Grandfather - Jayanta Mahapatra PDF

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Grandfather – Jayanta Mahapatra

About the Poet: Mahapatra is an Indian-English poet born, raised and situated in Orissa. Mahapatra always felt distanced because he belonged to a Christian family living in a pre-dominantly Hindu society. The poet's sense of alienation stems from his grandfather's conversion to Christianity during the famine in Orissa in 1886. About the Poem: The poem talks about the poet's grandfather Chintamani Mahapatra. He converted to Christianity during the Orissa famine of 1866. The poet poses rhetorical questions regarding the conversion. It emphasizes on the moral dilemma of having to convert for survival but "at what cost?". Having lived as a Christian in a pre-dominantly Hindu society, he was detached and was often alienated. The poet faced an identity crisis because of the mixed cultures and insecure childhood as he was neither a complete Hindu nor a Christian. The famine was very severe and a lot suffered as the relief did not reach on time. It was preceded by a drought. Summary: The pages of the yellow diary express the agony of the grandfather. The land is struck by famine. It was so severe

that the only things to be seen was the cracked fallow earth, the dust and the dead trees. People became very weak and hunger became so severe that became animalistic. Sometimes even going as far as consuming raw tamarind leaves. Some were driven to insanity, sometimes breaking to fits of unnatural laughter. The poet feels that his grandfather was a coward to run away from hunger. His grandfather chose to convert to survive. The poet accuses and questions his grandfather's actions as to why he left the rich culture and heritage for survival. His heart is heavy with feelings of alienation as he is neither a complete Hindu nor a Christian. Religion is an imperishable aspect of life. It gives faith and is what makes our identity. Having converted, he turned his back on his own religion, which let to mixed feelings in their neighbors. Because of this, his heart is heavy with feelings of alienation as he is neither a complete Hindu nor a Christian. Both he and his son have forgotten about the famine only knowing about it from books and historical accounts. The taunting rain is a reminder of the grim past that paved a path for the future. He doubts if he would be able to interpret his grandfather's legacy and if the future would also do so because of the generation gap. He realizes that his grandfather was an invisible piece on a board as it was his actions and decisions that helped his children and their children live a good life. The poet wishes to get to know more about his grandfather. Being riddled with questions, he contemplates whether it was beneficial to have taken the dangerous choice or if he should have chosen to die with dignity.

The poem also hints at the question whether religion is more important than the lives of men. During the famine, the missionaries assured food and shelter on condition that the people converted. It depicts the politics of the world which doesn't care about its people's cries. If the choice was taken, he would get a chance at a good life but he would be burdened by it. The other option would be more dignified but at the cost of one's life. It shows the inhumane nature of religion as neither the one he adopts nor his own is able to provide the one thing he needs the most....