Thithurate Lamp Post

Reading Adnan Kafeel Darveshs poetry, it feels as if we are re-entering our own time. It is a dynamic time, in which, by moving back and forth, you go as far into the past as you do into the present and the future. The poet himself, by going behind the dividing line of time, carves out the features of the present. Perhaps this movement in time is necessary to truly recognize the true face of this time. Without it, it is impossible to recognize it. We know the present, with its ironies, distortions, and the daily changing face of new technologies. We know its brutality and inhumanity, and we have also witnessed the sudden changes that alter the pace of time very closely. But after reading Adnans poetry, things become more clear. As if the number of our glasses has suddenly changed. Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of this poem is that it makes us realize the difference between knowing directly and knowing through reading. Adnans poetry doesnt speak loudly, self-consciously; it is the realities of life that speak through it. Therefore, his voice seems more credible. The flow and counter-movement of oral poetry in his poetry elevates the stature of poetry. It stirs and awakens our sensibilities, making us more objective about things and situations. Adnans poetry is a poem of dissent and resistance to the cultural trauma of our times, while preserving our identity and traditions. It is a conscious attempt to complement the landscape of experiences in Hindi poetry with his own experiences and myths. Rajesh Joshi