Nissim Ezekiel’s Poem, Very Indian Poem in English (Patriot), Critical Analysis

Critical Analysis of the Poem:

Nissim Ezekiel has composed some poems in Indian English in which he remarkably creates an illusion of real life as it is lived in India, He vividly recreates the Indian milieu by using vernacular words and imagery drawn from the common scenes and sights of India. Chetan Karnani writes: “Nissim Ezekiel has been consciously Indian in his sensibility. He has not only tried to describe Indian culture but he has made good use of Babu Angrezi or Indian English. He has performed half a dozen experiments in this genre.”

 

“Very Indian Poem in Indian English” depicts the characteristic Indian attitudes in Indian English. The common mistakes that Indians commit in using English, as the use of present, continuous tense for the simple present, and other Indianisms are freely employed to create the typical Indian flavour. 

In this poem the patriot is the speaker. He is the follower of Mahatma Gandhi and believes in non - violence. He admires ancient Indian wisdom and condemns the modern generation for fashion and craze for foreign. Ezekiel's deft reproduction of Indian attitudes in Indianized English creates humour: 

I am standing for peace and non - violence 
Why world is fighting, 
Why all people of world 
Are not following Mahatma Gandhi, 
I am simply not understanding. 
Ancient Indian Wisdom is 100 % correct. 
I should say even 200 % correct.
But modern generation is neglecting— 
Too much going for fashion and foreign thing. 

The second stanza is even more humorous and ironical. The patriot read in newspaper one day how one goonda threw stone at Indira Gandhi. Humour arises from the digression that the patriot reads the Times of India to improve his English Language. The use of Indianized expression “goonda fellow” and “Indiraben” also creates humour. In an ironical tone, reminiscent of Antony in Julius Caesar, the patriot says: 

Lend me the ears. 
Everything is coming—
Regeneration, Remuneration, Contraception. 
Be patiently, brothers and sisters.

In the third stanza the patriot extols the national policy of prohibition. He prefers lassi which is better than wine and is good for digestion. He is a teetotaller. He ironically remarks: “Wine is for the drunkards only.” 

In the fourth stanza the patriot is sad that our neighbouring countries - Pakistan and China do not behave properly. Their attitude is violent and aggressive. The prospects of world peace are bleak. He is all the more unhappy to know that even Indians do not behave as brothers. They have provincial, linguistic and communal loyalties. Mutual tolerance is conspicuous by its absence. But the patriot is not pessimistic. He believes that Ram Rajya will surely come. With a tinge of sarcasm he says:

All men are brothers, no 
In India also 
Gujaratis, Maharashtrians. Hindiwallahs 
All brothers— 
Though some are having funny habits. 
Still, you tolerate me. 
I tolerate you, 
One day Ram Rajya is surely coming. 

The patriot seems to be speaking to a visitor who is now leaving. He invites him to visit again “any time, any day,” as he always enjoys his company. 

Ezekiel has skilfully reflected in one poem what many Indians think and the way they think in English. Indian English has been artistically employed to evoke a sense of Indianness and at the same time to bring the situation or incident alive to the readers which they can participate in. The undercurrent of irony greatly amuses the readers. In this poem Ezekiel far exceeds his contemporaries.