Catharsis

About the book

I feel ecstatic in offering my second poetry collection Catharsis in a new avatar to the poetry lovers. It’s a rarity for a poetry book to get a second chance, but the success of my latest poetry collection Rhythm of the Ruins inspired me to republish it, as I believe that the book is yet to meet its destiny. As the cover conveys, this collection got wide acclaim across the media, which was immensely satisfying.
Yes, ‘Catharsis’! That’s the feeling writing poetry affords me. Through my poetic journey, I am coming to realise that catharsis is the eternal language of my bliss.
Though this book is a multi-thematic collection, it has quite a few poems that pulsate with humanitarian concern. I hope the poems find an echo in my readers, and are able to, as the German poet Novalis says, heal their wounds inflicted by reason.
About the Author

Mukul Kumar is a civil servant, novelist, and poet. He belongs to the 1997 batch of Indian Railway Traffic Service. Presently, he is working in the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways.
His published works include three novels, As Boys Become Men, Seduction by Truth, and Lost in the Love Maze, and two poetry anthologies, The Irrepressible Echoes and Rhythm of the Ruins. Mukul has translated his debut English fiction, As Boys Become Men into Hindi, which has been published as Aarohi by Prabhat Prakashan.
Mukul has been honoured with the National Award for outstanding service to the Indian Railways, the Bharat Nirman Award for literary excellence by the Bharat Nirman Foundation, and Poorvanchal Gaurav Samman. His latest poetry collection Rhythm of the Ruins achieved the distinction of being recommended for Sahitya Akademi Award, 2024. This third collection, Catharsis, which was published earlier, is now in its new avatar. Endorsements:

“This collection of poems projects different dimensions of the poet's sensibility. While poems such as Epiphany are reflective in nature and become confessional in their tone, there are also poems that seem experimental. Using a rather playful expression, the poem The Street Acrobat for example is a convincing experiment in using imagery that can jostle one into a rather surreal, nightmarish experience. The Beggar offers a well-conceived poetic experience in a condensed form when the clatter of stones in the empty bowl of the beggar leaves a strong impact on the reader's consciousness!”
-Sukrita Paul Kumar
“Catharsis may be the food you were looking for your soul. It is engaging in its understated ways.”
-Frontline (The Hindu)
“For lovers of poetry, Catharsis is a must-read. The purity and pristineness of the poems that make up the book will lead to the release of strong emotions for sure.”
-Times of India
“Reading a good poem helps you calm down, collect your thoughts channel your creative energy and call forth your gifts. Catharsis offers such a window to the lovers of poetry.”
-Indian literature (Sahitya Akademi)