Satish Safeer
Er. Vinod’s maiden book of English poetry titled ” The Paradise ” is a clear example of smoothness of composure, simple straight verse, adaptation of reality in expression of thoughts and a clear heartfelt longing for ” The Paradise ” ; the nature as existed around his native place. The helpless choice that he along with his family and thousands upon thousands of other families of his community had to make that of saving their lives and honour from religious intolerance and terrorism that resulted into unwanted exodus and remaining away from places of birth of the valley of Kashmir. The pain and anguish and the sense of loss of ethos, cultural togetherness, thousands of years of history, ancestral homes and hearths and above all suitable climatic largesse is evidently weighing heavy on the mind and psyche of the poet as is reflected from the poetry that flows from his mind with conviction.
Plato has said ” Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history “. I feel the poet here through his verses has been honestly truthful and simple but through his thoughtful poems gives voice to so many concerns and emotions of grief but hope too is reflective throughout.
The poet through his collection has dissected well various stages of life and environment around his present and past. He keeps alive the hope of resettlement at his native beloved place and cherishes for realignment with elements of nature that he knew and was accustomed to from his birth and through childhood at his aboriginal place; the valley of Kashmir that he always longs for and rightfully calls his own.
An important message that the poet conveys via his poetry is the message about nature. As much we let nature to flourish so much shall we too, the mankind, flourish with it. Thus going out against nature shall hurt us more as has been rightly conveyed by the poem of hope and positivity titled ” The World Will Flourish Again ”
Processing his thoughts through simple understandable words, the poet conveys that he’s not bothered by what other people think about him as everybody seems to be lost in this world. He strongly conveys his independence of his thought he conveys through the poem titled ‘ My Words ‘.
Let nothing subdue you while you ” Show Your Existence ” is another message conveyed as the poet exhorts himself and others to keep their heads high.
The title of the book is taken from a poem in the book by the same title ” The Paradise ” wherein the poet visualises all the bounty of Kashmir, his paradise on earth which beholds all heavenly attributes like snowy winters, coloured springs, blossoms of flowers, glaciers, nectar clean spring water, streams, meadows and pastures to golden autumns that of course are a true reality that make Kashmir; his Kashmir a paradise on earth.
The poet enlightens all through his poems about the amazing quality of life, our need to keep on learning as it is an endless process to progress, about importance of planting trees and helping nature and about life being like a drama in which everybody acts out his act.
The poem titled ‘ The Father ‘ brings out a personal side of the poet that of a loving son. The poem ‘ My Childhood Toys ‘ exposes his soft humane personality which still craves for the lost childhood toys which he wishes are found someday and restored.
The poet’s sensitivities about the environment and the happenings around him find a voice in the poem titled ‘ The Lockdown ‘ that is caused by the Wuhan virus which is still prevalent around us and has reached even the farthest corners of our world. The poet extolls all to surrender to God whose blessings shall save mankind from this virus.
The poet pays a robust tribute to all corona warriors be it the medical staff, doctors, people in supply chains, the cleanup people, engineers, office workers and all those who played or are still playing their part to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.
The ‘ God is in Nature ‘ ; thus speaks the poet through his same titled poem in the book. As nobody has seen Him, He manifests Himself in the bounty and elements of nature that are present around us. Though religious scriptures, chants and hymns are ok ; the poet prods all to explore and find and feel God through nature.
Er. Vinod our budding point here represents what Khalil Gibran would say ” poetry is a deal of joy and pain in wonder, with a dash of dictionary “.
Overall the book ” The Paradise ” is a worthwhile read and a learning experience for literature lovers and all common readers. English Poetry / Historical Background is a well researched addition to this book of poetry that adds on more sheen to this edition. This being Er. Vinod’s maiden publication of English verse, he is not new to publishing as is evident from his earlier creations ‘ Lal Ded ‘ his first publication in English in the year 2018 was followed by ‘ Sheen ‘ in the year 2019. It was a book of short stories in Kashmiri language. Lately his third publication ‘ Pott Aalav ‘ ; a Kashmiri language stage drama was released in the year 2020. Hope is there that in future again Er. Vinod shall enthrall us with more rhythmic, flowfull and thoughtful verses.
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