Book Description

"Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava" (Любовні листи до України від Уяви), a finalist at the 2023 International Book Awards presented by American Book Fest, is a bilingual poetry collection written in English by Kalpna Singh-Chitnis and translated into Ukrainian by Volodymyr Tymchuk. It comprises 66 wartime poems centered on the current Russia-Ukraine armed conflict. The entire collection was written and translated, primarily in real-time, within just eight weeks. The poems in this book aim to build bridges in the hearts of readers, fostering a connection with Ukraine and allowing the world to witness its deep yearning for love, peace, and freedom. "This is a book of love, pure and overwhelming as love should be. This is a book of spirit, strong and willing, as spirit should be." ~ Lyudmyla Khersonska Author of "Vse svoi," and "Tyl'naia-litsevaia," reflections on Russian aggression in Ukraine. "Fresh on the heels of editing the wide-ranging and necessary anthology, "Sunflowers: Ukrainian Poetry on War, Resistance, Hope and Peace," poet Kalpna Singh-Chitnis has responded with impassioned verses of empathy in "Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava" as the war rages on in Ukraine. These are poems meant to bridge the divide between one world and another, between a lover and those fighting on the front lines of Ukraine. " ~ Brian Turner, Author of "Here, Bullet." "We had Auden, and we had Sassoon, but we now have Kalpna Singh-Chitnis with a different take on war. ~ Yogesh Patel MBE "Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava" is among the most important books of American, Ukrainian, and Indian literary societies with a cultural mission." ~ Volodymyr Tymchuk - Poet, Translator and Lieutenant Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "A common spiritual child, a representative of the Indian and Ukrainian people will bring us all closer to purification by a drop, a spark, and a metaphor." ~ Ihor Pavliuk - People's Poet of Ukraine, Winner of the British PEN Prize and Swiss Literary Prize 2021 "Kalpna Singh-Chitnis' patriotic poems are her original interpretation of love poetry, which grows from nostalgic listening to the voices of Ukraine, attempting to go beyond the pathos and rhetorics of textbook ideas, expanding horizons with visions, overcoming fears and deep wounds with one word-LOVE." ~ Marianna Cheletska, Literary Critic "Real Windows, Beyond the Nightly News. After reading these poems, one questions why this is happening and what is important to live, defend, and even die for?" ~ Michael Whelan, Poet, military historian, and a corporal in the Irish Air Corps of Irish Defense Forces "Love Letters to Ukraine by Kalpna Singh-Chitnis is an extraordinarily compelling call for love that can transform the insides of both, the writer as well as those who "receive" the letters." ~ Sukrita Paul Kumar, Poet, and Author of Vanishing Words "These are not just poems of love but an exhortation to fight on, a declaration of the victory of the Ukrainian and the human spirit." ~ Zilka Joseph, Author of In Our Beautiful Bones and Sparrows and Dust "Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava" is fiercely passionate and compassionate. Through her "love letters," Singh-Chitnis conducts a symphony of love set to the cacophony of war machines." ~ Ami Kaye, Publisher & Editor, Glass Lyre Press, LLC "In Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava, the emotional horizon that Singh-Chitnis evokes is both expansive and intimate, bringing the reader into contact with what is essential to the human condition: compassion and understanding." ~ Richard Modiano, Author of The Forbidden Lunch Box, and Director Emeritus Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center "Kalpna Singh-Chitnis breathes love into her latest poetry collection, Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava. With threads of prayers, compassion, courage, and poetry, she weaves a beautiful tapestry for Ukraine." ~ Alicia Viguer-Espert is the Author of Holding a Hummingbird