Exploring Subramania Bharati's Poetic Masterpiece: Wind
Complete Poem Text
Wind, come softly.
Don’t break the shutters of the windows.
Don’t scatter the papers.
Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.
There, look what you did — you threw them all down.
You tore the pages of the books.
You brought rain again.
You’re very clever at poking fun at weaklings.
Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters,
crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives,
crumbling hearts —
the wind god winnows and crushes them all.
He won’t do what you tell him.
So, come, let’s build strong homes,
Let’s joint the doors firmly.
Practise to firm the body.
Make the heart steadfast.
Do this, and the wind will be friends with us.
The wind blows out weak fires.
He makes strong fires roar and flourish.
His friendship is good.
We praise him every day.
Introduction
Subramania Bharati, a celebrated Tamil poet and nationalist, left an indelible mark on Indian literature with his profound verses that eloquently captured the spirit of his time. In this blog post, we delve into one of his timeless poems, translated from Tamil by A.K. Ramanujan. The poem, simply titled "Wind," speaks of the wind's power and its relationship with humanity, weaving a tapestry of themes and emotions that continue to resonate with readers.
Summary of the Poem
In "Wind," the poet addresses the wind as if having a conversation with a sentient force of nature. The poet implores the wind to approach gently, urging it not to wreak havoc on windows, papers, or books. The wind's playful actions are highlighted, as it disrupts and scatters objects, tearing pages and bringing rain. The wind is portrayed as a whimsical entity that mocks the vulnerable and exploits their weaknesses.
The destructive nature of the wind is further depicted as it ravages everything in its path: houses, doors, rafters, wood, bodies, lives, and hearts. The poet paints a vivid picture of decay and vulnerability, illustrating the wind's power to winnow and crush. Despite the poet's entreaties, the wind remains untamed, refusing to adhere to human commands.
To counter the wind's destructive tendencies, the poet suggests a solution: building strong homes, securing doors, strengthening the body, and fortifying the heart. By doing so, the poet believes that humanity can earn the wind's friendship. The wind is portrayed as a discerning force that distinguishes between weak and strong fires. It extinguishes feeble flames while nurturing robust ones, symbolizing its role in testing and fortifying the human spirit.
The poem concludes with a sentiment of praise for the wind, acknowledging its might and acknowledging the intricate relationship between humans and nature.
Various Themes in the Poem
- Power of Nature: The poem underscores the uncontrollable power of nature, represented by the wind, which can both nurture and destroy.
- Fragility and Strength: The contrast between fragile and robust elements — weak structures versus fortified homes, feeble fires versus strong blazes — reflects the themes of vulnerability and resilience.
- Human-Nature Connection: The poem explores the intricate relationship between humans and nature, emphasizing the need to coexist harmoniously and earn nature's favor.
- Symbolism: The wind serves as a symbolic representation of challenges and adversities in life that must be confronted and overcome.
Analysis of the Poem
"Wind" by Subramania Bharati is a vivid portrayal of nature's capriciousness and the delicate balance between human strength and vulnerability. The wind's actions serve as a metaphor for the unpredictable trials of life, emphasizing the importance of fortitude and adaptability. The poet's call to build strong homes and resilient hearts suggests that while nature cannot be controlled, human response and preparedness can mitigate its impact.
The poem's tone evolves from a plea to a declaration of human agency. It conveys the idea that humans can earn the wind's respect by displaying strength and resolve. The contrast between the wind's treatment of weak fires and strong fires underscores the theme of growth through adversity. Just as the wind strengthens strong fires, challenges in life can foster personal growth and resilience.
Additionally, the poem's praise for the wind illustrates a sense of acceptance and acknowledgement of nature's supremacy. It captures the humility and awe that humans experience in the face of nature's power, reinforcing the interconnectedness of all living things.
In conclusion, "Wind" is a lyrical masterpiece that encapsulates the complexities of human existence, the unpredictable nature of life's challenges, and the potential for growth through resilience. Subramania Bharati's poetic brilliance shines through as he weaves a tapestry of words that resonates with readers across generations, inviting them to contemplate their relationship with the world around them and find strength in the face of adversity.
Thinking about the Poem
Q1. What are the things the wind does in the first stanza?
ANSWER:
In the first stanza, the wind blows violently, breaks the shutters of the windows, scatters the papers, throws down the books on the shelf, tears the pages of the book, brings rain, pokes fun at the weaklings and destroys everything in its path.
Q2. Have you seen anybody winnow grain at home or in a paddy field? What is the word in your language for winnowing? What do people use for winnowing? (Give the words in your language,
if you know them.)
ANSWER: Yes, I have seen the winnowing process in my village. In my mother tongue (Hindi) it is called "Osana" or "Phatakna".(अनाज पछारना; फटकना, ओसाना)
Q3. What does the poet say the wind god winnows?
ANSWER: The poet suggests that the wind god winnows and crushes frail and decaying aspects of existence, including houses, doors, rafters, wood, bodies, lives, and hearts. This imagery emphasises the wind's power to test and eliminate vulnerabilities, leaving behind only the sturdy and resilient.
Q4. What should we do to make friends with the wind?
ANSWER: To make friends with the wind, the poet advises building strong homes, securing doors firmly, strengthening the body, and steadying the heart. By demonstrating resilience and strength, humans can earn the wind's favour and protection.
Q5. What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you?
ANSWER: The last four lines of the poem express gratitude and reverence for the wind's actions. They signify an acknowledgement of the wind's dual nature — its ability to extinguish weak fires while nurturing and amplifying strong ones. The lines convey an understanding of the wind's role in shaping and testing life's challenges.
Q6. How does the poet speak to the wind — in anger or with humour? You must also have seen or heard of the wind “crumbling lives”. What is your response to this? Is it like the poets's?
ANSWER: The poet speaks to the wind with a mix of both awe and respect. There's a hint of humor in the tone, as the poet playfully scolds the wind for its mischievous behavior. Regarding "crumbling lives," both the poet and I recognize the wind as a metaphor for adversity and challenges that can lead to the breakdown of human lives and spirits. While the poet's response reflects a call to fortify oneself against life's trials, my response aligns with the understanding that challenges, though difficult, can lead to growth and resilience.
Extra Questions
Q1. What are various poetic/literary devices used in the poem?
ANSWER:
These are the poetic devices used in the poem "Wind" by Subramania Bharati:
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Personification: The wind is addressed directly and attributed with human-like qualities, making it a central character in the poem.
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Irony: The speaker's statements often carry an ironic tone, where the literal meaning is contradicted by the actual situation, creating a subtle tension.
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Imagery: Vivid and sensory descriptions of the wind's actions, like breaking shutters, scattering papers, tearing pages, and crumbling objects, create a strong visual and emotional impact.
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Metaphor: The wind is metaphorically used to represent challenges and adversity in life, emphasising its power to disrupt and affect various aspects of existence.
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Repetition: The repetition of the word "crumbling" emphasises the gradual destruction caused by the wind, emphasizing its impact on different elements.
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Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds, such as "frail crumbling," "crumbling doors," and "crumbling rafters," creates a rhythmic and melodic quality in the poem.
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Contrast: The poem contrasts weak and strong, frail and firm elements, highlighting the theme of vulnerability and strength.
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Symbolism: The wind serves as a symbol for larger forces that shape human lives, emphasising the broader connections between nature and existence.
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Enjambment: Lines flow into one another without a pause, creating a sense of continuity and a natural rhythm.
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Anaphora: The repetition of the phrase "You" at the beginning of multiple lines emphasises the wind's actions and impact.
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Oxymoron: Contradictory terms like "frail crumbling" and "crumbling hearts" create a contrast and evoke deeper thought about vulnerability and resilience.
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Tone: The poem's tone shifts from a scolding and pleading tone to a more accepting and reverent tone, conveying a range of emotions.
10 MCQs based on the poem Wind
1. What is the primary request the poet makes to the wind in the poem?
a) To blow strongly
b) To come softly
c) To bring rain
d) To scatter papers
2. In the poem, the wind is described as being clever at poking fun at:
a) Strong fires
b) Weaklings
c) Rain clouds
d) The poet
3. What does the wind "winnow and crush" according to the poem?
a) Strong fires
b) Books on the shelf
c) Weaklings and decaying elements
d) Rain clouds
4. The poet suggests that to make friends with the wind, one should:
a) Challenge it
b) Build strong homes and fortify the heart
c) Ignore it
d) Avoid it
5. What does the wind do to weak fires according to the poem?
a) Strengthens and nurtures them
b) Extinguishes them
c) Ignites them further
d) Creates a whirlwind
6. The wind's actions on weak structures and fires are used as metaphors for:
a) Political turmoil
b) Emotional strength
c) Adversities in life
d) Joyful celebrations
7. The poet's tone towards the wind changes from:
a) Reverence to anger
b) Praise to indifference
c) Playfulness to acceptance
d) Fear to admiration
8. What is the effect of the wind on papers and books in the poem?
a) It organizes them neatly
b) It scatters and tears them
c) It brings rain on them
d) It blows them away completely
9. The wind is described as mocking which of the following in the poem?
a) The poet's pleas
b) Strong fires
c) Rain clouds
d) Weak structures
10. What does the poet emphasise as a way to counter the wind's destructive tendencies?
a) Hiding from the wind
b) Building weak structures
c) Strengthening and fortifying oneself
d) Challenging the wind's power
ANSWER KEY
- b) To come softly
- b) Weaklings
- c) Weaklings and decaying elements
- b) Build strong homes and fortify the heart
- b) Extinguishes them
- c) Adversities in life
- c) Playfulness to acceptance
- b) It scatters and tears them
- d) Weak structures
- c) Strengthening and fortifying oneself
10 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) for Practice - Coorg by Lokesh Abrol
