Manoranjan Pandey wears many hats – an entrepreneur, a traveller, a poet, a loving father, and an observer of nature. Hailing from Bihar, he was brought up in Durgapur, West Bengal, studied MA in German at Banaras Hindu University – BHU & M.Phil at Universität Salzburg, and living in #Rimsting at one of the most beautiful lakes of Europe Chiemsee in the state of #Bavaria in #Germany. He has written a book, a collection of poetry titled “50 Glühwürmchen”, which means “50 Fireflies”, to celebrate his 50th birthday. In an exclusive interview, he narrates about the poems and his feelings.
1. What’s the central theme of “50 Glühwürmchen”?
The collection of #poems reflects the life, nature, transformation, values, goals, relations, memories, and aspirations that reverberate the flow of life on the terrains of humanity. My poems whisper the truth that we see around us but fail to capture the beauty of the manifestation of all the creations gifted by nature. I am a very emotional being and I always reminisce the roots in India. All my poems reveal my natural emotions, my connect with nature & people.
2. How was the market response of the book?
In a single word, I would say “fabelhaft.” Germans have appreciated my writings immensely. German writers are politically correct, and they hardly talk about the emotions and human relationships, which I provided a feeder for their thoughts. It was astonishing for me to notice such massive response that being an Indian could have received such unexpected exaltations in German language. Indian diaspora in Germany have also loved and liked this book.
3. Could you please share one of your poetries for our readers with translation in English so that they can understand and enjoy your creativity?
Du bist nicht gekommen
Du bist nicht gekommen,
Ist die Nacht nicht vergangen?
Doch aber ist es schwer gefallen
bis die Nacht endlich zu Ende gegangen
Du bist nicht gekommen
Du warst gut und auch deine Welt
Ich war vielleicht doch nicht gut genug
Du hast mich hinein gelassen
Mir einen Platz zugewiesen
Kaum machte sich das Wohlfühlen breit
Hast du mir den Weg zum Ausgang gezeigt
Du bist nicht gekommen
Beleuchtet von den Sternen
Von Amazonawäldern geschmückt
Bewässert von den blauen Ozeanen
Gereinigt durch den Monsun Regen
Gewärmt von der strahlenden Sonne
Öffnen sich die Augen, war nichts außer Dunst
Du bist nicht gekommen
In English:
You did not come
You did not come,
Has the night not passed?
Indeed, but it was hard
Till the night at last faded away
You did not come
You were good and your world too
Perhaps I was not good enough after all you let me in
Assigned me a place
No sooner did the feeling of comfort spread
You showed me the way out
You did not come
Illuminated by the stars
Adorned by Amazon forests
Watered by the blue oceans
Purified by the monsoon rains
Warmed by the radiant sun
Opening the eyes, was nothing but haze
You did not come
4. How nostalgic are you about your roots? I can’t express in words as how much I am nostalgic about my roots and my maadar-e-vatan Hindustan. Everyday I live like a Hindustani, eat like a Hindustani, and think like a #Hindustani. I am a frequent visitor to Hindustan. I can’t stay without visiting Hindustan.