We believe in spreading the thoughts and voices of marginalized writers throughout this world. Kalam publishes chap books and a literary journal showcasing youth work.

Poetic Spaces

A collection of 20 poems by adolescents living in stigmatized neighbourhoods. Originally written in Bengali and Hindi, translated into English by Paromita Banerjee. Brought out by the Seagull Foundation of the Arts.

Poetry Junction

A collection of poems and vignettes by five adolescents who live and work on the railway platforms of West Bengal. Originally written in Bengali, translated by Bishan Samaddar and Sahar Romani.

The World and I

A collection of poems by working children and adolescents. Originally written in Hindi, Bengali and Urdu, translated by Bishan Samaddar and Sahar Romani.

Khola Baksho

An annual magazine of literature and experimental journalism by marginalized youth. Brought out by Kalam Youth Staff. Inaugural Issue to hit stands November 2006.

Poems

The Full Moon Night

A full moon night
I sit on the terrace
Moonbeams spread around
No one with me
I count the stars
And, think to myself
Maybe I could be bright like the moon, too,
And brighten the whole city.

Gopal Paswan runs a fish shop in Kalighat bazaar.
Originally written in Hindi.

 

Rain

Wet in rain, kids catch a cold.
And I, wet in rain, feel blissful.
And in rain, Ma doesn’t go to work
In rain, trees and plants feel happy.

Mallika Bayen is a 11 years old. She is a very quiet girl.

 

I am

I am the closed door to the south
Faded, rain-wet, always the same;
I don’t make much noise:
Just creak as I shut.
I hate being blocked behind this rotten wood.
Looking for a long-lost dream.

Saraswati Mondal lives in a shelter-home. She studies in Class 11.
Originally written in Bangla.

 

Night

Somebody’s calling me
A Hindi song wafting in from the wall behind
The chum-chum of anklets jingling
A cold nightbed: fighting with my sister for the blanket
TV screen haze in my eyes
Frogs calling in the dark
Ghost drama
Fights
Door creaking open at the cat’s innocent push
Teasing my sister about her glasses
The sounds of cricket on TV…. “India’s winning”
Lamplight on dark city street
And Ma says I’ll get new clothes for pujo.

Collaborative poem by Saptami, Sangeeta, Krishna, Bapi, Shiuly, Tumpa, Baby, Nitay, Sanchita, Ashish and Gopal. Originally written in Bangla.

 

Identity

One day I went to Calcutta city.
Suddenly a guy asked me
“Hey kid, who are you?”
Then I told him
“I’m a poet.”
The guy said, “But you sweep train floors”
I said, “I do sweep floors,
But on my own, I’ve become a poet.”

Bijoy Das lives and works on Malda Railway Junction.
Originally written in Bangla.

 

My Family

My uncle’s eyes are round like blackberries – the colour of earth
My friend’s eyes are like small twenty-five paisa coins
Bishnuda’s eyes are like the buttons on the TV set
Through his eyes, you can see the whole world
My eyes are alive the clouds in the sky.
My eyes smell like the water of the ocean – cool and blue.

Ratan Keshari lives and words on Malda Railway Junction.
Originally written in Bangla.

 

Happiness

Happiness is the seashore
Morning
Where the sun and its rays dwell
The waves of water and birdsong
I feel like being here – going nowhere else.
In front, I see water and birds
And a cold breeze blows
As if water speaks to me.
Is this a dream?
If it is, then it’s beautiful.

Pinky Yadav studies in Class 8. She’s really funny.
Originally written in Hindi.