Rehabilitation

‘Rehabilitation‘ by Shankha Ghosh is a heartfelt poem exploring the tragic loss of one’s homeland due to India’s partition. Using vivid imagery, it captures the emotional turmoil experienced by those affected. Crafted with finesse, the verses depict the speaker’s intimate connection with their surroundings and the shattered memories of a fragmented society. Through nature, landmarks, and personal reflections, the poem conveys a pervasive sense of exile and the struggle for identity in the face of extreme upheaval.

Summary

‘Rehabilitation‘ by Shankha Ghosh is a moving poetic reflection on the displacement and intense emotional impact experienced by individuals after India’s partition.

The poem explores the theme of millions losing their homes as a byproduct of India’s partition. It vividly depicts the shattered realities and emotional turmoil experienced by those affected by that historical event. Through powerful imagery and descriptive language, the poem captures the loss and nostalgia that permeate the lives of the displaced people.

The speaker’s intimate connection with their surroundings, the fragmented memories of a once-unified society, and the desperate struggle for identity in the face of upheaval are beautifully conveyed, painting a tragic picture of the impact of historical events on individual lives.

Literary Devices

The poem ‘Rehabilitation‘ employs several literary devices to effectively convey its themes and emotions. These devices are:

• Metaphor- Metaphors are skillfully utilized, like comparing the lost possessions to the sun sinking in the western sky, highlighting the speaker’s profound sense of loss.
• Imagery- Throughout the poem, vivid imagery paints a detailed picture of the speaker’s experiences and surroundings after the partition, such as “Flying hair / Naked path.”
• Irony- Irony is employed when the speaker, now displaced, finds themselves reduced to the role of a beggar, highlighting the stark contrast between their previous life and their current state.
• Symbolism- The various symbols used in the poem, such as broken temples, grass and pebbles, arrows, and spears, represent the shattered realities and hardships of immigrating people in the wake of a tragedy.
• Zoomorphism- The skillful use of personification brings life to memories depicted as a “serpentine crowd” and time drifting under the speaker’s feet.
• Repetition- The repetition of the phrase “Whatever was around me” is beautifully employed to emphasize and reinforce a particular idea.
• Enjambment- Finally, enjambment keeps the flow of the narrative uninterrupted, engaging the reader in the journey of relocation and the struggle of people through the continuation of the sentence or phrase without a pause beyond the end of a few lines in the poem.

Structure

The structure of the poem ‘Rehabilitation‘ follows a free verse format, lacking a strict rhyme scheme or meter. It is divided into three stanzas, each exploring different aspects of the theme of displacement after India’s partition.

The first stanza sets the tone and introduces the sense of loss and nostalgia experienced by the speaker. It consists of short, fragmented lines that mimic the fragmented memories and shattered realities of the people who had to leave everything behind. The use of enjambment creates a flowing and continuous narrative, allowing the emotions to build and intensify.

The second stanza shifts focus to the present situation of the speaker, emphasizing their unfamiliarity with a new city. The lines become more fragmented, reflecting the disjointed nature of the speaker’s existence.

The final stanza delves deeper into the impact of the partition, employing powerful imagery and symbolism. The lines become a bit longer and more descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the speaker’s surroundings and the struggles they face. The stanza culminates in the ironic depiction of the speaker as a beggar, leading to an uphill task of rehabilitation.

Detailed Analysis

Stanza One

Whatever I had around me
Grass and pebbles
Reptiles
Broken temples
Whatever was around me
Exile
Folklores
Solitary sunset
Whatever was around me
Landslides
Arrows and spears
A homestead
All shiver with their faces turned west.
Memories are like a serpentine crowd
Under the mango trees, broken boxes
One step denying another
And suddenly all are homeless.

The opening stanza of the poem presents an elaborate description of the speaker’s surroundings after the partition of India. It begins by emphasizing the humble and ordinary elements of the speaker’s former life, represented by grass and pebbles. This suggests a connection to nature and simplicity, which is now disrupted by the turbulence of the partition.

The mention of reptiles and broken temples adds a layer of symbolism to the stanza. Reptiles, often associated with change and adaptability, allude to the transformative and unpredictable nature of the partition. The broken temples signify the destruction and loss of religious and cultural heritage that accompanied that tragic historical event. It further emphasizes the disarray and turmoil caused by the partition.

The repetition of “Whatever was around me” serves to underscore the speaker’s disorientation and homeless state. It highlights the abruptness of the change and the loss of familiar surroundings. The subsequent references to exile, folklores, and a solitary sunset evoke a sense of loneliness and isolation, marking the emotional toll of being uprooted from one’s homeland. He has mentioned simple things like grass and landslides, even his home that he had to leave behind.

The stanza concludes with an image of everyone shivering with their faces turned west. This image captures the collective fear and uncertainty that permeated the lives of those affected by the tragedy. It suggests a longing for what was left behind and an anticipation of the unknown future.

The stanza also employs powerful metaphors and vivid imagery. Memories are likened to a serpentine crowd, implying their unpredictability and the difficulty of navigating through them. The mention of mango trees and broken boxes underlines the sense of loss and fragmentation experienced by the speaker. The line “One step denying another” conveys the struggle to move forward in the face of overwhelming challenges.

Stanza Two

Whatever is around me
Sealdah station
High noon
Pockmarked walls
(…)
The void
Under my feet drifts Time.

In the second stanza, Ghosh continues to provide a detailed and alive portrayal of the speaker’s environment after the partition of India. The use of specific locations and imagery adds depth and significance to the description.

The mention of Sealdah station, a bustling railway station in West Bengal, sets the scene and emphasizes the sense of displacement that the speaker experiences, as it suggests they were a refugee from East Bengal. The reference to “high noon” suggests the intensity and harshness of the surroundings, perhaps reflecting the challenging conditions that the protagonist had to face. In the next line, the description of pockmarked walls evokes a sense of decay and destruction, reflecting the physical scars left behind by the partition. It symbolizes the lasting impact of the violent events and the deep sense of loss experienced by the people.

Further, the poet represents a sense of being trapped and directionless in the phrase, “Blind alleys,” while the mention of slogans hints at the political and social unrest during the partition period. The Monument, likely a reference to a historical or cultural landmark, highlights the contrast between the past and present and the disruption of established symbols and identities.

The mention of the bed of arrows and lamp-posts evokes a sense of danger and uncertainty, drawing the picture of the hostile environment in which the speaker finds themselves. The imagery of the Ganges flowing red suggests the bloodshed and violence that accompanied the partition, adding to the somber and tragic tone of the stanza.

The reference to bones and darkness within serves as a metaphorical representation of the deep emotional wounds and the hidden traumas suffered by the people affected by the partition. It conveys a sense of internal struggle and pain of the refugees. Ghosh further says that the Howrah Bridge is a silent observer of this violence. The imagery of time moving under the speaker’s feet symbolizes the ever-present passage of time, relentless and indifferent to the individual experiences of suffering and adversity.

Overall, this stanza offers a poignant description of post-partition India. It effectively conveys the disarray, danger, and emotional weight experienced by the speaker and the wider community.

Stanza Three

Whatever is fountain around me
Flying hair
(…)
Two flintstones that scrape each other
And ignite my daily rehabilitation.

In the concluding stanza, Ghosh describes the aftermath of the violence and turbulence of the Partition. The phrase “Whatever is fountain around me” suggests a continuous flow of experiences and sensations that surround the protagonist. The speaker says the hair of the dead flies in the air, insinuating that the violence has left a trail of death and destruction. The path beneath the speaker’s feet is a witness of the same. Men with torches search for anyone left behind, alluding that the violence might not be over yet.

In the following lines, Ghosh delves deeper into the existential and introspective aspects of the speaker’s experience after the partition of India. The phrase “Whatever is transparent around me” suggests clarity and openness in the speaker’s perception of their surroundings. It implies an acute awareness of their environment and a willingness to confront difficult truths.

Next, the phrase “The sound of the dawn” represents the beginning of a new day and symbolizes hope and renewal. It signifies the possibility of a fresh start and the potential for healing in the face of adversity. The image of the body after a bath conveys a sense of purification and rejuvenation, suggesting a cleansing of the past and a readiness to move forward.

Further, the mention of “the Shiva of the cremation ground” is metaphorical and holds profound significance. Shiva, in Hindu mythology, is the deity associated with destruction and rebirth. Here, it represents the transformative power of death and the inevitable cycle of life. It alludes to the deep existential questions and the contemplation of mortality.

The lines “Each day, a thousand days, a birthday” emphasize the enduring impact of time and memory. They highlight the weight of past experiences and the passage of time, underscoring how every moment, whether ordinary or momentous, contributes to the collective memories that shape one’s identity and perception of the world.

The image of the beggar sitting in the fading dusk conveys a sense of loss, vulnerability, and marginalization. It serves as a metaphor for the speaker’s own state of being, reflecting their sense of longing in the aftermath of the partition.

The metaphor of “two flintstones that scrape each other” captures the friction and conflict between what was lost and what remains. It symbolizes the internal struggle and tension that fuels the speaker’s daily process of rehabilitation. It implies that through the confrontation of past and present, the speaker finds the spark of resilience and the drive to rebuild their life.

FAQ

Similar Poetry

Here are a few other pieces of poetry that talk about the sufferings of the people during India’s partition:

• ‘After Death: Twenty Years‘ by Birendra Chattopadhyay – It reflects on a country’s stormy history and current despair, contrasting it with Tagore’s unwavering dreams.
• ‘Partition‘ by Sujata Bhatt – It is a critical commentary regarding a tragic moment and its consequence.
• ‘Toba Tek Singh‘ by Gulzar – It is a spin-off on a very famous story of Manto based on the partition of India.
• ‘I Say unto Waris Shah‘ by Amrita Pritam – Talks about the transition of a land of love into a slaughterhouse during partition.