Srujani Mohanty, an Indian Revenue Service Officer of 1999 batch has been composed the debut poetry collection in English, ‘Ash in the Sky’, The book has released by Mr. Bibek Debroy, Padma Shri, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Niti Aayog, at India international center , New delhi. Seen many book lovers and renowned people were attend the event including Mr. Siddharth Gigoo, award winning author and film maker , Mr. Amulya Patnaik, Commissioner, Delhi Police, Justice J.D. Kapoor , former Judge, Delhi High Court and ex-President, Delhi State Consumers Disputes Redressal Commission, Mr. Abhijeet Rai, PS to Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, ex-President of India,Dr. Devesh Roy, economist and write, Justice A.K.Patnaik, ex Supreme Court Judge, Justice A.K.Sikri, ex Supreme Court Judg, Justice Arijit Pasayat, ex Supreme Court Judg, Justice Vikramjit Sen, ex Supreme Court Judge,Justice P.K. Bahri, former Judge, Delhi High Court, Justice C.M. Nayyar, former Judge, Delhi High Court,Justice V.S. Aggarwal, former Judge, Delhi High Court, Mr. Dinesh Sharma, Registrar General of Delhi High Court, Mr. Ajit Patnaik, ex Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (Dy.CAG),Mr. B.L.Vohra, IPS, ex Director General of Police, Ms. Mithali Madhusmita, Director General, Central Economic Intelligence Burea, Ms. Ruchika Govil, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Government of India, Ms. Nirupama Kotru, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, , Government of India, Mr. Arun Goyal, ex-Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat,Prof. Girishwar Mishra, Delhi University, Ms. Sushmita Khare, Head-HR, Lite Bite Foods, Mr. Sharad Malhotra, CEO, Indo-Nippon.Mr. Amit Khare, General Manager, Trident /Oberoi Hotels, Gurugram and many others.
“The narration of relationships reminds the reader of the intellectual transfers akin to what were there in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Namesake- Dr Devesh Roy ( Economist, “ Her poems are beautiful, especially those inspired by Japan.I can relate her at another level because not only does she look at the world in a different way , some of her poetry touched my heart.”- Siddharth Gigoo, award winning author and filmmaker”
This collection of 82 poems in all, seeks to revisit the art of romantic lyricism…. celebrates motherhood,close ties with parents, travels to Japan, closeness to nature, especially the world of flowers like carnations, Dahlias, and cherry blossoms, along with the pines, the conifers, the deodars and the maple leaves.
There are four sections in the book: On Love and relationships, Nature’s vista, Japan diary and Soul’s Stirrings and Sojourns. It draws on love and other relationships with people, with children, deals with portrayal of nature and changing seasons through vivid imagery of flowers……cherry blossoms, dahlias, jasmine…… Another section focuses on Japan, its beauty and its people and the poet’s experiences there. These poems especially celebrate the natural beauty of Japan in all the four celebrated seasons. The poet’s soul was touched by the divinity of the surreal sights of Nihon and the way the Japanese people cherish and treasure them. Some of these poems include those on Cherry Blossoms, Autumn In Japan, Stillness of a Japanese Cemetery, Hanabi (fireworks) on Arakawa River, Himeji Castle, Yurikamone Train, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Metro etc. Many of her poems have been set in the beautiful Japanese garden, Arisugawanomiya Memorial Park, in Hiroo, Tokyo. The cover page of the book is a picture of this garden in full autumnal glory. The poems based in Japan leaps to one’s consciousness with the beatific descriptions of natural beauty. The anthology culminates with the section on soul’s stirrings and sojourns…. dwelling deeply upon one’s inner world.
This book of poetry is a labour of love, only love! A love for mankind, for God’s wondrous creations. It is an attempt by the poet at creating something tangible before it slips through her fingers, something that completes her design of life and captures her worldview. A beautiful mosaic of people, places and incidents have left an indelible imprint and created deep niches in the poet’s life. These phases of life, these people and incidents that have left behind a rich emotional and intellectual trail for her, have all been presented through this poetry collection. The book reverberates with earnestness and a freshness as it takes up the nuances of a life that can be made beautiful by receptivity to things that stir one’s mind and soul.
