The Patriot by Nissim Ezekiel (Poem)

 The Patriot by Nissim Ezekiel (Poem)

Nissim Ezekiel is one of the major Indian English poets who creates authentic flavours of India. He uses Indian English which Indian people use in their conversation. Indians love English and believe that it is the language that can express true aspirations of India. Free India is different from China and Pakistan. It is more developed, Techno-savvy and liberal. It is democratic and recular in nature.) 

Ezekiel presents that the new generation of India is fashionable and westernised. They speak in English, study in English medium schools and colleges. They prefer western food and western lifestyle. Porn

In the second stanza, the poet asks:

Why do people not follow peace and non-violence ? 

He says that people should follow the advice 

of Gandhiji and also the ancient wisdom 

of India. However, he says that he reads 

the English newspaper regularly to improve his English.

In the third stanza, he says that lassi with salt is better than wine for digestion. He further adds that he is a teetotaler. He has never tasted wine in his life. He says that wine is for the drunkards only.

Then he asks, "What you think of prospects of World peace?"

Pakistan behaves in an abnormal manner. China also does the same. He says that such a strange behaviour of China and Pakistan is disgusting. He says:

"All men are brothers, no ?"

In India also

Gujarati's, Maharashtrians, Hindiwallans

All brothers

Though some are having funny habits.

Nissim Ezekiel says that to love one's country is important but it is more important to be liberal and tolerant. He says,

"I tolerate you,

one day Ram Rajya is surely coming.

You are going ?

But you will visit again

Anytime, any day,

I am not believing in ceremony

Always enjoying your company." विविधता

The poet says that India is a country of diversity. There are people of various religious, castes and creeds who live in India. Though they differ in many things, they live together forgetting their differences. In India, we have a concept of Ram Rajya (an ideal state) where all people live harmoniously and unitedly. Mahatma Gandhi eulogized the concept of Ram Rajya and dreamt about harmonious India.)

At the end of the poem the poet tells the listener that he likes his company and therefore he can visit him anytime. He does not like to celebrate but he loves the company of good people. The narrator is a very talkative person who spenks in grammatically incorrect English. He also uses words which have Indian flavour. It is like Hinglish or Gujlish.

The narrator begins by saying that he stands for peace and non-violence but people keep on figuting. He asks why people do not follow Gandhiji. Indian ancient wisdom is not only 100% correct but 200% correct. He says that the modern generation is neglecting ancient traditions and preachings of Mahatma Gandhi. They are fashion-freak and follow Western way of life.

The narrator also is an admirer of the English language. He reads the Times of India every day to improve his English. He quotes the words of Shakespeare from his famous play Juliur Caesar', "Friends Romans, Countrymen'' These words have no relevance but he claims to be a scholarly man." The poem has no logical sequence. He speaks haphazardly. Refer- ring to perpetual change in the world, he says:

"Everything is coming - Regeneration, Remuneration, contraception"

Regeneration is ok but remuneration and contraception have no relevance. Here also, he wants to show his command over vocabulary in English. Then he refers to lassi, the lovely drink which is good for health. He says that it is far better than wine. Then he says that he is a teetotaller and he has never tasted wine in his life.

In the end, he says that people of India should live harmoniously and tolerantly inspite of the fact that there are differences in religions, cases, creeds and even funny habits. He says:

"Still you tolerate me,

I tolerate you".

He says that one day Ram Rajya would surely come in India. The poem is funny, irone and humorous. It depicts irrational attitude of the Indian people in general.

The humorous aspect of the poem is not only the content of the poem but Indian English. Let us take an example of Indian way of writing or speaking English.