Jibanananda Das (1899-1954), although not so widely known to the outside world as yet, was one of the most original poets of the 20th century. Since his untimely death in 1954 Jibanananda’s literary stature has grown steadily and his greatness as a poet in world’s literary pantheon has been confirmed by readers and critics. He created a poetic paradigm hitherto unknown and inexperienced. He achieved for Bengali poetry some very spectacular features. His use of symbols in poetry along with a pursuit for the grandeur of imagery was unforeseen. When he said “It has been a thousand years since I started trekking the earth”, it instantly took the Bengali reader aback. He conceived human life and existence in a fundamental way and captured their essence in unsung verses. With masterly words he filled up a vacuum that remained unnoticed within our soul, and thereby cut across the consciousness of the following generations. His contribution to present-day poetry is pioneering and outstanding. As more of his poetry is being translated, global readers and critics are being made aware of the presence in the twentieth century of a poet with a style and diction which is unparalleled.
