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ACKNOWLDGEMENT

I express my sincere gratitude to Dr. R.K.Singh, Professor, Dept of Humanities and Social
Sciences, ISM, Dhanbad, for his timely suggestions and valuable guidance. His constant
motivation and inspiration led to the completion of my work in time.
I am obliged to Biplab Majumdar for providing me with all the required primary material to
carry out the research. Moreover, his readily agreeing to my request for an interview via e-
mail adds to the resources on his poetry.
I remain grateful to other faculty members viz Dr. A. K. Behura, Dr. Rajni Singh, Dr. Mojibur
Rahman, and Dr. Aju Aravind for their active support and encouragement.
My special thanks are due to my friends Ms. Namrata Prerna Horo, Mr.Sahel Md Delabul
Hossain and Mr. Shah Al Mamun Sarkar who readily offered me their assistance from time to time.
Last but not the least, I take this first ever occasion to thank my parents who stood by me
throughout my study for M.Phil.

Place: Dhanbad
Date: (PALLAVI KIRAN)


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ABSTRACT
The post-Independence era is largely dominated by the social issues that cropped up due to
the dichotomy between tradition and modernity. Modern English poetry is a reflection of this
phase, importantly on the self centred interests, not abiding by the traditional moral values
and degrading human standards. Amongst the socially committed poets, Biplab Majumdar
stands apart for his selfless service to culture and literature.
With vast poetic gamut and numerable awards, the poet has not yet been seriously explored
on the basis of his literary merits. The dissertation aims to bring him on the forefront in the
contemporary period with the textual and contextual study of his poetry.
Majumdars three poetic collections, namely Virtues & Vices (2001), Golden Horizon (2004),
and Islands Dolphin Songs (2009), have been evaluated and interpreted in six distinct
chapters.
The first chapter gives a brief historical review of Indian English poetry after the post-
independence phase and develops the poetry scene after the post-Ezekielian phase with major
contributors and their contributions and places Biplab Majumdars poetry in the perspective.
The poet is remarkable for his distinct social consciousness.
Majumdars philosophic vision is developed in the second chapter Vision of Life. It
highlights the various aspects of his poetic vision fused with worldly vision. In other words,
the poet is steeped into humanity, spiritualism, and optimism and these form the foreground
of his poetry.
The third chapter Social Consciousness of the Poet studies how Majumdar evolves out to be
a product of his time. The chaos and the unrest prevailing in the society of modern age, frets
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and fumes the poet. He attempts to set out things on track with an optimistic perception.
Majumdar as a modern and a social being abides to the responsibility to reflect and ponder
upon the root causes and provides a midway. He also aims to create awareness of universal
brotherhood.
The fifth chapter Haiku-Like Poems studies the chief features of haiku with a brief
historical reference to Japan and Western country and subsequently in India. Majumdars
haiku is examined in terms of the guidelines laid down by British Haiku Society whish has a
universal acceptance. With the theme of perceptual truth and philosophy, he experiments with
his poetic license and therefore refers to it as experimental haiku.
The last chapter concludes the dissertation, by bringing related information together under
one head that highlights Biplab Majumdars merit as poet of social consciousness.