Ashique Reja’s new poetry book ‘Tired Volcano, Sleep Again’

Poet and editor Ashique Reja's new poetry book 'Tired Volcano, Sleep Again' has been published. The book, published by Ghasful, presents the history of mass movements, mass awakening and the struggle of the masses from a new perspective in contemporary Bengali poetry.

According to the publisher, the book goes beyond the conventional narrative of the recent July Revolution and highlights the continuity of the long political and social history of Bengal. The poet has given form to the struggle, sacrifice and desire of the people of the peasantry, workers and lower classes in the language of poetry. At the same time, he has tried to create a comparative reading of the concept of mass awakening with the narrative of the 'Seven Sleepers' of the Bible and the 'Ashab-e-Kahf' of the Quran.

The book also depicts the historical character of 'Bulghakpur' as a symbol of contemporary, bureaucratic, misleading and wrong goals. According to the publisher, it is not just a book of poetry, but a poetic document of the people's hopes, resistance and historical consciousness.

The cover of the book is drawn by artist Ahmad Darvish. The book is available in various online and offline bookstores, including Rakmari.

Ashique Reja is the editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Kaler Dhwani. His notable poetry books include Vayu Paragi Naivedya, Dolankal, and Bhera O Bhoitantra. According to critics, he is recognized as the "poet of the inverted periscope" and "the representative of the unspoken voices of hundreds of people".

In addition to his literary practice, he is one of the initiators and conveners of the 'Parents for Bangla' movement, which aims to establish the right to Bengali language education in the United States.