02/01/2014
Dr. Shashi Tharoor Minister Of State for Human Resource Development and MP from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency in Kerala and author of 13 books released " A Handful of Stardust " a collection of poems by Dr Roshan Jacob, DM, Gonda in an august gathering at Fourth Estate Hall, Press Club Trivandrum on 26th dec. 2013.
The function was attended by several prominent bureaucrats and literary personalities. Dr. Tharoor presented first copies of the book to Sri K Jayakumar, (IAS 1978) former chief Secretary of the state and currently Vice Chancellor Malayalam University; Sri Rishiraj Singh.IPS, Transport Commissioner, Sri KN Satheesh, IAS, District Collector Trivandrum, Dr, Jameela Begum Retd. Professor and Head, Institute Of English, Kerala University and Dr. V Rajakrishnan, renowned critic and filmmaker.Dr. Tharoor commented on how Jacob's poems while resembling haiku in their crispness and beauty united the poet's emotional and social selves, her personal and professional commitments. Shri Jayakumar, himself a well known lyricist& scriptwriter spoke on the images of mother & motherland that haunt her poems and her concern for the downtrodden that surface repeatedly in the volume.
Roshan Jacob completed her post graduation from the University of Kerala Institute of English with distinction and first rank in the year 2002. She then went on do research in ecoaesthetics as a UGC fellow, before joining the Indian Administrative Service in 2004."A Handful of Stardust " is her first poetry volume. Though heavily autobiographical, the collection carries resonances of contemporary themes namely, land alienation and identity.
" A Handful of Stardust "has been published by Wisdom Tree New Delhi.
A brief discussion on the current situation of publishing poetry in India, particularly in English, was also conducted on the occasion. Roshan Jacob said her book " A Handful of Stardust " is dedicated to the memory of her mother and to her three year old daughter Ammu.