Ashutosh Agnihotri’s ‘Main Boond Swayam, Khud Sagar Hoon’ is not merely a collection of poems; it is a luminous voyage into the author’s inner and outer worlds, delivered with rare honesty and lyrical grace.
A senior civil servant with decades of administrative experience, Agnihotri surprises with his deeply introspective and emotionally resonant verse, proving once again that poetry is not confined to ivory towers; it thrives wherever the soul seeks expression. The title itself — “I am a drop, and yet the ocean†— captures the spirit of this collection. It speaks to the universality of individual experience, the paradox of human insignificance against the vast cosmos, and yet, the profound potential that each person holds within. Agnihotri’s poems traverse personal memories, relationships, identity, nationhood, faith, and self-reflection, all rooted firmly in his Indian ethos.
What stands out most in this work is its vulnerability. In his own words, the poet has “tried to wipe away as much dust from this mirror†as he can, so he may be seen clearly by the reader, and perhaps more importantly, by himself. This confession transforms the reading experience into a shared journey. The poems are not guarded or abstract; they are direct, accessible, and yet deeply philosophical, a balance few poets manage to achieve.
Agnihotri’s verse is free-flowing but never frivolous. Whether he writes about divine presence, human contradictions, or the relentless passage of time, there is always an undercurrent of hope and humility. He writes not to impress, but to express and in doing so, invites the reader to pause, reflect and reconnect with their humanity.
The thematic core of the book also subtly highlights the richness of Indian languages and literary traditions, lending quiet strength to the cultural undercurrent of the work. While the book launch saw political statements on language and national identity, the poetry itself remains above polemic. It speaks in the gentle, persuasive voice of introspection rather than assertion. Main Boond Swayam, Khud Sagar Hoon is a mirror and a map, a deeply personal narrative that becomes, ultimately, a collective one. In a world too noisy with declarations, Ashutosh Agnihotri’s voice comes as a meditative whisper. It is noteworthy to mention that in a spiritual nation, we need a balance of sensitivity, compassion and empathy for the people in governance to run the country. Of course, reading a poet’s work from a bureaucrat is a refreshing experience for us with a sense of assurance that our government carries some people with a poetic heart to serve the nation. Author Agnihotri has summarised the book and his experience:
“These poems contain me, my background, my values, my country, my religion, my God, my relationships, and my philosophy. In many ways, this collection is a narrative of myself, a reflection of my emotional world, and both my inner and outer universe. I have tried to wipe away as much dust from this mirror as I canbecause I want to be seen not just by you, but even more so by myself. This is a journey. And in this journey, you are with me, walking together, getting tired, pausing, and then moving ahead again. My only hope is that this journey continues uninterrupted, unbroken, and that along the way, sometimes deliberately, effortlessly, the beauty of life and its fragrance continues to thrill me, to embrace me.â€
About the Book
Book: Main Boond Swayam,
Khud Sagar Hoon
Author: Ashutosh Agnihotri
Publisher: Radhakrishna Prakashan
Price: Rs 495/-
