Disastrous Food Shortage: Reality Strikes Hard
In the heart of conquered lands, a poem by Rudra Pati resonates with a sombre and poignant message. The poem, a feature in Literary Vibes, paints a bleak picture of a girl trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty and famine.
The imagery of a sinking sun, a symbol of the end of a cycle or life phase, is juxtaposed with the harsh reality of famine. This combination evokes a desolate mood, reflecting human misery and deprivation. The girl, symbolic of hope and vitality, is depicted as being ensnared by chains of poverty and hunger. "Chains of poverty have clasped / Onto her feet," the poem reads, while "Rice is all she has ever loved," portraying a girl trapped by economic hardship and the cruel grasp of famine.
The sinking sun metaphor extends to the girl's slow suffering and loss of freedom. As the sun sets, life's warmth and light are extinguished, mirroring the girl's struggle amidst harsh conditions. The elements of moonshine, rain, heat, and dust intensify her struggle and isolation, suggesting a world where natural and societal forces combine to oppress vulnerable people, leading to a silent suffering that persists in the shadows.
The poem also touches upon themes of exploitation and the mingling of personal pain into the broader "night-borne air," implying that individual suffering blends into a collective darkness. This interpretation aligns with broader literary uses of the sinking sun and famine as metaphors for decline, alienation, and vulnerability in harsh or unjust conditions, where natural cycles reflect human fate.
Amidst this bleak landscape, an unsettling scene unfolds. Spiders, black in colour, are seen spinning silken threads in the retreating day. It is unclear whether they are a symbol of the oppressive forces at work or a mere observation of the natural world.
In the harsh light of day, kids are collapsing and swooning on stones. As the sun sets and shadows grow long, they are seen dreaming about food, specifically gingerbread. The image of these kids dining with the dead suggests a high mortality rate, a grim reminder of the harsh realities they face. Some individuals, referred to as 'honchos', are seen sleeping. After a while, they wake and smile, dining with the dead.
Despite the initial claim that no one is in need, the stark reality painted by Pati's poem suggests otherwise. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the suffering that exists in the world and the urgent need for change. It is a call to action, a plea for hope and vitality in the face of despair.
The metaphor of a sinking sun extends not only to the girl's slow suffering but also to the overall state of health-and-wellness in the depicted society, as life's warmth and light are extinguished. This serves as a reflection of the scientific truth that malnutrition and poverty, represented by the girl and the kids, lead to numerous health issues and premature deaths.
The girl, symbolic of hope and vitality, is trapped in a cycle reminiscent of the scientific law of inertia, repeating the same hardships day after day. This, combined with the exploitation she faces, highlights the need for scientific advancements in health-and-wellness and socio-economic reforms to break the vicious cycle.
