It is 451th birthday anniversary of Shakespeare.
Eavesdropping on a conversation between one who was conferred the title ‘Prophet of new-age Poetry’ and that master of all classical writers- William Shakespeare , who goaded one and all-‘Be you mermaid, pirate or star catcher, to thine own self be true!’
The biggest tribute I have ever been paid was to have received a mail,five years ago, from a pastor – scholar in America informing me of his decision to work on a Thesis which would study the style of the Bard and myself in our Literary works. Those who heard of my published books of poetry would be knowing that I categorise my works under class of ‘Spiritual Poetry‘. — Pamarty Venkataramana
Lesser knowing students of English literature will of course chuckle if one were to say that the great man, who was born exactly 450- years to this day, was more a spiritualist than a dramatist in all his masterly classical creations. I for one would raise my hands and clap in applause for the right appreciation of his beautiful observation of mankind, politics, love, betrayals,conflict and battle of wits .
I have a humble confession to make. Excepting for the compulsory study of ‘Hound of Baskerville‘ as a non-detailed reader at school and the recommended reading of most of the Bard’s plays in an unabridged form during summer vacations at class seven, I have hardly ever found time to read the greatest craftsman known to modern day classical literature.
My own poetry works are penned in the space of a minute to maximum of twenty minutes amidst all that gruelling work of a busy international lawyer. These are outcome of observation and study of human life as a ‘witness’ of events, happenings and occurrences, often bordering on the unthinkable, impossible and implausible. Loosely put, they are to be divided as being meant for ‘Lovely minds‘ , ‘Adult minds‘ and ‘Free minds‘.
Lovely minds are all those who are literate and can read the alphabet. Adult minds will be those who recognise the existence of all humans as being knit with a body, a mind and a soul. Free minds, placed on highest pedestal of understanding ,comprehension and communication will be those blessed ones as can realise that mankind cannot become humanity unless peppered with divinity !
Shakespeare is not all about melodrama nor of palace intrigues, being jilted or warfare and battles for crown & throne. It is not about tempest or a comedy of errors either. If ever there was one complete human being who did not rest his case in hands of marketing pundits of internet – zone or let himself piggy-ride on critics’ laurels and pull of strings , it was William Shakespeare .
What will the Bard have said if he were born and living in the land of ancient wisdom, INDIA today ? Here we go !!!
Brave are witty
Who live silenced
In a land
Filled with illiterates
And crooks galore!
I will answer his statement thus-
Twitter goes bonkers
As bard remembered
All say aye!
He was original
We are copies
He never copied
We cope well
Not knowing life
We regale ourselves
Bard though shook
Conscience of literature
So very vigorously
That centuries after
All still worship
His sagacious soul!
Bard ,through his smiling beaded eyes and bearded face will reply-
Better three hours too soon
Than a minute too late !
I will but answer the master spontaneously , in a measured tone-
We are such stuff as dreams are made on ?
Nay, oh bard most wise !
We find all dreams shattered as short sighted evil men ( and veiled women ) rule roost ,
And sail against our grains ,with the wind battering our masked faces of make-up,
All smile and still singe deep within not as embers die when fire put out –
But as would the dressed chicken when barbecue fire roasts her bare bodily form!
Yes,love all, trust a few and do wrong to none is not the motto of our times ,
This day and this age all old world values make a buffoon of a chivalrous knight!
The Bard would but answer back –
Oh, but haven’t I added more words to English than nah other person during or after my lifetime?
Bowing in reverence, humble me shall but retort –
Oh, master smith of words, indeed you did
But all our day scholars and readers would
Just swallow goodness and blurt out colloquial ones
Swear words turned fashionable quotes ,
Simpletons appear morons to the imbeciles of earth!
Over 410 on-screen adaptations have been made to your plays in 450- years
But none seems yet near enough to your originals oh bard of words,
Oh and yes , you did say through your character ,once –
‘ teach not thy lip such scorn for if was made for kissing lady,not for such contempt !’
Yet,
Here and now –
A midsummer night’s dream ,
Macbeth
And the walking forest trees
Portend a tale for All Indians going to cast their vote at the general elections :
If the cook help to make gluttony , you help to make the diseases !
The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief !!
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves!!!
——-
I wake up with a start !
All you who are erudite, scholarly and possess intellectual streaks of William Shakespeare , vote as one force : vote out corruption; bury the wrong-doers .
Pour fresh life into the world’s largest democracy .
He’ll us empty and all the devils are here .
For Shakespeare’s sake, shake the roots of good conscience .
Yes, Vote right my fellow countrymen…!
Vote NaMo!
——-
Jai Hind!!!
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