Neeman Sobhan

The writer is an author and columnist.

Wings Across A City Wall

Shimu and Tushar had grown up together on an alley in the Mirpur area of Dhaka city. Their neighbouring houses were separated only by a brick wall, about two meters high. The branches of a tree growing beside Tushar’s house overhung the wall, its foliage shading a part of Shimu’s courtyard.

ON THE WINGS OF POETRY: Flight of the Angsana Oriole

Last week it flew in, landing on my doorstep, and flapped open its wings released from its bubble wrapped cage. As the delivery man from Amazon Italy drove away, I regarded the poetry book in my hand.

The Bhawal story through women’s voices in Aruna Chakravarti’s ‘The Mendicant Prince’

The story of the ailing Bhawal prince, Ramendranarayan Roy, the Mejo Kumar, who while taken to Darjeeling to recuperate, died and was cremated there, under mysterious circumstances, and who then returned years later as a wandering ascetic with partial amnesia!

Romeo’s House, Verona.

[Casa di Romeo, Via Arche delle Scaligere: Historians say this was the house of Cagnolo Nogarola, a Guelph supporter, like the Capulets, Juliet’s family. But according to legend and literary texts, the Monetcchi family, or the Montagues, lived here until the 14th century, and the V-shaped battlement was the ‘swallow tail’ symbol of the opposing faction, the Ghibellines, which Romeo’s family supported.

Requiem for a friend

The passed away, in his sleep, I hear; leaving us, his family and friends, to awaken to his unfathomable, unacceptable absence, almost as resounding as his laughter, his jovial voice, and his life-affirming joyful presence.

January 13, 2024
January 13, 2024

Wings Across A City Wall

Shimu and Tushar had grown up together on an alley in the Mirpur area of Dhaka city. Their neighbouring houses were separated only by a brick wall, about two meters high. The branches of a tree growing beside Tushar’s house overhung the wall, its foliage shading a part of Shimu’s courtyard.

November 9, 2023
November 9, 2023

ON THE WINGS OF POETRY: Flight of the Angsana Oriole

Last week it flew in, landing on my doorstep, and flapped open its wings released from its bubble wrapped cage. As the delivery man from Amazon Italy drove away, I regarded the poetry book in my hand.

December 8, 2022
December 8, 2022

The Bhawal story through women’s voices in Aruna Chakravarti’s ‘The Mendicant Prince’

The story of the ailing Bhawal prince, Ramendranarayan Roy, the Mejo Kumar, who while taken to Darjeeling to recuperate, died and was cremated there, under mysterious circumstances, and who then returned years later as a wandering ascetic with partial amnesia!

October 2, 2021
October 2, 2021

Romeo’s House, Verona.

[Casa di Romeo, Via Arche delle Scaligere: Historians say this was the house of Cagnolo Nogarola, a Guelph supporter, like the Capulets, Juliet’s family. But according to legend and literary texts, the Monetcchi family, or the Montagues, lived here until the 14th century, and the V-shaped battlement was the ‘swallow tail’ symbol of the opposing faction, the Ghibellines, which Romeo’s family supported.

June 6, 2016
June 6, 2016

Requiem for a friend

The passed away, in his sleep, I hear; leaving us, his family and friends, to awaken to his unfathomable, unacceptable absence, almost as resounding as his laughter, his jovial voice, and his life-affirming joyful presence.

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