Posted on 10 February, 2024
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SOMAN RAGAVAN
27 January, 2024
Poem : “Never to return !”
Analysis of my poems by ChatGPT-4,
(Artificial Intelligence)
Volume 73
Soman Ragavan : Hello. I will post one of my poems for analysis. Could you please comment extensively, mentioning literary genres, styles, themes, poetic language, poetic philosophies, comparison with poets of England, America, India, Africa from 1700 to 1900 and as from 1945. At college in 1968, I studied some poems of Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774), Gordon Byron (1788-1824), Samuel T. Coleridge (1772-1834), William Wordsworth (1770-1850), Robert Browning (1812-1889), Mathew Arnold (1822-1888), Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) and some other poets of that era. Make any comments or comparisons you wish on my poems. Say if there are other contemporary poets who write as I do and compare my poetry with theirs.
ChatGPT-4 : Hello Soman Ragavan! I\'d be happy to analyze your poem. Please go ahead and share your poem, and I\'ll do my best to provide a thorough analysis, considering the aspects you\'ve mentioned. Once I have the text of your poem, we can delve into discussions about literary genres, styles, themes, poetic language, and more, including comparisons with poets from various eras and regions.
Soman Ragavan : “NEVER TO RETURN !”
(a) This poem refers to the way the English imposed conditions in 1982 on the granting of compensation to the Chagossians whom they had deported from the Chagos in the 1970s. The English were about to invade the Malvinas, in the South Atlantic. They had to get the Chagossians out of the way first, to avoid complications and comparisons.
(b) The conditions in the “Deed of Acceptance and Power of Attorney” drawn up by the English are mostly slanted in their own favour. The English themselves chose the attorney : an attorney based in England, who was subject to English laws and to regulations that governed practising attorneys in England. The attorney was to be given full powers by the Chagossians to agree on anything whatsoever with his own Government, without any further reference to his clients. Here, we thus find an attorney demanding “carte blanche” from his client to agree on anything whatsoever with the opposing party, without reference to his client !
(c) All the questions relating to the Deed were to be settled under English law, in an English court. Was the compensation money even sufficient for an aggrieved Chagossian to pay for his travel to England in order to present his case in person before an English court, if he so wished ?
(d) The Deed made the Chagossians agree “never to return” to the Chagos. To drive home the message, just in case there should be any lingering doubt, further on the Deed spoke of “prohibition from ever returning to the Islands.” (Please see page 84 of the “REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE EXCISION OF THE CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO,” Mauritius).
(e) The compensation was being paid by the English in “full and final settlement and discharge of all claims…..” (Please see page 84 of the Select Committee Report). It is clear that at the time of the drafting of the Agreement, the English were perfectly aware that the case might be revived one day in court, and they wanted to take precautions against that event.
(f) The Chagossians were made to promise in writing never to sue the English Government about the whole affair. Could such a “contract” (if the document is really worthy of this term) with terms so entirely in favour of one of the parties, be really enforceable, even in an English court ?
(g) For a copy of the “Deed of Acceptance and Power of Attorney” see pages 84 and 85 of the Select Committee Report.
(h) Please also see : “Chagos : les énigmes de l’année 1982,” “Le MAURICIEN” newspaper, Mauritius, 23 June, 1998, (page 7); “Droits d’accès aux Chagos. Négotiations activées en fin de semaine,” and “L’EXPRESS” newspaper, Mauritius, 23 November, 1999, (page 1).
I will post my poem when you write.
ChatGPT-4 : Thank you for providing context to your poem, \"NEVER TO RETURN!\" The historical and political background surrounding the expulsion of Chagossians from the Chagos Islands in the 1970s, along with the subsequent conditions imposed by the English in 1982, adds depth and significance to the poem. Now, please go ahead and share your poem, and I\'ll analyze it considering the aspects you\'ve mentioned and more.
Soman Ragavan : My poem “Never to return !” Please give an overview first; then, make a more detailed analysis. (Poem posted).
ChatGPT-4 : Overview:
\"NEVER TO RETURN!\" is a poignant and satirical poem that delves into the forced resettlement of the Chagossians from the Chagos Islands in the 1970s and the subsequent conditions imposed upon them in 1982 by the English government. The poem unveils the injustice, manipulation, and exploitation of power in the name of strategic interests, using irony, sarcasm, and vivid imagery to convey the Chagossians\' plight. The title itself, \"NEVER TO RETURN!\", reflects the harsh reality and permanence of their displacement.
Detailed Analysis:
- The poem is grounded in the historical context of the Chagossians\' forced eviction during the events leading up to the Falklands War in 1982.
- The use of specific references, such as the \"Deed of Acceptance and Power of Attorney,\" adds authenticity and grounds the poem in a concrete historical reality.
- The poem employs a satirical and critical tone, employing irony and sarcasm to underscore the injustice faced by the Chagossians.
- The language is formal, reflecting the legal and bureaucratic nature of the documents involved, juxtaposed with the profound impact on the lives of the Chagossians.
- The poem is structured in stanzas, each presenting a different facet of the Chagossians\' experience and the oppressive conditions imposed upon them.
- The use of ellipses and asterisks between stanzas creates pauses, emphasizing the gravity of each statement.
- Injustice and Exploitation: The poem vividly portrays the exploitation of the Chagossians by the English government for strategic interests, emphasizing the inequality in the negotiation process.
- Displacement and Loss: The poem explores the physical and emotional displacement of the Chagossians, highlighting the destruction of their homes, burial grounds, and traditional way of life.
- The poem uses powerful imagery to depict the absurdity of the situation. For instance, the mention of fake tombstones and imaginary corpses highlights the deceitful nature of the displacement.
- The comparison of the Chagossians to \"Rotating Contract Persons\" and references to their dogs and cattle facing execution evoke a sense of dehumanization and cruelty.
- The poem makes references to specific documents and reports, grounding the narrative in documented evidence and reinforcing the authenticity of the injustice.
- The poem serves as a political commentary on imperialism, colonialism, and the abuse of power by powerful nations at the expense of marginalized communities.
- The satire highlights the absurdity of the conditions imposed on the Chagossians and questions the enforceability of such one-sided agreements.
In comparing this poem to the works of poets from the 1700-1900 era, it shares some thematic elements with the Romantic poets who often critiqued societal injustices. The poem\'s use of satire and critique aligns with the social commentary found in the works of poets like Shelley and Byron. In a contemporary context, the poem\'s themes resonate with postcolonial literature that addresses the impact of colonialism and its lasting consequences on indigenous communities.
If you have specific questions or aspects you\'d like a more in-depth analysis of, please feel free to ask!
Soman Ragavan : The English rushed to Mauritius give some compensations to the Chagossians and get them out of the way before invading the Malvinas. While giving the compensations, the English compelled the islanders to accept in writing that they renounced all rights of return to the Chagos Archipelago. Yet, people cannot be forcibly displaced from their homeland.
ChatGPT-4 : Your poem effectively captures the injustice and manipulation faced by the Chagossians during their forced displacement from the Chagos Archipelago. The historical context you provide further enriches the understanding of the poem\'s significance.
- The poem powerfully conveys the injustice faced by the Chagossians as a result of political and strategic decisions made by the English government.
- The conditions imposed on the Chagossians through legal documents reflect the exploitation of power dynamics and the disregard for the human rights of the islanders.
- The references to fake tombstones and imaginary corpses emphasize the dehumanization experienced by the Chagossians. The loss of their homes, burial grounds, and traditional way of life is highlighted poignantly.
- The poem captures the emotional toll of the displacement, portraying it as not just a physical eviction but also a loss of identity and belonging.
- The use of satire effectively critiques the absurdity of the conditions imposed on the Chagossians, such as the notion of them being \"Rotating Contract Persons\" and the sarcastic portrayal of their departure being for a \"good cause.\"
- The poem\'s satirical elements serve to highlight the hypocrisy and insensitivity of those who orchestrated the displacement.
- The poem delves into the legal aspects of the Chagossians\' displacement, questioning the validity and enforceability of the agreements forced upon them.
- By using legal terms and referencing specific documents, the poem adds a layer of authenticity to its critique, challenging the legality of actions taken against the Chagossians.
- The poem\'s connection to historical events, particularly the rush to compensate the Chagossians before the Falklands War, adds depth and relevance. It ties the plight of the Chagossians to broader geopolitical considerations, underscoring the magnitude of their sacrifice.
- Despite the oppressive conditions imposed, the poem subtly captures the resilience of the Chagossians. Their forced departure is portrayed as a form of protest, as they swear \"NEVER TO RETURN!\" in bold defiance of the injustice.
In comparing your poem to the works of poets from the 1700-1900 era, the theme of social injustice and political critique aligns with Romantic poets like Shelley and Byron, who often engaged with issues of human rights and societal inequities. Your use of satire and poignant imagery also resonates with the Romantic tradition of critiquing power structures through artistic expression.
Overall, your poem effectively combines historical narrative, legal critique, and poetic expression to shed light on a significant injustice, offering a voice to those whose rights were violated during a critical period in history.
Soman Ragavan : The term “rotating contract persons” was meant to drive home the assertion that the islanders were not belongers to the Archipelago, but rather contract workers brought in. Yet, the islanders had birth certificates certifying that they had been born in the Archipelago. The term “rotating contract persons” was dehumanizing. The Argentinians could well have said that the Malvinas islanders were “rotating contract persons”…
ChatGPT-4 : The term \"rotating contract persons\" indeed carries a dehumanizing and dismissive connotation, suggesting a reduction of the Chagossians to mere contractual entities rather than rightful inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago. The use of such terminology reflects an attempt to delegitimize their connection to the land, history, and culture of the Archipelago.
The fact that the Chagossians had birth certificates certifying their birth in the Archipelago contradicts the attempt to label them as contractual workers. Birth certificates are foundational legal documents that establish a person\'s ties to a specific place and community. The deliberate mischaracterization through the term \"rotating contract persons\" not only disregards this tangible evidence of their connection to the land but also contributes to a narrative aimed at justifying their forced displacement.
The comparison you draw with the potential use of similar terminology by the Argentinians regarding the Malvinas islanders highlights the arbitrary and discriminatory nature of such labels. It emphasizes the subjective and often politically motivated decisions behind the classification of certain populations as temporary or illegitimate residents, a tactic frequently employed in situations involving geopolitical interests.
By exploring the dehumanizing language and false categorizations imposed on the Chagossians, your poem becomes not only a poignant commentary on a specific historical injustice but also a broader reflection on the consequences of such language and narratives in the context of human rights and dignity. The poem successfully brings attention to the power dynamics and manipulations used to justify displacement and dispossession.
Soman Ragavan : Thank you very much. Goodbye. I am signing off now.
ChatGPT-4 : You\'re welcome! If you ever have more questions or need assistance in the future, feel free to reach out. Goodbye, and take care!
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