I’ve figured out that I can whip up a 200-word post during a quick break from work. This makes me feel good and provides an outlet for all the extra creative energy in my head.
Throughout my weekend Jaipur Literature Fest trip (Feb 3-4), I was obsessed with Atal Behari Vajpayee’s poem “गीत नया गाता हूँ”. Of course, it was not ringing in my head 24/7. During the literature festival, I listened to the speakers and what they had to say. I got books signed and pictures clicked with my favourite authors.
गीत नया गाता हूँ
टूटे हुए तारों से फूटे वासंती स्वर
पत्थर की छाती में उग आया नव अंकुर
झरे सब पीले पात, कोयल की कुहुक रात
प्राची में अरुणिमा की रेख देख पाता हूँ
गीत नया गाता हूँ
Broken melodies from shattered strings,
A new shoot emerges from the stone's chest,
All leaves fall, the night echoes of the koel,
In the east, I see the rays of dawn,
I sing a new song,
टूटे हुए सपनों की कौन सुने सिसकी
अंतर की चीर व्यथा पलकों पर ठिठकी
हार नहीं मानूँगा, रार नहीं ठानूँगा
काल के कपाल पे लिखता मिटाता हूँ
गीत नया गाता हूँ
Who would listen to the sob-stories of shattered dreams,
The pain of the rift within, tears on eyelashes,
I won't accept defeat, won't yield to barriers,
I write and erase on the slate of time,
I sing a new song.
~ Atal Behari Vajpayee
Translation credit : ChatGPT (with my modifications)
I might not have counted the number of times I heard it out loud in my car. It could be close to 100, I guess. Now, the poem is imprinted in my memory.
It was not enough to appreciate these words. I wanted to feel them in my veins. Especially these three lines
पत्थर की छाती में उग आया नव अंकुर
झरे सब पीले पात, कोयल की कुहुक रात
प्राची में अरुणिमा की रेख देख पाता हूँ
I decided that watching the sunrise from the Nahargarh fort would be one way to make these lines come alive. So, I left the concert by “When Chai Met Toast” a bit early (on Feb 3 night) and tried to sleep in my room. Vajpayee’s lines were still ringing in my head. Somehow, I slept around midnight, but the excitement woke me at 4 am.
I realised it was too early and slept again. Eventually, I stepped out around 5 am and explored different sunrise points till 6 or 6.30. Driving on the curvy uphill roads did seem like a challenge. But I managed the challenge quite well.
Finally, I settled at a point with a chai stall and a decent crowd. Many amateur singers with guitarists were singing songs that were popular on Instagram. I felt one with the crowd. But I wanted my corner where I could hear the poem recited in Vajpayee’s voice.
I found a quiet corner and played the Youtube Video as the sun rose.
प्राची में अरुणिमा की रेख देख पाता हूँ.
I felt goosebumps on my skin as the poet recited these lines. I heard it 2-3 times before I returned to the car and drove back to my room. When I was done with the experience, I felt like a deep wound in my heart had healed.
And a new chapter could be written again.