Poet Mahendra Bhatnagar: अगस्त 2007

Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar

Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's is one of the significant post-independence voices in Hindi and Indian English Poetry, expressing the lyricism and pathos, aspirations and yearnings of the modern Indian intellect. Rooted deep into the Indian soil, his poems reflect not only the moods of a poet but of a complex age.

Born : 26 June 1926: Jhansi (U.P.), Edu. : M.A. (1948), Ph.D. (1957) from Nagpur University; Retd. Professor.

Several volumes of poetry in English and other languages are published, viz. In French 'A MODERN INDIAN POET : Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : UN POÈTE INDIEN ET MODERNE; In English Forty Poems of Mahendra Bhatnagar After The Forty Poems Exuberance and other poems Dr.Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry Death Perception : Life Perception Passion and Compassion Poems : For A Better World A Handful of Light Lyric-Lute. etc. Poems are translated in most of the Indian languages.

Published research & critical studies :
(1) Living Through Challenges : A Study of Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry
(2) Poet Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : His Mind And Art.

Adviser — 'POETCRIT'. At present — Reasearch Guide in many Indian Universities.

Contact :
110 BalwantNagar, Gandhi Road,
Gwalior — 474 002 (M.P.) INDIA
Phone : 0751-4092908 / M-98934 09793
E-Mail : drmahendrabh@rediffmail.com

A HANDFUL OF LIGHT
Poet : Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar

[1] EVEN THEN

As an unexpected guest
you came to mind
suddenly!

I know –
I was’t preprepared for your
overwhelming welcoming
with garland of buds,
and affixing festoons on every door,
eager every moment
awaiting!

You, the dear one,
a visitor!
Say –
have I not been
a receptionist of yours
as ever?

I’m overjoyed,
appear
on my unsophisticated heart-land
simple one!
Ominous moment,
am thankful, grateful!

But,
Why this coyness?

Stay a while
let me feel
these extremely invaluable moments!

I know –
you’re a roving,
a guest
how could you be tethered
to the tender trap
of human love?

Eh! even then ...
a little ... supplication
even then!

[2] FROM THE VALLEY OF ‘PATALPANI’1

I,
a wanderer strayed
have come to seek solace
in your lap!

To come down insitinctively
on open breast-slopes,
support with
your arms, strong as hills!
Give the cool shade
of ungauged deep!

Give pleasant touch
of refreshing current of water
to my burning lips,
grant joy
to the mind
silent for ages,
give a happy sense
of love-confluence to the unsatiated soul!
In this solitude
with murmur melodic music
give the rainbow abode of dream!
O deep dale!
I’ve come —
your life
an everlasting companion!

Let me hold
for a few moments
the helpless emotional tide
with your innocent flow!
I may,
or may not come this side
in this birth again!

Have I,
a wanderer
not even this little right
to leave behind
a few prints ...
signifying
love?

1 A resort in Malwa (M.P.) INDIA

[3] THE WINTRY SUN

How pleasing
the wintry sun!

Heart never feels content
even after bathing in it
from morn to eve,
mind never wills
to part with
and get away from it,
Oh, how sweet
the wintry sun!

Let us sleep
in its lap
as of a beloved,
and be lost
for the day!

How desirable
how charming
the wintry sun!
How pleasing
the wintry sun!

[4] ONSET OF WINTER

True, not now!
On oath, I
not now!
No more disdain-disrespect
no, not at all!
Glittering
pleasant
golden sun
come!

Do not knock,
all doors, ventilators, windows
are open,
no more neglect
on oath, I
not now!

Waiting for you,
accept the offering,
sensitize,
impart heat
to every part of body!
O auspicious sun
fold me in your lap
and gild me!
Let me
cover myself with you
till the cold breeze blows,
let me be lost in reverie
till mind's fill!
let me be warmed, heated;
Fill the body with rays!

Golden sun
come!
Now, no more
disdain, disrespect,
not at all!
On oath, I!

[5] AN EVENING AT ‘TIGHIRA’1
(Sketch / One)

In the placid water of
the Tighira dam
your fair face
mysteriously, floating unblinking
looks at me!

Lifting sturdy, fair, muscular arms
the circle-tipped fingers
moving on the red palm
of your hand
invite me from
the far off span of the Tighira dam!

I,
who on the bank.
Look at the beautiful image
wearing a binoculars
on lusty, heavy eyes!

1 A drinking water reservoir in Gwalior town (M..P.) INDIA

[6] AN EVENING AT ‘TIGHIRA’
(Sketch / Two)

On the narrow bridge of the Tighira
bowed-eyes
hesitant
you!

Waving hair
in the blowing strong wind,
silhouetting
the sturdy limbs,
fluttering
end of kanjivaram1 saree,
what an unsuccessful strategy
of two smart hands!

Slowly, gently
move
naked, flabby, fair feet,
a queer, dream-like,
pleasant, romantic walk!

1 A town in Tamilnadu, where these sarees are manufactured.

[7] UNEXPRESSED

Man –
himself a well-known periphery
of his own
every unimagined anguish.

Somewhat uncontrolled violation
for oneself and others,
meaningless,
averse meaningless!

Experienced life-pain,
only
confine
to the predetermined limit,
in man’s environ,
in the state of the sub-conscious.

[8] QUERIES

Who,
has scattered the countless seeds
of faithlessness
on mind's straum?

Who,
has scattered
the rare and highly valued gems
of our firm faith
on the horrid path of suspicion?

By pricking the thorns
of a sheer ir-reverence
in our feet,
has seized
the inexhaustive legacy?

Who, suddenly
with hollow philosophy,
has undermined
the weighty wisdom
of truth and experience-proved
life beliefs?

Who,
has with devastating hurricane’s speed
deflected
the sky-scraping high summits
of our iron faith?

[9] UNEXPECTED

Like all times
arrived Asharha1
with a flood of gifts
of clouds anew!
but,
the intense thirst-stricken chatak2
said nothing,
only stared
with vacant eyes,
neither welcomed the newcomer
nor drank life-giving nectar!

Like all times
Savana3 rained in torrents!

With lusty shaky breasts
black clouds
gathered thick
hankered restless,
begged –
spreading their green, wet border!4

But,
peacocks didn’t dance,
Bhadon5 went away sapless,
the silent sky
didn’t give voice to kajali6 songs.

Like all times
came the wintry-moonlit nights
chilly!
to remind
about young moon-faced beauty’s words!
But,
'Shuklabhisarika'7
didn’t move from her home,
pathway –
desolately awoke every night,
no morpankhi8 ever stirred
in the tranquil lake!

Like all times
sweet-flourished Spring came,
with new leaves
and bracelets of colourful flowers!
But jasmine didn’t bloom
nor was heard
the dolour of koel9!

A year
of burdensome dates
of obscure memories
came .... to .... an ... end!

1 a month from mid June to mid July.
2 an Indian bird supposed to drink only rain water during ‘Swati’ constellation.
3 a month from mid July to mid August.
4 greenery.
5 a month from mid August to mid September.
6 folk song sung during rainy season.
7an adolescent woman who often comes out to meet her lover in the moonlit night.
8 a boat of the shape of pea-cock’s wing.
9 Indian cuckoo.

[10] NEW YEAR

O New Year
I could not
welcome you
despite willingness!

Thought of planning
varied celebrations
before your auspicious arrival,
God knows what
peculiar new ideas
assimilated in mind,
but,
could not put a little of that
into practice!

O New Year!
How
Have you come
without any pomp and show?
And, despite willingness,
I could not embrace you
in my love-laden arms!

O New Year!
How sad you must be feeling indeed!
I could not dedicate even a sngle line
to welcome you,
despite willingness
this time
to write not one : but many poems!
O, what happened?
Something memorable outstanding
must have happened –
the prologue
or
the epilogue
of the drama of life!
But,
nothing happened,
only
a sensation of rehearsal!

O New Year!
I slept and woke up
with a longing
to give you an important place
in the index of life!

Despite willingness
could neither live
nor die!

[11] FOR ME ALONE

A cold
silent
night of winter –
for me alone!

All unknown stars
trees slept
before me only one —
a body of darkness
for me alone!

God knows
of what unpardonable, exceptional
sins’ result !
All lost
in a world of dreams,
but,
I alone –
tired and restless!
This dumb-founded
heavy snow cold
shivering night –
For me alone!

[12] EASY : DIFFICULT

It’s easy
simply to pass a day,
difficult to live!

How easy
to spend life,
difficult —
to manage
to set
to stitch
the threads, the fibres
of a fractured personality!

Poison only to vomit
timely – untimely,
difficult to drink!

It’s easy
simply to pass a day
difficult to live!

[13] DAY - END

Today —
like ever
silently went away!
Undesired intolerable
rang the harsh alarm
of early morn,
not even a single bird chirped
to rejoice the day!
The dawn distributed the golden sunshine
to every house, every door!
Neither anybody
knocked at
my closed doors,
nor gently called
my name!

Noon –
a matured experienced woman
wrote moments of rest
in evey body’s diary,
but boredom, only boredom
to me!
Idle and lethargic
I look at
the approaching
Evening crimson,
what at all can you offer?
A silent answer –
‘darkness ... dense darkness!’

[14] RETROSPECTION

Flew away
Eh, many a year
of life
devoid of rejoicings
full of dearths
yes,
fluttered away
several years
of life!

The time
will not return
lost in dust
and sun,
slept
in darkness!

In the uproars around
life continued to scream,
helpless
at every step,
more helpless
in endeavours!

I could not sing
even a single song
of joy,
even a single song
of pain!

Sound
continued to resound
only :
struggle ... struggle ... struggle!

All the directions
of comfort
were turned round!

Eh, many a year
of life
fluttered away
before long!

[15] SPRING LIVED

I too lived
the spring!

I had heard –
Blossoms bloom in spring,
every bough bows down
with sprouts, new leaves,
is full of new sap!

Flowers
of sweet and intoxicated feelings
bloom in spring,
the whole earth
is bedecked with
varied hued wear,
various melodies
of their own
ring in the heart.
On all sides
unknown echoes of jingle
flow and overspread
in the air!

Each isolation
is excited with new vibrations,
each darkness
glistens with
the golden light
of hope!
Each sloth-inert heart
spurts, squirms with
unknown ecstasy!

Each lip
Sings, flutters with
the feeling of unexperienced pain!
Hands touch
the highest summits of fancy!

But, I did not experience
all this,
did not see any thing!

Spring flitted away
in the struggle of life!

I, too,
lived the spring!

[16] REPENTANCE

Lo!
I’ve spent life
laughing and weeping
but could not live!

Spent the day
by waking,
by sleeping the night,
yes, I’ve spent life,
but could not live!
Being in senses
or senselessly
how have I
spent the life?
but could not live!
By getting a little
but losing all
Oh, so spent the life,
but could not live!

In longing — in turbulence
maintaining-spoilting
remaining mute-speaking loud
if one relevant –
irrelevant another,
have spent the life
dreaming, dreams a few
but could not live!

[17] DESTINY

The smoke of doubts abounds
how
to breathe!

Lips envenomed deep
how to drink
the honey!

When the tide
of repentance rises
in heart
how to sleep
on cosy bed!

On the stony soil
of barren land
how to sow
a new life!

[18] ALMS

Hey!
who has filled
the compressed gloom
in my precious life-vessel?
Give me
a handful of light!

Oh!
who has hung
the serpents numerous
of suspicion
on the sandal-wood-natured
body?

Give me
bit of trust,
fragments
of faith!

Give me
a handful of light!

[19] FAITH

Defeated
in life
but not despondent!

Where is fidelity?
Faithlessness has ever
embraced me,
not sweet fruit
only ablaze poison
meted to my ill fate!

I’am cursed,
deceived at every step,
not despaired!

Momentary –
Remorse
Pain
Suffocation!
Think it a blessing
no other fetter
of attachment!

[20] LIFE ASPIRANT

Dense darkness
heaving sighs the wind
horrid sky spread like curse,
very chilly moments!
But, live on this hope –
some one may light
like sun-ray
love-laden
golden lucky lamp!

On a desolate path
silent solitary heart you
body like burden
futile life!
But, move on, on this hope –
at some moment
long-awaited stranger’s feet
may create music!

Lost is the Spring,
Autumn merely Autumn,
flowers turned into thorns
dreams drenched in dust!
O suicider!
Shut not the doors and windows,
some equally tortured
wandering soul
may dye the room
by reciting
a heavenly nectarlike song!

[21] LIFE AS BESTOWED

Golden days of life
worth living –
like a sacred boon,
like a comforting song,
lovely-enchanting-words-echoing-days
Ah! Worth living!
Each moment
joy worth drinking!

The days of life’s
continuous contrariness,
the burdensome days
full of despondency, depression
and extreme emptiness –
inauspicious like a curse,
difficult days like a fang fever
bitter, prickly!
Ah! Worth living!
Each moment
forbearance
worth drinking!

The life as bestowed –
good
bad
to live constantly!
To live inevitablly!

[21] DISILLUSIONMENT

Perhaps
which was never acceptable
to you
if a fallacy of that claim
has appeared
in mind
today
it’s good,
it’s propitious!

Instable
deceived mind!
Think not —
highly precious
very rare heritage
of life is lost!

Not faintness
but certainly
awareness.
Not the mist of temptation
true knowledge
the reality of life.

Life will now get significance
in a new lustre,
be not worried at all
in despair!

[22] POINT OF VIEW

Be not allured to the past,
past — is dead!
Let it turn to ashes,
do not bear its burden
be not a bier!
The worshippers of the dead
one day
in present itself
will themselves become passive
useless / unwanted / uninteresting!

What is past–
is extinct!
Why should it be the controller of the present?
Why should it overpower the present?
Free the present
from the past,
live it with full fervour,
enjoy!
with this knowledge
of reality –
every future moment
will adapt itself
to the present!
The future –
is infinite!

[23] HORRIFIED

Always horrified
from the faults of vision,
hetergeneous, strange,
affected with
hundreads of prejudices
and surrounded by
the dense dark of doubts
we look at one another
as strangers!

And in the unwanted
venomous strangulating atmosphere
when we restlessly writhe,
the ocean of extreme
wicked meanness thunders
full of innumerable
horrible creatures!
Free from the shackles
of all humbleness
becoming man.

[24] REALITY

Bitterness
everywhere available,
Sweetness a rarity!

Panic evident
everywhere,
Courage rare!

Everywhere
annoyance display,
Stasis lost!

Everywhere
affectation, meretriciousness,
Reality a very long way off !

[25] ACHIEVEMENT

Could not achieve –
what was ever desired,
No sorrowing.

Under innumerable covers
of so-called noble glory
exposure of such a
naked meanness!
Achievement of failure!
No sorrowing.

Easily manifest
invisible drama
of so-called great personality –
labelled as impartial-neutral,
Achievement of failure!
No sorrowing.

[26] FARCE

I hate artificial smile!
When some people
smile in this manner
I feel, they’ll bite!
Trap
in their snake-noose!

When
such an unpleasant smile
becomes a part
of etiquette,
how dreary it looks!

I hate this
artificial dry smile,
I hate it
boundlessly!

[27] MISAPPREHENSION

We,
the beings of the Science age,
got the zenith of intellect
great / highly developed / omniscient!

Permanent principles
Eternal values of life
are meaningless
for us!
Our dictionary
defines ‘heart’
as merely a mass of muscles
that purifies blood
provides fresh blood to all the arteries,
the mystery of its palpitation
is quite clear to us,
on its weakening or decaying
we can also change it!

Related with heart :
Primeval man’s
passions,
all the feelings,
delicate sweet emotions of man –
are nothing
but ridiculous for us!

For us primeval man’s
sentiments of mutual love,
his physical movements –
due to pangs of separation,
all
childish / unhygienic / meaningless!
It is for us
in the history of man
the utmost waste of time!

For us
Attraction –
Synonym of
lust for sensuous pleasure!
Womanish postures –
Simply acting of limbs
learnt by practice,
easily attainable
by getting admission
in the dramatic theatres!
Love-dialogue –
Artificial,
miraculous voice luxuriance!
Mating : Lover-beloved –
Only for the sake of sensual pleasure!
Memory –
Another name of hypocricy
or pain of paucity!
Love –
Illusion / fraud
non-existent,
mere word of a single syllable!

[28] ENVY

Don’t envy / Don’fear Envy!

Other’s expression of envy –
whether symbolic / spoken / through actions
spells your success!
A cleanser of self-profundity!
Why timorous of it?
why so confounded?

Envy – as naural
equally necessary – its suppression.
Destroy / not embrace the envy!

Equipoise the envious
encourage him to advance,
give him a chance to develop,
fill his little self with glory.

Then none will envy,
then none will fear of malice.

The day –
Man will toleratate assaults of envy,
thence – it will become
only an insignificant topic in poetics,
of describing the short-lived1 emotions.

1 Sanchari-bhava : in Sanskrit Poetics there are 33 short-lived emotions. After strengthening the potential emotions; they subside.s

[29] SELF-REALISATION

We are human beings —
created from soil
the best
most beautifully bedecked,
life sign
best expressed,
heart
purest,
mind
mature!

Smallness —
let it be dear to us,
with the glory
of dust particles,
be well-informed,
well-tried!

Bound to die —
Why should be afraid of death?
Why should senses be insensate?
Why should become dejected?
Judges of good and bad
why should become bull-headed?

[30] PRESENT

It’s an age
of chaos, insecurity,
of expression
of incessant enmity,
full of bitter tortures,
daunted by ill-wills!
Obsessed
with dark roaring whirlwinds!
Every moment
terrified of dearth-difficulties!

It's an age
of pitiless assaults,
intolerable insidious talks!
Of unexperienced pain,
lost human sensitivity!

Of unseen pitch-dark gloom!
Of queer
hullabaloo,
bloody cruel deadly
morn!

[31] ARGUING

Questions –
static as usual!
Handicapped
all reasoning,
smithereened
imagination!
Questions buried
under the rocks of incertitude!

Lack of clue
east ... north ... everywhere,
all stasis!

How long
this tugging?
How long — still
helpless mental-state?
How long— still
will you put on the questions
on the rugged complex surface?
All as usual
standing-still on its place.

[32] TO THE ENVIRONMENT

The sky
full of biting sultriness
and with the waving fire-flames
the world is heated
too much!

Too much
disturbed pressed
the crushed human mind!
The entire atmosphere
of life
worn and wearied
incarcerated!

Let’s change it,
make it dynamic
and fill the firmament
with the cloud
and malar-1 melody!
With windy whiffs
write finis to environ burning!

[33] WHIRLWIND

Whirlwind
approaches
overflowing / roaring
with great speed
full of dust!

In a few moments
it’ll also envelop your sky!
Awake, arise
firm intrepid mind,
be wary!
Vow to bear the jostles
now
at once
resolved in your inner-self.

You’ve to measure the strength of storms,
let aplomb
proclaim control over plights,
sensitizing
the slumbering
unknown strength of intellect!

Before the Himalaya-strong disposition
the roaring
cruel storm’ll change its path!
The harbinger of death
blind dust-storm’ll
change its way!

[34] LIFE-CONTEXT

Let’s give
new context to
the Gita of life!
When man’s environment
has changed
let’s create new hymns!

By establishing new values,
let’s give new shape
to internal and external forms
of life-oriented poetry!
Let’s give aura of new living ideals!
And bedeck with
the glistening golden ornaments!
Let’s bedeck the statue of life
with new build
and with novel expression,
by completing the man’s
long-standing desires of the glory of relations,
let’s glorify the age!
Let’s
by becoming
the discoverers of new routes
set out rapidly
toward the new horizons!

[35] SWEAT-EARNED

Hard-work
will realize our dreams!
Will strengthen the base!

Freely
we’ll live
in the new world of prosperity and peace,
adapting to civilization, culture
live every moment
in the hallo of knowledge!
Suppositions will materialize.
If we work hard
mountains continuously emitting fire
will turn to ash!
All our dreams will materialize!
If we work hard
the deepest chasm
of deficiencies will end,
by crushing each weakness
the toil-wave will sanctify the life!
If we work hard –
for the present imminent,
for future to arrive.

Let’s be
the invincible controllers,
regulators
of present and future!
Let’s the farsighted founders
of the longed-for life!

[36] DETERMINATION

Let there be vigour,
worship full of lights!
Stipulations of dying Ravana,
layers of dense, dark night
will dissolve, dissolve!

Ram-like faith
of determination
arisen in the hearts of men!
Wielders of missiles
pilots of MIGs and Pushpaks
are borne in every family!
Are sentries of boundaries
as the invincible Himalayas
verily victory be to Man!

Let there be Diwali,
let there be Diwali!
Let there be the light superb!
Every time
the electric-halo
will glisten
on gloomy ages!
Let there be strength,
and be the worship of lamp!
Every particle of proud Ama1 will scatter,
the face of lamp-lighted-earth
will brighten!

1 moonless night, amavasya

[37] ASSURED

Be it a crossing of four / or seven paths
not at wit's end,
fear of straying away
does not obsess the mind.

I admit, not so much familiar with the path,
and deficient in sufficient knowledge
to reach the goal,
but, if the view point is clear,
then will read the distance
written on mile-stones,
and names of all cities
situated in east and west, north and south.
Then– it’s not difficult
to go beyond
crossings of four or seven paths,
then – be not sad
at these crossings of four or seven paths.

Varied faiths, varied forms of rules,
varied ways,
innumerable slogans – flags
countless mutual strong oppositions,
but, if one has the potential to assess the age,
if heart is in consonance
with the pulse of the people,
then there is no ground to doubt,
faith will not be false,
and turnings at the crossings of four or seven paths
won’t lead astray!

[38] WEIRD

How much so ever may be
the area of the Earth,
we have for living
this sepulchral cellar!
Which gives
an illusion of being alive,
in which
it’s difficult even to live
by thinking oneself dead!
How weird it seems
to think so
in rainy nights –
the graves of the dead
are better
for their roofs
do not leak,
the dead quietly sleep
in the lap
on the mother-earth!
We wake on wet beds
for whole nights
and silently shed tears
like the philosphers!

[39] DIFFERENCE

Every person’s life
is not a highway
garden bedecked / full of plants
expansive / unhindered / clean
plain smooth and lovely!
It’s not possible
that every person should get
such ease, so much convenience!

In the same direction / on the same ground
not situated homes of all,
when the same goal
is not desired!
Some will have to cross
the narrow / stont
full of turns / uneven
populous
dark footpaths, streets
each step mud-smeared!

No,
every man’s life
is not full of facility
well lighted highway!

Path will change
when the ground changes!

[40] CONSEQUENCE

Life-long
insulted, hated
life if had drifted away
from the track –
easy,
no surprise.

Life-long hopeless
always moving in the eddy of doubt
defeated life
is continuously aflame –
easy;
no surprise.

Life-long
lived in wants
life dragging in dearths,
if all at once
it burns –
easy,
no surprise.

[41] COMMITTED

We’ll give voice
of challenge
to the dumb,
of victory and faith,
of cheerful light of future,
of new hope!

We’ll elevate
the life of all
equally and liberate this earth
from exploitation,
by abolishing the disparity
of colour and creed
free the people of the world
from extortion!

We’re committed
to a righteous system,
ready to alter
the horrified world!

[42] CONTRIBUTION

For the new crop
are dedicated
life's a few drops of toil-sweat,
for the veins of the earth
are dedicated
a few drops of blood pure!

Let it be
sappy
full of strength!
Let every sown seed
sprout for the desired world,
let it bear fruit!
Let every heart
be filled
of sentiments ... desire
like sweet relish.

So –
offered
in the accomplishment of creation
the exalted tunes
of new sensibility!
Dedicated are
for the weal of the world
the innate tunes
of prayer!

[43] NEW LIGHT

O! crushed shattered
life!
Raise head.
I’ve come
like your victory
the Himalayas
of meaningful
instinctive faith!

Full of faithlessness
lost in dark dejection
wearied
desolate life!
Raise head
See
I, the lustrous sun
of your fate,
knock at the door!

Life will not split
like this!

Life
will not disperse
like this!

[44] KACHANAR1

For the first time
at my door
so bloomed Kachanar
overwhelmed with joy,
every branch overloaded!

So sparkled
So excited
Kachanar descended down
to the deeps of my heart!
Glowing rose-apple-coloured
enamoured my detached mind
on balcony and parapets
tightly anchored Kachanar!

For the first time
at my door
so swayed Kachanar
As if heart and soul
full of love!
A world of innumerable longings!
For the first time
such a wonderful largesse!

1 a tree of genus Banbinia (banbinia variegata) the flowers of which are used as vegetable.

[45] LOVING

In this season of joviality
Rose!
Why sad?
Sighing
time and again.
Why not spread
the fragrance of dalliance?

O Rose!
Today
don’t be sad
So sad!
Give sweetness
to life
zestful mind
being commodious

with pious love
with recreation-nectar
be full of joy
side by side!
When full is growth
be not sad!

[46] FACE TO FACE

We’ll talk
to our heart’s content,
in one another’s embrace
will talk
throughout the night,
we’ll utter words
to our heart’s content!

On the simple honest surface of faith
we of alike characteristics
will open the complexes of inferiority
the sloughs of doubt,
easily with open heart!

We’ll live tonight
to our heart’s content,
drink the vessels
of nectar!

[47] CO-TRAVELLER
Crossed the rugged
uneven path of life
long path
together as one!
Footpaths or highways wide
chasms or circular heights of mountains,
traversed
together as one
the path of life!
even for a moment no sigh or moan!
Far from misery / far from inferiority
howsoever helpless!
Not even a wrinkle on forehead!
Travelled the horrible path,
the path of life
together as one.
With the dust of whirlwinds
or foot prickling thorns –
Never stopped!
In scorching sun,
in deep descending dense dark well
were never tired!
Drenched to the bone kept on traveling,
holding hand in hand tied hands
together as one.
Traversed
the unfamiliar
path of life
long path!

[48] COMPANIONLESS

Cold night
desolation!
Now and then somewhere
some tree trembles,
when ... then
sighs the wind.
Or cries
with pain a chakwa!1

None to talk
deep
a very deep silence
complete
unbroken unconsciousness
senseless
wounded.

Blunted mind
trembling body
sorrowful
pitiable palsy
Desolation!
Naught to say,
cold night!

1 A cursed Indian bird; which is separated from his life-partner during the night.

[49] ESSENCE

Life –
Deserted like crematorium,
Life –
Accursed
Burdensome and solitary
Like a banyan tree!

Life –
The another name of gloom,
Life –
The painful result of
Past lives’
Ominous sins!

Life –
An experience
Of noon’s scorching heat,
Life –
An experience
Of throat pricking needles
Acute thirst!

Life –
A stasis
Sourceless
Sore wound!
Life –
Unwanted sannyas (renunciation)
Mere tension!

[50] PERPLEXITY

Colourful dreams seen
in the kingdom of mind,
engrossed in the erotic fancies,
false, lustful violation of propriety.
Considered it
a world of happy heaven.

The great boon of the Earth
an optimum staircase
of possible desires.
Birth meaningfulness –
Ever utilitarian-lust.
Endless joy-creation
Life-vision.

But
World a reality
How much different!
A world formed in dreams
Silken soft patterns of fancies
Lost in a moment!

Some one
Fortunate / powerful
Could materialize a few moments
By chance or by abduction.
For others
Mere
irrelevance
narcissism!

[51] UNDERSTANDING OF
DESTINATION

That day
we
started our journey
before dawn
had started an incessant journey,
thinking
that we’ll reach our destination
definitely.

That day
we
in the darkness of the night
with great faith
had started our continuous journey,
thinking
that we’ll reach
the shore
and reah without any doubt.

Passing through
an uneven path
fathoming
the deep ditches
had set on our journey
with resolute will.

Admitted
that our path
was beset with several hurdles,

stood,
there was rupture
there was slipperiness.

Hurricanes
tried to stop our speed,
lightning and thundering clouds
time and again
But, we didn’t stop
didn’t bend before opposition.
Gradually
our path became clear
and one day
with pulsating heart
we reached the halting place.
Badly tired
languid
helpless
inert.

Gradually
awareness dawns :
destination isn’t the end,
is foundation
is gate to enter
is the stage of life – is the land for action!
Why blundered
to consider it a dreamland?
It was better
to be at the same poit
from where the journey was begun.

[52] STOP

Life
long distances
has covered!

Screaming
panting
life
innumerable
steep heights
abysmal depths
has covered!

The resounding echoes
of dawn and dusk
have stopped,
stopped
on the path
of life past,
turning into
a sigh,
has disappeared
into the void!
Life
its journey
of destinations
has covered!

[53] CAPABILITY

Life –
a mere journey,

endless journey
on an infinite path!

To stop momentarily for rest
is the mere
prelude of marching ahead.

Destination –
far,
very far,
time –
little,
too little!

[54] SITUATION

Despite best efforts
there is no order
all at sixes and sevens!

No knowledge of direction
a straying away!

From complex
to more complex
has become
the complication!

Has not decreased,
instead increased
the isolation !

[55] MAN

Today
from the horrible
savage, man-eater wild beasts
is safe
Man!

Not at all
afeared, suspicious and worried,
of the devastating
angry expressions
of the seasons,
Man!

Knows
how to save himself and other creatures
from the various furious acts
of nature
Man!

It’s easy for him
to reach
the heights of the void.
It’s easy for him
to fathom the deeps
of the seas.

But how strange
man is the most unsafe
from man,
absolutely ignorant
rom
the man’s psychology.
Afraid
of mutual
trickery.
Blood in eyes
hurt
angry
with mutual
venomous satirical remarks.

Man gives in –
to the cruel
heart-touching
assaults,
man loots –
man
with tricky
sentiments.

Man –
miles away today
from man,
devoid of
intimacy
each step hollow
only full of vanity.

[56] ANSWER

I’ll not at all be
humble or sad
I acknowledge the loss.
Knaves –
stealthily hatching conspiracies,
waiting in ambush,
how did you
strangely decide
listening only
to one party’s arguments?

No entreaty
to you
I condemn you!
I can never be
inferior thus!
I acknowledge the loss!

Just to the nefarious satiety
of your flatterers
you devoid me
from my temporary right,
I hate and snub
your facetious shameless,
evil wicked backbiting and
odious character!
Know
identify well –
it does not enfeeble a little!
I acknowledge the loss!

[57] OPPOSITION

Path of progress obstructed,
Caste-war.
Family-pride
Has become the frightful fatal snake.

Bite / fierce bite,
Bottomless fall of creation’s grand creature.

Mean narrow heart vomits poison,
Creating disaster!

Humanity blood bedaubed,
Devil singing –
Senseless malicious caste-song.

Cruel / Vanity-overridden,
Mannerless
Self-indulged.

March, march ahead!
To break
Bestial horns grown on man’s head
And sharp teeth!
To snap
The inhuman casteism!
To concatenate
In one string
The society and the individual.

[58] THE FALL

In the country
Rising, overflowing
Caste hatred, religion hatred
Class disparity, birth disparity
Filth! Filth! Filth!
Dust! Dust! Dust!

Acute mental tension
enmity!

Every direction is full of poison
swallowing wisdom.
Ill-ominous deep-dark
night of hatred.

Wary and afraid
Man of man
Seems –
Past is returning.
Wild beasts
are growing
by leaps and bound
in the society,
the so-called
noble, caste-vanity
mischief.

Man :
Divided by caste-creed-religion-birth
helpless oppressed.
Dying away the weak
Shame! Shame! Shame!
Opprobrious! Opprobrious! Opprobrious!

Antagonism
Fraud
Hypocrisy.

Beware!
Patient young man!
Of flow of caste-hatred-sentiments,
Of the cruel caste-based crime.
Beware!
Of the impact of
Faith in birth-based-caste,
Destroyer of unity
The feeling of segregation.
Beware,
The young man!

[59] STRANGE

How strange it is!
Even after three decades of independence,
Even after the completion
of five Five-Year plans
The common man of my country is poor!
Very poor!
How strange it is!

Everywhere
Rule the money, the rank, the animal,
What kind of self-rule?

Money, rank, animal
Makers of the destiny of Bharat,
These being applauded everywhere, all around,
Their vanity
Abounds / surrounds
And all other things
are gone to the winds!

Administration
Blind, deaf
Dense is every man’s trouble
(Our bad luck!)
Seems –
Change is not far off,
Very near!
But today
how strange it is!

[60] A TRAGEDY

Was poor
Was untouchable
Feared!

Of starvation
Of beating
Died!

From suffering
From this world
Freed!

[61] A HERETIC

Corpse
burning
in creation-ground
of someone poor,
someone unfortunate!

Family
stunned ... shocked
the priest very happy
for death-feed
a time to enjoy!

But O! the young man
deceit,
all gone evades,
puts an end
to purohiti (priesthood),
is changing Garuda-purana1
and the rituals of the dead.

The priest annoyed
shouts :
Kaliyugi! kaliyugi!
In fact,
this is
the vast sensibility
of the new society!

1 One of the eighteen Puranas in which are given the descriptions of different Hells and the rituals of the dead.

[62] A CALL

Don’t be silent,
You’ve never
committed any mistake.
Speak –
Impartially,
Call a spade a spade.

You’ve always
called truth
the truth.
There is
no crime of yours.

But who stubbornly
proved truth
a falsehood
and slighted the reality,
embraced the religion
of deception –

Don’t be silent
before that knave!
Thunder
expressing your anger,
thunder aloud!
Against injustice
O, full of astuteness!

[63] CONFIDENT

Ever struggling the proletariat
life did’t change.
Adamant, intractable, alone proletariat.
Condition the same,
neither improved, nor recovered.

The down-trodden
will challenge the system
till his last breath,
remember –
hurt, crying
bleeding public
never sleep!

The determination
of revolt
never wanes
with horrible assaults,
one committed
never mourns the loss, the defeat!

The flood
of furry
will follow!
Which will raze to the ground
the strong forts
of beastly inhuman class!

[64] UNHURT

Man
surrounded by the punches
of cyclones,
has become
a rock!
Struggles
again and again
with high courage
subject to firm faith!

Tries to recognize
with assaults / attacks
with roaring fires,
not at all amazed.

Faith in final victory
Increased,
to make
new history.

Of invincible life’s
formidable
strong
morale,
sets the forest afire,
creates
new surface for life.

[65] LEFTIST

Won’t do injustice!
Won’t endure injustice!

O! blind with power,
the authority wielders!
Won’t let
your successful knavery
succeed any more.

Won’t be cheated
any more
in the name of
paraloke1
or
public welfare.

Man
will not burn
in hell-fire of malpractices.
Autocratic
willful
won’t be alive
any more
in the new world
decidedly.

[66] UNITED

We’ll
always win,
when we march
together
side by side!

The supporters
of equality
the proponents of socialism
will fight to the last,
will never
yield!

Will march ahead
taking
each step together,
when united in strength
the faith
won’t wane.

[67] BEGINNING A CHANGE

It won't be–
bullet should
oppress truth,
honest be forced to
prostrate before
the tyrant,
it won’t be!

Several centuries
have endured
the slavery of barbarity,
but now
it won’t be!

Bayonets of tortures
have become blunt,
don’t you see –
the foundations
of lustful plans
of the brutal are jolting?
Every country
the cell of death
is getting air and light of life!

The curtain
from horrendous conspiracies
has been raised,
the entire atmosphere
is now anew!

[68] WORKERS’ SONG

Let us march together
Victory then it be of the Left!

Exploited masses’ve from slumber risen
Oppressed masses are rebel
Come, come on to the roads
Why to worry for the home!

We won’t let this chance be wasted
We’ll turn the wheel of time
Change the faces, O comrade
Of the dumb morn and eve!

The slogan booms in every hearth
Equal are one and all
One will eat one’s bread
Won with one’s sweat!

Let’s bear the bullet on the breast
Drenched with blood and sweat
Never dwindle will the honour
Of the name of the ‘worker’!

[69] AT YEAR'S END

“Congratulations,
dear friend!

May the new year
be good and fruitful
be fortunate,
full of happiness,
boundless prosperity
abundant name and fame,
bestow a pitcher of
sweet sentiments!”

These
real or formal
good wishes / sentiments
of friends
continued to beguile throughout the year,
continued to trample the good fortune!

Yearned for happiness,
pined for prosperity,
writhed for name and fame,
and heart longed for gold-bowls
full of sweet sap
to the brim overflowing!

Farewell to the year
is not as it was the welcome!
What else I should say,
dear friend!

[70] INCOMPATIBILITY

We aren’t Modern,
but the Age is!
(The saying is peculiar!)

Though
the body wears the ultra-modern dress,
yet our mind is gripped
by orthodox dogmas
blind-faiths, ancient traditions
irrelevant meaningless customs
primitive rites,
lines on hand
and stars!

Our mentality
is pre-historical,
but the Age is ‘Modern’!

Modernity : mere mask
on our old-fashioned faces!
Modernity : shiny silver hemming
on houses
on mansions.

Our old orthodox thinking
our fatalsistic philosophy
pushes us
back ... back ... back
in the past
far in the past
in the untimely dead past.
We have scientific achievements;
but not scientific foresight,
neither scientific angle of vision –

(This situation
is not minor
to be overlooked,
it’s queer,
it’s unheard of.)

We are blind-followers of faith
and walk closing eyes,
by calling ourselves Modern
we deceive ourselves!

Where is
the New Man
of the New Age?
Our sense is stupefied
to see the stupid priests
being worshipped!

[71] DEMOCRACY

One who has nuisance value
is worshippable!
The greater one's nuisance value
the more he is worshippable!
And worthy
of being followed!
has more organs!!
And all others handicapped!

He is adorable!
One who is mad after power
mad after lust
cruelly lusty
is respectable,
posted high
well-bedecked superb reverend!

The more one is talkative
and blockheaded
the more one is abusive and rustic
is surrounded by a crowd!
full of hustle and bustle!
His glory
beggars description!
and what else about him
is worth saying?

[72] A LONGING

We
don’t eat,
only
fill our belly,
graze.
(this is our fate.)
You eat
all best things
of the world
(for us
all meaningless!)

All the boons
of the God
you have amassed
for yourself,
by depriving us.
(It’s your
nature.)

No flute,
No music!
No money
No serving of tasty dessert
by mother!

Either
we’ll only see
or
hear
in stories dumb,
helpless –

(Almonds and cashew nuts and pistachios,
grapes,
Kheer-mohan2, Rasgulla3, Rabari4
Far from us!)

1 A proverb.
2 Kheer-mohan – a kind of sweetmeat made from milk-cheese.
3 Rasgulla – a kind of Bengalli sweetmeat.
4 Rabari – thickened milk and sugar, a kind of sweetmeat.

[73] DAWN

Uncovering
the blanket
of the cosmos
coming
the dawn!

Opening
the slept
naked hills,

Confounding
the embraced / engaged in intercourse
shaggy
blinking bushes!

O,
where should
they go
which side!

On this
child-play
of the naughty dawn
all animals and birds
are in commotion!

[74] BIASED

In the veil of leaves
covers utmost
herself
the fair cauliflower!
Is ruthlessly
severed
by the greedy Kallu!!

Preserver
the destroyer
what a deceipt!

Says –
I’ll sell
in the veg. market ’morrow!

Do, do your job
O, my scythe!

1 Name of a cultivator.

[75] AN ABSURD POEM

(1)
The cat has crossed the path,
The bitch has licked the vessel,
The woman has gone from home to a bathing place,
Oh! The poem composed so blunt!

(2)
The cat wept bitterly,
The bitch jumped time and again,
The woman strayed from door to door,
Whole sari is in thread-bare state,
The poem was written a piercing one!

(3)
The cat and the rat resolved enmity,
The bitch swam across the river,
The woman went out for a walk,
Today, mind your own safety,
A poem – having neither head nor tail!

[76] A STATEMENT OF THE PROLETARIAT

People
speak our language,
it’s true!

All those offensive words
echo
in Parliament
in statements of leaders,
it’s true!

O!
You shout
our slogans?
Strange
but, true!

Commotion
readiness
today all of a sudden
people
unfetter
our chains,
it’s true.

The big, big officers
Today
visit
our dark huts
to know our sorrows
for the first time,
it’s true.
It seems –
‘Revolution’ has emerged!
People’s army
has come down
in the villages
in the towns!

What a wonderful
mass-movement!
Power-hungry leaders
have changed
overnight!

Or
for self-protection
only a hypocrisy
full of falsehood
a deceptive
sympathetic-voice.1

1 During emergency / 26th June 1975 and onward.

[77] A SOLACE

A dense fog
has veiled the sky,
the dense fog
has enveloped the sky!

All roads are closed,
life is motionless!

How much
has contracted the horizon –
of our vicinity,
the wide horizon!
We’re shut up
in the hazy environment,
how odd
the sequence of time’s eternity!

Sound-waves obstructed,
entire consciousness
enveloped in the horrible atmosphere,
all around
only one
inert dumbness reigns supreme,
the whole society
is stunned and afraid.

Listen —
I come,
I come like the Sun!
The halo of sight is with me,
inexhaustible faith of self-power!
I’ll raze
the mountains of darkness and mist
to the ground!
I’ll sweep away
all the blockades of path!

The sky will once again reverberate
with multiple sounds!
Once again there be light,
rising,
moving,
non-stop light will spread!

[79] CO-OPERATION

Let us
convert distances
of countries / of men
into extreme proximity.
Let us build
a very strong
bridge!

Let us transform
the strangeness
of heart / of feelings
into consolation
and promise of protection.
Let us raise
a sky-scaling flag
of mutual amity!

Let us change
the ignorance / the lack of intelligence
of religions / of different faiths
into well-defined thorough perception.
Let us
aim at the welfare
of all humanity!

[80] IN EXPECTATION

Let the desert of deficiencies
bloom into prosperity,
a life
full of new sentiments
may come again!
Let me sing
a strong impetuous song!
Let the peaks
of dense dark fall down,
let the flags of light
wave everywhere
on the surface of earth!
Let the lamp
of sensitive sentiments
be lighted in every heart!
Let me sing the song!

The paths beset
with several distresses
be freed,
the circle of barbed wire
will break from every side
of electric obstructions,
of life ending extensions!
On the bored strong
mental horizon of man
let me put forth
shoots of belief!
Let me sing the song!

Poet Mahendra Bhatnagar

रविवार, 19 अगस्त 2007

शुक्रवार, 10 अगस्त 2007

Biodata of Poet Mahendra Bhatnagar

POET MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR

ब्लॉग आर्काइव

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