The debut poetry collection of Saida Chowdhury (pictured), "Broken Minds", has been endorsed by both the Bangladeshi Artist Development Agency and Legacy WM.
Saida`s book, soon to be published by Burdizzo Books, will be featured in book launches across the West Midlands including a headliner at the very first Royal Sutton Coldfield Literature Festival on 2nd August in Sutton Coldfield Town Hall.
Reviewing the collection, Junna Begum, the Marketing Officer of Bangladeshi Artist Development Agency and Legacy WM said:
"Broken Minds is a powerful anthology of highly original poetry authored by an amazing Bangla heritage poet and activist. Saida brings a deeply moving, unique and refreshing perspective on racial justice, love, grief, loss and mental health.
Her poetry achieves the remarkable feat of being simultaneously emotive and contentious, sensitive, passionate and, above all, speaks of a collective truth. Each and every poem is distinctively written, with such precision and clarity, arousing intense emotions. Words of great poignancy span the complexity of our individual existence and the discourse of a nation.
It’s difficult to pick a favourite from the collection. For me, Grenfell in particular reflects not just the specificity of a singular tragedy but the broader struggles of the marginalised and the final hope offered by love of family. Across the pages, Saida’s candid personal journey is laid bare with all its universal resonances.
At some point we all experience feelings of anger, frustration and helplessness, but rarely do we voice these feelings. In so courageously sharing the vulnerabilities of her own life, a brave and inspirational champion in the world of poetry encourages each of us to feel and heal – and to recognise that the beauty of these words describes aspects of a journey that is ultimately common to all of us".
Saida`s book is a personal journey over 20 years of love, loss the backdrop of the events of 9/11 and the discrimination which followed. She has performed a number of the poems at various spoken word events like Verve Poetry Spoken Word, Poetry Breakfast, Human Rights Celebration Day at the University of Wolverhampton, the People`s Platform at Katie Fitzgeralds and Poetry Breakfast with Saturday Books.
There are further endorsements of Saida`s first poetry collection by Diyodi Devinda Menon, from Creative Connexion, Dr Kulhi Kohli, Wolverhampton Poet Laureate and Poets Against Racism. The foreword to the book is written by Sureena Brackenridge MP.
A film was made of one of Saida`s poems, "Genocide In Gaza At Christmas (Again)" and filmed during the Human Rights day celebrations.
"I just want to end the stigma behind mental health" explained Saida Chowdhury. "No one should be ashamed to ask for help or break the silence of mental trauma. As a person of South Asian heritage 1 in 4 women suffer mental health issues and they are not getting the help they deserve. This has to change. If my poetry helps one person then it would have been worth it."
