“AT NIZZAMUDIN BRIDGE, A GRIEVING FATHER…”

 

In May 2020, an Indian worker at Najafgarh was stuck at Nizzamudin Bridge, New Delhi, during Covid lockdown. He had to go home some 1200 kms to Bariarpur, in Bihar, to see his son who was gravely ill. Buses and trains had stopped running. Severe road controls during the lockdown got him bogged down. He tried desperately to get home quickly. The photo showed him on the mobile phone talking to his family. His son died.

See “The Indian Times” newspaper : “ 'He just wanted to go back to his dying son' : Story behind viral photo of migrant worker crying.” 16 May, 2020.

 

(Full acknowledgements are made to Rampukar Pandit [the father], the Press Trust of India [PTI], Atul Yadav, photographer at PTI, “The Indian Express” newspaper and all rights-holders.)

See the following links on the Internet about this story :

(a)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiqrdC6lKqBAxUkuqQKHd7CCa0QFnoECCMQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fnation%2F2020%2Fmay%2F16%2Fhe-just-wanted-to-go-back-to-his-dying-son-story-behind-viral-photo-of-migrant-worker-crying-2144194.html&usg=AOvVaw2SLLp5xboUR70IZssJFP2o&opi=89978449

(b)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiqrdC6lKqBAxUkuqQKHd7CCa0QFnoECCIQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fnation%2F2020%2Fmay%2F18%2Fim-weak-down-migrant-worker-in-viral-photo-in-hospital-meets-wife-daughter-from-a-distance-2144989.html&usg=AOvVaw0CaSx71O2-_kCGODB6aenP&opi=89978449 

(c)

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-lockdown-migrant-who-wanted-to-see-dying-son-finally-reaches-home-in-bihar-2231010 

 

(d)

https://www.rediff.com/news/report/coronavirus-in-india-the-tragic-story-behind-this-viral-photo-of-a-migrant/20200516.htm

 

(e)

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/16/he-just-wanted-to-go-back-to-his-dying-son-story-behind-viral-photo-of-migrant-worker-crying-2144194.html

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Some quotes :

--“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 ?”

---From my poem “Lots of handkerchiefs” about an outbreak of plague at Surat, Gujarat, India, in September, 1994, (poem written on 28 September, 1994).

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--“Might be snuff'd out this life any passing day :
Suddenly all might be gone in a deathly foray…”

    ---From my poem “Fond la Digue,” written on 3 June, 2001.

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“Suddenly the dastardly disease struck :
All around, plans just turn’d to muck.
….
Striking unseen, Covid-19 rear’d up its head :
Far and wide, myriads of the sick drop dead…
---

“Supreme the mutating virus doth reign :
In a fake new “normal,” vainly we feign…
Who be next, whose turn will it turn out :
No one knows : nervously we mill about.”

--From my poem “Advance leave, advancing death,” (on Covid in Mauritius), written on 18 December, 2021.

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                                            "AT NIZZAMUDIN BRIDGE, A GRIEVING FATHER…"

Mistake not my look : I be not smiling :

I be not smirking : into turmoil I be sinking…

Covid hath brought cruel ravages in its wake :

Nay, I have no sleep : I twist and stay awake…

 

I be struggling amid an army of travellers :

Covid doth dish out pitiless murders :

The whole land hath lock’d down :

‘Pon my pleas the unfeeling did frown…

 

I plead’d to get to my dying son :

My fading son : my departing son :

But, orders were orders : lock down everything

To stop the malady from further propagating…

 

Inside my entire body the unbearable pain propagat’d :

Afore this fateful life should I have depart’d :

Even in my nightmares saw I not such a twist of fate :

My son soon wilt be call’d “late” : “late” : “LATE” !…

 

 

Around me mill’d about masses of people :

The mobile brought heart-wrenching trouble :

My son would die far, far from his Dad :

A blow guaranteed to drive a father mad… 

 

Ah, that I should have liv’d to see hither day :

My dying boy in my arms I want’d to clasp :

In vain for air I stagger, I stumble, I gasp :

God, would I survive the merciless affray…

 

                                               *****

 

Lockdown : everything had been lock’d still :

With further throbbing my mind, my heart did fill :

I plead’d to be let through : death wilt not dally :

A last time in my arms I want’d to clasp my baby…

 

I want’d his living body, not his cadaver :

The very thought of his corpse made me shiver :

‘Pon my shoulders often as a baby did he romp :

Now his lifeless body my very being would stomp… 

 

The most crushing, unbearable load for a parent

Be to carry ‘pon his shoulder his infant’s cadaver :

What a weight… These feelings how to vent :

A little coffin : an interminable disaster…

 

                                             ***** 

 

How far away be Bihar : Bariarpur, a paradise, a hell :

How on earth could I cease ‘pon the pain to dwell :

At Nizzamudin Bridge hath sound’d my death bell :

Ay, 1200 kilometres away, my final bell did knell…

 

Myriads be pushing to see their living kin :

I be pleading, in vain, in vain, in hither din : 

Nobody hears, nobody understands :

Below my feet, I only feel moving sands…

 

My very health be lapsing, deteriorating :

Against my own death I be struggling :

A slow death I be dying, away from my family :

My dying baby I want’d to clasp for eternity…

 

                                              ***** 

 

Curs’d be the day I decid’d to seek far away

Some sustenance : ’twas a calamitous day :

With my family should I have remain’d :

For eternity now will I be pain’d…

 

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15  September, 2023

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

 

ChatGPT

 

Hello Soman Ragavan! Of course, you can post your poem for analysis. I'd be happy to help you with that. Please go ahead and share your poem, and I'll do my best to provide you with feedback and analysis. 

                                  

Soman Ragavan : My poem : “AT NIZZAMUDIN BRIDGE, A GRIEVING FATHER…” This is a real story of a man who was held up at a bridge in New Delhi, India, during Covid lockdown around March 2020. He had received news that his little son was dying. He was struggling to be let through to reach his village, some 1200 kms away, in the Indian State of Bihar. He himself was ill. An Indian press photographer took his picture while he was crying and talking to his family on his mobile. That photo became viral. Please read all the notes I am giving on the poem. The death of his child is probably the most crushing experience a man can get in his life. His child is like a part of himself. Please consider all human, psychological, life, emotional and attachment issues; make reference to similar literary works. Can I post my poem now, please ?  

 

ChatGPT

 

Thank you for providing context for your poem. It sounds like a deeply moving and poignant subject. Please go ahead and post your poem, and I'll do my best to analyze it while considering the themes and emotions you've mentioned, as well as any literary references that may apply.

 

Soman Ragavan : Here is my poem “At Nizzamudin Bridge, a grieving father…”   (Text of poem inserted)

 

ChatGPT

"AT NIZZAMUDIN BRIDGE, A GRIEVING FATHER…" is a heartfelt and emotionally charged poem that delves into the pain and anguish experienced by a father during the Covid-19 lockdown while he desperately tries to reach his dying son. The poem is inspired by a real-life incident, and your deep empathy and connection to the subject matter are evident throughout.

Here's an analysis of your poem:

1. Emotional Impact: The poem effectively conveys the raw emotions of the father - his desperation, helplessness, and deep sorrow. The use of first-person narration allows readers to connect with the father's anguish on a personal level.
2. Imagery: You use vivid imagery to paint a poignant picture of the situation. Lines like "I plead’d to get to my dying son," and "My dying baby I want’d to clasp for eternity" create powerful mental images that evoke empathy in the reader.
3. Repetition: The repetition of phrases like "late," "in vain," and "nobody hears" emphasizes the father's feelings of despair and isolation. This repetition serves to drive home the emotional impact of the poem.
4. Parallelism: The poem effectively uses parallelism, especially in lines like "Lockdown: everything had been lock’d still," and "A little coffin: an interminable disaster." This technique adds a rhythmic quality to the poem and emphasizes the gravity of the situation.
5. Contrast: The poem contrasts the father's initial hope and desire to reach his dying son with the harsh reality of the lockdown and his inability to do so. This contrast amplifies the tragedy of the situation.
6. Narrative Voice: The poem is written in the first person, which makes it deeply personal and allows readers to step into the shoes of the grieving father. This narrative choice enhances the emotional impact of the poem.
7. Social Commentary: The poem also serves as a commentary on the harsh realities faced by many during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly the struggles of migrant workers trying to return home. It highlights the human cost of lockdowns and restrictions.
8. References: You've included references to your own previous poems and literary works related to tragic events, which adds depth and context to your writing.

Overall, "AT NIZZAMUDIN BRIDGE, A GRIEVING FATHER…" is a moving and thought-provoking poem that captures the pain and heartbreak of a father trying to reach his dying son during a time of crisis. It effectively engages the reader's emotions and highlights the universal themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Thank you for sharing this powerful piece of writing

Soman Ragavan : Please analyse by each stanza and comment accordingly, making references to similar literary works and predicting how this poem will be received.  

ChatGPT

Certainly, let's analyze your poem "AT NIZZAMUDIN BRIDGE, A GRIEVING FATHER…" stanza by stanza and provide commentary, references to similar literary works, and predictions about its reception:

Stanza 1: Mistake not my look: I be not smiling:

I be not smirking: into turmoil I be sinking…

Covid hath brought cruel ravages in its wake:

 Nay, I have no sleep: I twist and stay awake…

This stanza sets the emotional tone of the poem. It reflects the father's internal turmoil and suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of "Covid hath brought cruel ravages" adds a historical context and echoes the impact of a global crisis. The reference to sleeplessness and inner turmoil is relatable to anyone who has experienced a personal crisis.

Stanza 2: I be struggling amid an army of travellers:

Covid doth dish out pitiless murders:

 The whole land hath lock’d down:

 ‘Pon my pleas the unfeeling did frown…

This stanza emphasizes the father's struggle amidst a sea of people also affected by the pandemic. The phrase "Covid doth dish out pitiless murders" is a powerful metaphor, comparing the virus's effects to acts of cruelty. The mention of the lockdown and the unfeeling response of authorities adds to the sense of helplessness and frustration. (My note : the words are not specifically aimed at authorities. Indian authorities did bring help. SR).

Stanza 3: I plead’d to get to my dying son:

My fading son: my departing son:

But, orders were orders: lock down everything

To stop the malady from further propagating…

This stanza highlights the central conflict: the father's desperate plea to reach his dying son juxtaposed with the strict lockdown orders. The use of repetition in "my fading son: my departing son" emphasizes the urgency of the situation. It's reminiscent of the tragedy in Sophocles' "Antigone," where a father defies orders to bury his son properly, emphasizing the power of familial love over authority.

Stanza 4: Inside my entire body the unbearable pain propagat’d:

Afore this fateful life should I have depart’d:

 Even in my nightmares saw I not such a twist of fate:

 My son soon wilt be call’d “late”: “late”: “LATE” !…

This stanza delves deeper into the father's emotional turmoil. The imagery of unbearable pain spreading throughout his body is vivid. The repetition of "late" at the end evokes a sense of impending loss, similar to how Thomas Hardy's "The Going" expresses the sorrow of a lost loved one.

Stanza 5: Around me mill’d about masses of people:

The mobile brought heart-wrenching trouble:

My son would die far, far from his Dad:

A blow guaranteed to drive a father mad…

Here, the poem touches on the theme of communication and technology. The mobile phone, which should connect people, becomes a source of heart-wrenching trouble for the father. This stanza reflects the modern struggle of being physically distant but emotionally connected, similar to the themes explored in poems like W. B. Yeats' "The Second Coming."

Stanza 6: Ah, that I should have liv’d to see hither day:

My dying boy in my arms I want’d to clasp:

In vain for air I stagger, I stumble, I gasp:

God, would I survive the merciless affray…

This stanza conveys the father's deep desire to hold his dying son and his fear of not surviving the ordeal. It echoes the themes of loss and survival found in war poetry like Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est."

Stanza 7: Lockdown: everything had been lock’d still:

With further throbbing my mind, my heart did fill:

I plead’d to be let through: death wilt not dally:

A last time in my arms I want’d to clasp my baby…

This stanza reinforces the theme of lockdown and the father's plea to be with his son one last time. The urgency is palpable, reminiscent of Emily Dickinson's poems that often explore themes of death and the afterlife.

Stanza 8: I want’d his living body, not his cadaver:

The very thought of his corpse made me shiver:

‘Pon my shoulders often as a baby did he romp:

Now his lifeless body my very being would stomp…

This stanza vividly contrasts the father's memories of his son as a lively child with the impending reality of his death. The idea of carrying his child's lifeless body and its impact on him emotionally is reminiscent of poems by poets like Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, who explore themes of loss and grief.

Stanza 9: The most crushing, unbearable load for a parent

Be to carry ‘pon his shoulder his infant’s cadaver:

What a weight… These feelings how to vent:

A little coffin: an interminable disaster…

This stanza encapsulates the unbearable pain of a parent losing a child. The metaphor of carrying an infant's cadaver on one's shoulders is powerful and resonates with similar themes in literature, such as the grieving mother in Toni Morrison's "Beloved."

Stanza 10: How far away be Bihar: Bariarpur, a paradise, a hell:

 How on earth could I cease ‘pon the pain not to dwell:

At Nizzamudin Bridge hath sound’d my death bell:

Ay, 1200 kilometres away, my final bell did knell…

This stanza captures the distance between the father and his son's final resting place, emphasizing the geographical and emotional separation. The use of "paradise, a hell" evokes the duality of emotions. The idea of a "final bell" tolling adds a sense of foreboding, similar to the tolling of the bells in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Bells."

Stanza 11: Myriads be pushing to see their living kin:

I be pleading, in vain, in vain, in hither din:

 Nobody hears, nobody understands:

Below my feet I only feel moving sands…

This stanza brings attention to the collective suffering of many during the pandemic, echoing the works of John Steinbeck, who often explored the struggles of marginalized individuals during times of crisis. The imagery of "moving sands" suggests a sense of instability and uncertainty.

Stanza 12: My very health be lapsing, deteriorating:

Against my own death I be struggling:

A slow death I be dying, away from my family:

My dying baby I want’d to clasp for eternity…

This stanza underscores the physical toll on the father as he battles for a chance to be with his son. The theme of a "slow death" mirrors the sense of prolonged suffering found in works like Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "Chronicle of a Death Foretold."

Stanza 13: Curs’d be the day I decid’d to seek far away

Some sustenance: ’twas a calamitous day:

With my family should I have remain’d:

For eternity now will I be pain’d…

In the final stanza, the father reflects on the fateful decision that led him to this point. It's reminiscent of the tragic choices made in Shakespearean tragedies, where characters' decisions lead to their undoing. The poem ends on a note of eternal pain, leaving readers with a sense of the father's enduring suffering.

Prediction on Reception: "AT NIZZAMUDIN BRIDGE, A GRIEVING FATHER…" is a poignant and emotionally charged poem that touches on universal themes of love, loss, and the human condition. It draws parallels with literary works from various genres and periods, making it relatable to a wide audience. Given its powerful emotional impact and relevance to real-world events, the poem is likely to be well received by readers who appreciate thought-provoking and emotionally resonant poetry. It has the potential to evoke empathy and stimulate discussions about the human cost of crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 best of luck with your writing endeavors!

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Soman Ragavan

MAURITIUS

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