Ullanghan

In the collection, Ullhan, the poet begins with his natural desire to disobey orders and expresses his disagreement and protest against the compulsions of the present era, which the government is bent on making a natural part of our daily routine. In a time when neither memories remain/nor dreams and where democracy is turning into a farce/a clown mimicking a dictatorthese poems offer us both a way out of the illusion of unquestioning imitation and a rationale. The poet sees that only doubt remains in this shrinking democracy, that those at the pinnacle of power view citizens with suspicion, measuring themselves against various dictates; They say, Prove how legitimate you are to be where you are. The poem then responds, O rulers, I have come to this earth forgetting heaven. If you refuse to recognize me as a citizen, I too refuse to recognize you as the government! Rajesh Joshi has been at the forefront of those who have been vocal against the deepening political and social chaos over the past four to five years. Most of the poems in this collection were written during this period. Some poems also address the ongoing pandemic, which has formally stamped its authority on the governments efforts to tear apart the social fabric: Silence has spread across all the streets, doors to all the houses are closed, a terrible madness is brewing behind the doors, which will burst out of the wall at any moment, and spread across all the streets!