And every year
the Ghaghra changes course
turning over and over in her sleep.
In the afternoon she is a grey smudge
exploring a grey canvas.
When dusk reaches her
through an overhang of cloud
she is overstewed coffee.
At night she is a red weal
across the spine of the land.
Driving at dusk you wouldn’t know
there’s a flood ‘on ‘,
the landscape is so superbly equipoised-
rice-shoots pricking through
a stretch of water and light
spiked shadows
inverted trees
kingfishers, gulls.
As twilight thins
the road is a black stretch
running between the stars.
And suddenly at night
the north comes to the village
riding on river-back.
Twenty minutes of a nightmare spin
and fear turns phantasmal
as half a street goes
churning in the river-belly.
If only voices could light lamps!
If only limbs could turn to rafted bamboo!
And through the village
the Ghaghra steers her course;
thatch and dung-cakes turn to river-scum,
a buffalo floats over to the rooftop
where the men are stranded.
Three days of hunger, and her udders
turn red-rimmed and swollen
with milk-extortion.
Children have spirit enough in them
to cheer the rescue boats;
the men are still-life subjects
oozing wet looks.
They don’t rave or curse
for they know the river’s slang, her argot.
No one sends up prayers to a wasted sky,
for prayers are parabolic
they will come down with a flop anyway.
Instead there’s a slush-stampede
outside the booth
where they are doling out salt and grain.
Ten miles to her flank
peasants go fishing in rice fields
and women in chauffeur-driven cars
go looking for driftwood.
But it’s when she recedes
that the Ghaghra turns bitchy
sucking with animal-heat,
cross-eddies diving like frogmen
and sawing away the waterfront
in a paranoid frenzy.
She flees from the scene of her own havoc
thrashing with pain.
Behind her the land sinks
houses sag on to their knees
in a farewell obeisance.
And miles to the flank, the paddy fields
will hoard the fish
till the mud enters into
a conspiracy with the sun
and strangles them.
About the Poet: Keki N. Daruwalla
Keki N. Daruwalla is one of India’s foremost poets writing in English. Known for his vivid and unflinching portrayal of both natural landscapes and human suffering, Daruwalla’s work is marked by a sharp, realistic, and often satirical tone. His poetry frequently draws on his personal experiences and observations of the Indian environment—from the grandeur and terror of nature to the stark realities of urban and rural life. With a background that includes service as a police officer, his work also carries an inherent social awareness, commenting on issues of violence, human vulnerability, and the interplay between nature and civilization. His awards and recognition in Indian English literature underscore his status as a major voice in modern poetry.
2. Background of the Poem
The Ghagra In Spate is one of Daruwalla’s most representative poems. It captures the sudden, overwhelming fury of the Ghagra River—a river known to flood and change its course with little warning during the monsoon. The poem is rooted in the poet’s acute observations of the natural phenomenon and its profound impact on the local populace. Although on the surface it describes a natural disaster, the poem also serves as a commentary on human helplessness in the face of nature’s uncontrollable power. Daruwalla’s depiction is both a literal and metaphorical exploration of destruction, resilience, and the transient beauty amid chaos.
Summary of the Poem
The poem unfolds as a dramatic narrative of a flood event along the Ghagra. Its structure moves through different times of day, using the changing appearance of the river to mirror the evolving mood of the scene:
- Afternoon: The river is portrayed as a “grey smudge exploring a grey canvas,” suggesting a subdued, almost nondescript presence. This image hints at the latent danger that lies beneath an otherwise placid surface.
- Dusk: As the day wanes, the river transforms into “overstewed coffee,” an image that conveys both a deep, murky quality and a sense of brewing tumult.
- Night: Under the red moon—described in startling terms as “in menses”—the river becomes “a red weal across the spine of the land.” This startling image evokes not only the violent physicality of the flood but also the raw, visceral pain it brings.
- The Flood’s Onset and Aftermath: With suddenness, the water overflows, engulfing villages and causing chaos. The poem details the human responses: villagers are forced onto rooftops, rescue boats struggle amid the chaos, and even as nature’s fury subsides, the landscape bears the scars of destruction. The vivid imagery of collapsing thatch cottages, floating buffalo, and parched paddy fields paints a picture of both immediate havoc and lingering aftermath.
Main Themes
A. The Power and Indifference of Nature
- Destructive Force: The poem is an unvarnished portrayal of nature’s overwhelming power. The Ghagra, in its sudden spate, becomes a force that not only destroys physical structures but also disrupts the lives of the people who depend on it.
- Beauty Amid Chaos: Despite the destruction, there is a strange beauty in the vivid descriptions—the shifting colours and textures of the river mirror the complexities of natural phenomena.
B. Human Vulnerability and Resilience
- Helplessness in the Face of Disaster: The villagers’ resignation, their silent endurance, and even the muted humor in the descriptions (such as children cheering rescue boats) underscore human vulnerability when confronted with nature’s might.
- Social Commentary: Daruwalla’s observations extend to the societal impact—how recurring natural disasters become a part of the collective experience, rendering prayers futile and forcing communities to adapt to an ever-changing landscape.
C. The Interplay of Light and Darkness
- Temporal Shifts: The poem’s progression from afternoon to night mirrors the unpredictability of life and nature. The changing imagery (grey, coffee-coloured, and red) symbolizes the transformation of both the physical environment and the human condition in times of crisis.
D. Metaphor for Life’s Upheavals
- Cycle of Destruction and Renewal: The flood is not only a literal event but also a metaphor for the sudden, uncontrollable changes that disrupt human lives. The aftermath—where even the land seems to “sink” or “bend”—speaks to the inevitable, if painful, process of transformation and renewal.
Poetic Devices
A. Imagery
- Vivid Visuals: Daruwalla employs striking visual imagery to depict the river at different times—“grey smudge,” “overstewed coffee,” and “red weal.” These images evoke both the beauty and the horror of the flood.
- Sensory Detail: The poem appeals to the senses by describing not only sights but also the tactile and emotional experiences of the flood.
B. Metaphor and Simile
- Extended Metaphors: The river is compared to various substances (coffee, a smudge, a weal) that capture its mutable character. These metaphors invite readers to see the river as a living, dynamic entity.
- Similes: Comparisons such as the red moon “in menses” add layers of meaning and shock value, emphasizing the raw, almost primal aspect of the scene.
C. Personification
- Nature as an Agent: The river is endowed with human-like qualities—it “changes its course,” “devours” land, and even “turns bitchy” as it recedes. This personification deepens the reader’s emotional response to the natural disaster.
D. Tone and Satire
- Satirical Undertones: There is a subtle irony in the depiction of human responses (such as the children’s cheer and the indifference of prayer), which hints at the futility of human attempts to control or placate nature.
- Detached Realism: Daruwalla’s tone is both compassionate and unsentimental. His precise, almost journalistic depiction of the flood reflects both awe and a stark acknowledgment of human frailty.
E. Structure and Form
- Irregular Stanza Pattern: The poem’s free-verse form and irregular stanza breaks mirror the unpredictable, chaotic nature of the flood and the landscape it transforms.
- Shift in Temporal Imagery: The progression of images from afternoon through dusk to night underscores the theme of transformation and the cyclical nature of destruction and renewal.
Essay Questions for Further Exploration
-
The Role of Nature:
Discuss how Daruwalla uses the imagery of the river in The Ghagra In Spate to represent both the beauty and the terror of nature. How does this duality reflect broader themes of human vulnerability and resilience? -
Social Commentary and Human Response:
Examine the depiction of the villagers in the poem. In what ways does Daruwalla comment on the social impact of recurring natural disasters, and what does this suggest about the relationship between humans and their environment? -
Metaphor and Transformation:
Analyze the use of extended metaphors in the poem, particularly the comparisons of the river to “overstewed coffee” and “a red weal.” How do these metaphors contribute to the overall mood and meaning of the poem? -
Tone and Satirical Elements:
How does Daruwalla balance a tone of stark realism with satirical undertones in The Ghagra In Spate? Discuss how this combination affects the reader’s interpretation of the poem’s themes. -
Structure and Form:
Consider the free-verse structure and irregular stanza breaks in the poem. How do these formal choices enhance the thematic concerns of unpredictability and the cyclical nature of destruction and renewal?
Multiple Choice Questions (with Answers)
-
Which of the following best describes the primary subject of The Ghagra In Spate?
a) A peaceful river journey
b) The destructive power of a flooding river
c) A romantic encounter by the river
d) A historical battle along the riverbank
Answer: b) The destructive power of a flooding river -
In the poem, how is the river described at dusk?
a) As a grey smudge
b) As overstewed coffee
c) As a red weal
d) As a sparkling stream
Answer: b) As overstewed coffee -
What does the image of the river as “a red weal across the spine of the land” most likely symbolize?
a) The beauty of nature
b) The calm and serenity of the evening
c) The violent and painful impact of the flood
d) The endless flow of time
Answer: c) The violent and painful impact of the flood -
Which poetic device is predominantly used when Daruwalla describes the river with comparisons such as “grey smudge” and “overstewed coffee”?
a) Hyperbole
b) Metaphor
c) Alliteration
d) Personification
Answer: b) Metaphor -
What tone does Daruwalla adopt in The Ghagra In Spate to depict the natural disaster?
a) Sentimental and lyrical
b) Detached, realistic, and unsentimental
c) Joyful and celebratory
d) Mystical and ambiguous
Answer: b) Detached, realistic, and unsentimental
Conclusion
The Ghagra In Spate by Keki N. Daruwalla is a powerful depiction of nature’s unpredictable fury and its profound impact on human life. Through vivid imagery, striking metaphors, and a tone that balances compassion with stark realism, Daruwalla not only portrays the physical devastation wrought by the flood but also invites readers to reflect on broader themes of vulnerability, transformation, and social resilience. Use this guide as a starting point for deeper analysis and classroom discussion to appreciate both the technical mastery and the thematic depth of Daruwalla’s poetry.