LETTERS TO EDITOR

Lette to think

*
Dear Rati ji,

Rajesh Joshi's Diary appeared inthe 84th

edition of the reputed Hindi magazine 'Pahal' . Joshiji having referred to Kashmiri poetess Laldyad and South Indian poetess Akka Mahadevi and underlining the rebel instinct/attitude of mediaval Shaiv and Shakt traditions associated them with the Post Sixty poetic movement 'Akavita' and raised the agenda of revision of anarchist tradition. "Arajak Paramparaon Ka Punarpath". This is really an important point. Some thing new in Rajesh Joshi's diary inspires me in the remote valley. As far as I remember it was the Kritya that has provided with the detailed material on his works. Agnishekhar and you really did the hard work to make these available to Hindi readers. In continuation I sent some material for Kritya's April/ May 2006 editions. There was material on another rebel poet Milarepa besides Laldyad and Akka Mahadevi on internet (www.kritya.in). Joshiji ignored the fact due to unknown reasons. There could be two reasons - one, Milarepa's being masculine and other,his association with Budhist traditions. This is because of the fact that Indian Himalayan regions along with Tibet and therefore the budhist traditions in totality is considered as "foreign" . However I would like to add some vitalpoints with reference to Joshiji's notes.

In Vajarayani Budhist Traditions of inner and Trance-Himalayan pleatue, there were the rebel poets and this rebel disposition is reflected in their works. Bhutani lunatic Bhikshu as he was called, Dugkpa Kunlag was infamous saint of said tradition. Two separate autobiographies are available of this great saint. One explains his righteous deeds and the other explains his less righteous deeds. Thinley Namgyal a scholar of Bhoti language and student of Budhist philosophy told me of this interesting Bhikshu. It was said that he rejected all the contemporary prevalent taboos. His works crossed all the limits of obscenity and gruesomeness.

12th century Tibetan ascetic Milarepa is considered to be the representative of these 'anarchist' poets. This gypsy poet had sung hundred thousand songs while on his way to pilgrimage to both sides of Himalaya. Often bare clad, the ascetic not only renounced worldliness but also made fun of the feudal lords, rich men, religious leaders, scriptures, temples and Math, religious practices and even scholars were not spared by him. During the beginning of 20th century, European travelers searched every nook and corner of Himalaya and collected these lively songs which were sung by the gypsy singers and beggars. Four thick volumes of the collection are available in English and hundreds of booklets have been published. Bhoti literature as well is teeming with the comments on Milarepa's songs biographies, tales and and his works. But we, the so-called 'Hindi Walas' never took notice of these traditions for ages even though we happen to be living in neighborhood. What do I say of this self contained attitude? Some notice has to be taken of the ethno- psychological reasons of this mentality of slumber. The poets of repute like Joshiji are underlining our self containment, its high time for us to wake up. In his notes Rajesh Joshi advocates the need to peep into those 'prohibited' areas of the poetry; this is very important point. Post sixty Hindi poetic movement 'Akavita" has least impressed me: however it was the beginning. It might have been the possible that due to inability to realize the traditions, the movement died out. May be 'Akavita' movement could not accomplish its own texture, format and idiom. I endorse Joshiji's point that the rebel consciousness is not that vigorously apparent in Vaishnav traditions as is in Shaiv and Shakt traditions. I would like to go further by calling it 'Tartaric Traditions' which includes Budhist and dozens of other Indian sub sects. In fact whole of the Hindi belt (literature) has been nourished by Vaishnav Bhakti Rasa. Natural rebel instincts of human being are blunted by the instruments of ethics and moralities of Vaishnav traditions. These sign are crushed at very natal stage. Therefore Hindi areas do not have the mettle enough to come out and see, know or face the stock reality. Kabir and Meera were exceptions, but could they get rid of the social pressure and conformism completely? Kabir kept addressing his Rama as Nirguna but himself remained terrified by the company of other" sex. Meera Kept longing for his Girdhar in 'Virah' but like could not express their rebellion the way Akka and Laldyad did. Thus Hindi poetic trends as a whole gave us such ground   that breeds the mentality of unenterprise, inertness and submission. And from ages we have shirked having a look into neighborhood, believing Non Hindi world as 'alien'. The evaluation of the rebel consciousness in Trantric Traditions should be based not only on geographical and social but spiritual and philosophical factors should also be studied in the light of political background.
Some efforts are being made by the westerns but there is silence in Hindi. If there do exit some discussions, they are negligible. It is essential to know the geographical reasons of living naked in the dark caves of cold desert in the freezing below forty temperature. So called progressive people of Hindi are so much terrified that they consider it sin to cast a glance in this direction. They criticise the Naths, Siddhs, Shaivs, Shakts, Bodhs as uncivilized, barbaric, superstitious, extremists and Vam margi but never try to understand them. In fact the tantric literature seems to me to be more energetic and progressive. We need to study these traditions deeply in order to strengthen our poetry. This could be our first discourse and I object to Rajesh Joshi's remarks "Punarpath" (revision). We have yet to learn the lesson one.

Ajay

Extention Officer (Industries)

Keylong (H.P.)


****

Dear Editor/Publisher,

I am contacting you to let you know about IN THE WRITE LIGHT, a new creative
writing workshop based in the south of Spain, which gives new and
intermediate writers the chance to explore their creative skills in a
relaxed and informal environment.

For more info please see www.inthewritelight.com


I would be happy to put a link to your site on mine and would be very happy
if you could reciprocate. If not possibly you can publish my press release
which is attached below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes
Natasha Smith
087 785 1642


GET AWAY, GET CREATIVE


www.inthewritelight.com



IN THE WRITE LIGHT

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..ends..


For information: visit www.inthewritelight.com


Press contact: Email Natasha writelight@gmail.com


**

Dear Dr.Rati Saxena,

Glad to know about the online poetry magazine, Kritya'.
It is fantastic to learn that people still venture into poetry and have faith in creativity..

Best wishes and Regards,

Savithri Rajeevan


Thank you Rati!
You're doing a great job as usual

Nate


**

Dear Rati ji,

Thanks for the mail and the journal.How promptly and regularly 'Kritya' is greeting us before the end of every month ! It's amazing.Hearty congratulations. I will mail my detailed response  very shortly.Every issue has its own charm, flavour and impact.

Warm wishes,

T.S.Chandra Mouli,

Hyderabad..


**

What a wonderful issue, Rati. As always…a beacon in the poetry-night.



Ward


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Dear Dr. Saxena,

It is with great pleasure and admiration that I write this mail to you. I have just read your interview dated June 06 and it immediately struck a chord in my heart. I am truly impressed by your achievements. I have always had a belief that Hindi writers have preferred to keep themselves aloof from all other languages, even Sanskrit, what to say of Urdu, the language of Hindustan / Hindustani. They have almost shunned South Indian languages, and have studied English only as a compulsion, but rarely written in it.

It is a pleasure to see fresh winds blowing. I wish you all success. I have about 50 bilingual poems, mostly English translations of my Hindi poems. I fully appreciate and agree with your views about translation.

Will try to be active on Kritya.

Regards and best wishes.

--
Prof. M C Gupta
MD (Medicine), MPH, LL.M.,

Advocate & Health and Medico-legal Consultant

mcgupta44@gmail.com
http://www.medindia.net/myhome/mcgupta44
www.writing.com/authors/mcgupta44 DeleteReplyForwardSpamMove...

**

I have wrote a poem which I'm attaching with a picture. The picture has some meaning with the poem. I will paste the poem here also. Please see the attachment too.

The eternal Hindustan

Run the days of chains of blood
Severing the hands of tyranny
The terra firma of affluent mores
Paved the beam for plucky sunrise,
The solace of Sindhu streams the
Hearts of poor and farmers
Reverie of glittering skies
Storming the élan of toddlers,
Astika vanquishing the Nastika
From the crest of Himalayas
To the subterranean of Indu Sarovaram
Sanatana-Dharma tether the psyche,
Cuddling the torments with tears of tranquility
Penance the wars of religious penchant.

. My prayers are always there for you and your family. Here last week it started snowing.....it is very good to see but pinch cold. I used to write to Ann (she is in Philadelphia only) often. She always good in judging a poem as she is a great poet. Gives me tips and point out pitfalls also. I have gone through the New Year copy. The Australian-Newzealand issue was great. My congrats to all those who worked behind it to materialise.
Ultimately Madamji it is all your hardwork.

With prayers
Bobby

****

it is a beautiful issue and i am honored to be a part of it. i often wonder about where truth lies....

does this mean that my poems are also in Hindi or are those separate? some day i will read hindi and figure out for myself! ;)

take care,
Theodora  

****


Dr Rati saxena
i found your magazine on the net, searching for poetry competitions
so i thought i would sent a little bit about myself. which is off the back
cover
of my first collection of poems. it is titled the heart of poetry first
journey.
i have been practicing yoga for three years now, and it has opened up a
channel
of direct perception. please find below a poem called Venus, which i saw a
few hours ago.
love Robin


Robin was born in Lumsden, New Zealand in 1957.
His love of the outdoors and nature began in his early family life and
continued with extensive tramping and climbing in the
Southern Alps.

Robin studied Veterinary medicine and after five years of rural practise he
moved to the UK with his wife Donna. The outdoors continued to feature
through his fell running, with regular training stints along Offa’s Dyke around
Kington, Herefordshire.

Robin has suffered from Uveitis/iritis and it was due to this that
he became interested in yoga as a way of improving his mobility
and health.
He soon realized that through the dedication of his yoga teacher
Raj, and his commitment to a consistent daily practise of yoga,
that it resulted in a marked improvement of his health and well being; a
rejuvenating flexibility of body and mind. Through the sessions with his yoga
teacher he also discovered something far
more profound: a spark; a light within; a new found intuition which has
given him an ‘ever present inspiration’ to write poetry - from
the heart.

Robin writes as he perceives and his work is strongly influenced by nature
and the beauty that surrounds. He incorporates this with aspects of
philosophy for everyday life. His pieces are as timeless
as the thought itself and can be described as being beautifully carved
flowing pieces with meaning; he inquires of the reader ‘to perceive between the
lines’. His poetry is compelling and appeals to all ages.

Robin currently practices as a Veterinarian in rural Wales; his love
of life in this part of the world is reflected in his poetry.


Venus 25/1/07


Venus
How beautiful you are to me,
in this evening pink that’s fading;
to a setting horizon, your light so clear
so bright, I sense no space between us:
A oneness; as if my own reflection,
exponentially transforming in this
moment of pure delight;
and as I extend my voice from soul,
I sing this song to my Venus
‘Venus Oh Venus I adore you,
Oh Venus I love you so,
I will always sing
to your gracious presence,
as for tomorrow,
I know I may never be able’.


©2007 RobinBaldwin

Robin R. Baldwin

***

Dear Rati,
Thanks & I will let you know first week March how to read the newsletter.
I will also shortly send you the poem I mentioned.

My writings are mostly about people; their behaviour; desires & dreams AND above all the
well being of children & women.

In South Africa we have a SERIOUS male problem with a very warped idea of authority
coupled with an extreme lack of taking responsibility. My newest book which is on this
topic is nearing completion & will be published shortly.I feel it is one of those
publications that every woman should read.

I once again thank you for your support & trust you will have a wonderful week.

Kind regards,

Stan Almendro

****

कृत्या का नया अंक देखा, आप लगातार बेहतर बना रही हैं। विकल्प की प्रति मिल गई होगी, फरबरी का अंक भी पोस्ट किया है।

प्रमोद रंजन
 

 

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