Aas: A varied themes Garhwali Poetry collection by shanty Prakash Jigyasu.

Bhishma Kukreti

       The followings subjects are in the poems of poetry collection ‘Aas’ by Shanti Prakash Jigyasu--

 Shanti Prakash shows hope to all of us and also humanity does not belong to self interest but for others in ‘Aas’poem.

 In the poem ’ Mera Gaun ku Thaud, the verse creator feels sorry that in the name of development, the bulldozer diminished the  village Thaul/Thaud/chaupal or villagers common meeting place.

The poet remembers the old days of cooperation and love among villagers before globalized economy took over from self contained village economy in the poem ‘Kakh ch v Bat’

 In ‘Daud’ poem, Shanty Prakash ‘jigyasu’ is searching the reasons for human being running for non winning race of fulfilling never ending desires.

‘Chakhula tain kya pata’ is a symbolic poem and Jigyasu does experiment with phrases having two or more philosophical or spiritual meanings for readers.

‘Dalu’ poem is pro ecology poem and speaks about tree plantation movement definitely not in the tone of preaching.

 ‘Ghanghtol’ is a truth-seeking poem for seeking reasons for our aspirations and not leaving anything for our fellows. 

‘Daktaran na boliyaal’ cautions softly that if human being would not take care in the early days the health problems are bound to come. The poet also depicts the differences between haves s and haves not with same phrases of poem.

‘Manjhyun k buru hal ch’ is a symbolic, philosophical poem. Jigyasu used his name parts ‘Prakash’ and ‘jigyasu’ as base for creating meaningful verse.

 Jigyasu illustrates the love of a mother towards her children in ‘Baulya’ poem.

 Banu reflects enjoyably the non believable logic of powerful countries or men snatching other’s rights or even right of living.

‘Basant’ poem creates images of spring but poet uses spring and never changing habit of nature depiction for satirical use to criticize the changing mentality of human beings.

‘Kweebat nee ch’ poem is dedicated to humanity.

‘Pida’  critises the exploitation of natural resources by human beings and not taking care of environment. The poem brings sadness too apart creating geographical images.

‘Gareebi’ poem shows the deceptive methods of shameless exploiters for taking benefits in the name of poverty.  In the name of ‘poverty eradication’ scheme, crooks are becoming richer and poor are becoming poorer.

‘Sanskar’ poem takes the readers in the world of dream and the reality of protection of old customs.

These days, the community is unhappy on girl birth. The poet Jigyasu shows the importance of girl to the humanity and future of humanity.

Shanty Prakash foresees the problems of mass migration from rural areas to urban regions in the poem ‘Maulkai reeti’.

The human being needs stable mentality as there are bound to be ups and downs in our lives is the theme of ‘Bakt’ and ‘Ek dhung’ poems.

The poet Shanti reveals the experiences of experiencing with easy and understandable phrases in ‘Rachna’ poem.

Today, human beings are busy to cut the same branches whereon they are living. ‘Kuryo’ poem of Jigyasu cautions us for our inhuman behaviors.

 Satirically, Shanty Prakash criticizes the partiality among human beings for not providing dues to deserving people both in the society and in the government administration in ‘Mainge’ poem.

Jigyasu is worried that the real culprits are showing crocodile tears to the public but in reality looting the public in ‘Kagja rawan’.

Shanti Prakash creates images of morning, sun rising and people of hills in the poem ‘Suber’.

 In the verse ‘Kaga Raibar’, Shanty Prakash feels pains of empty villages due to migration.

Shanty Prakash laughs at our double standard in discriminating our daughter and our daughter in laws in ‘ham’ poem.

Due to migration children are in cities and never remember parents in villages but mother always remembers her children.  Shanty Prakash depicts this theme differently in ‘Ag Bhabhraigi’ poem.

In ‘Nirasi Jindagi’ poem, Jigyasu is furious about nature’s discrimination. This poem is soft and with rapture of pathos but in fact, the poem is a rebellion poem against the whole system.

‘Hak ka bara’ poem attacks sharply on lazy nature of people.

When our own fellows ignore us we feel bad and the poem ‘Antar’ is about the sharp pain of our own people ignoring us.

‘Daulat’ poem attacks on greedy nature of rich countries for their exploitation of poor countries.

The rain is essential for everybody but daughter in law does not require rain that she completes her job that her mother in law does not lambast her. The poem’ Barkha’ describes our inner conflicts and contradictions.   

‘Betulo Bhag’ poem asks us about our discrimination between daughter and son in the ‘Betulo Bhag’ poem.

The poem ‘Choli’ describes phrase casting pearls before swine very effecting and at the same time, creates pathos rapture too.

  From centuries, there is a tragedy for hills that the youth and water of hills is for plains. The poem ‘Pahadai Cheej’ tells effectively the tale of this necessary evil.

‘Jagwal’ poem is about the sacrifice of a mother who could not see the good days by her son’s progress.’ Man ki Ankhi’ poem is also about sacrifice of a mother.

‘Syani’ poem is witnessing the changes taking place all over world by an old woman and the village woman is not enjoying the city life.

The poem ‘Thandi Jhaul’ is a satirical poem and shows the capability of Jigyasu’s command over the words.

The poem ‘Reeti riwaj’ attacks on the political leadership for its deceptive acts.

The poem ‘Jahar’ is a satirical figurative poem attacking the cunning people and their habits.

‘Mayam’ poem depicts the psychology of a lover.

Rain is a must but when there is heavy rain the people find different difficulties is the theme of ‘ Basgyal’ poem.

‘Alan’ poem describes the difference between life style of a rich man and poor man.

Jigyasu expresses the reality of luck, opportunity and execution in ‘Bhag’ poem.

Shanti Prakash attacks on blind faith and non descrimitive power of people to understand what is good and what is bad for them in ‘Ghadeli’ poem

Shanti Prakash Jigyasu is furious about pollution of reverend river Ganga in ‘Ganga’ poem and condemns all responsible for such inhuman acts.

‘Aina’ is a philosophical poem and at the same time a satirical poem too wherein the poet tries to search the difference between illusion and the reality of life.

Shanti Prakash is frustrated about the reality of Garhwal in ‘Apdu Gadhdesh’ poem.

Shanti Prakash Jigyasu does experiment by using proverbs and sayings in the poem ’Virani as’ and at the same time brings moral learning in the poem.

                                        Chhitga

        There seventy three poems in the form of ‘Chhitga’. ‘Chhitga’ is variety of Garhwali poem of either two lines or four lines poems. Virendra Panwar a prolific Garhwali literature critic states that ‘Chhitga’ are as rain drops, water drops, spit drops, acid drops in poetry format. Panwar further stresses that ‘Chhitga’ should create wider effect than the poem as the water drops work in awakening a sleeping person. Usually in ‘Chhitga’ of Shanti Prakash, there is satirical theme and there is comparison of two themes.

           In old generation poets, Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna and Prem Lal Bhatt did experiment by creating ‘Chhitga’. In contemporary Garhwali poetic world, Shanti Prakash Jigyasu and Narendra Kathait are two Garhwali poets famous for creating ‘Chhitga’ poems. However, Shant Prakash created more than two hundred ‘Chhitga’ poems till now.

 The above detailing of poems of ‘As’ confirms that there are varied subjects and theme in the poems of Shanti Prakash Jigyasu and those are of universal concerns.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 29/6/2012

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