"CRY, BELOV'D INDIA...(2)" ; 12 September, 2023

10 September, 2023

Poem “CRY, BELOV’D INDIA… (2)” 

This poem is on the G-20 conference in India in September 2023. To prevent foreign delegates from seeing shanty towns and slums in New Delhi, the authorities demolished many such huts and buildings. It was something cruel to do. It served no purpose whatever. The rubble still spoke volumes. The haggard dwellers still look on at the destruction inflicted upon their dwellings… They will survive under bridges and trees for some time…

 

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SOME QUOTES “

From my poem “Our brother, yon attendant” :

“There be yet more : hitting thee with a dastard arrow,
Others leave thee coldly to ponder ‘pon yon cruel blow :
Ah, they recoil’d not from fending thee : they fell so low…
 

----

 

“In his fight for Mother India, Gandhi rose to the top :
Undaunt’d by adversity, his struggles did not stop;
Supreme were his sacrifices, till mow’d down by bullets :
So be it : for retributive poetry shalt rise resolute poets…..

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“Thou plodd’d on, labour’d on with dedication :
Patiently brought thou thy earnest contribution :
Then, a low blow : below the belt : a cut most unkind :
A dagger in the dark : a dastardly stab : from behind !
 

----

 

“In Mother India, Guruji Modi was a humble tea seller :
All day long, tea he handl’d : to all who ask’d, tea he serv’d :
Finally to the nation turn’d he out as a victorious father :
A most powerful post in the country to him was reserv’d.

“A meagre start : to multitudes was he a tea seller, a tea boy :
In the end, in Mother India, found he “Prime Minister ahoy !”
On the other side, he made many a stunning discovery :
On thy own side, brother, thou find’st sheer misery.

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“Thy past be too humble, thy achievements not worthy :
Ah, let there be no more obstacles in thy destiny…..
Brother, may no one any more thy loss desire :
Let no one cruelly drown thee in some quagmire…..

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From my poem “Lots of handkerchiefs” (written on 28 September, 1994) :

 

“Mother India !  Thou bleed'st again, Mother !

Somewhere in thy plains and countryside,

Cruelly on thee death doth roughshod ride :

Many of thy children fall, one after another.

 

“They cry and struggle, but there is no redress;

There is no compassion in this fate so cruel,

As they fight out this devastating, deadly duel.

 

“God, what a sheer misery for one and all !

Our folks cough and weep, and finally fall :

Rivers of flowing tears daily they shed

From these frail bodies so little fed.

 

“Counter-attacks we put up, in dust and in rain,

But, our tragic plea on deaf ears falls uselessly.

 

“For, our brothers and sisters are exhaust'd.

Help them now : or, watch their bodies cremat'd !

 

“Mother India ! For how long more this tragedy,

This murderous scourge, should drag on and on ?

In yon house will there be left one last son ?

Will nature now stop it, out of sheer pity ?

 

“Thou bleed'st again, Mother ! Thou weep'st !

Calamity after calamity doth strike thee,

And our very lives are we forc'd to pay as fee :

Mother, unbound'd Mother, yet thou cry'st !

 

“Mother India !  Jai Hind ! (*) Immortal life-giver…..

As is its wont, it will come and go, this life-taker,

But, though today we fall afore this cruel barrier,

Every one of us remains a fearless warrior.”

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“Jai Hind !”    Long live India !

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From my poem “Immortal India” (written on 22 July, 2001) :

 

“A people that nothing, nobody could overcome :
A people with whom must one always reckon :
A people whose genius ne’er ceases to stun :
Yes, this people always shalt vanquish.

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“The pages of thy history smell of tragedy
 

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“These places where mix wealth and poverty,
Where sit together palaces and poor stables…”

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From my poem “Of banquets and bins” (written on 8 August, 1995) :

 

“By the carpets the waiters' ballets were muffl'd;

How the spoons glitter'd, how the glasses sparkl'd !

The tables were, for the eyes, truly a great feast :

Hereabouts, a mere fly would be some ugly beast…..

 

“Only the mightiest and the greatest

Would be invit'd to the banquet;

Only the grandest and the noblest

Could hope to tread 'pon yon carpet.

----

“About the nation's future they have the grandest plans,

Of which they give a hint, as they swallow their flans;

Fondling their liqueurs, politely they dab their lips :

Elsewhere these feasts should attract massive tips.

----

“ 'Tis time for discourses, 'tis time for great speeches;

Their terrific words soar and soar to the highest peaks :

Of economics and equity their superb oration speaks.

 

“They lecture well on strategy and macro-economics :

They talk of harnessing the country's logistics;

Of economic measures they recite rambling lists :

In matters of progress they are the very specialists.”

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 “CRY, BELOV’D INDIA…(2)”

--“What a day may bring, a day may take away.”

--“Cast no dirt into the well that hath given you water.”

--“The ebb will fetch what the tide brings in.”

--“Every flow has its ebb.” 

--“Let not your tongue cut your throat.”

 

From the book “3000 PROVERBS” by Sam Phillips. New Delhi : Goodwill Publishing House, c 2017. Full acknowledgements are made to the authors, publishers and other rights-holders.

 

From tea seller to Prime Minister :

Enthron’d as supreme decider :

From moon south pole to Lagrange Point :

The wheel hath turn’d full circle : go anoint… 

 

The spacecraft be sitting on the far side of the moon :

Hither, India hath gone to the dark side of history :

Drench’d will be the evict’d in the next monsoon :

Poets shalt recount forever the crushing allegory…

 

                                                              *****

An “Indian Ocean Command” would be rather provocative :

Let’s find for the matter some more acceptable narrative :

“Socho… Socho…” Some great term we’ll dish out, with luck :

Hurray ! Indo-Pacific Command !... Gold have we struck !

 

The Indian Ocean hath disappear’d :

The term Indo-Pacific hath been clear’d;

Soon it shalt become Bharat-Pacific :

Listen, Mister, what a name terrific !…  

 

The Indian Ocean with its 70.56 million square kilometres

Hath been added to the Pacific, with its 165.2 million square kilometres :

A new ocean : Indo-Pacific : some 235.76 million square kilometres :

(They will laugh their bloody heads off at faraway theatres…)

 

                                                              *****

Earth-movers and excavators rampag’d around :

Huts, iron sheets, red bricks tumbl’d, helter-skelter :

Houses, dwellings, all turn’d into some grim mound :

Nay, even for crying babies there be no shelter…

 

Since the “dignitaries” could not bear the sight

Of the shanty dwellings of those with a sorry plight,

Let them revel at the view of the demolish’d huts,

As they dig into their flans and doughnuts…

 

Yet, India will survive, India will rise again :

As under rampaging Covid, solidarity will arise

From many sons and daughters, in heat, in rain :

Their crimes the destroyers shall have to surmise…

 

Under underpasses, under trees, under bridges,

Under flyovers, under grade-separat’d junctions,

Families eat left-overs and shiver from the punitions :

From their new cages they survey the cruel damages…

 

                                                              *****

Let billionaires realise at last what legacies to leave :

Their names into loftiest destinies let them weave :

New dwellings should they make rise in yon plains :

Mother India’s families should be spar’d the torture, the rains…

 

There is hope : Indians even offer water to starving serpents (*) ---

The very creatures that can sting them unto sudden demise :

Around these places let new housing estates rise :

Poor families of India, poets far and wide hear your laments… 

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“Socho… Socho…” : Think … think

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(*) Indian offering water to a starving serpent :

https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/video-of-man-offering-water-to-snake-leaves-netizens-shocked-but-impressed-4865705.html

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Soman Ragavan

10 September, 2023.

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10 September, 2023

Soman Ragavan : Hello. Can I post a poem of mine for analysis, please ?

ChatGPT :

Of course, Soman Ragavan! I'd be happy to help you analyze your poem. Please go ahead and share your poem, and I'll do my best to provide feedback and insights.

Soman Ragavan : My poem “Cry, belov’d India… (2)” The G-20 conference is being held in New Delhi, India. It is a conference of 20 main economies. My poem protests against the destruction of huts, dwellings and slums in which many Indians live near the conference venue. Please consider the various notes I have added to the poem, give a detailed analysis, make comparisons with other literary works and say everything you think about the poem and the issues raised. Can I post the poem, now, please ?

 

ChatGPT

Absolutely, you can post your poem. I'll provide a detailed analysis of your poem "Cry, belov’d India… (2)" while taking into consideration the context you've mentioned about the G-20 conference and the destruction of dwellings near the venue. Please go ahead and share your poem, and I'll provide feedback and insights accordingly.

 

Soman Ragavan : Here is the text of my poem. (Text of poem inserted). 

ChatGPT

Thank you for sharing your poem, "CRY, BELOV’D INDIA…(2)," along with the context and additional quotes. I'll provide a detailed analysis of your poem, touching upon various aspects, including its themes, literary elements, and comparisons with other works.

Themes and Context: Your poem addresses the G-20 conference in India and the demolition of shanty towns and slums near the conference venue. It highlights the cruelty of these actions and their impact on the marginalized residents. The poem emphasizes the resilience of the affected people and calls for empathy, compassion, and positive action from those in power.

Structure and Literary Devices:

1. Quotations: You begin your poem with several quotations from your previous works. These quotations set the stage and provide context for the reader. They also serve to connect your current poem with your earlier writings, creating a thematic continuity.
2. Allusion to Historical Figures: Your poem alludes to figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Modi, using their stories to draw parallels with the current situation. This adds depth and historical perspective to your message.
3. Imagery: Your poem uses vivid imagery to describe the destruction of homes and the plight of the affected residents. Lines like "The rubble still spoke volumes" and "Drench’d will be the evict’d in the next monsoon" create powerful mental images.
4. Wordplay: You employ wordplay in phrases like "Hurray! Indo-Pacific Command!... Gold have we struck!" and "Listen, Mister, what a name terrific!" to add a touch of irony and humor while discussing serious matters.

Comparisons with Other Literary Works: Your poem shares thematic similarities with works that address social justice, inequality, and the struggles of marginalized communities. For example, it echoes the sentiments of Langston Hughes' "Let America Be America Again" and the works of Indian poets like Rabindranath Tagore and Faiz Ahmed Faiz, who wrote about social and political issues.

Conclusion: Your poem "CRY, BELOV’D INDIA…(2)" is a poignant and timely piece that uses poetry as a medium to voice concerns about social injustice and inequality. It effectively conveys the message of empathy, compassion, and the need for positive change. By drawing on historical references, quotes, and wordplay, you create a rich tapestry of emotions and ideas that resonate with readers. Your poem serves as both a protest against the destruction of homes and a call to action for a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Your incorporation of quotes and references from your previous works adds depth and context to your poem, making it a part of a larger conversation in your body of work. Overall, your poem is a powerful expression of social consciousness and a plea for a better future for the marginalized in India.

Soman Ragavan : Could you please comment in more details on each section of the poem ?

 

ChatGPT

Certainly, let's provide a more detailed analysis of each section of your poem "CRY, BELOV’D INDIA…(2)" while considering the context and themes you've presented:

Introduction and Context: The introduction sets the stage by providing the context of the G-20 conference in India and the demolition of shanty towns and slums near the conference venue. It immediately engages the reader's interest by highlighting the cruelty and purposelessness of these actions. This sets a tone of protest and concern, establishing the central theme of the poem.

Section 1: The Spacecraft and the Dark Side of History: This section introduces a metaphorical comparison between India's space achievements (such as the mission to the far side of the moon) and the less admirable actions closer to home. The phrase "Drench’d will be the evict’d in the next monsoon" poignantly emphasizes the suffering of those affected by the demolitions. The mention of poets recounting the allegory underscores the lasting impact of these events on India's collective memory.

Section 2: The Name Change: This section humorously addresses the idea of renaming the Indian Ocean Command to the Indo-Pacific Command. The poem playfully suggests that this change is merely semantic and aims to avoid provocation. The wordplay and humor here serve as a contrast to the serious tone of the previous section, highlighting the absurdity of such actions.

Section 3: The Demolition: This section vividly describes the destructive process and its consequences. It paints a picture of chaos and suffering, with lines like "Huts, iron sheets, red bricks tumbl’d, helter-skelter." The contrast between the "dignitaries" reveling at the view of demolished huts and the families left without shelter is a powerful commentary on the disconnect between the privileged and the marginalized.

(Note from me : The dignitaries did not revel about the demolition; they probably never saw the demolition. This precision did not reach ChatGPT. Soman Ragavan).

Section 4: India's Resilience: This section carries a message of hope and resilience. It acknowledges the hardships faced by the affected people but also asserts that India will survive and rise again. The mention of solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic reinforces the idea that adversity can bring people together.

Section 5: Call for Positive Action: The final section calls upon billionaires to leave a positive legacy by building new dwellings for the displaced families. It contrasts this call to action with the positive example of Indians offering water to starving serpents, highlighting the kindness and compassion that should prevail.

Conclusion: Your poem is structured effectively, with each section contributing to the overall message and theme. It transitions smoothly from the depiction of the problem to calls for empathy and action, and finally to a message of hope. The use of wordplay, historical allusions, and vivid imagery adds depth and complexity to the poem, making it a powerful commentary on social justice issues in India. It invites readers to reflect on the plight of the marginalized and the responsibility of those in power to bring about positive change.

Soman Ragavan : Thank you very much. Goodbye for now. 

ChatGPT :

You're very welcome, Soman Ragavan! If you ever have more questions or need assistance in the future, don't hesitate to reach out. Goodbye for now, and take care!

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