Bahuk
Bahuk | |
---|---|
Long narrative poem based on | |
OCLC | 249677342 |
Preceded by | Aansu Maro Chhinna Ansha |
Followed by | Kaalakhyan |
Bahuk (
Background and publication history
Chinu Modi began writing Bahuk in 1971. He suspended work between 1979 and 1981, on receiving a creative fellowship from the Department of Culture in Delhi, before going on to complete the poem in October 1982.[3] Bahuk was published in book form in January 1983 by Adarsh Publication, Ahmedabad, and reprinted in 1999. A third edition, including critical articles, was published in October 2014.[4]
Characters
- Nishadnagar, who lost his empire to his brother Pushkarain a bet.
- Damayanti, princess of the Vidarbha Kingdom and wife of Nala.
- Brihadashwa, a sage.
During his exile, Pandava king Yudhishthira asked Brihadashwa, "Is there any other emperor in this wood who is unfortunate as me?". At that time, Brihadashwa consoled him by narrating the story of Nala and Damayanti. In Modi's poem, the sage Brihadashwa comes into his own as an independent character and observer.[3]
Theme
The subject of the poem is the story of Nala and Damayanti from chapter 27 chapter of the Vana Parva, third parva (book) of the Mahabharata. The poem's central theme is the psyche and subtle emotions of Nala, and of his wife Damayanti. After losing his empire to his brother Pushkara in a bet, Nala spends three days and nights outside his city, Nishadnagar, with Damayanti, before going into the forest. Cut off from his city, Nala feels extreme loneliness. The poem depicts the dissolution of his personality during these three days and nights.[2][3]
Structure and techniques
The poem is divided into three sarga (cantos). The first contains 15 chapters, the second 13 chapters, and the third 22 chapters. The three characters do not communicate with each other but speak in independent monologues.
The chronological order of narrator monologues is as follows:
- Sarga 1 : Brihadashwa, Nala, Damayanti
- Sarga 2 : Brihadashwa, Nala, Damayanti
- Sarga 3 : Damayanti, Brihadashwa, Nala
The first and second sargas are composed in
Synopsis
Sarga 1
The first sarga (canto) begins with three visions of Brihadashwa: the arrival of victorious Pushkara in the town Nishadanagar; the citizens' fear at his arrival; and victorious Pushkara's emotions and Nala's numbness. There follows a description of Nala's despair at being cut off from his city. The sarga concludes with Damayanti's thoughts and feelings on Nala's situation.[4]
Sarga 2
The second sarga begins with Brihadashwa's address to the Vrukharaj (a banyan tree) and some other elements of nature at the border of Nishadanagar concerning Nala's mental state. Nala's monologue follows, reflecting his stillness, his passivity and lifelessness, and his growing consciousness of these things. Finally, Damayanti's monologue reveals her own state of mind in certain lines, with the remainder concerning Nala. Damayanti addresses Nala, attempting to rouse him from his numbed state. The entire monologue uses the technique of Indication.[4]
Sarga 3
The third sarga begins with Damayanti's monologue describing Nala's mental state through the symbol of the banyan tree Vruksharaj and other elements of nature. Damayanti attempts to convince Nala to accept his new situation. Brihadashva's monologue follows, describing Nala's situation using natural imagery such as darkness and the forest. At the beginning of the final monologue, by Nala, Nala finds a golden, fleshy bird. Hungry, he finds the bird fit to eat. This is the point at which his transformation into Bahuka commences. He makes a snare out of his only cloth to catch the bird, but it flies away carrying the cloth. Nala is left naked and feels his individuality dissolving, with a deep sense of grief. Finally, Nala turns into Bahuka, not as a result of the snake Karkotaka's bite as in the original story in the Mahabharata, but through the sting of loneliness. He leaves Damayanti and wanders away into the forest. The episode that begins with Nala's desire to kill the bird closes with Nala leaving Damayanti, revealing his uglier side. The Nala of the poem is written as a displaced person.[4]
Award
The book was awarded the Ushnas Prize (1982–83) by the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad (Gujarati Literary Council).[6]
Critical response
The poem has been critically acclaimed by several
Translation and adaptation
Chinu Modi adapted the poem as two-act Gujarati play in 1991. In the production, Himanshu Trivedi played the role of Nala and Asma Dalal played Damayanti.[7] The poem was translated into Hindi by Kavita Sharma as Jadli in 2017.
References
- ISBN 978-81-260-1092-9. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ a b Topiwala, Chandrakant (1990). "Bahuk". Gujarati Sahityakosh (Encyclopedia of Gujarati Literature) (in Gujarati). Vol. 2. Ahmedabad: Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. p. 394.
- ^ ISSN 2249-2372. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-93-82593-79-9.
- ^ Bhayani, Harivallabh. Kavyakautuk (Collection of Critical Articles). Bombay: S.N.D.T Women's University.
- ^ ISBN 978-93-5108-247-7.
- ISBN 81-7227-113-1.
Further reading
- Modi, Chinu; Ramakrishnan, E.V. (September–October 1995). "Bahuk". JSTOR 23335791.