passion compassion: dr. mahendra bhatnagar

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PASSION AND

COMPASSION

DR. MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR

Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's is one of thesignificant post-independence voices in

Hindi and Indian English Poetry,

expressing the lyricism and pathos,aspirations and yearnings of the modernIndian intellect. Rooted deep into the

Indian soil, his poems reflect not only themoods of a poet but of a complex age.

Born in Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) at

maternal grandfather's residence on 26

June 1926; 6 a.m.

Primary education in Jhansi, Morar(Gwalior) and Sabalgarh (Morena);Matric (1941) from High School, Morar

(Gwalior); Inter (1943) from Madhav

College, Ujjain; B.A. (1945) from VictoriaCollege, - at present, Maharani Laxmi Bai

College - Gwalior; M. A. (1948) and Ph.D.

(1957) in Hindi from Nagpur University;

L.T. (1950 ; Madhya Bharat Govt.)

Places of work Bundelkhand, Chambal

region and Malwa.

High School Teacher from July 1945.Retired as Professor on 1 July 1984 (M.P.

Govt. Educational service).Selected once for the post of Professor ofHindi Language & Literature, in

Tashkent University, U.S.S.R. (1978) byUGC & ICCR (NEW DELHI)

Principal Investigator (U.G.C. / Jiwaji

University, Gwalior) from 1984 to 1987.Professor in the IGNOU Teaching Centreof Jiwaji University, Gwalior in 1992.

Worked as Chairman \ Member ofvarious committees in Indore University,Vikram University, Ujjain & Dr.

Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra.

Worked as a member in the managing

committees of 'Gwalior Shodh Sansthan','Madhya Pradesh Hindi GranthAcademy' & 'Rashtra-Bhasha Prachar

Samiti, Bhopal'.

From time to time, poems included in

various Text-Books of curricula ofEducational Boards & Universities of

India.

Worked as one of the members in theAudition Committees of Drama / LightMusic of All India Radio (Akashvani) -

Stations Indore and Gwalior. Contracted

Song-Writer of All India Radio \ For allRadio Stations (Light Music Section).

Broadcast many poems, talks and otherprogrammes from Indore, Bhopal,

Gwalior and New Delhi (NationalChannels) Radio Stations.

Conducted and directed many literary

societies in Ujjain, Dewas, Dhar,Mandsaur and Gwalior.Appointed as one of the Award-Judges by

'Bihar Rashtra-Bhasha Parishad, Patna'(1981 & 1983), 'Uttar Pradesh Hindi

Sansthan, Lucknow' (1983), 'Rajasthan

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Sahitya Akademi, Udaipur'

(1991,1993,1994) & 'Hindi SahityaParishad, Ahmedabad, Gujrat (2001).

Poems translated, published and

broadcast in many foreign and Indianlanguages.

Eleven volumes of poems in English :

[1] Forty Poems of MahendraBhatnagar [Selected Poems 1]

[2] 'After The Forty Poems' [SelectedPoems 2]

[3] Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagars Poetry.

[Selected Poems 3]

[4] 'Exuberance and other poems.

[5] Death Perception : Life Perception

[6] 'Passion and Compassion'[7] 'Poems : For A Better World'[8] 'Lyric-Lute'

[9] 'A Handful Of Light'

[10] New Enlightened World[11] Dawn to Dusk

One volume of translated poems inFrench ('A Modern Indian Poet : Dr.Mahendra Bhatnagar : Un Pot Indien Et

Moderne'.)

Works published in seven volumes in

Hindi - three of Poems (comprisingsixteen earlier collections), two of Criticalarticles, one on Premchand ( Research

work) and one of Miscellaneous writings.

Published research & critical studies :

(1) Living Through Challenges : AStudy of Dr. Mahendra

Bhatnagar's Poetry

(2) Poet Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar :His Mind And Art.

(3) The Poetry of MahendraBhatnagar : Realistic & VisionaryAspects [forthcoming]

Received awards, four times ( 1952, 1958,

1960, 1985. ) from Madhya Bharat &Madhya Pradesh Govts.

Edited literary magazines 'Sandhya'(Monthly) and Pratikalpa' (Quarterly)

from Ujjain.Member Advisory Board : Indian Journal

of POSTCOLONIAL LITERATURES[Half-yearly / Thodupuzha-Kerala]Adviser : 'POETCRIT' (Half-Yearly /

Maranda, H.P.),Adviser : Lokmangal (Quarterly /

Gwalior, M.P.)

Adviser : Vangmaya (Quarterly /Aligarh, U.P.)Patron : www. creativesaplings.com

Contact : 110 BalwantNagar, GandhiRoad, Gwalior 474 002 (M.P.) INDIA

Phone : 0751-4092908 / M-9893409793E-Mail : [email protected] /

[email protected]

Critical Explication of Mahendra

Bhatnagars'Passion and Compassion'

Dr. Anita Myles

Mahendra Bhatnagar has been involved with thewriting of poetry for the past six decades. 'Passion and

Compassion' is his latest collection of fifty poems.

Thematically the volume is comprehensive bringingout admirably ,the poets perception of society theworld over. One has the opportunity to come intoclose contact with Mahendra Bhatnagars variedexperiences of life both pleasant as well as unpleasant

for he believes that joys and sorrows together

comprise the main tenets of human existence. Thebitter truths of life are presented adroitly woven withinthe texture of his prolific and fecund imagination.

The poems compiled in this collectionentitled Passion and Compassion revolve aroundman, the Divines extraordinary creation. However,poems depicting the negative qualities of this supreme

creation such as lack of humanism, selfishness, greed,desire to usurp what belongs to others, inequality andthe corruption among political leaders outnumber the

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poems which enumerate the blessings of humanemotions like love, passion and compassion for thosein distress. Nevertheless, the poet is not entirelydisturbed by this bleak scenario. His enduring cogentoptimism rushes to rescue him enabling him to share

his buoyancy about life with the readers. Nature,which occupies a prominent place in his other

collections has been reduced to just a few poems inthis collection." Bewitched" is one such poem wherethe poet is enchanted by the fragrance and beauty ofthe jasmine. So much so that he personifies thecreeper and its flowers. To quote the poet:

O the fair coloured!

O the glittering coloured!O my companion,

Soft and delicate!From whereYou have snatched /stolenSuch bewitching beauty!

Similarly in the poem Breeze, the poet

personifies the enlivening, redolent breeze for it has

the puissance of exhilarating the poet. He solicits to

have a life long companionship with the breeze thataffords him such comfort and solace. The questions of

life and death remain an enigma for the poet as heponders over the evanescence of mans existence. Weflicker like a lamp and

All of a sudden on any dayThe throbbing of the heart will stop.But then one has to continue traversing

thwarting the impediments of lifes journey. Thesame idea is contained in the poem 'A Moment'. Ittakes just one moment for the journey of life to cometo an end, hence the sensitive poet utterly percipientof fleeting time sincerely exhorts mankind to makethe best of the few moments that are at hand and to

live every moment to the fullest

BeforeIt crushes your existence.

'Willing to Live' spells out the resolutenessof the poet to live stoically in an acrid and afflictiveworld come what may. The world may be full ofbitterness and poison, the path may be extremely long,difficult and solitary but these blazing flames signifythe astute realities of life. It would be sheer cowardiceto flee into the world of death. No doubt death too is a

reality of life but as long as one is alive the battleought to be fought courageously in the so to say, Iwas ever a fighter, so one fight more in theBrowningian sense.

Humanism, infallibly, strikes the keynoteof the poems in the collection. Being a thoroughhumanist poet Mahendra Bhatnagar time and againstresses on the importance of human relationships in

this ephemeral universe. 'Initiative' is a long poemdevoted to this subject. .Mahendra Bhatnagar ismindful of the fact that to maintain humanrelationships

It is desirableTo have a softlyFlowing streamOf patience and peace.

It is only then that the bonds of affection andfraternity are strengthened between man and man.Mutual understanding is the very basis of the 'singlefamily' of mankind. In a country like India even onesname has the potency of creating apprehension,

mistrust suspicion and animosity for the name spellsout ones religion or ones caste. The poet eagerly

anticipates a time to come when names do not bearones clan or religion. After all at the root we are allhuman beings created by the same Divine Power.

In the contemporary scenario of uncertaintyand suffering the emotion of love turns out to be aboon'A gift, life-like!' Love reiterates words of

comfort and solace having the inert potency to subduethe onslaughts of misfortune. Such feelings of onenessand brotherhood are to be treasured forever. Hence thepoet states emphatically:

The feeling of love and affectionAloneIs the best choice in the creation!The above lines anticipate Matthew Arnold,

who in spite of his cynical attitude to life believed in

the creative power of love exhorting, Ah! Love let usbe true to one another. .

Two poems in the collection bearing thesame title, that is, 'Passion and Compassion' re-establish the fact that only passion and compassion forhuman beings can make the tempestuous journey oflife endurable. Bonds of affection, according to the

poet, are the strongest to keep humanity together. Toquote the poet :

Let the waving wick of loveGo on burningIn both of our hearts!Let the mutual emotionAnd compassionOf our living souls

Go on cherishing!The positive emotion of love takes away

'the sting of loneliness' from human existence more sowhen one has become old and lost his so called utilityin society. The poets heart reaches the sufferinghumanity simultaneously intensifying his desire to dosomething concrete and worthwhile for mankind.

While pondering upon the paucity ofpassion and compassion in this world Mahendra

Bhatnagar is invariably compelled to take into accountthe existing selfishness, materialism and all roundcorruption in life. He is extremely agonized to notethat political leaders, the representatives of the massesfail to be their well wishers and prefer to becomeusurpers. These leaders are not at all abashed to beenjoying the comforts and pleasures derived from illbegotten gains while

There are people,Thirsty and starved, weak, dispossessed. ...scaredIlliterate,Oppressed, unorganizedExploited/Deceived And suspicious!

The poem 'Distressed'is a dismal portraitureof a poor mans plight during floods when everything



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has been washed away by heavy rains ironicallyenough the ministers and leaders fly over in aircraftsfor an aerial view. The heartlessness of such leadersand their sycophants is further accentuated in 'Victory

Celebration'.' Usurpers'records the poets utter sense

of dismay at those who rejoice after looting andgrabbing what does not really belong to them. Then

they very arrogantly forge documents to make it alltheir own legal possessions .With a heavy heart thepoet seeks a solution to this reality of contemporarylife. He writes:

Is there any medicineFor this

Contagious social disease?True enough to grab and to usurp what

belongs to others is indeed an incurable contagiousdisease. Such people lose their 'human identity',

How much the man,Has become selfish!He is happyGetting a little profitBy selling his integrity!

The poet reminds us of the fact that thisdeception has existed in every age; man is

inextricably bound to the 'cruel wheel of exploitation!'Yet he steadfastly believes that those who upholdequality will never accept defeat. He anticipates achange in the offing. Mahendra Bhatnagar therebyemerges as an ardent patriot entreating the readers to

share his concern for bleeding India, sanguinelyenvisioning a gradual change for the barriers offortitude may give way any day.

Mahendra Bhatnagars painting a dolefulpicture of hypocrisy and corruption in no way brandshim as a poet of pessimism. Inspite of these cruderealities of life the poet advocates hope and optimism.In 'Change in Environment'he visualizes a new socio-

economic order in the future whenThose exploited and oppressedHave awakened,And have become the architectOf a new age!

He is sure that the 'wheel of human progress'will always move forward, never backwards. Anawakening is the need of the hour. He confidentlyexhorts the people

Let your heartBe in high spiritsAnd your search forYour goal should not stop!

Dejection and frustration lead to the ultimatedoom of mankind. In the poem 'Enlightenment' thepoet admits that the bitter experiences of life havetaught him innumerable lessons. He has gained

maturity and has realized the meanness of men, Butthen men have to live/with mutual understanding forthe poet visualizes the world as a single family. Therealities of life make one wiser and tougher. Theartificially created barriers of caste and creed alsohave to be dismantled enabling joys and sorrows to beshared, completely annihilating the feelings ofalienation. The poets optimism is based on passion

and compassion for mankind.Mahendra Bhatnagarcurtly suggests the solution to this enigma insomething as elementary as the inculcation ofhumaneness in every citizen of India.

Mahendra Bhatnagar may well be termed as

the poet of feelings as thematically his poems aresteeped in feelings and emotions. Stylistically also the

poet makes use of appropriate sensuous images to givedeeper meaning to his thoughts. Several poems exhibitthe warmth of the poets heart. The befittingapplication of imagery is noteworthy for it appendsflavour and gusto to the poets expression. Natureimagery finds unforgettable and original metaphorical

expressions such as roar of clouds, cool watershowers, rustling breeze, etc. Personificationsabound, while some poems are exquisitely pictorial,vivid and realistic. A fine juxtaposition of symbols,images and metaphors, successfully transports thereader into the poets world.

The appropriate use of words and phrases

reveals Mahendra Bhatnagars ability to be a

conscious artist and a meticulous craftsman. The

subtle use of words not only enhances the emotionalappeal of the poems but also gratifies the aesthetic

sense of the readers. The poet unhesitatingly engagesirony and satire while graphically exposing thehypocrisy of the national leaders of today. MahendraBhatnagar flagellates smarting criticism against timeserving politicians, simultaneously acerbating his

personal agony at the miserable plight of his fellowbeings in poems like 'Distressed'and 'Usurpers'.

Thematically speaking, the poems ofBhatnagar are not at all skeptical and defeatist thoughthey enumerate the seamy side of life. His is theminute observation of a realist backed by his richpersonal experiences. Each poem in the collection isconclusive in itself and the overall message by the

poet vacillates around the spirit of action, theexpectation of progression and faith in oneself leadingto optimism, stoicism and sanguinity. These poems areundoubtedly steeped in extreme signification formodem man who is, forever, contending, anddisconcerted, perplexed tending to be a schizoid. Theoptimistic scholium of the poet will certainly providethe urgently necessitous men relaxation to the readersin general and an aurea mediocritus to the anomie

coeval soci, for eventual endurance in particular.Carlyle stated that poetry is not merely

a criticism of life; it is the very truth of life, veryessence of mans sublime quest for reaching thekingdom of eternal bliss. This statement about poetrystands true for the poems of Mahendra Bhatnagar. Hispoems are not just a criticism of life around him butthey culminate in the very essence of life, perennial

quest for truth which would in turn lead to eternalbliss. Mahendra Bhatnagars poetry is spontaneous forit is indeed, the voice of his soul. His poetry leads oneout of the shades of mystery into the light ofknowledge of eternity. Good poetry reveals the poetsattitude towards life. It is the transcript of the poetsthought and feelings with regard to a particular aspectof human life. Critics by common consent hold that



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good poetry should deal with the experiences of life insuch a way that it inspires man to subsist nobly, adictum well applicable to the poems of MahendraBhatnagar.Through aphoristic phraseology and pithymetaphors, he has successfully painted his ideas and

experiences of life so that others may benefit as wellwithout any reservations because the pain and

suffering about which the poet writes are universal innature but are also surmountable.

(1) PASSION and COMPASSION / 1

All things are forgotten ...ExceptThose moments of passionSoaked in intimacyAnd those experienced moments

Of the blazing flames of relationships!

The bonds of affectionAmong men

Are the living commitmentsWhich bind them togetherIn their common path.They are only remembered!Forever.

Now and thenThey shower uponAn awakened lonely moment of nightCaught in the grip of pain,And in the sinking weary heart,Heavy and detached,

Turning into tears

Divine. (2) AFFECTIONThey are neither rareNor preciousNot at all availableOn earth or in heavenTears ... of unique love,

Of the soulOf expanse unfathomable!

A dark cloud of tears surgesFrom the deep undiscoveredPilgrimage of the heart,And then ...At that moment when

The splendour of holy feelingsSpreads on the face Both eyes filled with tears,

The edge of the sari1 wipes them away! 1 Length of cloth worn by Indian women.

(3) REALITY

No endOf the path

We keep on walking!

Darkness

Spread out on far off landsNever becomes less

Even a little!

Like a flickering lampDay and night

We keep on burning!

Only a few momentsAre left for meAll of a sudden on any dayThe throbbing of the heart will stop!

Knowingly allWe keep on deceiving death!

At each and every step

How can one find his goals?In life

There are only heaps of pebbles,Where are pearls?

(4) A MOMENTA moment

Only a momentSnatches away

LifeAll of a sudden!Yes, only a moment!

Every momentHas its own mysterious meaning,

It createsIts own whole history.Again and again.

That is why it is essential You live every moment to the fullestBefore

It crushes your existence!

Proclaiming its importance!Every momentSlips away silentlyIn a similar measured pace

InscribingCountless mishaps!

(5) CONTINUITYBecoming indifferent ...In seclusion,On the experiences of my lifeWhen I brood on peacefully

I peep throughMy inner past



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Extinct

Hazy pictures,Relevant or irrelevantDevoid of any harmony,

Order brokenEmerge disorderly!

Then all of a suddenTaking a turn on my own accordI returnTo the present!To the entanglements of earthly life! (6) NAYWell,How one can beA strangerIn a crowd!

Well,

How can one bearThe sting of loneliness

In a surging crowd!Well,How one can sayHis word to anyoneIn the noise

Of countless voices! (7) EXPECTATIONNow and then at leastSomeone shall love us!

In a life of loneliness

Absolutely desolate,In a lifeThrown out forciblyIn a deep well,In a life that sufferedMerciless blows and assaults,

At leastSomeone shall like us,

Applaud us!

At least let us getGood wishesOr goodwill of someone!

In curse - scorched worldIn sorrow spread all around

Someone should be sympatheticSome time ever!

In an intense electrifiedSuffocating atmosphereWhen the unrest resoundsHeart rendingShriek and scream,

Burning in flamesThe ruined lifeConfined in a prison!

In those disastrous moments

A desire springs upThat someone shall like us,

Well,Now and then! (8) EVER DEPRIVED

All my lifeI was alone,

Unseen Ever neglected,Totally ignored!

All my life,

On my own strength

I have borne

The raids of storms!All my life

An imbroglioRemained stationary

as before!

All my life

I bore unbearableAgony and pain!To anyoneNever I did sayAny word for help!I burnt myselfIn the fire of curse!

I could not find anyoneWho can sootheMy oozing wounds Even for a whileThe rapid hailstormNever stopped!

AloneI wandered

In the realm of dearth In home,

in cities and in villages!Here and thereI don't know when and where! (9) LIVELY

I stay on amassing pain!O, I stay onAmassing how much grief!I stay on

Amassing pain and griefOf many-many years!



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I was awake throughout nightsI was awake throughout daysI was awake throughout my lifeI stay onWrapping up my body

With much dirt and brownish dust!

My feet got stuck in the mire.Serpents coiled aroundMy neck and ankles,I am bound by cobrasBlack and venomous!I stay on

Spreading fire on my bed!Dhain-dhainShooting out flames of fireKeeping it ablaze! (10) VIOLATIONFaith in perpetual relations

Yes, the faith of many a birth

Turns meaninglessAll of a sudden!

O the sense of belongingPiled up for many an yearVanishes in a moment!

When the dam

Of ethical self-restrictionBreaks downLike playing cards,The charged electric wires,That windThe self imposed boundaries

Suddenly become lifeless!Boundaries vanish,

The legs resting,The legs trembling and falteringBegin to leap forward!

Pure worship,The hard acquired devotionIs breached!The virtuous actionsTurn shallow,

The so called truthful pledgesGet falsified,All the pledges and promisesBecome meaningless!And Love becomes a synonymFor extreme selfishness!Definitions of sin and virtue

ChangeTheir opinion,Deception Of the union of soulsIn its naked form,In its real formDescends!Iron pillars of restraint

Break and tumble down,The girders of discretionDisplacedAre swept awayLike blades of grass!

When the seism of lust

Or of 'ardent love'Makes whole body tremble,Every strong pivotOf the mind totters!

Then, the man forgets

His past, present and future! (11) PREMONITIONSWe have left

Far behindThe half burnt corpsesOf love-relationships

and enmities!

Screamingand rolling restlessly

For agesThe dying sound

has become silent.

By this time The dried up remnants

Might have been lostIn the air!Swept awayIn countless

rains!

I didn't return

Since my departure!ThenWhy theghostly shadowStares at me?

Perhaps,It isthe ultimate endOf my whole existence!

Every volcanoOn one dayHas to cool down!

Has to disappearForever! (12) ASCETICThe people Are dejected so much thatThey commit suicide

In the state of their restlessness!Orlose the balance



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Of their body and mind!And in their perturbed moodThey weep without a reason!They laugh without a reason!

ButUntil now you are

Steady, self centered, calm, aliveAnd balanced!

In factFor him, who had lived asceticismThere is no difference

Between dying and living!For himThere is no differenceBetweenDrinking poison or nectar! (13)SUBSTANCEO

Why you are wonder-struckWhen you are of no useTo anyone

Why should anyone

Come to you?Keep quiet,Bear everything!

Lie down

Suffer patientlyHere or there!

Let someone listen to

Your experiences

Let someone listen toYour tale

No time is thereFor anyone!

Useless To expect it

From anyone!

It is betterIf you writeOn the walls of an empty room,If you portrayYour heartIn different colours!Perhaps, someone at some moment

May read or ponder over!

OrYou putYour tragic taleIn any recording deckIn your own voice!Perhaps, someone may listen

At sometime!

But

Be assured The stinkMay not spread anywhereHence at once, be assuredSurely the people

Burying you in pitOr entombing you

Orgiving you a pompous burningOrderlyTurn you into ashes!

Orderly

They will completeThe last ritual

Certainly! (14) CONCLUSIONLogical thinking

On pros and cons

Is essential

(As far as possible).Discussion should be mature

Whatever time it may take.

For judging substanceProfound thinking,Logic and investigation

Are essentialFrom every angle desired.

For whatever happenedIn life Is stable foreverNot even a chance givenFor the rectification of mistakes.

Impossible to changeThe past deedsEven a little.

It's true You yourself areThe doer and the judgeBut not the controller

You are detachedFrom the outcome or result(Helplessness)

Proved it is Life : a test difficult,At every momentA test, difficult.

Keep on observingCount every breathAccept and adoptThat lies before you! (15) COMPARISON



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LifeIs not a bookSo thatIt can be written / composedIn a planned way

After profound thinking!

Its contents May be divided intoSuccessive chaptersCarefully,Heart touching contextsMay be sorted out!

By self-experience and practiceIt may be mouldedInto beautiful and artistic form,Making it radiantIn the glare of craftsmanshipDevoid of laxity

And burdensomeness!

The tale of lifeBy itself accomplished or gets spoiled

And never links the preceding !Who knowsWhat is going to happenWhat is going to be mouldedAnd mended

When everythingGets spoiled with a jolt!

In the tale-flow of lifeNothing is pre-plannedNothing is desirable or undesirableNo premonition,No effort and no exertion!

Well thought overMoves of chessBegin to moveLike a defective computer,And deceivesEven the controller,Then the stake won almostTurns into defeat!

Or at onceThe vanished presentDescends from that very sequenceOnce againLike the result of an earthquakeLike its very form as before!

(16) EXPERIENCEWhat have I done?Throughout my lifeExcept doing

strange foolish things,Except payingThe debt imposed

by society?

Mistakes donePlenty of mistakes done,I missedI missed every time!

Let me say like this

I lived;ButHave I learntthe way of living?(Have I practiced the style of hypocrisy!)And now

when everything happenedAnd perished

I am wonder-struck,Too much wonder-struck!I am a destitute of wisdom!

I trusted

people,

Close to me

Blindly I trusted them!

And the rascalsHave lootedMy entire home and hearth,And destroyedThe beauty and embellishments

of life!

They were hypocrites, masks,They were spurious

In the garb of truth,Strange and wonderful!

At the fag end of my life,

At the stage of catastrophe,Nearly at the endof the play,When I stood face to faceBefore the truthHung on the cross I have experiencedCountless electric shocks

Dangerous sparks!

My body and mindCrushedBy twisting pain!

All are amazingEverything is peculiar!Where is my existence?

Only is my statueDumb and lifeless!

NowWhat is left outexceptTasting the bitter juice of repentance?The world



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Does not possessEven a littleshame and modestyEither in the pastOr in the present. (17) DELIGHTClouds have overcast

Clouds have overspread!

Lightning flashedAll around,The earthEmits sweet fragrance!

Since agesThe earth

Was aloneIn separation dryBored and restless,

Became Suhaagin1Blessed with unionWith her dear cloud,And the empty skyReverberatedWith the roar of clouds!

Rain has startedRain has started!

The thick cloudsauspiciousBegan to surge,The bright blackish beautySpread all around!A bride,

Swinging in joyful moodVisited each and every house

And sung Kajlee2 folk-song

In tunes melodious.

Clouds have spreadRain has started! 1 Woman whose husband is alive.2 A folk-song sung in an indigenous month ofBhaadon by village-women of India.

(18) ATTACHMENT

As the day breaks Little and gentle birdsWake and get rise me up

Flying, peeping curiouslyAnd chirping melodiouslyThrough doors and windows!

When the night fallsNow and thenCrickets and frogsMake me sleep

From ponds nearby,By their incessant singing,

Make me wanderAnd take me to thoseNew realms of fancy!

Throughout the day

The blue sky, formless and infiniteBewitches meThrough its colourful scenes!

Throughout the night How much

the moonlightSleeping on the bed of the skyCovered by a bed sheetImprintedwith beautiful silvery-golden stars,Charms me how much!She invites me to sleep in her lap.

How I can run away

From such a beloved?How can I leave the earth

So charming and captivating! (19) BEWITCHEDYou are a deep puzzle,

O, creeper jasmine!

From whereyou broughtSuch fascinating fragranceIn your flowers / in your body!

O the fair coloured !

O the glittering coloured!O my companion,

soft and delicate!From whereyou have snatched / stolenSuch bewitching beauty!

WheneverI experience

This fragrance,Outer and innerOf the body and soul I forget

WorldlinessAnd my own existence!

For some moments

I lose myselfin this worldI submit myselfBefore youWith devotion utmost!

The fragrant one!The beautiful one!



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You the creeper jasmine! (20) BREEZEO My dear Breeze,

Pleasant, fragrantand intoxicated!

Flow towards meSlowly and gently!

SprinkleCool water showersOn my

body and mind!

O My dear Breeze,Waving

and intoxicating!Without any hesitationYou advance

And get a warm touch

of my body!

O rustling breeze,

Pouring forthSweet utterances and melodies!

Convey to my earsAn unheard secret

Of your mindCalmly and silently!Come!Overwhelm me!NowCome to my embraceBreaking the bonds of shyness,And get attached to me

In a life-long bond! (21) WILLING TO LIVESuddenlyToday, when I saw you I want to live further!

Passing through

The solitary path of lifeLong and difficult,

Burning every moment,In the realty of lifeAnd in its blazing flames,

Suddenly

Today,

When I saw you I want to drinkA bit more of poison!In this lifeBrimming with bitternessI want to live further!

Until now

O worldly delight!Where were you?O you the lotus -blue ! (22) PASSION AND COMPASSION / 2You

Create music [rhythm]in heart,I Will singThe song of life!

In this wayLet our age go on

dwindling,Let the throbbing breaths

In our heartsMove on!

Let the waving wick of love

Go on burning

In both of our hearts!

Let the mutual emotionAnd compassion

Of our living soulsGo on cherishing!

You Tell a story

Of enchanting love,Listening whichI Can sleepPeacefully!

for a while!And lose myselfIn sweet and charming dreams

Forsaking myEntire grief!

You Make your tears of loveOverflow towards me,I Will makeThe splendour of heaven

To stoop downAt your feet!

(23) BOON

Reminded I amOf your love!

On one dayYou, on your own accordBestowed upon meA world of silvery beauty and charm!

Eye-catching festoons!Were decoratedAt each and every door!



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Reminded I amOf your loveA gift, life-like! (24) REMEMBRANCEReminded I am

Of your words of solace!

BrokenBy fatal blows of misfortuneI came to youTo get consolation

In your lap!

O My sweet maidenBrimming with compassionAnd with unbridled emotionAt once

On your own accord

You have fallen in love with me!

You have filled

My wounded and poisoned heart

With your sweet

sugar-candy lke words of peace!

Now you stand before meAnd look at meOpening the doors of your heart!

Beloved!

Reminded I amOf your charming words of consolation! (25) PRETEXTI am reminded ofYour fake sulkiness!

To feel the happinessOf persuasionTo fill the boring momentsBurdened by monotonyWith ever new

MatchlessColours of life,I am remindedOf your fake sulkiness!

To beholdAgain and againThe past love

Of many a birth,And through this pretextTo keep the auspicious lampOf our spiritual union

On the threshold!

I am remindedOf your fake sulkiness!

I like very much

Your fake sulkiness full of loveOf bygone days!

(26) TO A DISTANT PERSONYour recollectionis enough

For spending the rest of my lifeHappily!

NeverDiminish the feelingsOf your remembrance,The pangs of your separationAre enough!

Until today

I have kept with careThe trust-treasure of your feelings

In my mind.For living longIt is enough

Only to render themInto sweet songs! (27) PERCEPTIONForget that We met

Ever!

All the pictures paintedWere mere dreams!

Forget The colours,The blooms,The streams of desiresExperienced

Gushing throughThe body and the mind!

Forget Every past moment,And the music and the song

Sung and heard! (28) THE GOODThe feeling of love and affectionAlone

Is the best choice in the creation!The feeling of love and affection

Of manIn the world of menIn the all human society!

Let the entire compassionOf man remainAmidst all living beings!It aloneIs the great best worship!

Let every man



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of the worldIndulgeAlways / ceaselesslyIn this pure best worship!

Let only this desire,Simple, candid, innocent, guileless

SpringIn each and every man! (29) SENSIBILITYAlas, had I cleansed my face with tears,Had I sown the seeds of love in my mind,Had I lost my joy and wealthFor the well being of the unfortunate humanity! (30) TWO POLESHuman societyIs clearly divided into

The competent / And the helpless!

On one side Are corrupt political partiesAnd their wicked followers,Enriched by comfortable facilities

And they are happyAmassing gold and riches.They are easy going ,And masters and sycophants!

They have bungalows, / Brothels,Undergrounds and bunkers ;They are enjoyingAll sorts of rare gifts,Amazement, astonishments!On the other side There are people,Thirsty and starved, weak, dispossessed ...

scaredIlliterate,Oppressed, unorganizedBusy in workIn the fields and villages, / On the roads and

in cities,

Exploited / Deceived / And suspicious! (31) DISTRESSEDThe rainDoes not stop

Even for a while,

Never givesEven a bit of reliefTo those villages and localitiesSubmerged under water!

As a matter of fact,A calamityHas befallen this year,

Deva, stood aloof,Calm and dumb-founded!

His mud-hut,Thatched roof collapsed,Only, his household goodsTurned upside down!

Flour and pulsesWere swept away,

Deva, remained hungry!

Firewood soaked,Earthen hearth will not light upIn the kitchenOther things remaining

Were floating..Roaring aircrafts in the skyLike flying vultures!

PerhapsThe leaders / ministersHave arrived

To have a stroll!

Mourning spread all aroundIn the North and the South

And in the East and the West!Grievous is thatThe rain didn't stop! (32) VICTORY CELEBRATIONThe fondling leader of the partyHas arrived at the airporton a special plane.

The favourite leaderOf the congress partyHas arrived at the railway station

By 'Shatabdy Express'1,

The victorious leaderOf the party

Has arrived by'A-C Ambassador'

The crowds in thousandsShoutingHurrah-hurrah!Have arrivedTo take part in triumphal cheers

And to blow singa2,to beat kettledrum, to play tom-tom

vigorously!

They are the herdsOf useless domestic 'goats',Of the harmless stupid 'sheep'

draped in shawls,Of stout wild 'boars',And of scared and coward 'jackals'.Uttering 'mae-mae' like goats,Growling like pigs,



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Crying like jackals!

They shout -'loot'-'loot','Shoot'-'shoot'

.. the opponent!

They celebrate the victoryOf their 'Gabbar'3 leader! 1 Name of a train.2 A musical instrument.3 A dacoit in the Hindi flim 'Shole'.(33) SURPRISEHow much the man

Has become selfish!He is happyGetting a little profit

By selling his integrity!

He has votedFor SatanTaking a few bucks,

He didn't knowThe meaning of 'self-respect' And happily swallows insult!

To please the ministers

He stands in front of themLike a puppet lifeless,

Looks like an unfamiliar one He lost hisHuman identity!

(34) THE DREAM OF EQUALITYWorld historyis the witness

In every age only those,Who offered their livesTo the blazing flamesOf deficiencies,Had burnt their youthSince generationsIn fighting injusticeAnd in changing the system,

Only they

Were deceivedIn every age,And were crushedContinuouslyIn every ageCaughtIn the cruel wheel of exploitation!

InequalityWent onIncreasing

More and more,The economic gapWent on widening!The rich became more resourceful,The poor became poorer

Having no monetary importanceLosing more and more

Became nervousAnd miserable!

ButThe world historyIs the witness

The sense of equalityAmong men,Will not be dormant,And never admits defeat!

It never falters

Without reaching its goal

And the man,

Even for a momentWill neither go astray nor move away

On the path of equalityBeing hinderedAnd becoming helpless! (35) USURPERSRascals They are ready

To deceive,To cheat the weak

And the straight-forward!

Rascals they are

They hideIn an ambushnearbyTo deliver deadly assaults!

Rascals they are Frauds, hypocrites,

vigilantReady to grab,To loot, to steal,To show cunningness

Orto indulge

in direct fist-attacks!

Rascals they are They grab propertyLegally inherited

from ancestorsAnd other belongingsSquander wealth

Squander wealthUsing their polluted mind,

Turning arrogant,



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impudent,And fearless!

And are preparingFake documents.

What a wonder!

What an amazing wonder! (36) VISIONO you, the vanquished

In the bitter struggle of life!O you, beaten by misfortune

At every step!Don't mourn

helplessly,Dense darkness spread all around.

Don't lose your spirit!

Treat your defeatAs a prior intimation to your victory,

Treat the darknessAs the background of sunrise!

Let this dam of faith

not crack!Let this dream of new age

not break!Let this thread of feeling

not be loosened! (37) CHANGE IN ENVIRONMENTHow much

The season has changed!New looks

All around!

The dreamWhich was foreseen

Has become true,

We have our gripOn our lifeAnd on our fortunes!

The measure of equalityWe have adoptedHas flourishedAnd expanded beyond limits!That laid the foundation

For a new socio-economic order!

Those exploited and oppressedHave awakened,And have become the architectsOf a new age!The sky echoed by the slogansOf the feelings of equality!

How muchThe season has changed!

(38) TRANSITIONNowThe earth is ours,The Sky is ours!

Look

The sun roseAnd the light has spreadAll around!

Have full confidence,We will be free

Forever!

This wheel of human-progressNever turns back

History is the witness!

This

Metaphysical knowledge,

Testified by experiment,

Is with us! (39) PRAYERO sun,The blazing red sun!

FillMy dejected heartWith the fire of life!

Give smartness to my body,Inactive and tired,And make it move forward!

RemoveThe spread outSnowand thick darkness

With your dazzling golden sunshine!

O sun,The blazing red sun! (40) AWAKENINGNeither I was disappointed / nor dejected!

It is true All my efforts were useless.I could not succeed,But I am

Not at all restless!

At every timeLet the blows of defeatBecome a source of your strength,Let your mind, engaged in work,Be filled alwaysWith virility and vigour!



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Let your heartBe in high spiritsAnd your search forYour goal not stop!Let your search for

The object of your longingShould not stop

At any time, at any cost!Certainly , doomed you areIf you are dejected!Ruined you areIf you are frustrated!

(41) PLEASURE GIVINGIn lands far off and nearbyI have searched and foundMy co-believers and co-workers.

And in a mysterious wayEvery limb of my bodyIs tied to them naturallyBy unbreakable strings,

From all the four sidesBy strong threads!

Now, am I alone?

Today, how bigMy family has becomeAll of a sudden!

While departingIn what measureThis love, pure and intense,Has showered on my soul

Giving it a splendid bath!

In abundance!

The empty lake of my heartIs brimming full with ripplesFrom all the sides! (42) CHANGEChange the directionOf the wind!

Blowing towardstowns and villages,Carrying the stenchOf decaying carcasses!

Beware of itAnd change the directionOf the blowing wind,

BurdenedBy poisonous alcoholic gasesAnd hangs around in the skyAbove the towns and villages! (43) ESCAPE

What wind is blowing!

When everyoneThinks onlyof his own interest,

Usurpsthe share of others,

Whatever they maysuffer agonies !

When everyoneCuts offthe bones of others

And snatches them,To enrich himself!

Is there any medicineFor thisContagious social

disease?

What wind is blowing! (44) INITIATIVEIf It is desirableTo have a softlyflowing streamOf patience and peace

In the nervous,Scared and tormentedLocalities / Cities / All countries,

If It is desirableTo have bonds of affection and fraternityBetween man and man,

Then The man,Caught and lostIn the cavesOf irrational blind beliefs,Has to become a modern human being,

He has to createA new sociologySuited to his age!

He has to buildA new and loftyHuman civilizationOn the ground of scientific thoughtForsakingAll irrelevant and hollowReligious owls

And their ostentations.He has to advanceIn a new directionWith full dedicationIn the new light!

He has to mould himselfIn his natural formAccepting the best



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Human relations.With utmost confidenceHe has to move forwardContinuously and tirelesslyOn the path

Of eternal peace!He has to establish

'The eternal truth of humanity'In the place ofImagined divine power!

Men have to liveWith mutual understandingKnowing and accepting

That the entire universeIs a single family!

Struggling withThe contemporary challengesHe has to opt forThe reality of life!

He has to brood over

The passionate feelings and thoughts

Of each and every man!

(45) MARVELOUSWhy a man

With loveand affectionNever looks at a manBelonging to other religion?

He considers him as an alienAnd very oftenTreats him as his foe!

Oh, finding an occasion

He never hesitatesTo trouble him

And wantsTo uproot him!

At his very sightHe feels

Tension,A dense cloud of maliceSpreadsAll around!

How it happens?Why it happens?

What a sort of man is he?

O, a wonderful manHow is he?

Well, Ah! MiracleHe belongs to an unique religion!ReallyLike death,He is dreadful and abhorrent!

He who believesAnd thinksThe people of other religions

MerelyInsignificant! (46) DREAMSomeBhatnagar,Insane and crazy,

Has killedThe honourable Prime Minister .....

By shooting at him!!

When the news spreadSuddenlyPeople gathered around me ....

'He isBhatnagar,Kill ... kill this bloody fellow!He is a murderer ... a murderer!'

I explained them very much,I explained to themIn a screaming voice

'Brothers, I am not 'The Bhatnagar'Of that kind!O it is my actual name,But not my surname!

I am

'Mahendrabhatnagar' or 'Mahendra',I am not 'Bhatnagar'or 'Vatnagar',

Brothers, never!Just, you thinkAnd understand me a little!But, when the crowd thinks?

When it listens to truth or logic?

All the people pounced on meAnd turned my house into ashes!!

Let history testifyWhoWhen and whereHas suffered this horror?

Has endured this tyranny?When and whereIn such a mood of beastlinessThe human societyLosing its wayHas gone out of bounds ?

WhyOur dynasty, / Our religion

Is linked to names,Pen names or nick names?Let someone say in a natural way I am a Christian or a MuslimOr a Hindu

[One of the 'karyasthas'1

'a great fool a shudra'2]

Let him sayThat 'my name is -Mahendrabhatnagar',In which is hiddenNeither my clan nor my religion!



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[No secret whatsoever!]

So it is not right to say 'What is there in a name!'Or

'Don't ask the caste of a Sadhu3

O Kabir4!

Will someone will complyWith your word?After all,

When someone will accept your word?

In an 'educated' society,In a 'civilized and well cultured society'How much secure is the man?

How much insecure is the man?

O all knowing Almighty,Give the witness truthful!

(47) REALISM

Living life Is difficult, unbearableAnd burdensome!

As ifIt is a dreadful ride

On two boats!

There is a saw,Poison smeared and double edged,There is a sharpened daggerClose to the throat!

There is a noose around the neck,Bewildered at every time!Running and fighting

All around!

The full-moon nightHas vanished,And only the dense darknessHas spread everywhere!

Living life

Is a compulsion!Too much burdensome! (48) PLAYERI am runningWithout a pause,

I am runningUntired and constantly!

Day and night,Night and day

Panting and bewildered,

Now and thenFallingAnd rising,Yet I keep on runningIn quick succession!

[with a crash!]

It looks Keep on running ceaselesslyAll my life

Is my fate only!

I am running constantlyBreaking the limitationsOf the time fixed!

Without competing with anyoneAbsolutely alone!

Look How I am runningFastAnd faster!

I am swimming,Swimming without a pause

Day and night

Night and day

Jerking and pushingBoth my hands and legs

Here and thereWithout giving up,I keep on swimmingDisgorging foamAgain and again!

It is not a coolOlympic swimming pool,But a boiling hot water tankEmitting fumes!On its chestLookHow I am swimming

DisorderlyIn utter disarray!

No other swimmerIs there nearby,I am swimming aloneIn a wavy motionLike a fish!

Now it looks It may not be safe,My legs and handsMay turn stiff and stiffer!YetStill, surelyI keep on swimming!Keep on swimming!

ForI have seen very wellCorpses were afloatOn the fleeting waves!

Jumping repeatedlyHigh and long,I keep on leaping and jumping



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Day in and day out,Like a ballI keep on reboundingAgain and again!Like a blockhead

I keep on jumping and leapingReturning

Again and again!I have brokenThe earlier records.It looksThe scales will be small!

I am lifting the weightsOne after another,Weighty and weightierAnd taking themHere and thereTo far off placesFrom one room to another room,

From one house to another house,

From one village to another village,

From one city to another city,From the blazing deserts

To the icy landsAnd from plainsTo the high mountain terrains!

Yet

The realm of high heavensShudders by my roaring,The world of the deadIs scared to see my form!

Certain it is Every heart attackWill be defeated

And every paralysisWill be crippledBy the soul immortal!

Industrious am IWill keep on living,Will remainBrim with lifeFree and liberated! (49) ATTRIBUTEIt isThe man -Who can face

any disaster!

He plays fearlesslyWith the strong blowsof hostile stormsAnd with dreadful reverse currents!The fast movingchariot of his lifeNever stops,Though got struck

Or caught somewhere!He, at once,With the power of his intellectOr with the might of his armsPushes it aside

Without getting tired or defeated!

It is the manRestrained,Who can faceAll calamities! (50) ENLIGHTENMENTBitter experiences,Have given meMaturity!

The meanness of manHas taught meHow to live rightly!

IngratitudeHas revealed to meThe secret of lifeLiberating me

From the spell of fascination!

Then aloneI could sing

The song of painWhen the ageTormented me ruthlessly!

Then alone

I could knowThe secret of life and of the world

When I was badly hurtBy my own-selves and by others! Contact :

Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar,110, BalwantNagar, Gandhi Road,GWALIOR 474 002 (M.P.) INDIAE-Mail : [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

passion compassion: dr. mahendra bhatnagar

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