This volume puts together a selection from the English translations of J.P. Das's poems written over the last four decades. These translations have earlier appeared in eleven collections-from the earliest First Person (1976) to the latest J.P. Das Omnibus (2012). The poems are arranged chrono-logically as they appeared over the years in original Odia. Names of translators are given at the ends of poems where the translation is not by the poet himself. If contemporary Oriya poetry has acquired a new dimension and sophistication in terms of vision, technical integrity and innovative use of the creative medium, it was because of Das's contribution. His passion for the diverse facets of life and existence makes his poetry vibrant and rejuvenating. The sense of rhythm that he tries to capture in his poetry is very close to the colloquial speech. These selected poems in translation bear testimony to the many qualities outlined in the assessment above.
