‘Khwaahish-e-Parwaaz’, is a compilation of Hindi and Urdu poems by a new and upcoming poet, Aditya Pant. This is his first published collection and the content is varied in range of topics addressed, style, treatment as well as the language used. True to its title, the poems in the compilation each capture the poet’s flights of fancy where his thoughts and words showcase his imagination and creativity.

The book is divided into three sections, one for Hindi poems, another for nazms in Hindi and Urdu and a third one for Urdu ghazals.

The first section is titled ‘Kavya-Kriti’ and constitutes poems written in more Sanskritized Hindi. The second section is titled ‘Nazr-e-Nazm’ and mostly contains nazms in Hindi and rudimentary Urdu. Subject matter of the poems in these two sections is fairly diverse. Some poems are comments on the society and socio-political norms and practices of the day, some reminisce about the poet’s childhood and youth, some simply relate to modern or current times. Some others are explorations of natural elements.Yet others explore human behavior and psyche with more emotional content that draws from human interactions, experiences and responses.

The final section, ‘Rang-e-Taghazzul’ contains ghazals penned in Urdu. Here the language is more undiluted, sometimes fairly exotic. An inline glossary, which comes in very handy, is provided with each poem. The compositions, again, are quite varied and multi-dimensional in terms of their subjects.

With all its variety, this collection should offer most Hindi/Urdu poetry enthusiasts several poems that suit their palate.