Review of Rendezvous With Dreams: A Poetic Exploration of Life, Loss, and Resilience

Review of Rendezvous With Dreams: A Poetic Exploration of Life, Loss, and Resilience

By Pradeep Biswal

Published by Shalandi Books, 2025

ISBN: 978-81-98329-75-2

Price: 300 INR

Language: English, pp. 180

Rendezvous with Dreams is the anthology of the bilingual poet, editor, and translator Pradeep Biswal. He has published nine poetry collections in Odia, and this is the third volume of his English poems. He is editor of kabitalive.com and curator of Toshali Literature Festival held in Bhubaneswar. His poems have also been translated into Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, Assamese, and Malay. The anthology captures the tenderness of fleeting life as well as reflects on the turmoil that makes a person stronger. This collection is a testament to the endurance and resilience of the poet as well as an exploration of human experiences bound carefully in his musings. The title suggests a secret or fated meeting, giving the idea that dreams, either fulfilled or unfulfilled, are a prevalent factor in a poet's life in particular. Dreams are colorful and personal. They keep a person hooked to life and thus contribute to developing resilience toward the toils of life, enduring it all, giving them expression, and making way toward a brighter future filled with stars and light. The cover design also aids this idea with a human figure in the backdrop looking upwards, and another one looking downwards, suggesting life as a roller coaster with dreams as the escape and power source. The background is filled with colors of hope, despair and beauty.

The professional structure of the text indicates a serious literary endeavor, not an informal affair. The table of contents is comprehensive and portrays a thematic scope that moves from the deeply personal to the social and mythological, seeking larger lessons through individual experiences. It also has an epilogue where reviews of the poet's persona and other works have been done by scholarly critics. Madhur Singh Pradhan and Dr. Snehaprava Das have reviewed Biswal's A Pilgrimage to Ayodhya, Bhaskaranand Jha Bhaskar has reviewed Biswal's A House Within, and Dr. Shankar Chatterjee has given his comments on Pradeep Biswal as a poetic genius and inspiration, providing perfect closure to the anthology.

The preface of the book acts as a key to unlock and see through the emotional upheavals of the poet and witness the range of events and sentiments that the book has to offer. Biswal compiles sixty-one of his poems for this collection, which he primarily wrote during the lockdown period due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. He describes life as "larger than literature" but acknowledges literature's role in projecting the "emotions and feelings" of those moments. The pandemic was very tough for the poet, and he defines it as a time of "turmoil and turbulence." This also helped him realize the "futility of life" and prompted introspection on "human ego and appetite for power, money and physical possessions" (5-6). He also lost his mother during this period. But despite all these odds, he did not give up on life, and this collection embodies these ideas. The anthology is not solely defined by emotions of sorrow and loss, but is like life itself—full of ups and downs, emotional heights and practicality, reflections and imagination. He also notes bright moments such as the marriage of his eldest son and being blessed with a granddaughter. By opening up to the readers, Biswal creates an echo of familiarity and belonging. It sets the tone, bringing together personal tragedy, professional engagement, and domestic joys, all combined with the attestation of a post-retirement period where one has time to look back and feel everything all over again. These have fueled his "poetic passions" and made him a person who is "always satisfied with around a dozen poems in a year," with each one being "a moment to rejoice" (12).

The poems are arranged in a way that shows emotional progression and cohesion. The initial tone explores the core idea of life and dreams. The title poem "Rendezvous with Dreams" is the foundational piece, which moves toward "Forgotten Dreams" and subconscious visions. The myth of Sisyphus is utilized in his poem "Sisyphus," providing an existential reflection. The themes of love, loss, and mortality are also employed in his poems, taking readers on emotional heights and fostering a personal bond with the poet. "Living on the Memories," "Valley of Sorrows," and "Parting Time" deal with absence and transition. "A Handful of Dust" (43) is a powerful metaphor for inherited legacy and mortality. Love and desire are explored in "Entwined Souls," "Sea and She," "Monsoon Love," and "Insatiable." The poems further move to socio-political and geographic themes: "Tremors in Turkey" addresses a global calamity; "Witnessing Ayodhya," "Sangam: The Confluence," and "An Evening in Ganga: Varanasi" bear witness to India's religious and cultural beauty. "A Road to Hathras" shows social realism. The latter half of the book poses questions to the readers as well as offers commentary on spiritual comfort and ways to handle life smoothly. For example, "Where Shall I Go Now" questions the direction and purpose of life, and poems like "The Sky" and "A Hollowed Silence" suggest spiritual comfort by turning to cosmic energy and stillness. "A Poet Has No Land" talks about the universality of the artist, where he or she does not belong to a particular sect but becomes a people's poet.

Pradeep Biswal's anthology Rendezvous with Dreams is a poetic exploration of love and loss, hope and resilience, where the poet uses his personal life as well as knowledge of socio-political events to universalize human experiences and let the readers have their own "rendezvous with dreams," which shall inspire them not to lose hope and keep going in life. The poet sets an example as well as forms a connection with the audience through his words. The poems made me laugh, made me cry, left me startled, and provoked me to change social realities and do something revolutionary. The poems are such that they will stay with you for life. As Biswal pens in his poem "Prelude to Poetry"—"Can everything be put in words? So many things remain unspoken behind poetry/ behind stories/ behind the stage" (56). The same holds true for the poet's psyche as well as this review, because it cannot totally explain the journey I had as a reader from the first to the last page. One has to read it themselves to fully comprehend for themselves, its depth and meaning.

---

About the Reviewer:

Akanksha Pandey is an Assistant Professor in Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University as well as a research scholar in the Department of English and Modern European Languages at the University of Lucknow. Her areas of interest are Indian Literature, Translation Studies and Cultural Studies. Her book reviews have been featured in Rhetorica-A Literary Journal of Arts, Pyssum Literaria : A Crea

tive Arts Journal, Muse India: The Literary e-journal and Creative Flight: An International Half-Yearly Open Access Peer-Reviewed E-Journal in English and Wilderness House Literary Review (Massachusetts, USA).

Becoming a Mother

I was very young back then, probably in class fifth or sixth. Anyway, the age does not matter. What is really striking is how those words affected my mind. While travelling by auto, I suddenly overheard a lady speaking to someone—"Teaching is the best job for a housewife. They get all kinds of vacations; weekends are off and timings will perfectly match with the school timings of their children." I was a bit surprised. If she is a teacher, then how can she be a housewife? However, there was indeed something quite comprehensible to even my childish heart. I understood that this lady did not have high regard for the teaching profession.

While growing up, I realized this attitude to be a general trend. People often told me that I should aim higher whenever I informed them of my intention to become a teacher. Unfortunately, in this claustrophobic job market, it was challenging to choose newer passions and be reassured of getting a job in the same field. Thus, I modified my dreams and became an academician.

However, society never stops creating dream assignments for others. After becoming an academic, I was once again disappointed by society. Now that I was a professional and happily married, my next big project should have been to become a mother. I realized that all my life, my dreams have been about bringing down societal expectations. Becoming a mother after marriage was one great ambition for which many of my professional friends chose to leave their jobs and become housewives. On the other hand, I started dedicating my days and nights towards preparing professionals. My job was not only about training youngsters but it also involved a lot of research to stay updated with the changing world. For me, such demanding circumstances failed to evoke any biological ambition to give birth. As per divine judgement, I did not conceive as well.

Among many people, a friend of mine was particularly bothered. Ever since my childhood days, the lack of high ambitions in my life had particularly left her perplexed. Back then, I never used catchy words to describe my future and now, at the age of 35, I wasn't anxious about becoming a mother. Anyway, she was not my only well-wisher. Others too had their opinions on my life. Of them, many failed to even ask for my choice. After marriage, a woman ought to prefer a child. Thus, as champions of my cause, they prayed for me. While many people believed a childless life to be a dead-end, I had a few more reasons for not being extra keen. As an educator, I always found motherhood to be something more than mere procreation. No matter how much the word is belittled, inside the classroom while catering to more than sixty students at a time, my role seemed nothing less than a real mother. From that position, I could hardly construe teaching, motherhood or even homemaking as anything inferior.

Of all my students, two continue to remain distinct. Generally, a teacher loves students who are excellent in their studies or who respond very well in class. Many of them also enjoy the presence of the naughtiest brats in the lot. I was peculiarly touched by the mediocrity of these two girls—Divya and Jaya. I not only taught them but also guided their dissertation while they were pursuing their Master's Degree. I often scolded them for not completing the work on time or for not writing properly. They too felt bad whenever I chided them. But, as mediocre students often do, these two girls obeyed my instructions and always edited the documents to the best of their capability. On the day of their convocation, they were fortunate to receive the certificates from one of the chief guests at the function. Despite being photographed with a famous personality, they bothered to meet me after the function and click selfies. I asked them if they were not happy to finally get rid of me and how clicking a selfie mattered when they had already been photographed with famous personalities. To all my questions, they gave a simple reply—"Ma'am, we really miss you a lot." For once, the word "ma'am" sounded synonymous with the word "mom".

Soon after the completion of their MA program, they started working in different sectors. Divya started teaching in a school and I felt happy to know that despite the changing times, people chose passion for their profession. However, one day she called me in a state of great distress. After communicating for a while, I understood that like many, she too had started facing the realities of the world. Although taken up as a passion, teaching jobs are not devoid of their share of problems. Despite enjoying the main work, she felt claustrophobic by the stringent rules and regulations thrust upon individuals by the different agents of society. Somebody in her institution was cajoling her to wear 'sarees' (a traditional Indian attire) which she found extremely uncomfortable. Although it was not enforced as a dress code, she was perturbed by the nagging persuasion of her senior colleagues. While talking with her, I felt like she was at a breaking point. But I was not sympathetic. There was one thing I had learnt from my life. No matter how much one grows up, nobody can ever evade going through one's share of troughs. Nonetheless, it was important to console her. Thus, I suggested, "Tell them that it will take time for you to buy. Thereafter only you will be able to put on sarees." At this point, she sharply retorted, "Ma'am, I find it extremely uncomfortable and I am just not going to wear it for work." Probably, she did not perceive my intended meaning. I explained to her once again, "I am not asking you to wear sarees for real. Just keep on delaying the idea till your senior becomes tired of suggesting."

After disconnecting her call, I got another call from the same childhood friend who had forever been concerned for my well-being and progress. Going by the spontaneous flow of feelings, I narrated the details of my conversation with Divya. After listening to it, she started laughing and said, "This is how my mother used to advise me during the initial struggling years of my marriage." I smiled but could not say anything. After all, I too was promoted to motherhood as per her perspective.

About the Author:

Dr. Reema Chakrabarti is a teacher by profession, a researcher by interest, and a writer by passion. She works at VFSTR, Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) and often uses her narrative skills to engage students in various topics. As a writer, she has primarily written

short stories but aspires to write novels in the future. She has previously submitted her work to the India Writing Project and the Commonwealth Foundation. Her stories mainly explore relationships and time, as she believes time is the ultimate test of relationships. In addition to her fiction, Reema also translates Hindi poems and critical works into English for research purposes.

Bringing Heart to Art

It was a sunny summer morning, and I was looking forward to a full day of appointments. Many of my clients were well on their way to obtaining gainful employment. We completed applications, talked about what it takes to land and win a successful interview and how to be successful on the job. Throughout my career I have placed over 300 people with disabilities and challenges in jobs they enjoy. This has helped them to live meaningful lives of service and self-reliance.

I didn't know the next appointment that day would change my life and my clients' lives forever!

Sara and I talked about her next position that she wanted closer to home. Some things had happened, and she was sad not to be able to use her artistic training she learned in college as she had been using it for a few years on an internet site. She was rather gloomy, unlike her upbeat and confident self, and I inquired about what had occurred since our last meeting. She shared what was going on and was very distressed.

I tried to cheer her up by saying, "I have had a story in my heart for several years that I have wanted to share with the world. I just need an illustrator." She enthusiastically said, "I'd love to see it!" I told her that the only way we could proceed would be for her parents and the company I worked with to agree to this partnership. And that she would be paid a high amount for her expertise. Within a couple of weeks, with everyone's permission, Sara and I met every week for the next few months, reviewing her work and suggesting changes. We used these appointments as an opportunity for her to learn to be a successful entrepreneur. Being on time, dressing for the job and having a professional attitude were important strategies we used to get positive results.

Sara, who is on the autism spectrum, did an excellent job on illustrating my children's book, I am Light I am Bright. She and I were invited to speak at a local conference for people with physical and intellectual disabilities on how to collaborate with others and be successful. For me, Sara is uniquely abled; she has the drive, talent and positive attitude that many successful people embody. This collaboration of "bringing heart to art" has proved that everyone has talents and abilities that are uniquely their own! And with sincere support of those who believe in them, they can become bright lights in the world! Good news…Sara did get that job she really liked closer to home!

You can read and get inspired by I am Light I am Bright on Amazon. It has been sold around the world and is available in Spanish: Tengo Luz y Tengo Brillo. 5-star reviews.

About the Author: 

Melanie Lococo is a writer, educator, storyteller and vocational counselor. She earned a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation from San Diego State University and has worked in this field for over 20 years. She studied English Literature at Oxford University on a junior year abroad scholars' program at USD and began her love of travel. Melanie has been a devotee of Paramahamsa Yogananda for over 30 years. She taught youngsters in Sunday school and has served at the San Diego Temple and the Self-Realization Fellowship Mother Center. I am Light I am Bright is her first children's coloring book. It has reached children and families around the world. Her upcoming book, Jump Joey Jump, will be published in 2026.