Dolcy D’Cruz
What do you miss the most of the old world charm? The green cover surrounding your home, the squirrels climbing up the coconut trees or the tiny cheerful bulbul building a nest in the garden? With ‘Sleepless Spirit’, Yatish Naik presents a collection that brings poetry and visual art into a rare and meaningful dialogue. The book features twenty-one odes, fifteen in English and six in Konkani, each capturing emotions such as love, longing, faith, loss, memory, and the passage of time. Rather than being written as a single planned project, the poems emerged gradually. For Yatish, Goa itself is a living presence in the book. “Goa is a peace-loving place where you breathe peace. That is why people come here. There is music in the air,” says Yatish. What makes ‘Sleepless Spirit’ unique is its collaboration with renowned Goan visual artist Govit Morajkar, who has interpreted each ode through a complementary illustration. The artworks do not merely decorate the pages; they engage with the poems, reflecting their tone and emotional depth. “I just gave him 21 odes. He complemented them. They are very meaningful. He is really talented. I only approached him for the work, and he was quite excited about it. Perhaps it’s the f irst time we have done it this way.” Published by Broadway Publishing House, this is Yatish’s third book with the same publisher. A lawyer by profession, Yatish’s literary journey began with ‘Lokhabhimukh Sushasana Vaten’, a Konkani work focused on citizen-centric governance and public administration, reflecting his deep interest in socio-political reform. His second book, ‘Flame of Words’, was a bilingual poetry collection featuring 51 poems in English and Konkani, exploring reflection, emotion, and identity. ‘Sleepless Spirit’ marks his third publication and further strengthens his engagement with poetry as a form of personal and cultural expression. When asked why he gravitates toward poetry, Yatish explains, “I love poems. There are certain emotions you can only express in verse.” He points to one ode, ‘Ekcharachi Valakh’ about Neori, the traditional sweet associated with festivals. “Neori is not just a sweet. It completes Chaturthi as well as Christmas. It is a binding factor. It binds communities and builds their identity.” Such cultural nuances, he explains, cannot always be conveyed in English, “There are things I can’t write in English. Some concepts demand Konkani.” Among the Konkani odes are reflections in and on ‘Rakhandar’, the village protector revered in Goan tradition. “People offer things to the Rakhandar. People please the Rakhandar. People don’t offend the Rakhandar,” he explains. Other poems reference mythological and cultural imagery, such as Parashuram’s arrow, swaying palm trees as symbols of resilience, and disappearing natural wonders like the glowworm and the weaver bird’s nest. The title of the book, ‘Sleepless Spirit’ reflects a restless, questioning state of mind. “Sleepless spirit is actually a state of wandering. It’s about where we are, what course we have charted, and the many thoughts that come to your mind. When all these words were put into the two covers of the book, I realized that Sleepless Spirit is the right title.” Yatish explains. Govit Morajkar’s art is a vivid and interpretive visual language that captures emotion, mood, and cultural essence rather than mere representation. Speaking about his experience on working on the illustrations for the book, Govit says, “It was a difficult decision to make whether to stick to my style of illustration or do what’s required as per the emotion and experiences to every ode. I did a mix media illustrations. Traditional as well as digital, every illustration goes with theme of the odes complementing it. ‘The Missing Home Sparrow’ illustration is exactly how I visualised sitting at a Panjim cafe talking to Yatish, it was a challenge to complement every ode with a rightful illustration. But most of the ideas and concepts were already in my past experiences, I had about my beautiful Goa. ‘Finding self’ was a challenge for sure, it took me quite some time and sketches to conceptualise the illustration. It turned out very soothing calm as you read through. It was also a kind of self-realisation that as an artist fluidity and flexibility in style is important.” What touched Govit the most about the odes? “The moment Yatish said that he has written something on Goa, it piqued my interest. Once I went through the odes, it immediately connected to me. It was nostalgic. For a moment, I thought how far and fast I have come to this day with these fading experiences I once used to enjoy and not anymore. Goa was changed, we often get too busy with life and forget about things that slowly disappears. We let it disappear unknowingly. These odes made me realise it. Every illustration complimenting the odes is a direct connection to my past and my experiences. ‘The glowworm’ came from my memory of past and almost all so on. This book will make you realise how important it is to take a pause, go back in life, remember our roots and make a future with the past.” One ode, ‘Devachi Sasai’, reflects gratitude for Goa’s blessings. “Goa is a blessed state. It has been bestowed with so much goodness. It’s like an ode to the Almighty to keep His blessings upon Goa,” concludes Yatish.
