Swara Bhaskar, Piyush Mishra, Swanand Kirkire Tell You Why Poetry Matters When Nothing Else Does
What is poetry? Why do we read it? Why do we write it? Where do we find it? How does it come to us? How do we approach it? Do we find it in words or in that bird that has decided to live rent-free in your balcony? Does it knock on your door before entering or does it barge in like an impolite, intrusive neighbour? Do we look for it in a muse? Do we weave it in a dream? Can everyone write poetry? Can everyone read poetry? Can everyone be poetry? Poets, the many that I know, are clueless people. They read other poets and get depressed. They are a glum lot. Excellent conversation makers, if you can get them to communicate. They hardly ever mean what they say. They sometimes have unusual pride and all times have unusual quirks. They tend to get into a conversation with themselves quite often, even when in conversation with other people. They are political people. They are horrible people too. Many of them are reclusive. Many of them live poorly. All of them live gloriously.
Poetry is like that frail looking railing which doesn’t promise anything other than elusiveness. It is a listless conversation. It is in everything and in nothing. It is the only thing that makes sense when everything else doesn’t. It is the only way of seeing yourself. And the only way of understanding yourself. It is why we hold on to it and never let go.
This February we had published a piece on the YouTube channel Hindi Kavita. The people involved with the channel have been tirelessly working on bringing back Hindi poets who have been pushed to the margins of our memory and some, simply forgotten. Addition to our previous post, here are a few more poetry readings. Things that keep you company when it rains and when it doesn’t.
Swanand Kirkire reads Bhawani Prasad Mishra’s “Geetfarosh”. The poet, born in small town of Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh, also wrote songs for Hindi films. And as has been the tradition, was looked down upon by the high art lovers. This poem is his response to his critics where he tells them that he sells songs, for all seasons, for all diseases, for every mood, for every man. Yes, he sells songs.
Swara Bhaskar reads Dipankar Giri’s poem “Hawa Ke Sahare”. Written during the days when Bhaskar and her friends, like the poet, were trying to fight their way into the hostile world of Hindi Cinema, this poem beautifully portrays the anxieties of the younger generation that seems to suspended mid-air, that isn’t revolting, but isn’t quiet, that occupies a conflicting space in the society and is never quite at home with itself and the with world at large.
Pushpa Bharti reads Dharmavir Bharti’s “Darbar Mein Ek Nawagantuk”.
Piyush Mishra reads “Husna” and tells the story behind it. And he sings it. Nothing more needs to be said.
Alok Tyagi pays a humble tribute to his father Dushyant Kumar, reads “Kahan to tay tha charagan”. Written during the days of Emergency, this poem is Dushyant Kumar’s rebellion, his way of giving voice to the oppressed people of the country.