Bijoy Makhal might work in an iron workshop in central Howrah for a living but he leads a separate life after work when he wields his pen. Makhal is a poet by night. He toils through the entire day, beating iron at his workshop, returning home late in the evening. When his colleagues spent their leisure hours after work relaxing, Makhal would be at his study table from 8pm till midnight when he either read or wrote. He spent hours poring over novels, essays and other study material.

Makhal likes to read, not just for leisure, but to find ideas and inspiration that will help him write better. The quiet man has a passion for writing poetry and his verse was regularly published in Desh and Sananda at one time. But his passion is quite in contradiction to his profession. Many wonder how an ironsmith could write romantic poetry. But Makhal holds his own in the sphere of literature and has been accepted in the poets’ circle in Howrah.

Makhal started writing when he was finishing school. But he found greater inspiration when he started interacting with the likes of Pramod Basu, Sujit Sarkar, Brata Chakraborty and Joy Goswami. The group was often referred to as the ‘Late 70s Group’. “I started writing regularly from 1975-76. My first poem to be published in Desh was in the May 1, 1975 issue. Subodh Sarkar was then the editor of Desh,” said Makhal. He has also written in special issues of Desh, but not in the puja numbers.

Makhal was also guided by Sunil Gangopadhyay. “I was going through a rough phase at one time when my family members were pressing me to concentrate on business rather than writing poems. I went to Sunilda and asked him whether I should stop writing. He had told me that even if I wrote one poem a year, I should continue,” said Makhal.

Many of his poems have been published in Krittibas. “Sunilda would ask me for my latest poems and I would send them to him. I wonder if he even read them, because he would publish all of them, as I had written them,” said a humble Makhal.

Sananda, being a women’s magazine, also chose to publish Makhal. “There was a time when Sananda could not find any women poet and so they chose to publish my work, as I wrote romantic poetry. My first poem published in Desh was titled Dhar,” said Makhal. There is a soft romanticism in Makhal’s writing. “I don’t really think about it, but I guess it becomes apparent in my poetry,” he said. Two compilations of Makhal’s poetry are Tumi Noy, Tomar Pratima and Amader Poragharey. “Since I did not have any literary background, I had to look for inspiration from other writers. I liked to read Sankha Ghosh and I still do. I sometimes wonder how he can still continue to write this way. I have met him once at a programme but have never had the fortune of knowing him,” said Makhal.

In recent years, Makhal has been attempting to change his style of writing. “I have often written poems but have not sent them for publishing because I felt they were not suitable. I want to improve my style of writing and change it a little bit. I think my works are becoming too monotonous,” said Makhal.

More about Bijoy

• DoB: November 18, 1957
• Born in: Howrah
• Education: BSc
• Family: Wife, two daughters (married), son
• Loves: Writing
• Hates: Lies