Event: Let Poetry Be Monthly Meetup
Venue: Atta Galtta, Bengaluru
Date: 19.11.2016
Event theme: ‘This is How I see my Kind’
Plenty has been written about how women perceive men and vice-versa. At this event, let’s here what you have to say about your own kind. Men and women can write about how their perceive their very own kind on different quotients-emotional, intelligence, adaptability, gregariousness, strengths, weaknesses etc, etc. You can pick up one or combine as many traits as possible, or simply give us your own take!
My poem: ‘Silent Conversations’
Conversations are part of our day to day lives. Either it is on the social media or talking to another person, it is an on-going process. But, not all time we are talking or expressing ourselves. Some conversations only happen inside our brain, in our thoughts, and they are never expressed to another person.
When we see another person, we build certain perceptions, and start to communicate this new person indirectly in our own thoughts. This poem is built on all such muted conversations, which happens but never came out to the outer world. That’s why title of this poem is ,’SILENT CONVERSATIONS’.
This poem will explore multiple situations, where how one man see another man and how one woman see another woman.
This poem has inputs from over 20+ world languages. I either know some of these languages, heard people communicating in those languages, or exposed to them due to translation of my project into 105+ major world languages.
It is a first time attempt to mix so many languages, so not all languages might come out properly in poetic form. Apologies in advance, if any mistakes occurred due to this.
§Translation has been provided, whenever seemed necessary into English language.
Situation 1: Army Man, how a common man feels about them
Whenever I or anyone else see an Army man /woman, perception changes totally. So, this is about how one person is expressing his respect towards person from the Army. Some personal experiences are added into it, based on my meeting with many Army man in different parts of the world.
This poem is a small version of a poem written to a father of one of my friend, who is serving in the Indian Army. Watch that poem here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNu1DJuBgA8
हरी वर्दी हो या नेवी की वाइट यूनिफार्म (Either it is a green dress of Army or white uniform of the Navy)
ब्लू कलर मैं हो एयर फ़ोर्स का कोई हमारा करीबी ऑफिसर (or someone in blue color Air force uniform)
डिजास्टर हो या कोई बड़ी परेशानी (Either it is a disaster or something big trouble)
पातें हैं आप सभी को सबसे पहले हम करीब (We always find you closer to us)
चाहें वो train मैं मिले infantry officer हो (Either it is infantry officer to whom I met in the train)
या फिर Copenhagen मैं हमारा ex-Army running mate (or ex-Army running mate in Copenhagen)
या फिर हो Azerbaijan का हमारा event organizer (or our event organizer in Azerbaijan)
जाने कितने रूपों मैं देखा हैं, हमने Army man in civilian uniform (we have seen in many form, an Army man in civilan uniform)
सर्दी, गर्मी हो या बरसात (Either it is winter, summer of the rainy season)
आप रहते हैं हमेशा हमारी सुरक्षा के लिए तेयार (You are always ready to provide security to us)
जमाना बदला, तकनीके बदली,और हमारी सोच बदली (Time has changed, techniques have changed, even our thinking have changed)
पर आपका अडिग निश्चय कभी ना बदला (but your objective has never changed)
वतन के लिए जाना लड़ाने का जज्ज्बा (Passion of fighting with life for the nation)
हैं सभी passion से बड़ा (Is bigger than every other individual passions)
जब आप ना डरे हमारें लिए इससे? (When you did not fear from this?)
तो क्यूँ डरे हम जिंदगी की परेशानियों से ?(Then why should we bother too much about day to day life problems?)
Scene 2: Obsession with Dark Skin, a trip of Spanish lady to India.
Whether it is India or different parts of the world, obsession with fair skin is very much evident. The people who may not have fair skin faced an indirect discrimination as evident in many news stories.
What would have happened, if dark color skin is more valued then Fair skin? In this scene, a Spanish lady, who is traveling to India, is talking to an Indian lady about problem faced by her. She is jealous of all the attention gained by some dark color girl standing in her vicinity. She is cursing god for giving her fair skin and at the same time, hoping that at sometime in future, white skin will be more valuable.
[Apologies if anyone’s sentiments got hurt in this poem, but it is just a poem highlighting a very common problem in society. It is written in Spanish and in Hindi]
→ Spanish Lady, looking at a dark color lady
Esta chica es muy hermosa (This girl is very lovely)
Robando corazones de muchos solitarios (Stealing hearts of many lonely boys )
No puedo juzgar su belleza (Can’t judge her beauty)
Pero por el color se ve muy oscuro (But by color looks very dark)
→ Cursing cosmetic products
No hay beneficios de usar crema cosmética (No benefits of using cosmetic cream)
Lo que ella come para mantenerse limpio? (what she eat to stay clean? )
¿Qué falta dentro de mí? (What is missing inside me?)
¿Me prohíbe gobernar como una reina? (Forbidding me to rule like a queen?)
→ Cursing God
Dios me ha dado todo (God has given me everything )
Pero la piel brillante prohíbe el cumplimiento (but bright skin forbids the fulfillment)
Calificado como blanco de pueblos, no de este siglo (Branded as white of villages, not from this century )
¿Por qué no tengo también todo? Para ver completa? (Why don’t I also gets everything? to look complete? )
→ What if color change happens, when everyone becomes obsessed with white color instead of black?
Si el mundo va al revés (If world goes upside down )
Si el blanco se hace prominente como una corona (If white becomes prominent like a crown )
Entonces la obsesión de color oscuro definitivamente desaparecerá (then dark color obsession will definitely subside)
Seré entonces la reina del corazón de cada hombre (I will be then queen of every man’s heart)
→ Console by and Indian woman
जो हैं वो सब कुछ हैं (What you have is all you have)
जो न छे वह भी ठीक छे (What you don’t have is not worth thinking)
दुनिया बड़ी गोल हैं बहन (The world is a full circle my sister)
पर सब का सभी दिमाग से ढोल छे (Because everyone is stupid in their brain)
Scene 3: Clash of cultures
This is the story recited to me by one of my family members happened 30 years ago. It was the time, when there was very little knowledge to Indians about other country man. In this situation, a lady from Germany has arrived in India to do a social work in a village of Rajasthan. She is traveling in a local bus to finish her final leg of the journey. She was sitting just opposite to the local lady. As the bus trip starts, both the ladies started to observe each other without saying anything.
This entire interaction happen through thoughts and eye movements highlight the perception difference, many people had during those days.
It is written in Hadoti(local dialect of in south east of Rajasthan, India) and in German highlighting perspective of both women. Translation in English is provided.
→ First time eye contact between the 2 ladies
//thoughts by the local lady
या छोरी बैठी छे जो सामने (This lady sitting in front of me)
माका देश की ना लागे ना माका गाँव की (Does not look like from my country or from my region)
वेष भूषा भी आस पसस की ना लागे (Does not look like from nearby from her dressing style)
फेर कथी सु आई या छोरी? (Then from where this lady came here?)
//by the German lady
Diese Dame sitzt vor mir (This lady sitting in front of me)
Stellen Sie das traditionelle Thema? (Represent the traditional theme?)
Indien, ein Land mit viel Vielfalt (India, a country with lot of diversity)
Hat nur meine Neugier erhöht (Has only increased my curiosity)
हम्म, पड़ी लिखी लागे छे (hmm, looks like an educated girl)
पर कपडा छोटा छोटा पहने छे (but wear very small dress)
कई प्रगति या विदेशी लोग्गा ने (What progress made by these foreigners?)
आमिर होर भी कपड़ो आधो सिल्वावे छे (They only wear half dress despite being so rich)
Warum diese Dame schaut mich an? (Why this lady keep looking at me? )
Sie sieht gut aus (She is looking fine )
Aber kann psychisch krank sein? (But may be mentally ill? )
Versteckte ihr Gesicht in langen Saree (Hiding her face in long saree )
बोरियां बिस्तर के बगेर (Without bed and luggage)
कई करवा आई छे अठी (For what purpose she has come here?)
पतली दुबली से लागे छे (Looks like very thin and slim)
मेहनत मजदूरी कसा करेगी या छोरी? (How she will do the hard and laborious daily tasks?)
Neuen Ort, neue Welt (new place, new world)
Alles ist total merkwürdig (everything is totally strange around )
Dieses große Auge, lange Nase Dame sitzt vor mir (this big eye, long nose lady sitting in front of me)
Wie fühle ich mich wohl? (How will I feel comfortable? )
→ And the bus stand arrived
चलो रे, माकों गाँव आयों (Let’s go, my village has arrived)
जी की जो जाणे (It’s not my problem to think about other’s problem)
घर मैं जार रोटी पोवा (Let’s go and cook some food)
ना तो, कूदेगा चुआ पेट मैं हजार (Otherwise, my empty stomach will invite hungry rats)
Endlich ist meine Bushaltestelle angekommen (Finally, my bus stop has arrived )
Halt zu viel denken (Stop thinking too much)
Einfach entspannen und genießen Sie die Reise (Just relax and enjoy the trip)
Jede indische Erfahrung in glücklicher Weise (Taking every Indian experience in happy way)
Scene 4: Traveling in general coach of Indian railways during the peak hours
This situation can only be understood by traveling in the Indian railways. I will not describe it much, but this is a person, who has stuck in totally jam-packed compartment with no place to even move his leg, hand, or himself. He is also describing his missed attempt of getting an empty seat.
That seat was supposed to be mine
But this funky hat dude took it away just in time
Little fat was a big disadvantage today
1/100th portion of second took my early advantage away
That seat is about to be empty
Let’s count how many people around looks thirsty
As soon as next station arrives
Everyone should get down except mine
Standing up without a ticket was not a nice idea
But checking everyone till middle for TT(ticket checker) will be a bad idea
Slightly pushing, slightly touching
Smell of sweat has got no place to escape
Someone farted amid all this mess
Sounds of which buried under the noisy crowd
With no hand available to support my nose
I yelled, God! Why you have created so much of crowd?
I might have 150 square feet house
But 2 legs cannot even move 1 feet around
I might have missed worshiping
But 4 lines need to be said today
किसी प्यासें को पानी चाहएं (Some thirsty man needs water)
किसी के पेट को खली टॉयलेट चाहएं (Someone with bad stomach needs an empty toilet)
पैर मुझे इन सबसे उपर हैं भगवन (But, my dear lord, above all of these things)
पाँव रखने के लिए सिर्फ २ गज जमीन चाहएं (I only need 2 inch of space to put my legs)
Scene 5: Circus, confusion, and experience of humanity at the Airport.
Few years ago, airports across the Europe were in chaotic situation. Volcanic eruption in Iceland led to closure of European airspace. In this situation, many people were stranded for 3-4 days amid the busy holiday season.
People, who are coming from different regions, speaking different languages, starts to form a human bond as the time pass by. In this part of the poem, I have taken a clue from the person based in Bengaluru, who is stranded at some international airport. How he feel while listening both Indian and international languages and how his experience ended on a joyful note.
At the end of each sentence, language used in it are written with smallar font size.
→ Founding himself in the middle of the chaos
Sahodarare Haagoo Sahodariyare, Airport nalli vipareetha Janajanguli Kaanabahudu
(Ladies and gentleman, lot of people are visible at the airport) [ Kannada]
Russiaada vyaktiobba helida, “kak vas javut?” (Russian person said, What is your name?) [Kannada, Russian]
Cheenaada vyaktiobba helida, “ni chiao shangama mits?” (Chinese person said, what is your name?) [Kannada, Chinese]
स्वल्प स्वल्प कन्नडा बरुते यहाँ ना चले (no body even speak a little Kannada here) [Kannada, Hindi]
→ Started to feel hungry by looking at the meal boxes of other people from different regions of India and the world.
Fafda ne khakra joi ne mane bahu bhuk lage che (I am feeling very hungry by looking at Khakra and Fafra) [Someone yelled in Gujrati]
Amar khub khide peyeche (I am feeling very hungry) [Someone yelled in Bengali]
Yenakku Romba pasi-kkarathu athva Naaku baaga aakali ga undi (I am feeling very hungry) [Someone yelled in both Tamil and Telugu]
भारतीयभाषाः श्रोतुम् अतीव आनन्दो जायते । (I am feeling so happy to hear some Indian languages) [In Sanskrit]
→ Listening more foreign languages and feeling even more hungry
hajimamshite,ann- yoeng haseyo जैसी भाषाएँ जो कभी ना सुनी (How do you do?, Korean Hello, never heard such languages) [Japanese, Korean, Hindi]
परन्तु बहुत सुनकर भी, मी मराठी बोलत नाही (Even after listening so much, I do not even speak Marathi) [Hindi, Marathi]
Even by just smelling ja parle aaa pu francee (Even by just smelling I speaks little French) [English, French]
og i danks, kan jeg lugte lækker med (And in Danish, this food is very delicious) [Danish]
→ Finally, manage to eat something in the company of different people and living a pleasant experience of entire world as one single family
Makki di Roti te sarson de saag naal sareyan ne milke nashta kitta [Punjabi]
Chinkuya , shukran gazilan, के शब्दों से हुआ धन्यव्व्द (thank you in Polish, Thank you in Arabic gave me introduction to new words) [Polish, Arabic, Hindi]
Kia Ora, grazie, siyabola like new words added to my dictionary [Maori, Italian, Zulu]
After this incident, लगा पूरी दुनिया हैं हमारा घर परिवार (After this incident, I realized that whole world is like my family)
Epilogue:
– Languages used to describe different situations(not in the order of appearance)
Hindi, English, Hadoti, Urdu, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese-Mandarin, Korean,Japanese, Polish, Maori, Zulu, Arabic, Punjabi, Bengali, Gujrati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, Marathi,Danish, French,Italian
– People helped in constructing sentences for different Indian languages
Trupti Kalamdani, Brijesh Deshpande, Madhu Shree, Balasubramaniam Meganathan , Pujan Gupta Choudhury , Sarit Sethi , Anusha T Sandeep , Bindu Padala, Varun Chadha, Purvi Patel, Sowmya Rajan Srinivasan, Sudheer Lolla, Dr. Udayana Hedge, Anand Vishwanathan.
– Other languages have been sourced using language exchange discussion forum or using Google translation tool.
Recitation details
Event: Let Poetry Be Monthly Meetup
Venue: Atta Galtta, Bengaluru
Date: 19.11.2016
Event theme: ‘This is How I see my Kind’
More information:
– Let Poetry Be, Facebook page
– Let Poetry be collection of Poems
– Event Page ‘This is How I see My Kind’
Disclaimer: This poem was written purely to entertain people and explain general life situation in slightly contextual manner. This artistic work, in no way, intends to harm or dishonor any individual, country, language, or region. Therefore, it has to be read in the situational context.
Ankit Khandelwal 