{Book Review by Prof. S.S. Dogra}
After earning acclaim for his satirical works Kabadi Ka Sikka and Shav Samvad, veteran journalist Anil Soni has ventured into the world of poetry with his debut collection Pankh Zinda Hai, published in 2025 by Antika Prakashan. Dedicated to his mother Rajindra Soni, his wife Smita, and his daughter-in-law Ankita, this volume marks a deeply personal milestone in Soni’s long and distinguished literary career.
Hailing from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, Soni has been a towering figure in Hindi journalism for more than four decades. Having worked across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi, he has, for the past 27 years, shaped public discourse as the Founder-Editor of Divya Himachal, one of the region’s most respected dailies.
In the preface to this collection, noted critic Kamalanand Jha remarks that Soni’s poetry dares to articulate truths that much of contemporary mainstream poetry hesitates to confront. In this sense, Pankh Zinda Hai becomes not merely a book of verse but a bold poetic movement, a journey of resistance carried forward in the ―craft of refusal.
The poet himself, in a reflective piece titled Mere Kore Kagaz (My Blank Paper), defines poetry in profoundly moving terms:
“What the winds hummed, what the clouds poured down, or what society and the nation whispered—out of that emerged poetry. It came close, touched something deep within. Sometimes it walked barefoot on thorns of tears, drowning me, and yet time and again, it dried me in its embrace, even drinking oceans on my behalf.”
The collection brings together 40 powerful poems across 128 pages, covering a vast thematic spectrum. From the struggles of everyday life and biting political satire to the anguish of the common man, glimpses of both Shimla and Delhi, heartfelt patriotism, meditations on human relationships, the paradoxes of journalism, the overpowering influence of social media, and the stark realities of poverty—Soni’s poetic lens spares nothing.
Each poem reflects not only the depth of his lived experience but also his ability to jolt the reader into self-reflection. His lines resonate with emotional intensity, cutting clarity, and a courage that refuses to be silenced.
In essence, Pankh Zinda Hai is not merely a poetry collection; it is a testament to resilience, truth, and humanity. For lovers of literature, it is indeed a precious gift—one that demands to be read, absorbed, and remembered.
Book Information
Title: Pankh Zinda Hai
Author: Anil Soni
ISBN: 978-93-48399-61-8
Publisher: Antika Prakashan Pvt. Ltd., Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
Year: 2025
Pages: 128 | Price: ₹445/-
Reviewer: Prof. S.S. Dogra – Senior Journalist, Author & Founder of
Creatives World Media Academy. {Email ID: ssdogra2020@gmail.com}
