Whisper of the Anklets

Whisper of the Anklets (Odia - Paunjira Pandulipi) by Bipin Mohanty is not merely a book - it is a lyrical pilgrimage into the soul of rural Odisha. Each of its sixty sonnets resonates with the rhythms of village life: the soft jingle of anklets echoing through narrow earthen lanes, the golden glow of evening lamps lit at the Tulsi shrine, and the ageless serenity of love lived in silence, simplicity, and sacredness. Composed in the classic Shakespearean sonnet form (4-4-4-2), this collection distills the essence of village emotions - a world where moonlight romances the fields, where glances speak more than words, where rituals cradle relationships, and where even silence carries the weight of longing. These are not merely poems; they are portraits - of a place, a culture, and a heart that beats to the quiet music of belonging. The sonnets celebrate love in its most unadorned form, the subtle elegance of rural femininity, the spiritual intimacy of shared silences, and the timeless grace woven into everyday moments. At their core lies a deep rootedness - to the soil, to fleeting memories, and to an emotional heritage passed down like heirlooms. The anklet, in this collection, is not just an ornament; it is a metaphor. It whispers of memory, womanhood, devotion, and legacy - a sound that lingers long after the feet have passed, echoing across generations. In translating Whisper of the Anklets, my endeavour has been to preserve not only the meaning of each sonnet but the mood - the cadence, the subtle music, the quiet intensity that make Bipin Mohanty's work so richly evocative. This is more than a linguistic bridge; it is an emotional and cultural one. Whether you come from the heartland of Odisha or are discovering its lyrical traditions for the first time, I hope this collection touches you - allowing you to feel mist laced mornings, hear voiceless prayers, and walk gently through the tender terrain of these poems. Whisper of the Anklets is my humble tribute - to poetry, to love, to land, and to the timeless whispers that shape our souls. ----Dr. Sonali Sahu