(presented and written by Multicultural Press Team)
BOOK REVIEW: WHISPERS: INTERLUDE OF VOICES – A CROSS-CULTURAL SYMPHONY OF POETRY FROM INDIA AND INDONESIA
ISISAR PEACE RESEARCH PUBLICATION in collaboration with literary leaders from India and Indonesia, Whispers: Interlude of Voices is a notable anthology that does more than collect verses, it constructs a bridge of empathy, humanity, and peace between two richly poetic nations. Launched on 18 November 2024 at the prestigious World Thinkers and Writers Peace Meet (WTWPM) in Kolkata, this 136-page bilingual collection stands as an evidence to the lasting power of poetry in a divided world.
A Multinational and Multilingual Achievement: The anthology features 60 poets from India and Indonesia, spinning together a multilingual textile of verse that speaks to the universal human experience. While the original works are presented in the native languages of the contributors, all poems have been skilfully translated into English, allowing readers from across the globe to access the rich emotional terrain these poets explore. This makes Whispers: Interlude of Voices not only a literary document but a vessel of cultural diplomacy and inclusion. The editorial collaboration between Dr. Sudipto Chatterjee of India and Sastri Bakry of Indonesia, alongside contributing editor and poet Nandita Samanta, demonstrates the dedication and commitment required to achieve such an ambitious international project. The editors worked tirelessly across time zones, linguistic barriers, and cultural contexts for more than four months to refine and unify the anthology’s content. Their labour sustained harvest in the form of a beautifully crafted collection that rhythms with authenticity, emotion, and purpose.
The Power of Poetry for Peace: When viewed through the lens of its themes, Whispers is diverse yet cohesive. Its poems span a range of human experiences: longing, joy, sorrow, reflection, resistance, and hope. Poets use their unique voices to explore the dignity of nature, the ache of absence, the shock of prejudice, and the serenity of spiritual insight. Whether through minimalist expression or elaborate lyricism, these voices rise together in a chorus advocating truth, love, and peace, exactly the themes befitting the WTWPM’s international platform. As editors Bakry and Chatterjee observed during the launch, “Poetry speaks truth, friendship, appreciation, peace, and love.” This sentiment is not only articulated but embodied in the anthology itself, where seasoned poets and emerging voices from both countries stand side by side in literary solidarity.
A Gathering of Eminent Voices: The contributor list reads like a roll call of poetic excellence. From Indonesia, the anthology includes venerable names such as Dienullah Rayes, D. Kemalawati, Fakhrunas M.A. Jabbar, Husnu Abadi, Ismet Fanany, Jose Rizal Manua, LK Ara, Pipiet Senja, Putu Oka Sukanta, and Zawawi Imron. The inclusion of younger poets like Rini F. Jamrah, Nuyang Jaimee, and Ahmad Cahyo Setio, many affiliated with the SATUPENA Sumatera Barat literary group, injects freshness and generational continuity into the work. From the Indian side, although the provided material focuses less on individual Indian poets, the editorial involvement of Chatterjee and Samanta, both established literary figures, assures that the Indian selections match the depth and resonance of their Indonesian counterparts. Their presence ensures that Indian voices contribute equally to the book’s dialogical structure, making it a truly balanced and binational endeavour. The anthology’s vast emotional and thematic range is evident in titles that explore the deeply personal, such as “I Am a Mother”, “Motherhood”, “Infatuation”, “Inseparable”, and “The Winter of My Soul.” These poems speak to the intimacy of human experience, love, family, vulnerability, and internal seasons of change. Likewise, pieces like “Miss Taj Mahal”, “Love Winds”, and “Writing on the Beach Sand” carry a lyrical tenderness, blending memory and longing. Many of these titles suggest moments of quiet reflection and universal emotion, which collectively evoke a sense of shared humanity.
When viewed from an entirely different perspective, other poems reflect a socially conscious and politically aware voice. Titles such as “Free Free Palestine!”, “The Shackles of Democracy”, “The Ballad of Mother Ojo”, and “Pak Haji (for Rhoma Irama)” speak to resistance, identity, and the collective struggle. There’s also an evident concern for displacement and longing in titles like “Daughter from Palestine”, “Bur Bies Fog”, and “Rempang, Will There Be My Name in the Future?” These selections underscore the anthology’s commitment to giving voice to diverse realities, ranging from personal heartache to geopolitical unrest. The poems thus form a textured composition, intimate yet global, lyrical yet bold.
More than a Book: A Movement: The launch of Whispers was a highlight of the WTWPM, an event that brought together literary minds from 15 nations, including Argentina, Iran, Japan, Denmark, Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kurdistan, and Egypt. The event also featured the release of several other important literary works from global contributors such as Prof. Malachi Edwin (Malaysia), Tobias and Jona Burghadt (Germany and Argentina), Muniar Alfaker (Iran/Denmark), and Jorge Antonio (Mexico), situating Whispers within a truly international literary festival. What sets Whispers apart, however, is its dual-language authenticity. Unlike many of the other books launched at WTWPM, which were translated into Bengali, Whispers retains the linguistic essence of its contributors while opening the door to a global readership through English translations. It is a rare and admirable achievement, both artistically and logistically. The book was launched again on 9th May at the International Minangkabau Literacy Festival 2025 in Indonesia, where it was witnessed and enjoyed by an audience from many countries.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for Future Collaboration: The editorial team has emphasized that Whispers is only the beginning of a growing literary exchange. Both ISISAR (International Society for Intercultural Studies and Research) and SATUPENA Sumatera Barat envision ongoing partnerships, increased translation efforts, and future publications that broaden the literary landscapes of their respective nations. This commitment aligns with a larger mission of intercultural peace-building and global literary citizenship. In the words of the editors: “This is our dedication to the world of literature and culture for peace and mutual respect among nations. Poets never tire. They continue to voice the world through words, for the self and for civilization.”
Final Reflection, A Call to Listen: As a publication that originated in Southeast Asia and South Asia but finds a welcome platform through the multicultural lens of Western Australia, whispers: Interlude of Voices is precisely the kind of book our world needs. It invites readers not just to read but to listen, to the whispers of pain and joy, of protest and praise, of loss and love. These are voices that might otherwise go unheard across linguistic or national divides, yet through this anthology, they converge, resonate, and endure. For readers, scholars, and lovers of poetry, Whispers is more than an anthology, it is a shared heartbeat across borders, and a literary milestone that echoes long after the last page is turned.
Dr. Sudipta Chatterjee, editor, translator AND poet, editor Nandita Samanta at the book launch, INTERNATIONAL MINANGKABAU LITERACY FESTIVAL 2025
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