India, Aug. 16 -- Rahul Ranchan's book of verse, "Diamond Red and Other Poems," calls for a deep understanding of its rich content and for an appreciation of the poet's unique style. The collection is not merely a compilation of poems; it is an inward journey into the poet's psyche, reflecting the emotional, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of his life.

Many of the poems may be regarded as a search for a lost identity, arising from the absence of connectivity, experienced while living between two worlds - the West and the East, namely America and India. As the years rolled by, Ranchan's experience of alienation and of the absence of relational warmth becomes increasingly pronounced. The trauma of deception and rejection by some trus...