The Many-Eyed River

 

Beheld from the bridge

Each vessel

seemed to be the water’s gaze

The poem wrought

in quest of insights

of the Bahulochana river,

hitherto remained unwritten.

The river’s mirth 

Aloft, the grains of sand rising

on the billowing waves;

Circular as lips,

Gaze descending into the 

Sand-shadow: quivering lips;

A sparkling water line

drawn as if with a silver wire.

A small chuckle erupts

From the river’s lips,

And over the bridge, it did traverse,

And manifested in the realm of my vision,

Then hastily departed,

Thus, embarking on a pursuit anew

or bestowing twice the speed,

to the tranquil flow of the stream within.

Dr. Jagdish Gupt (1924–2001) was an influential poet, painter, literary critic, archaeologist, and educator whose literary and artistic endeavours played a pivotal role in redefining the contours of the Nayi Kavita during the twentieth century. His contribution was of utmost importance in elucidating the theoretical underpinnings and core ideas of the movement. Dr. Gupt held a firm belief that “sentiments” and “rhythm” together formed foundational elements of both poetry and art and were imperative in crafting a harmonious aesthetic experience. His extensive literary corpus encompasses more than twenty-five books of poetry, literary essays, criticism, and the history of literature along with critical works on Indian Art, demonstrating his lifelong commitment to the arts and literature. His most well-known works include Bahulochana Nadi, Himviddha, Shabddansh, Kavitantar, Shambuk, Bodhivriksha, and others. His multifaceted personality added a new dimension to his creative output. He was conferred the Bharat Bharti Puraskar by the Uttar Pradesh Government and the Maithili Sharan Gupt Puraskar by the Madhya Pradesh Government for his invaluable contribution to Hindi Literature. He had the honour of serving in the Hindi department of Allahabad University, holding the esteemed positions of Professor and Head of the Department.

Shubha Dwivedi is a poet and translator. She teaches English Literature at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, University of Delhi, India.