the tarpaulin flaps are buttoned down
on the windows of the state transport bus.
all the way up to jejuri.
a cold wind keeps whipping
and slapping a corner of tarpaulin at your elbow.
you look down to the roaring road.
you search for the signs of daybreak in what little light spills out of bus.
your own divided face in the pair of glasses
on an oldman`s nose
is all the countryside you get to see.
you seem to move continually forward.
toward a destination
just beyond the castemark beyond his eyebrows.
outside, the sun has risen quitely
it aims through an eyelet in the tarpaulin.
and shoots at the oldman`s glasses.
a sawed off sunbeam comes to rest gently against the driver`s right temple.
the bus seems to change direction.
at the end of bumpy ride with your own face on the either side
when you get off the bus.
you dont step inside the old man`s head.
About the Poet: Arun Kolatkar
Arun Kolatkar (1932–2004) was a pioneering Indian poet who wrote in both Marathi and English. He is best known for his collection Jejuri, which brought him international acclaim by blending everyday experiences with deep philosophical and cultural insights. Kolatkar’s poetry is characterized by its minimalist style, ironic tone, and a keen observation of Indian society. His work often juxtaposes the mundane with the mystical, highlighting the tensions between modern skepticism and traditional beliefs. His contributions to Indian English literature have been recognized with awards such as the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the Sahitya Akademi Award.
Background of the Poem
Context and Collection
- The Bus is the opening poem in Kolatkar’s seminal collection Jejuri (1976). The collection is noted for its fragmented narrative of a journey to the ruins of Jejuri—a pilgrimage site in Maharashtra.
- The poem reflects on the conditions of Indian state transport buses of the time, using the specific details (such as tarpaulin flaps instead of glass windows) to evoke a broader commentary on Indian life, tradition, and modernity.
Cultural and Social Setting
- Pilgrimage and Modernity: The journey on the bus is set against the backdrop of a pilgrimage. The bus carries not only the physical burden of its passengers but also the cultural baggage of faith and doubt.
- Economic and Social Realities: The poem subtly hints at the deteriorating state of public transport and the everyday struggles of common people, situating the narrative within the real-world context of post-independence India.
Summary of the Poem
The Bus opens with a detailed description of a state transport bus journeying toward Jejuri. The poem’s narrative unfolds as follows:
-
Opening Imagery:
The poem begins by focusing on the bus’s tarpaulin flaps, which are “buttoned down” to the windows. A cold wind relentlessly whips the flaps, creating a tactile sense of discomfort for the passengers. -
Sensory Details and Reflections:
The traveler (addressed as “you”) looks down at the “roaring road” and notices his own fragmented reflection in an old man’s glasses. This reflection becomes a metaphor for introspection and the divided self. -
Movement and Ambiguity:
Despite the absence of overt descriptions of forward movement, the poem implies progress toward a destination—one that lies “just beyond the castemark” on the old man’s forehead, a mark that symbolizes deep-rooted traditional beliefs. -
Arrival and Final Reflection:
As the bus nears the end of its bumpy journey, a “sawed off sunbeam” illuminates the scene, momentarily transforming the mundane into the sublime. Yet, in the final line, the traveler is cautioned: “you don’t step inside the old man’s head.” This closing image suggests a deliberate distancing from the old man’s world—a world of unwavering faith and tradition.
Main Themes
A. Journey and Transition
- Physical and Metaphorical Journey: The bus ride serves as a metaphor for life’s journey—a passage marked by discomfort, introspection, and ambiguous progress.
- Direction and Uncertainty: The lack of a clear destination or the failure to “step inside the old man’s head” implies the persistent uncertainty of modern existence.
B. Faith Versus Skepticism
- Traditional Belief vs. Modern Doubt: The old man, with his visible castemark, embodies traditional religious faith. In contrast, the traveler’s introspection and fragmented reflection symbolize modern skepticism and the questioning of inherited beliefs.
- Spiritual Alienation: The poem raises questions about the nature of devotion and the possibility of truly understanding or internalizing another’s faith.
C. Duality and Self-Reflection
- Divided Self: The recurring motif of the “divided face” in the glasses emphasizes internal fragmentation—a split between the self that adheres to tradition and the self that embraces rational inquiry.
- Cultural Duality: The poem reflects the broader cultural duality of post-independence India, caught between time-honored traditions and the challenges of modernity.
D. Social Commentary
- State of Public Services: By drawing attention to the dilapidated state of the bus (tarpaulin instead of glass, bumpy ride), Kolatkar subtly critiques public infrastructure and, by extension, the socio-political realities of his time.
Poetic Devices
A. Imagery
- Visual Imagery: Vivid descriptions such as “the tarpaulin flaps are buttoned down” and “a sawed off sunbeam comes to rest gently against the driver’s right temple” create strong visual impressions.
- Tactile Imagery: The sensation of the cold wind “whipping” and “slapping” at the elbow brings the reader into the physical discomfort of the journey.
B. Symbolism
- Tarpaulin and Bus: Symbolize the makeshift nature of modern life and the imperfect vessel that carries the weight of both physical and spiritual burdens.
- Castemark: Represents the indelible marks of tradition and the old order, as well as the generational divide between faith and skepticism.
- Divided Reflection: The image of the traveler’s “own divided face” in the old man’s glasses symbolizes introspection and the fragmentation of identity.
C. Personification
- The cold wind is given human qualities (whipping, slapping) to underscore the relentless force of nature and fate, mirroring the internal turmoil of the characters.
D. Enjambment and Free Verse
- Enjambment: The flow from one line to the next without punctuation mirrors the continuous, unsteady progress of the bus and the journey of life.
- Free Verse: The lack of a strict rhyme scheme or meter reflects the spontaneity and unpredictability inherent in the poem’s subject matter.
E. Sound Devices
- Alliteration and Consonance: Phrases like “roaring road” and “sawed off sunbeam” use repetition of consonant sounds to create rhythm and draw attention to key images.
- Assonance: The subtle repetition of vowel sounds enhances the musical quality of the poem while reinforcing its themes of dissonance and harmony.
Essay Questions for Further Exploration
-
Faith and Doubt:
How does Kolatkar juxtapose traditional religious faith with modern skepticism in The Bus? In your essay, analyze how specific images (e.g., the castemark, divided face) contribute to this theme. -
Journey as Metaphor:
Discuss the significance of the bus journey as a metaphor for life’s uncertain path. What does the physical discomfort experienced on the bus reveal about the broader human condition? -
Cultural Duality:
Examine the poem’s portrayal of the cultural and generational divide in post-independence India. How does Kolatkar use the setting of the bus to comment on societal changes? -
Poetic Form and Structure:
Analyze the impact of Kolatkar’s free verse form and use of enjambment in conveying the themes of instability and fragmentation in the poem. -
Interplay of Light and Darkness:
Explore the symbolic role of light (e.g., the sunbeam, signs of daybreak) in The Bus. How does this imagery contribute to the poem’s overall atmosphere and meaning?
Multiple Choice Questions (with Answers)
-
Which of the following best describes the primary setting of The Bus?
a) A grand temple complex
b) A state transport bus traveling to Jejuri
c) A bustling city street
d) A rural marketplace
Answer: b) A state transport bus traveling to Jejuri -
What is symbolized by the “divided face” seen in the old man’s glasses?
a) The physical deterioration of the bus
b) The split between traditional beliefs and modern skepticism
c) The clarity of the traveler’s vision
d) The unity of the passengers
Answer: b) The split between traditional beliefs and modern skepticism -
Which poetic device is primarily used in the line “a cold wind keeps whipping and slapping a corner of tarpaulin at your elbow”?
a) Hyperbole
b) Personification
c) Simile
d) Onomatopoeia
Answer: b) Personification -
How does Kolatkar structure the poem The Bus?
a) In strict iambic pentameter with a regular rhyme scheme
b) In free verse without a fixed meter or rhyme scheme
c) As a sonnet with fourteen lines
d) In quatrains with alternating rhymes
Answer: b) In free verse without a fixed meter or rhyme scheme -
The old man’s castemark on his forehead in the poem primarily represents:
a) Modern scientific knowledge
b) A traditional religious identity
c) The decay of the bus
d) The absence of culture
Answer: b) A traditional religious identity
Conclusion
The Bus by Arun Kolatkar is a rich, multi-layered poem that uses the everyday experience of a bus journey to explore themes of cultural duality, faith versus skepticism, and the fragmented nature of modern identity. By examining the poem’s background, thematic concerns, and stylistic elements, students can appreciate how Kolatkar transforms a simple journey into a powerful commentary on the complexities of life in modern India.