Joy Goswami

In the 'post-Jibananda Das era' of Bengali poetry, Joy Goswami is recognized as one of the best poets. He is the author of 25 poetry collections, ten novels, one in verse and a collection of critical essays. He oversees the poetry area as assistant editor of Desh, a prestigious literary journal. His poetry rose to fame in the 1970s due to its new stylistic elements, sensuality, and imaginative imagery. Goswami has received various honors, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000 and the Ananda Puraskar (in 1990 and 1998, respectively). Joy Goswami was born in Kolkata and relocated to Ranaghat, a far-off neighborhood of the city, with his family when he was five years old.

When Goswami was just eight years old when his father passed away and his mother—who was the head of a school—played a significant role in his life until she passed away in 1984. He stopped going to school altogether after finishing high school in Ranaghat. His poems were simultaneously published in three small periodicals at the age of 19. His poems would appear in several important literary publications during the following ten years. He began contributing to Desh Patrika, a significant literary journal in Kolkata, in 1976. When he was 23 years old, his first book of poetry, Christmas o Sheeter Sonnetguchcho (Sonnets of Christmas and Winter), was released. Goswami moved back to Kolkata after spending thirty years in Ranaghat and has remained there ever since.

He attended the University of Iowa's International Writing Programme in 2001 as a participant in the US Department of State. He has repeatedly circled back to his preferred topics, which include the natural world, time, and the universe. His poems, Pratnajiba, Aleya hrada, and Unmadera pathakrama, are filled with a wide range of hues and a depth of emotions that flow through the lines like a stream. His attempt at prose poetry is Yara brshtite bhije Chilo. For his collection of short stories, Pagali tomara sange, Joy Goswami won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2000. There are 14 works by him at the Library of Congress.