'Jasmine City' releases in Vasco

Jasmine City release at WISH store, Vasco. 

Press report in Herald newspaper, Goa. 

- Brian Mendonca

Cdr. Narayanan (Retd.)

Exactly one month after the Delhi launch of Jasmine City: Poems from Delhi, Goa saw its release in Vasco today. Though the event in Delhi was a tribute to the city which nurtured me for a decade during my working years, I always wanted to be validated by Vasco, where I grew up. 

Cdr. Narayanan (Retd.) from Vasco, gladly took up the task of overseeing the launch. Being an ex-trustee of ARZ, Vasco, he explored the possibility of hosting the event at the WISH store there.

Ms. Juliana Lohar, coordinator, ARZ, liked the idea and made available the cosy space which sells upscaled items made by women like pouches, files, bags, and lanterns. She elaborated on the activities of ARZ today and said events like these help to leverage their presence in the community.

Juliana Lohar

Queenie and me breezed into Vasco last week to pick up a copy of Vasco Watch when it hit the stands, since the announcement about the launch was being carried in it. VW,  Commander elaborated, is a free-to-reader fortnightly (which has been helmed by him and his wife) for the last 25 years since 1999 and has a circulation of 15k serving Vasco and surrounding areas. 

Daniel de Souza

I requested my friend Daniel de Souza, bilingual writer and chronicler of Vasco to release the book.  He readily agreed, and as is his wont,  regaled us with anecdotes of his association with dad and me in Vasco, like a true raconteur. He recalled how we had visited the Qutub Minar in Delhi when he had come with his family. He appreciated the brevity of my poems making special reference to 'Srngara' and '9 to 5.' He was curious to know how a poem is born to which I quipped, 'I do not write a poem, a poem writes itself.' He mooted the idea of conducting a session for budding poets. 

Jude Fernandes

Jude Fernandes, Assistant Professor in English, Don Bosco college, Panjim, showed how the  poems, varied in their themes, emerge from an experience of living in Delhi yet yearning for Goa. He saw the book as made up of many layers, the social, the economic, the romantic, and the ecological. 'The travelling is over, the memories remain,' he said. The poetry, he felt, was very concise. They were like photographs in words. He was appreciative of the artwork by Kallol Majumder. 

Ms. Khushi Powar, e-content developer read her poem:    

Ms. Khushi Powar

Jasmine City : A Tribute in Verse

by Khushi Powar

In the heart of Delhi’s vibrant hue,

A poet's dream comes into view 

Seventy-four poems, a city’s grace

Captured in words, a timeless embrace. 

Among the verses that dance and sing,

There are four poems to which my heart does cling

'Jasmine City,' with its fragrant air

'Morning Walk - South Delhi,' Ah, so fair!

'Until Yesterday,' echoes of time, 

'I am Not Alone,' with its comforting relatability at prime. 

This book is a journey 

Through Delhi’s lanes

Captures its essence, its joys, its pains 

Each poem a glimpse, a moment, a scene,

Crafted with love, in lines that are so keen. 

Thank you Sir, for this wondrous chance

To let us delve into Delhi’s poetic romance 

Your manner of writing is powerfully true

Inspired by these poems, I attempted to write one too. 

Ms. Shifa Sayani anchors the event.

Ms. Elizabeth Valsan, ex-Principal, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, recalled how she used to invite me to the school regularly to take sessions for the teachers. She shared how I used to play the guitar. 

Ms. Priscilla David observed that it was not safe for women in Delhi. Alluding to the allure of the city I sang a few lines of a ghazal: 'Kaise sukun pao / tujhe dekhne ke baad / ab kya ghazal sunao tujhe dekhne ke baad.'

Gerard D'Mello recalled the time I was part of an amateur theatre group which staged Antigone at the Naval Officers' Institute. Our ensemble was called Naval Officers' Institute's Stage Enthusiasts (NOISE).

Asked about the title of the book, I said it is named after one of the poems in the volume. It is dedicated to the nobodies of Delhi, ubiquitous, yet invisibilized, who nevertheless make our stay livable. Like the migrant woman - like me - who sells fragrant Jasmine blossoms by the kerb. The audience broke into spontaneous applause.

Spreading the fragrance of a flower. 

Six copies of the book were wrapped in the folds of today's newspaper for the release. I eschewed the usual glitzy wrapping paper, taking a cue from the environmentally-friendly products at WISH.  Potted plants selected by Queenie from a nursery near our home in Porvorim were presented as a token of appreciation to each of the speakers. The evening was anchored by Ms. Shifa Sayani. Ms. Dianne Moraes proposed the vote of thanks. 

In a way, the launch was a celebration of Vasco
as well. The sounds of the poder as the evening stretched on, the patter of the rain, the wet streets, the piping hot tea, the camaraderie of old friends meeting after many years, made the verities of  time and space of no consequence. 

Many bought copies of Jasmine City. I picked up a beautiful edge of a kunbi sari with kanta stitch work done on it being sold at WISH.  WISH also kept 5 copies of the book for sale at their store. WISH had made my wish come true.

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Photos, courtesy Juliana Lohar, Felicia Pereira and Dianne Moraes. Pic of news report courtesy Herald newspaper, Goa dated 29/6/24. Updated 29/6/24.