Sharing her unbridled love for nature, Mamata Bannerjee

writes on the beauty of a full moon night, seasons, rivers, oceans and flowers as readers come face to face with the emotions bubbling behind her stoic political persona. The rabble rouser's yearning for peace amidst strife is reflected in the following stanza, "Give me back my peace of mind, Give me a chance at life, Give back the green shoots of hope, That were mind before the strife". Each line invokes 'Didi's' desire to rise above the pain and lead her countrymen towards a new dawn of humanity, liberty, and equality. "The writer of these poems is a leader of a state, yet the poetry continues to create a place for itself in her heart and in her writing. Readers will feel that truth of themselves as they read this anthology," eminent Bengali poet Joy Goswami writes in the forward of the book. The paintings rise from her heart in abstract lines and spontaneous colours, cascading into the canvas. Although nature, flowers, plants and trees are her primary subjects, a number of birds and animals also enter the fray in varied forms and hues. The canvas comes alive with her unrestricted brushstrokes and unfettered use of colour. "Though her work can be compared to those of expressionistic artists, her brush strokes create textures that transform the subject from mere line-drawings into something quite unique. Her paintings reflect an innocent but self-confident artistic psychology," says city-based painter Shuvaprasanna. He opines that her art and creativity expresses the abstract but intelligible freedom of her sub-conscious mind. Last month, her fourth painting exhibition titled 'A Dreamer's Creation' with nearly 250 frames with nature as the main theme, was sold out for about Rs 50 lakh at the Town Hall here.