SUMMARY AND CRITICAL APPRECIATION “DAWN
AT PURI” BY JAYANTA MAHAPATRA
INTRODUCTION TO DAWN AT
PURI:
The
poem, Drawn at Puri is written by very famous Indian poet Jayanta
Mahapatra. The poem is set in the town named Puri. Puri is very famous town in
Orissa, India which is consist as the scared place because of the temple of
Lord Jagarnnath. In this poem the poet had talked about the sensitive attitude
to the native socio-cultural practices and the falseness of the rites and
ritual in India.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF DAWN AT
PURI:
Jayanta
Mahapatra is an excellent Indian English poet. He was born on 22 October 1928
at Cuttack in Orrisa. He is the first Indian poet to win Sahitya Akademic award
in English poetry. By religion he is a Christian. He did his higher education
in Patna, Bihar and did is graduated in Physics. In 1949 he became physics
lecturer at Ravenshaw Collage Cuttack.
SUMMARY OF DRAWN AT PURI:
Stanza 1
“Endless crow…………towards hunger”.
In
the first stanza, the poet contemplates on the beach at Puri. He is near a very
famous of Lord Jagarnnath. Cawing of crows catches his attention. The cawing of
crow indicates that there is a dead body. He then notices a skull on the beach.
The skull is part of ritual and it is completely burnt. The skull shows the
hollowness of the rites and ritual. And these are the reason why in poet’s
country hunger dominates.
“White-clad
widowed…………the great temple”.
In
the second stanza, the poet is now grabbing our attention towards the
white-clad widowed women. The women are white-clad because of her husband
death. In Hinduism widow women have to wear white clothes till her after
husband death. The women are wating to enter the temple because she was made to
believe that she can only find peace and support there after the demise off her
husband.
Stanza 3
“Their austere…………strands of faith”.
In
the third stanza, the poet describes the widowed women as austere. As the
widowed women led her life without any desire and pleasure. They have to give
up her worldly lives after the demise of her husband. They are compelled to a live
according to the society and are trapped in a net (an imaginary net constructed
by the society).
Stanza 4
“The fail early…………without names”.
In
the fourth stanza, the poet says that there are leprous (beggars) who are in
large number and leaning against each other for money near temple. This people
in large number and are without name and identity.
Stanza 5
“And suddenly…………aging mother”.
In
this stanza there is use of personification ‘the sullen solitary’. By quoting his aging mother, the poet shows how our elders have firm faith in predominant
rites and rituals in the society. The term ‘sullen solitary pyre’ highlights disillusionment
and misery.
Stanza 6
“her last wish…………shifting sand”.
In
the lats stanza, the poet talks about his aged mother whose last wish is to be cremated
at the particular place. And the apt image of the smoke rising from the funeral
pyre where the wind from the sea causes the smoke to twist uncertainly. For him
performing his mother last wish is far more important than these mandatory
dictates of religion and principles of custom.
SUMMARY OF DAWN AT
PURI:
The
poem “Dawn at Puri” narrated by Jayanta Mahapatra describes the Oriyan
landscape, the holy city of Puri. In every poem of Mahapatra we find glimpse of
his personal experience. Mahapatra is deeply rooted in Indian culture and
ethos. And he frequently uses symbols from local history. In order to
appreciate the prescribed poem, it is important to understand his sensitive
attitude to the native socio-cultural practices. This poem is a narrative of
the morning landscape at the great Jagannath Temple at Puri. Here Puri is the
living protagonist for him. He inputs his observed realistic and vivid image in
the poem. Here Puri is personified (alive). Lord Jagannathan is the main deity
in Puri who is the form of Lord Vishnu. At Puri there is a beach called
“Gateway to heaven”, “Swargadwara” where the dead are cremated. It is
believed by the Hindu that it is it possible to attend salvation by dying at
Puri. Ironically, it highlights the empty country pestered with poverty and
hunger.
The
poem starts with “Endless crows’ noise”, these very first line creates a
typical image of the morning landscape before sun rise which also symbolises
the beginning of the hectic day. The poet talks about the widowed women in
white clad. The poet compares these widowed women to that of a captive in a net
of oppressive social custom. The poet describes about skull lying on the sandy
beach, it shows the hollowness of prevailing rites and rituals. He talked about
leprous shells leaning against each other showing the pathetic condition of the
isolated and deprived community. The way Mahapatra delineates the events and
the incidents in the poem shows us that he disapproves of what is going on
under the cover of tradition and practices. The poem evokes loss of identity,
anonymity, death, disease and decadence. Most of the Hindu wishes to be
cremated in the land of lord Vishnu. The poet highlights the superstition found
in our society.
The
poem is about feelings and compassion for the people who suffer. This poem is a
mocking attack on the tradition and traditional practices which is typically
ruthless and prejudiced. The poet tolerates no sympathy for the rites, rituals
and hollow tradition. Clearly the poet has presented a vivid and realistic
picture of Dwan at Puri.
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