Known for his candor, sense of purpose, and ability to transcend the banal with ferocity, Malay Roychoudhury, founding member of the Hungryalist Movement, remains a seminal figure in the formulation of 21st century poetry. Personally associated with such literary figures as Allan Ginsberg and Octavio Paz, Roychoudhury has authored over 40 works including poetry, novels, drama, social criticism, and translations. First published in 1964, his poem "Stark Electric Jesus" incited enormous controversy, leading to both public and private persecution and ostracization. Due to the ensuing scandal, Roychoudhury refused to write again, only returning to his craft after his mother's death in 1983. Now an active and vital contributor to the international arts community, Roychoudhury is gracious in his time with visitors and willing to engage in discussions on creativity and politics. Working out of Kolkata, India, Roychoudhury relates his remarkable life and career with both frankness and levity.For an introduction: http://letterstomalay.blogspot.com/
In what ways were you successful in "[undoing] the done-for world and [starting] afresh from chaos?"
“Success” is a strange word as far as arts and literature are concerned. Are the cave paintings, Aztec sculptures, pyramid engravings successful? We do not know their views. The Hungry Generation movement was definitely successful in undoing the colonial canons. Ask the earlier generation academicians; they may answer in the affirmative, possibly grudgingly.
If you could name a few artists who inspired you, who would they be?
I would name two illiterate persons: Shivnandan Kahar, a man who knew Ramayana, the epic written by poet Tulasidasa, by heart; and Ram Khelawan Singh Dabar, who could recite couplets from the works of poet saints Kabir, Rahim, Dadu. They were our family servants at Patna. They quoted from these poets in order to reprimand us during our childhood.
In one sentence, what would you like to say to those who might argue that Hungry Generation poets were, well, reckless?
They have not read us, otherwise they would have known that the human brain is Divine. Our books are published by small presses and the reader generally has to contact us for a copy of any publication.
We've many examples of individuals who have had a difficult time “balancing” the requirements of family and art. How important has “family” been to you as an artist?
Very important. Without a supportive family a writer can not have a structured peaceful schedule.
If you were to die tomorrow, would you be happy with the contribution to the arts and to the world that you have made?
Happiness emanates from the process of involvement in writing. I don't think that a writer is much bothered about immortality, especially a Hindu, who burn their dead, and do not have the culture of writing epitaphs.
Any regrets?
Yes. I should have inculcated the habit of maintaining daily diary right from my school days. My experiences are extensive and varied. Unfortunately, I am unable to recall the important incidents which impacted me.
What types of things do you find yourself working on these days?
An M.Phil student, Swati Banerjee, was preparing her thesis on comparative study of my poetry and Ginsberg's. I had to search out material for her. For the present, Prof Bishnu Dey of Assam University, who is preparing his Ph.D thesis on the Hungrualist Movement, is seeking my help in locating references. This has kept me busy for sometime.
Where do you go for inspiration?
Inspiration comes from within a writer. It is an up-wailing process in your psyche.
In terms of expression, the saying "what needs to be said" and how that might be articulated, what do you think about the use of multimedia and technology in the arts nowadays?
They have vastly widened our sense of wonder. One now has unlimited spark-ways to venture into the unknown.
To someone looking to learn more about the Hungry Generation, where would you recommend they start?
Not much is readily available in English. My Selected Poems were published twenty years back. During the sixties several little magazines in the UK and US brought out special Hungry issues. Those magazines may be traced from archives of the editors maintained in Universities. If Black Robert Journal Is interested, I would make available xerox of a couple of informative essays I had written long back.
This interview was conducted by Alexander Jorgensen, Managing Editor. [Photo credit: Alexander Jorgensen]
