nAlO nEnu (Is literature the ultimate? #1)
Prabhakar Vissavajjhala (vissa@cortex.neuro.mssm.edu)
Mon, 9 Jun 1997 20:39:13 -0500
nAlO nEnu
[Is literature (poetry) the ultimate regarding practical
reality?#1)
[This is put in the form of a dialogue between 'manassu' (mind) abbreviated
as 'M' and 'buddhi' (conscience) abbreviated as 'B' of the same
individuval.]
M: 'svanta lAbhamu konta mAnuka
porugu vADiki tODu paDavOy!
dESa manTE maTTi kAdOy!
dESa manTE manushulOy!'
Look at this. This is what 'poetry' is. Simple, straight forward and
hitting the nail right on the head.
B: ahahahhaaaaaa....................
M: Why the hell are you laughing?
B: ahahahhaaaaaa....................
M: Do you mean this is not poetry? What are you laughing at?
B: Before answering you, let me ask you, whether you remember the story
you learnt in your childhood.
M: Which one?
B: The symbolic story of three monkeys and a stone.
M: Of course, I remeber the interpretation also quite well.
B: Could you please tell me?
M: There are three monkeys. Each one of them is thrown with a stone in one
ear. For the first one, the stone came out through the other ear. For the
second one, the stone got disappeared in the head. And for the third one,
it came out through the mouth.
B: Good. What is the interpretation?
M: The stone symbolizes a 'nice word' or 'a piece of poetry', like I read
a little while ago. So, the first monkey ignored it after hearing, as it
came out through the other ear. The second one did understand but did not
show any reaction as it (stone) disappeared in the head. The third one is
the best like me, as he heard, understood and could speak it out, as the
stone came out through the mouth.
B: Very good. But before I answer you why I laughed, I feel the story is
incomplete and should be extended a bit in the same tune.
M: What is the extension?
B: Just add one more monkey, the fourth one. This was also thrown with a
stone in the ear like others were. It got disappeared in the head. But, the
monkey went out and symbolically say, brought a glass of water. And revise
the whole story now.
M: What do you mean? What are you aiming at?
B: Simple. Just revise the story. The stone; 'a nice word' is now a'
request for a glass of water'. So, the first one ignored it. Second one
heard, understood but didn't react accordingly. We don't know the reasons.
The third one heard it, also did not practically react for the reasons best
known to himself; but passed on the message to someone else atleast. The
fourth one just 'reacted appropriately' in action.
M: So....................?
B: When it comes to 'practical reality' of the society or present day life,
the stone is the urging appeal here. You are simply appreciating the
poetry. So, as long as you are satisfied with that much, at the best you
are the 3rd type of monkey of the above story. I am laughing at you for
this reason as you are thinking 3rd category is the best and you are proud
of it. So, for the sake of dealing with the practical reality of the
society, literature/poetry are not the ultimate. It is the 4th category
people that are necessary.
M: Come on. As per your story, even the 4th category people reacted only
to the 'message/appeal', which is nothing but poetry/literature in my
opinion.
B: It is not necessarily be literature/poetry alone, though it can be one
of them. It could be any means of information. Especially, in modern times,
it can be any means of communication. Afterall, a begger stretches a hand
pitifully looking at you, without talking even for which you may react.
This does not require poetry not even language at times.
M: There you are. I got you here. You can not be present everywhere all
the times. Not even the people who need help can approach you all the times
directly. This is where a poet/writer plays a major role in enlightening
others, elevating their mental perspective of a situation, with his/her
unique vision, which a common person generally lacks inspite of watching
the same situation. So, you can not say that poetry/literature/poets do not
have any role in the whole issue. Anyway, do you mean to say
poetry/literature is useless regarding 'practical reality'?
B: You prove very often that your nature is emotional reaction, without
proper thinking. When I say the 4th category is the ultimate, it does not
mean that poetry/literature is useless or worthless. O.K. I will come to
that later. But tell me one thing. Who is imporatant for a hungry person?
Who can feed him or who writes fabulous piece of poetry on hunger, so that
some kind soul's heart may melt and comes forward to feed the hungry one?
M: Of course, obviously, the one who feeds. However, what if a rich person
reacts with that peotry and starts an 'annadAna satram'? Won't that
poet/writer get credit for that?
B: Seems like you do not get the point properly, do you? O.K. By the
way, do you know about diabetes?
(to be continued)
With regards,
Prabhakar Vissavajjhala