976, 14 September 1976, January 1, 1978, 21 February 1977, 3 January 1978, 10 January 1983.
- Jugantar (daily). 3 December 1975, 15 July 1976; 14, 25 September 1976; 29 May 1977, 4 January 1978; 9 February 1980, 5 February 1983.
- Dainik Basumati (daily). 18 October 1976, 15 March 1982.
- Hindusthan Standard (evening daily). 17 September 1976, 9 March 1977.
- Desh. 28 March 1970, 14 June 1975, 26 February 1977, 23 April 1977.
- Ghoroa (weekly). 9 April 1980, 18 April 1980.
- Wrik vol. 4 nr. 4.
- Durbasha vol. 2 nr. 2. Chaitra 1379.
- Charjapad, Ashwin 1380.
- Ekok vol. 36 nr. 1.
- Virer Chhnoa, Feb. 1984.
- Anandalok, Number 1.
- Bidisha, Number 3. 1987.
- Sahoj, Vol 10, Number 1. January 2001.
- Karah Khabar (Fortnightly). Vol 1, Number 5, 16 September, Number 7, 16 October 2009.