This blog is an assignment given by Prakruti ma’am. In this blog, I will address the questions related to the poem. Before getting into the details, let's take a brief overview of the poem.
The poem begins on a full moon day, which is Buddha Purnima, the birthday of Buddha. On this day, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, along with his wife and 365,000 of his Dalit followers, made history on October 14, 1956, by deciding to leave Hinduism and embrace Buddhism. This significant event is likened to an atomic blast, symbolizing a profound transformation as people changed their caste.
In the poem, we see the connection between God and human beings. God perceives the suffering inflicted by people on one another. The Dalits decided to change their caste because they were not accepted by their own people. The poem concludes with Buddha having laughter on his lips and tears in his eyes as he observes the harsh realities of the world and cries. Buddha is confused that day—should he be happy because people are joining his caste, or should he cry because they are not treated well by their own?
Buddha questions why people treat Dalits poorly, why their abilities and skills are not recognized, and why they are not seen and accepted as humans.
Q) What should be of a higher moral importance for governing bodies, national security or basic needs of its citizens? What do you think is Gadhvi's opinion about this?
When answering this question, we need to consider many factors. Both national security and the basic needs of the people are equally important. However, the main issue is understanding what is most urgent at the moment.
This poem critiques the atomic experiment conducted by the Indian government because it was during the early years of independent India when the country was struggling with many difficulties. There was an economic crisis, and major issues of poverty, along with the basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Considering these factors, the poet mocks the idea of this atomic test in the poem. The main concern in the 1970s was poverty, not nuclear experiments.
National security is also very important. We live in times when anything can happen at any moment; we don't know when a country might suddenly declare war.
Taking all this into account, I think the poet's mockery of this event is fair.
Q) In light of Henri Bergson's essay titled "Laughter: An Essay On The Meaning Of The Comic" share your thoughts about the possible interpretations of Buddha's laughter in Gadhvi's poem.
In light of Henri Bergson's "Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic," Buddha's laughter in Gadhvi's poem can be interpreted as a form of social critique. Bergson suggests that laughter highlights and corrects deviations from social norms to promote harmony. Buddha's laughter reflects the irony of testing an atomic bomb on Buddhapurnima, a day symbolizing peace. It mocks the triviality and hypocrisy of political leaders who prioritize violence and secrecy over genuine security and transparency. However, this laughter is also tinged with pain, expressing profound sorrow and the inability to bear the harsh realities, rendering Buddha silent.
Q) The rise and fall of significance of a particular moment in history depends on the narrative that is build around it. Discuss this statement with specific reference to Laughing Buddha.
The rise and fall of the significance of a particular moment in history depend on the narrative built around it.
Narratives shape our understanding and interpretation of historical events.
For example, the Laughing Buddha is often seen as a symbol of joy and prosperity.
This perception is largely due to the narrative created around his image.
However, the Laughing Buddha can also be interpreted differently depending on the context.
In the context of Gadhvi's poem, Buddha's laughter carries a deep irony.
It reflects the absurdity of testing an atomic bomb on Buddhapurnima, a day of peace.
This narrative shifts the significance of Buddha's laughter from joy to a critique of human folly and political hypocrisy.
Therefore, the meaning of the Laughing Buddha changes based on the narrative surrounding the historical moment.
In summary, the narratives we construct profoundly influence the significance of historical events and symbols.
Q) Share your interpretation of the lines: "What a proper time! What an auspicious day!
The concept of "auspiciousness" varies across cultures and religions. For Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs, the full moon is seen as a sacred and peaceful time. However, the use of such times for destructive purposes, like the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, contradicts this reverence. This misuse challenges the notion of what is considered a "proper" or "auspicious" time. Additionally, while Hindus honor the full moon, Muslims celebrate the crescent moon, illustrating how different cultures have varying standards for auspiciousness. Thus, what is deemed auspicious can shift dramatically based on historical and cultural contexts.
thank you .....
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