Mother by Keki N. Daruwalla: Text and Analysis

 Introduction: Keki N. Daruwalla

Keki N. Daruwalla (born 1937) is one of the most distinguished voices in modern Indian English poetry. Known for his powerful imagery and realistic approach, Daruwalla’s work reflects a deep engagement with human experience, history, and the complexities of contemporary life. He was born in Lahore (now in Pakistan) and experienced the impact of the Partition of India, which later influenced his literary sensibility.

Apart from being a poet, Daruwalla had a notable career in the Indian Police Service (IPS), eventually serving in senior positions. His professional background exposed him to the harsh realities of violence, crime, and social conflict, which are often reflected in his poetry. His writing is marked by a keen observation of life and an unflinching portrayal of truth, avoiding romanticism and sentimentality.

Daruwalla’s poetry covers a wide range of themes, including violence, nature, death, human suffering, and existential concerns. His language is precise, controlled, and often stark, creating vivid and sometimes disturbing images that leave a lasting impact on the reader. He does not idealize reality but presents it in its raw and complex form.

Some of his well-known poetry collections include Under Orion, The Keeper of the Dead, and Winter Poems. For his significant contribution to literature, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award. Daruwalla remains an important figure whose works continue to be widely studied and appreciated.

Introduction: Mother by Keki N Daruwalla

 Mother by Keki N. Daruwalla is a thought-provoking poem that presents a realistic and unsentimental portrayal of motherhood. Unlike traditional poems that glorify the mother figure, Daruwalla focuses on the harsh realities of aging, physical decline, and the changing dynamics between a mother and her child. The poem reflects the inevitability of time and highlights how roles are reversed as the mother becomes weak and dependent on her son. Through simple language and vivid imagery, the poet explores themes of love, responsibility, and emotional complexity, making the poem both powerful and deeply moving.

 

Text

 Your spine goes creaking now

across the bow of your body.
Your skin preserves the past
in its creases
like mummy-wrap.

Your eyes don’t sputter
with the same fires
as they discharge
the arrows of your love.

Your memories flounder
amongst your sons now.
You confuse the one who
wet his bed
with the one who
bit through your breasts
and made them septic.

When my children ask you
things about your childhood
your smile becomes remote and enigmatic.

Once in six months now
you press them to your body
to remind us that love
was the only written word
in the scripture of your hands.

I think something shriveled
within you , Mother,
            the day you broke your bangles
            and shook the lion-dust
            of my father from your brow.
 

  Themes

The poem Mother by Keki N. Daruwalla explores the profound and often uncomfortable realities of aging and the changing dynamics of human relationships. One of the central themes is the inevitability of aging and physical decay. The poet presents the mother not as an idealized figure, but as a frail and dependent individual whose body has been weakened by time. This realistic portrayal challenges the traditional glorification of motherhood.

Another important theme is role reversal. In earlier years, the mother nurtured and cared for her child, but now the situation has reversed, and the child must take responsibility for the mother. This shift highlights the cyclical nature of life and relationships.

The poem also deals with emotional complexity. While there is an underlying sense of love and duty, the speaker’s tone suggests discomfort and detachment. Daruwalla does not present a purely sentimental view; instead, he reveals that caring for an aging parent can involve mixed feelings, including frustration and helplessness.

A further theme is the harsh reality of life versus idealism. The poet strips away romantic notions and presents the truth of human existence—aging, suffering, and eventual death. This honesty gives the poem its depth and impact.

In conclusion, Mother is a powerful exploration of aging, responsibility, and the complexity of human emotions, offering a realistic insight into the later stages of life.

Analysis in Hindi

Mother कविता में Keki N. Daruwalla ने वृद्धावस्था और मानवीय संबंधों के बदलते स्वरूप का अत्यंत यथार्थवादी चित्रण किया है। यह कविता पारंपरिक भावुकता से अलग हटकर माँ के जीवन के उस चरण को सामने लाती है, जहाँ वह शारीरिक रूप से कमजोर और दूसरों पर निर्भर हो जाती है। कवि ने माँ को किसी आदर्श या पूजनीय रूप में प्रस्तुत नहीं किया, बल्कि एक साधारण मनुष्य के रूप में दिखाया है, जो समय के प्रभाव से धीरे-धीरे क्षीण होती जाती है। कविता का प्रमुख विषय वृद्धावस्था, शारीरिक क्षय और भूमिका-परिवर्तन है, जहाँ संतान को माँ की देखभाल करनी पड़ती है। कवि की दृष्टि निष्पक्ष और वस्तुनिष्ठ है, जिसमें किसी प्रकार की अतिरंजना या भावुकता नहीं है। भाषा सरल, स्पष्ट और प्रभावपूर्ण है, जो सीधे पाठक के मन पर प्रभाव डालती है। कविता में प्रयुक्त बिंब वृद्धावस्था की कठोर सच्चाई को उजागर करते हैं और एक गंभीर, चिंतनशील वातावरण निर्मित करते हैं। इस रचना के माध्यम से कवि यह संदेश देते हैं कि जीवन में परिवर्तन अनिवार्य है और समय के साथ रिश्तों की प्रकृति भी बदलती रहती है। इस प्रकार, Mother एक गहन और विचारोत्तेजक कविता है, जो हमें जीवन के