Kunwar Narain — a poet of conscience
S. D. Sharma

Kunwar Narain Photo: Pradeep Tewari
Kunwar Narain Photo: Pradeep Tewari

WISDOM, rationality and intellectualism are the traits of a born genius, Kunwar Narain, the peerless poet who takes his profession as a calling. Reigning over the Hindi literary firmament, he is revered as an omniscient person, sage or a visionary who has been representing the cultural ethos of the people, rather the whole human race, for the last six decades.

Credited with six classics of poetry, two epic poems, fiction, criticism, translations, compilations and many more writings of excellence, Kunwar Narain at 81 is still young in spirits and old in wisdom. The poet has been rightfully honoured with a galaxy of national and international literary awards like the National Sahitya Akademy Award, Hindustani Akademy Award, Kabir Samman Award, Medal of Warsaw University Poland, and Premo Feronia, Italy, to mention a few.

An epitome of uprightness with the reticence of character and innate innocence, Kunwar emerged the poet of conscience with his first poetry book Chakravyuh (Circular Siege) in 1956 and has maintained his tradition of excellence with his latest offering of an epic poem, Vajashrava ke Bahane, based on Kathopnisad. This poetic creation vividly recalls the contextual memory of Atamjayi, published 50 years ago. His books Tisra Saptak, Parivesh, Ham Tum, Apne Samne and In Dino have won awards and more so the love of intrusive readers. Most of his works have been translated in English, Polish, French and Italian languages and appreciated, which hold a testimony to his poetic genius. This year, a selection of his poems, No Other World, has been translated into English by his illustrious son Apurva Narain who is an international environmental consultant.

Recently, in Chandigarh for chairing the International Poetry Festival, Kunwar shared his viewpoints on diverse issues and his literary voyage with this writer. Proclaiming his own admiration for the compelling charm and vitality of poetry, he quotes Borges: is, I am sure, made of poetry." And poetry is the bounty and benediction of life for him.

"With Master’s in English and the eventual influence of European literature, I had a passion for writing in English, which slowly melted into Hindi, however, without any prejudice. My feelings on the medium of expression and love for the language or diverse cultures find an oblique reference in my poem Strange Problem, which reads, ‘I want to hate English but Shakespeare gets in the way. I try to hate Muslim but Ghalib intervenes’.

"Hindi is today the fourth major spoken language in the world but the qualitative content of its poetry has not reached out to the masses because of certain constraints of good translation, but now there are commendable achievements in this regard. Even my works translated into English, Polish French and Italian have introduced me to the West and many others like me. Indian writings today exercise a profound influence on the Western readers and eventually they look at us with reverence and respect.

"Besides, it is the quality of literary work which makes the difference. When Shakespeare began writing in English, it was a language of the minority but he took the English sensibility and its literary level to spectacular heights. Similarly, the minority-spoken Polish has produced four Noble laureates as also the Hebrew gave the indomitable poet Amichi," claims Kunwar. It is heartening to know that after Bhai Vir Singh, Moahn Singh, Amrita Pritam, Pash and Shiv Batalvi, the Punjabi poet Surjit Patar has created a mass following of Punjabi poetry in the region and among the Punjabis living abroad, he adds.

On literary art academies, Kunwar observed that with more financial help and patronage they could preserve, promote and propagate the rich cultural heritage in an effective manner.

 





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