When Yesterday’s Whispers Became Today’s Song
In the heart of Ballygunge, where old trees lean in like quiet listeners and homes carry the scent of stories, a gathering unfolded that felt less like an event and more like a memory being made. On the evening of October 19th, the residence of Animesh Sen—an abode that breathes art through its walls—became the cradle for a poetic birth: the launch of Chandrabali Sen’s debut collection, Hums of Yesterday… I Still Dream.
The air was thick with anticipation and the soft rustle of silk sarees, as guests stepped into a space that had been transformed into a sanctuary of rhythm and reflection. Curated and edited by Saheli Mitra under her banner Tales, Talks & Walks, and published by Exceller Books, the evening was not just a book launch—it was a lyrical pilgrimage.
Saheli Mitra, both moderator and muse for the night, guided the gathering with grace, weaving introductions and insights like verses between stanzas. The room shimmered with the presence of literary luminaries: Ranjan Prasad, the Balladeer of Bengal whose voice carries the weight of generations; Sabarna Roy, whose pen has carved award-winning narratives; and Anandini Sengupta, whose elocution turned printed words into living breath.
As Chandrabali Sen took the floor, her voice trembled with the vulnerability of someone offering their soul in syllables. Her poems, read aloud by herself and the panelists, became bridges—between past and present, between silence and song. Each reading was followed by intimate exchanges, where laughter mingled with tears, and strangers became kindred spirits through shared emotion.
It wasn’t just poetry that filled the room—it was the hush between lines, the sighs of recognition, the hums of yesterday that still dared to dream. And as the evening waned, the verses lingered, like fireflies refusing to fade.
In a city that often rushes past its own beauty, this night stood still. And in that stillness, poetry found its breath.
