Write the summary and explanation of the poem entitled "Sea

Write the summary and explanation of the poem entitled “Sea Breeze, Bombay”.

Ans.

Summary of the poem

Adil Jussawalla is a modern Indian poet writing in English to enrich in Indo-Anglican Literature. His poem “Sea Breeze, Bombay” is a fine example of post-colonial writing in English from India.

With controlled anger and anguish the poet, here in this poem, gives a glimpse of the partition days when lakhs of people were rendered homeless. They came to Bombay as refugees and settled wherever they found space. They came wearing ‘blood-red’ clothes and with ‘holes in their cracked feet’. How painful it was for them to leave everything in their native place, and settle at an unknown place and begin life anew! They are still treated as refugees.

It was not the fault of the people. Politicians in the garb of gentlemen did it. They scissored Sindh. The sea breeze of Bombay is witness to these happenings. It blows over the city without rest not allowing the people to rest either. Uprooted communities were disturbed and torn but they reassembled and formed new groups and in this way, kept life going.

The poet hails from a Parsi community. Therefore he thinks of the sacred fire. He wants the fire to heal the wounds of partition and restore normal life for refugees in Bombay. It is difficult for the refugees to feel at home in their new dwelling places because their culture and traditions had been different. On the other hand, the local public also views them as strangers. It breeds distrust and restlessness in the hearts of people. But the modern, urban, cosmopolitan Indians will soon create an atmosphere of peace and goodwill, feels the poet.

EXPLANATIONS

1. Partitions people stitched

Shrouds from a flag, gentlemen scissored Sind.

And opened people, fraying across the cut

Country reknotted themselves on this island.

Reference- These lines have been taken from the poem “Sea Breeze, Bombay, composed by Adil Jussawalla. The poem is a fine example of post colonial writing in English from Indian authors.

Context- The poet here describes the fate of the country after independence India was partitioned on the basis of two-nation theory on 15th of August, 1947. The poet describes what happened then.

Explanation: After partition hordes of people crossed over to Indian territory in search of new homes. One country was cut into two with a separate flag for each. Many were killed and for them shrouds were stitched as if it were, from the flag. Partition was very painful for the general public. Politicians who are called gentlemen, divided the country to fulfil their political ambition. They got power but the people got wounds. They had to cross the border leaving everything behind. They were scattered. Many of them came to Bombay. Others like them went to other places. They came as refugees, scattered in groups. Wherever they settled, they formed new groups and started life anew. They came to the island city of Bombay like this and made it their new home.

2. Restore us to fire. New refugees,

Wearing blood-red wool in the worst heat,

Come from Tibet, scanning the see from the north,

Dazed, holes in their cracked feet.

Reference- As above.

Context- In these lines the poet describes the condition of the refugees who came to Bombay after the partition of India.

Explanation- The poet belongs to the Parsi community who are fire worshippers. Naturally, therefore, he invokes the blessing of the Sacred Fire. May the holy fire heal the wounds of the refugees! Many refugees came from Tibet. They wore red-coloured woolen garments. Here the poet uses the term blood red’. The use of the word blood is significant. It symbolizes the injuries inflicted on the people during Partition-days. These refugees came from the cold north region to the hot places. They had to suffer the heat which was worst for them. They had to undertake a long journey, trekking all the way. It was very painful for them. Their feet were swollen and cracked. The poet says, holes were visible in their feet. They were completely dazzed, unable to think what to do and where to go.

3. Restore us to fire. Still,

Communities tear and re-form and still, a breeze,

Cooling our garrulous evenings, investigates nothing,

Raffles no tempers, uncovers no root,

And settle no one adrift of the mainland’s histories.

Reference- As above.

Context- The poet describes the problems of the refugees. He also invokes the sacred fire to help them.

Explanation- Being a member of the Parsi community, the poet invokes the sacred fire to bless the refugees who may find peace in their new dwelling places. After the partition of the country, communities were uprooted from their native places. They came to different places, including Bombay and settled there as refugees. Being torn at their original places, they formed new groups in the refugee camps. Describing their condition in Bombay, the poet says that the sea breeze cools their evenings when they gather together and talk freely. In this way they forget their trauma for sometime. But they can’t feel at home in new places because their customs and traditions differ They are also viewed as strangers by the local people here.