Indian poets have an important tradition that spans millennia, imbued with the philosophical wisdom of the East. Often, these poems are filled with the colors of the subcontinent and the passionate emotions of its people.
They compose poems in multiple languages, from ancient Sanskrit to regional dialects and English. The themes range from spiritual introspection in works of Tagore and Kabir to postcolonial identity in poems by Ramanujan and Meena Alexander.
Their work often reflects the socio-cultural dynamics, diversity, and complexity of India.
‘Indian Weavers’ explores the inevitability of death while celebrating the cycles of human existence and experience.
Weavers, weaving at break of day,
Why do you weave a garment so gay? . . .
Blue as the wing of a halcyon wild,
We weave the robes of a new-born child.
‘Go to Ahmedabad’ shows the psychological struggle of an immigrant dealing with disturbing past events and contemporary issues with newly developed views.
Go walk the streets of Baroda,
go to Ahmedabad
and step around the cow dung
but don’t forget to look at the sky.
‘Rehabilitation’ explores the pain of the refugees after the Partition of Bengal. With stark imagery, it delves into the lasting impact of this tragic event.
Whatever I had around me
Grass and pebbles
Reptiles
Broken temples
‘After Death: Twenty Years’ reflects on a country’s stormy history and current despair, contrasting it with Tagore’s unwavering dreams of humanity.
All the terrible catastrophes
Escaped your eyes
You did not burn in the tortuous fire of '46
The famine and the epidemic
‘O friends,’ by Mirabai is a deeply poignant poem that wrestles exhaustingly with a yearning heartache.
O friends, I am mad
with love, and no one sees.
‘29 April 1989’ by Sujata Bhatt is a sweet, little piece about a mother’s sudden found pleasure in nature’s soggy musicality.
In ‘3 November 1984,’ Indian-English poet Sujata Bhatt shows how history plays a vital role in the process of writing poetry, and their interconnectedness.
I won’t buy
The New York Times today.
I can’t. I’m sorry.
But when I walk into the bookstore
‘A Different History’ by Sujata Bhatt is not a raging piece of protest, rather it teaches how to revisit one’s cultural past in a curious, sensible way.
‘A Limb Just Moved’ is a poem attributed to Mirabai, a Hindu mystic and Bahkti saint who lived in the sixteenth century and was well-known for her incredible devotion to Krishna, and to her faith.
‘A Pastoral’ by Agha Shahid Ali is a moving poem. In it, the poet reflects his love for Kashmir and his affection for his motherland.
‘A River’ by A.K. Ramanujan focuses on the Madurai River, how it has been depicted by poets throughout time, and brings the suffering that exists along its banks to the reader’s attention.
‘Advice to Women’ by Eunice de Souza is a clever poem that suggests women should own a cat in order to understand relationships.
You hear it all the time now, “Down with the patriarchy!” But, what does it really mean and who does it apply to? Well, in Kamala Das’ poem, you may be able to find some answers.
‘Backdrop’ by Agha Shahid Ali is a thoughtful poem that speaks about the Arabic language. It also reflects on the speaker’s connection to his ancestors.
‘Don’t Despise Me’ by Akka Mahadevi is a plea to the listener. It showcases the poet’s devotion and adherence to her faith.
‘Father Returning Home’ by Dilip Chitre expresses the generational separation between a “father” and “children” through vivid visuals.
‘Flower On the Road’ by Chitra Padmanabhan is a sweet and simple children’s poem that emphasizes everyone’s ability to bring joy to the world, no matter their size.
‘For Nanabhai Bhatt’ is about the poet Sujata Bhatt’s grandfather, Nanabhai Bhatt, who was an educationist and activist active during the Indian independence movement.
In this dream my grandfather
comes to comfort me.
He stands apart
silent
‘Freedom’ by Rabindranath Tagore is a powerful and effective poem about freedom. The speaker spends the seventeen lines of the poem describing the kind of freedom he hopes his country will find.
‘Humayun to Zobeida’ by Sarojini Naidu depicts a man who is upset with a woman who will not allow him to further their relationship.
‘I Have Fallen in Love’ by Akka Mahadevi expresses the poet’s faith with incredible honesty. She uses powerful images and metaphors to speak of religion and love.
‘Identity’ by Abhimanyu Kumar is a relatable poem that explores themes of memory, identity, and personal history while inspiring readers to take control of their lives.
‘In The Bazaars of Hyderabad’ by Sarojini Naidu describes in vibrant detail the market stalls and products of the Hyderabad bazaars.
A hundred, a thousand to one; even so;
Not a hope in the world remained:
The swarming, howling wretches below
Gained and gained and gained.
‘Iris’ by Sujata Bhatt is a narrative poem with lyric qualities. It depicts an artist’s wait for the sun to come out and bring out the colors in a single iris.
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