Event: Chasing Light and Other Imaginary Objects: an evening of poetry with Debasish Lahir
Date: Friday 27 June 2025
Time: 18:30-20:30
Venue: Tal-Ħursun Farmhouse, University of Malta Msida Campus
The Seminar and The Seminar are delighted to announce an evening of poetry with acclaimed poet Debasish Lahiri. Titled ‘Chasing Light and Other Imaginary Objects’ and hosted within the historic setting of Tal-Ħursun Farmhouse, this poetry event offers participants the unique experience of listening to Lahiri read his own poetry and talk about different aspects of his writing process, as well as the resonances of his work within and through a Mediterranean context. The reading will take place on Friday, 27 June at 18:30.
A highlight of this collaboration between the Institute and the Department of English, will be one of Lahiri’s first-ever readings from his latest (and wonderful) collection ‘A Certain Penance of Light’— hot off the Red River press. A discussion of Lahiri’s work will follow on from the recital, and participants are invited to stay on for some refreshments after the event.
Debasish Lahiri is the author of eight collections of poetry, and his work has been widely published in internationally-acclaimed journals including The French Literary Review, The Punch Magazine, Mediterranean Poetry, The Salzburg Poetry Review, Siècle 21, Revue de la Poesie and various other publications. He is, among other volumes, the author of ‘A Certain Penance of Light’ (Red River, 2025), Legion of Lost Letters (Black Spring Press, 2023), ‘Tether that Light’, which was shortlisted for the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2023, and ‘No Waiting like Departure’ (Authors Press, 2016) which was shortlisted as one of the five best collections of the year by Scroll and India Today. He is the recipient of the Prix-du Merite — Naji Naaman Literary Prize 2019, and is also an honorary member of Maison Naaman pour la Culture. He currently sits on the editorial boards of Gitanjali & Beyond (Scottish Centre for Tagore Studies), Migrating Minds: A Journal of Cultural Cosmopolitanism (University of Georgetown, US) and The Riveraine Muse. His poetry has been translated into numerous languages, and he has also authored various essays and co-edited two scholarly volumes. Lahiri teaches within the Department of English, Lalbaba College, University of Calcutta.
Entry to the reading is free and open to the public. Students are particularly encouraged to attend. A discussion will follow on from the reading. Participants are welcome to stay on for refreshments after the event. Seating is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Attendance needs to be confirmed by email.
