In Madurai,
city of temples and poets,
who sang of cities and temples,
every summer
a river dries to a trickle
in the sand,
baring the sand ribs,
straw and women’s hair
clogging the watergates
at the rusty bars
under the bridges with patches
of repair all over them
the wet stones glistening like sleepy
crocodiles, the dry ones
shaven water-buffaloes lounging in the sun
The poets only sang of the floods.
He was there for a day
when they had the floods.
People everywhere talked
of the inches rising,
of the precise number of cobbled steps
run over by the water, rising
on the bathing places,
and the way it carried off three village houses,
one pregnant woman
and a couple of cows
named Gopi and Brinda as usual.
The new poets still quoted
the old poets, but no one spoke
in verse
of the pregnant woman
drowned, with perhaps twins in her,
kicking at blank walls
even before birth.
He said:
the river has water enough
to be poetic
about only once a year
and then
it carries away
in the first half-hour
three village houses,
a couple of cows
named Gopi and Brinda
and one pregnant woman
expecting identical twins
with no moles on their bodies,
with different coloured diapers
to tell them apart.
About the Poet
Attipate Krishnaswami Ramanujan (1929–1993) was a distinguished Indian poet, translator, and scholar of Indian literature and folklore. Writing primarily in English and Kannada, his poetry explores themes of cultural duality, history, and human experiences with a keen observational eye. His works, including The Striders (1966), Relations (1971), and Second Sight (1986), have contributed significantly to Indian English poetry. Ramanujan’s poetic style blends modern sensibilities with traditional Indian themes, often critiquing societal norms and the romanticization of the past.
Background of the Poem
“A River” was first published in The Striders (1966) and is one of A. K. Ramanujan’s most famous poems. The poem critiques the traditional poetic glorification of nature by contrasting the sentimentalized depiction of a river by classical poets with its harsh realities. Set in Madurai, a historically and culturally rich South Indian city, the poem presents a stark contrast between how poets of the past have romanticized the river in its monsoon abundance while ignoring its destructive impact and barrenness during the dry season. Through this contrast, Ramanujan questions the selective vision of poets and their failure to engage with real human suffering.
Summary of the Poem
“A River” begins with a description of the river in Madurai, a city known for its poets and temples. The speaker notes how past poets have celebrated the river’s beauty only when it overflows during the rainy season, ignoring the devastating effects of its floods on the city’s people. In the summer, the river is reduced to a mere trickle, exposing its rocky bed. However, when it floods, it submerges houses, drowns animals, and causes suffering to ordinary people. The narrator particularly highlights a pregnant woman who drowned, illustrating how traditional poets ignore human suffering in their idealized portrayals of nature. The poem ultimately critiques poetic traditions that overlook harsh realities, urging poets to be more socially conscious and responsible.
Main Themes
- Critique of Traditional Poetic Vision – The poem challenges classical poets for their selective romanticization of nature while ignoring human suffering.
- Contrast Between Appearance and Reality – Ramanujan presents the river in both its barren and destructive states, highlighting the duality often ignored in poetic tradition.
- Human Suffering and Indifference – The poem highlights the apathy of both poets and society toward those affected by natural calamities.
- Cultural Criticism – The reference to Madurai, a city known for its rich literary heritage, serves as a broader critique of how cultural history often ignores the struggles of common people.
- Nature’s Indifference – The river’s changing nature symbolizes the impersonal, indifferent forces of nature that continue their course regardless of human suffering.
Poetic Devices Used in the Poem
- Imagery – Vivid descriptions of the dry riverbed and floodwaters create a striking contrast between seasons.
- Juxtaposition – The contrast between the traditional poets’ glorification of the river and the grim reality of floods.
- Symbolism – The river represents both nature’s unpredictability and the selective memory of poetic tradition.
- Irony – The irony in how poets celebrate the river’s beauty while ignoring the devastation it causes.
- Enjambment – The continuous flow of ideas reflects the movement of the river and emphasizes its changing nature.
- Alliteration – The repetition of consonant sounds adds to the musical quality of the poem.
Essay Questions for Further Exploration
- How does A. K. Ramanujan critique traditional poetic representations of nature in “A River”?
- Discuss the significance of the river as a symbol in the poem. What does it represent in the context of society and poetry?
- Compare Ramanujan’s portrayal of the river with other poems that depict nature. How does his perspective differ?
- How does the use of irony in “A River” enhance its overall message?
- Explore the impact of the poet’s observational style in conveying the contrast between past poetic traditions and contemporary realities.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- In which city is “A River” set? a) Delhi
b) Kolkata
c) Madurai
d) Chennai
Answer: c) Madurai - What does the river symbolize in the poem? a) Eternal beauty
b) The cycle of life
c) Nature’s indifference and selective poetic memory
d) Religious devotion
Answer: c) Nature’s indifference and selective poetic memory - What is the main criticism that the poet presents in “A River”? a) The inefficiency of government policies
b) The neglect of common people in poetry
c) The dangers of flooding
d) The superiority of classical poetry
Answer: b) The neglect of common people in poetry - How does Ramanujan contrast the river in different seasons? a) By describing its barren state in summer and its destructive force during floods
b) By showing its role in irrigation and farming
c) By comparing it to other rivers in India
d) By presenting it as a divine force
Answer: a) By describing its barren state in summer and its destructive force during floods - What literary device does the poet use to highlight the irony of traditional poetic descriptions? a) Simile
b) Hyperbole
c) Juxtaposition
d) Metaphor
Answer: c) Juxtaposition - What does the poet focus on to emphasize human suffering? a) The drowning of a pregnant woman
b) The beauty of the river’s waves
c) The impact of the flood on poets
d) The religious rituals performed on the riverbank
Answer: a) The drowning of a pregnant woman - How does the poet describe the traditional poets of Madurai? a) As insightful observers
b) As indifferent to human suffering
c) As prophets of change
d) As worshippers of nature
Answer: b) As indifferent to human suffering - What is the tone of the poem? a) Celebratory
b) Critical and ironic
c) Nostalgic
d) Hopeful
Answer: b) Critical and ironic