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Freedom to the Slave

H.L.V. Derozio

“Freedom to the Slave” appears in Henry Louis Vivian Derozio’s first poetry collection
Poems (1827). This poem is about the exquisite joy of a slave who is freed to be a man. The
basic essence of this poem concerns the inherent happiness to be free in contrast to the pangs
of subjugation, oppression, and most importantly slavery. Derozio, being a vibrant voice of
the Bengal Renaissance, hints at the slavery of Indians to the British East India Company by
referring to an individual who was enslaved. Through writing this piece, he tried to make
Indians desirous of the cherished freedom which not only emancipates a person mentally but
also helps to expand the potential of one’s soul.
This poem begins with an allusion to Thomas Campbell’s poem “The Pleasures of Hope”.
Then the text directly jumps into the story of a slave who was enslaved. Right now, he is
freed from the shackles of slavery. First and foremost, he realizes the hidden potential and
noblest feelings buried inside his soul. It makes him kneel no more to anyone. Once again, he
feels himself a human being, not a creature destined to serve, suffer, and follow.
Then Derozio delves deeper into the joy of the emancipated character. He looks around and
realizes that he is now as free as the air, bird, and river. The flame of freedom has enlightened
his soul’s altar. In the next lines, he expresses his gratitude to all those who are fighting in
order to make the slaves free. He wishes the almighty to bless those generous hands which
break the chain of slavery in any form.
The poem “Freedom to the Slave” taps on the themes of freedom, slavery, and patriotism. As
the title says, this piece is all about the idea of freedom. But, Derozio explores this theme
from the perspective of a slave who is freed from the chains of subjugation. In order to
appreciate the theme, one has to look deeper into the mind of the slave. His exploration of the
things that he was not able to cherish before reflects the inherent desire of a man to be free
like the nature around him.
By writing this poem, Derozio uses the character as a metaphor of all the Indians, enslaved by
the colonial rulers. Their life was no different than the life of a slave. But, the slave in the
poem can lead his life freely. Indians could not. Hence, the poet is sympathetic towards the
sufferings of his countrymen and tries to infuse the spirit of freedom in their hearts.

The Orphan Girl

H.L.V. Derozio

The poem begins with a description of the orphan girl. According to the poet, her (orphan
girl’s) Her hair was black as a raven’s wings. Raven means crow. Her cheeks were as bright
as the tulip flower. Her voice was as soft as the wind or air in the night which is quite calm
and gentle. Her forehead was as bright as the rays of the moon. The beginning is thus quite
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pleasing but after the fourth line, the poet turns to the dark reality. The sire (father) of that girl
went to war and fought bravely but ultimately lost his life and he knew that before dying. The
poet sighs, this is the reward for a brave in this world. The phrase depicts the cruelty of the
world and how it rewards good and bold people. The death of her father was not born by her
mother. Rather than living as a widow she also died of a heart attack and the young girl was
left without parents. The second part describes the poet’s uncertainty of her future in the
world. She has no friends on this cold (without human warmth) and bleak (without hope)
earth. There is no one to give her a shelter, a home, and a hearth (warmth). She will now have
to live in this dull and depressing world (desert here refers to the world) alone. The poet again
repeats the phrase that she has no friend and she should now stay away from being good and
kind as the cruel world will scorn, mock and abuse her. And this cruel nature of the world
will ultimately kill her. The poet laments the fact that the shame which she will suffer will be
enough to squeeze blood from her breasts with the weight of sorrows and guilt and she will
be oppressed by the world. The poet then says that it’s very cruel to wound the bosom (here
symbolizes that girl) whose blood is coming out of the breasts in an uncontrolled way
because of sorrows and shame. No tear can be as painful as the tears that flow from the eyes
of a sorrowful and oppressed woman in the world. And the most blessed and honorable,
according to the poet is the one who would shelter an orphan from sorrow and shame! Thus
the poem ends in hope and uncertainty about the future of the orphan girl. The poem gives an
insight into the condition of the woman and the suppression which she faced during the time
of the poet. A girl whose parents would die had to live a shameful life and was physically,
mentally and sexually tortured by the people.

To India – My Native Land

H.L.V. Derozio
‘To India – My Native Land’ by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio is a patriotic poem written
during the period of the Indian Renaissance. When India was under British rule, deteriorating
and suffering. Educated men like Derozio, Raja Ram Mohan, Vidyasagar, and Rishi Bankim
were earnestly trying to make Indians aware of their past heritage and glory. They tried to
infuse “cultural consciousness” into the common men of India to destabilize the British
hegemony in their minds. In this poem, Derozio tries to do the same. He presents the glorious
period of India and tries to make the readers aware of India’s past.
‘To India – My Native Land’ by Derozio presents India as a deity. In ancient times, she was
as beautiful as a goddess. The poet says, “A beauteous halo circled round thy brow”. When
the poet was writing this poem, India was suffering from British domination. The poet could
neither visualize the “glory” of her past nor her “reverence”. Like a chained eagle, she was
grounded. In such a condition, the poet tried to compose this verse as a piece of consolation
to her groveling motherland. He wished to recollect her lost glory and celebrate it through his
poem.

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An Introduction
Kamala Das

Kamala Das begins this poem by telling us that although she does not know much about
politics, she is well aware of the politicians of her country from Nehru to one of her own
times. She says the politics of India has always remained in the hands of males. She has
memorized the names of all the politicians like the days of the week or the name of the
month. The lines depict how the males have been ruling the country without giving this right
to the women. Moreover, the rulers are fewer in number because democracy exists only in
words. In reality, the rule of the country remains in the hands of some people.
Now the poetess comes towards her own life experience. She says that she is Indian and
brown in colour. She was born in Malabar. She can speak three languages. Like most of the
citizens of India. She is also capable of speaking three languages and writing in two probably
English and her native language. She probably compares herself to the man of the world
trying to show that she is no lesser than him.
Being well familiar with English she uses this language in her writing. However, this habit of
hers is not liked by her friends, relatives, and critics. They all condemn her for writing in
English as according to them. English is the language of colonists. She asks them why they
criticize her, and why she is not given the liberty to write in whatever language she desires.
In these lines, she exposes the jealous nature of her nears and dears who can not endure her
skills. This makes them criticize her. Having no logical reason to put restrictions on her
writing in English, they try to tell her that the language she writes in, is the language of
colonists and thus she should avoid using it. She wonders why the blunders of men and
questions the mistakes of women although the fact is that every person in the world is
imperfect.
She moves towards her married life. She was a child although she entered the stage of
puberty yet her soul was immature. As she was still a child after marriage, She asked for love.
However, her husband quenched his own lust for the poetess. The poetess here not only
describes her married life but tries to narrate the story of every woman in her country.
The girl after being married desires her husband to show compassion and love her. But
instead, she is drawn to the bed which she is not willing to do. She says that she was not
beaten by him yet her womanly body felt to be beaten. She started hating her female body
which we can understand in the following line:
“Dress in Sarees, Be girl, Be wife, they said.
Be embroiderer, Be cook, Be a quarreller with servants.”
She meets a man. According to her, the man is the everyman who desires a woman to quench
his lust as a woman desires love from a man. When she asks him about his identity, his
answer is I. This ‘I’ is the ‘Male Ego’ that gives him the liberty to do whatever he likes. The

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poetess further says that like a man she is also a sinner and saint, beloved and betrayed.
That’s why she considers herself equal to men.

My Grandmother’s House
Kamala Das

The speaker begins by remembering a long-lost house in which she felt loved. The speaker's
grandmother (who lived there) died, and after her death, the house fell silent. Snakes slithered
between the books. At this time, the speaker was still a child and couldn't read yet. When her
grandmother died, the speaker felt as if her blood had turned as cold as the moon. The
speaker often dreams of going back to the house and squinting through its empty windows or
listening to the cold, lifeless air. She imagines that, in a moment of deep anguish, she might
scoop up some of the house's gloom in her arms and take it home to keep in her bedroom,
where it would lie around like a moping dog. Addressing a loved one she calls her "darling,"
the speaker says they couldn't possibly believe she once lived in a house where she was
happy, proud, and cared for. She says she has wandered off course now; she spends her time
trying to gather crumbs of love from strangers.

Enterprize
Nissim Ezekiel

The journey began as a kind of religious trek to a holy place, one that lifted people's spirits
and made their problems seem insignificant. The next stage of the journey led to some
questions but didn't test the group's resolve. The sun shone down on the pilgrims as if in
honor of their fiery anger.
The speaker thought the group was doing well, making lots of observations and taking lots of
notes along the way about things such as: the economic activity of the peasants, snakes' and
goats' behavior, and three cities where a wise person once taught.
But when people started to argue over how to cross a particular area of desert, one pilgrim,
whose writing sounded better than anyone else's, decided to leave the group. A growing
shadow loomed over them all.
During another part of the journey, the group was attacked twice and got lost. Some people
declared themselves free from the group and left. The speaker attempted to pray, and the
group's leader said he could smell the sea nearby.
They stopped noticing anything around them as they continued on their journey. They were a
slow-moving group without much hope, not paying any attention to bad omens like thunder.
They lacked the basic necessities of life, like soap. Some members of the group were totally
destroyed by the experience, while others were just in the process of being destroyed.
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When they finally made it to their destination, they barely even knew why they'd came. The
journey had made their faces dark and sad, and they realized that nothing they'd done was
particularly special or meaningful. They must collect their grace at home.

Goodbye Party For Miss Pushpa T.S.

Nissim Ezekiel

"Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S." by Nissim Ezekiel is a satirical poem that provides a
humorous critique of the Indian bureaucracy and the use of the English language in official
settings. The poem describes the farewell party organized for Miss Pushpa T.S., an employee
in the office who is leaving for a new job. The poem uses satire and humour to criticize
societal norms that limit individual freedom and expression, especially for women. The poem
also highlights the superficiality and lack of sincerity that often characterizes workplace
relationships. Overall, the poem is a notable work of satire that offers a witty portrayal of the
Indian English language and its cultural implications.
In the first seven lines of the poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S." by Nissim Ezekiel,
the narrator sets the scene for the farewell party. The party is being held in the office, and the
guests are described as "fellow workers," suggesting that Miss Pushpa is leaving her job. The
use of the word "fellow" creates a sense of camaraderie among the colleagues, but this is
quickly undermined by the narrator's description of the guests as being "not overly sincere."
This creates a sense of tension and scepticism from the very beginning of the poem, setting
the stage for the satire and humour to come.
In lines 8-14 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S., the speaker
expresses frustration with Miss Pushpa T.S. for not speaking up and being more assertive.
The speaker suggests that Miss Pushpa T.S. should not be afraid to speak her mind and
should strive to be more confident in herself. The speaker also implies that Miss Pushpa
T.S.'s timidity is holding her back and preventing her from achieving her full potential.
Lines 15-19 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S" criticize the
societal norms that force individuals to conform to a certain way of life. The speaker
highlights the hypocrisy of the Indian society that on the one hand, encourages women to be
docile and submissive, while on the other hand, expects them to be assertive and take control
of their lives. The line "Miss Pushpa T.S. is leaving/ Let her go, let her go, /She'll come to
know" suggests that the speaker believes that Miss Pushpa T.S. should leave this environment
and seek a path that aligns with her true self. The phrase "She'll come to know" implies that
Miss Pushpa T.S. will eventually recognize her worth and take control of her life. Overall,
these lines criticize the societal norms that are oppressive and limit the growth and
development of individuals, especially women.
Lines 20-25 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S" reflect the
speaker's frustration with the societal norms that limit individuals' growth and development.
The speaker notes that Miss Pushpa T.S. is leaving with a "heavy heart" and that she is "shy
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and polite." These lines suggest that Miss Pushpa T.S. is leaving because she feels compelled
to do so, not because she wants to. The phrase "She wants to say something" highlights the
speaker's frustration with the societal norms that prevent individuals, especially women, from
expressing themselves freely. The line "But choked, choked, choked" reinforces the idea that
societal norms suffocate individual expression and prevent people from living authentically.
Overall, these lines criticize the societal norms that limit individual freedom and expression,
especially for women and suggest that individuals should be able to express themselves freely
without fear of judgment or reprisal.
In lines 26-28 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S, the speaker
expresses that they will miss Miss Pushpa T.S and her unique qualities, such as her
"elephantine memory" and her ability to "type letters in quadruplicate."
In lines 29-34 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.," the speaker
describes the gifts that Miss Pushpa T.S. receives from her colleagues. The speaker notes that
the gifts are "tacky," suggesting that they are cheap and lack taste. The phrase "plastic
handbag, or woolen scarf" further emphasizes the lack of thought and effort that went into the
gifts. The speaker also notes that the gifts are "useless" and "almost insulting." These lines
criticize the practice of giving gifts without thought or consideration for the recipient's
preferences or needs. The use of the word "insulting" suggests that such gifts can be
demeaning and disrespectful. Overall, these lines highlight the superficiality and lack of
sincerity that often characterizes workplace relationships and the practice of giving gifts.
In lines 35-42 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.," the speaker
describes the farewell speech given by the office manager. The speech is described as "long"
and "boring," with the speaker noting that "half the people slept/ And the other half snored."
These lines highlight the absurdity of formal speeches and the use of pompous language in
official settings. The speaker suggests that such speeches are often meaningless and lack
substance, serving only to waste time and bore listeners. The line "Pushpa listen to me/ You
have nothing to regret" is also ironic, as it implies that Miss Pushpa T.S. may have something
to regret, despite the speaker's assurance to the contrary. Overall, these lines criticize the use
of formal language and meaningless speeches in official settings, highlighting the need for
more sincerity and authenticity in workplace relationships.

Night of the Scorpion

Nissim Ezekiel

In this Poem, "Night of the Scorpion," the speaker tries to narrate a story from his childhood
in which a scorpion bit his mother on a dark and damp night. Local natives come for
assistance and effort to repel any evil spirits that may have triggered the scorpion's attack.
They tried to find to scorpion, but it was an unsuccessful exercise. The pain of the mother
continues. The villagers seem to believe she is being punished for the sins carried out in her
previous life, and the natives wish for her purification.
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They prayed that her agony would balance good and evil on the globe. This will overall
reduce the suffering of the world. The Poem finishes with the natives assembling around her
mother and wishing that the poison will purify her body of desire and ambitious spirit. The
Poet's father applied medicinal herbs to the toe, and a holy man performed his rituals. The
mother started to get relief after 24 hours. As the pain decreased, she said the scorpion chose
him, spared his children, and thanked the god.

The Strange Affair of Robin S. Ngangom

Robin S. Ngangom

The poem “The Strange Affair of Robin Gnangom” starts with the assertion of the poet that
he is not involved with the ‘wheel of fire’ which suggests the destruction, and bloodshed in
his state. As we have mentioned above that Manipur was once a happy princely state.
However, due to the change in the political atmosphere, Manipur undergoes social, political,
and cultural changes.
The lines “misplacing/ a bronze bell” could be a suggestion of losing his cultural identity and
the changes Manipur experiences. This is emphasized by the line “I left behind many
untended hearths.” The change in him uprooted his origin which makes him envious of each
element associated with that land. The new changes cause Manipur to lose her traditional
values.
The people in Manipur believe that their past is unspoiled but due to the cultural, and political
dispossession, the present turbulence is intertwined with their lives. As a consequence, the
starving people take “begging bowls in hand”. Upon seeing this horrific condition of his
people Ngangom seeks to tear and burn the traces of the present condition so that suspicion
cannot write their bloody history.
He talks about the youth who return home at Christmas with hate and fear, they take long and
indirect routes home so that they could outsmart their enemy who would be happy in the birth
of a merciful son. Because they don’t want dissident sons who could be a threat to them.
When these boys reach home, their dreams will come dressed in blood.

A Poem for Mother

Robin S. Ngangom

The poem begins with the speaker addressing his mother, Palem Apokpi, reflecting on the
conflicting emotions he felt ten years ago when leaving home. Over time, he has developed
an attachment to the hills, but he acknowledges the lingering impact of his departure. The
speaker characterizes himself as Palem Apokpi's shy son with a hearty appetite, reminiscing
about the days when he lost teeth consuming the family's provisions. These details provide a

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glimpse into the speaker's identity and his connection to his roots. The poem then explores
the dual nature of the speaker's past, presenting him as both the mischievous lad causing
trouble during school days and the boy who engaged in romantic pursuits even while wearing
half-pants. This contrast adds complexity to the speaker's character, showing different facets
of his youth. Further, The mother's wisdom surfaces as the speaker recalls her teachings
about money and time, revealing his inability to adhere to her guidance, further emphasizing
the divergence between expectations and reality. The narrative shifts to an acknowledgment
of the mother's sacrifices and hard work. The speaker paints a vivid picture of Palem
Apokpi's daily routine, from early morning rituals to returning from the bazaar burdened with
baskets. This portrayal highlights the mother's dedication to her family and the physical toll
of her responsibilities. The speaker questions whether she must continue this toil indefinitely,
expressing concern for her well-being and contemplating the possibility of her finding
respite. The poem takes a poignant turn as the speaker issues a heartfelt apology to his
mother. He admits to not inheriting her stability or culinary skills, expressing remorse for not
living up to her expectations. The speaker humbly recognizes the disparity between his
mother's dreams for him and the reality of his modest existence. The poem concludes with a
final apology, underscoring the speaker's awareness of his shortcomings and conveying a
deep sense of regret for not fulfilling his mother's aspirations. Through these stanzas, the
poem weaves a narrative of reflection, remorse, and a son's acknowledgment of his mother's
enduring sacrifices.

De Souza Prabhu
Eunice de Souza

Our societies are male dominated societies. The institution of marriage in our society is also
man made. The poem highlights the humiliation faced by a woman during the preparations
for marriage. The occasion of the poem is the marriage, the cousin of the narrator of the
poem. The formalities to be completed for her marriage highlight the oppression of women
in male dominated societies. She has to prove herself worthy for the prospective bridegroom.
Her eyes are scrutinized for squints and her teeth are examined for cavities. Even her family
history is examined for possible diseases and conditions. How can she be happy with such a
marriage? She is treated as an object and her role in the marriage is negligible.

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