Hunger by Namdeo Dhasal is a powerful and poignant exploration of the relentless struggle against the oppressive force of hunger faced by the Dalit community in India. Through vivid imagery and metaphors, Dhasal personifies hunger as a formidable adversary that cannot be easily defeated, representing the multifaceted struggles faced by the marginalised.
The poem serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Dalit community in the face of adversity, as they challenge hunger and assert their right to live with dignity and equality in a society that has long denied them these fundamental rights. Let’s understand the poem Hunger by Namdeo Dhasal in greater detail.
Table of Contents
Hunger by Namdeo Dhasal
Hunger
Unable to do this one thing and able
To solve or not solve theorems
Will hunger –fires forge a poem?
Will music die in the fire of hunger?
How difficult music is
To him who cannot count the best of his own pulse?
Who hadn’t thought that fees couldn’t be claimed
For singing songs of hunger.
Hunger
A fruitless thing
However hard you work
The reward is still stones
If stones cannot build a house
We’ll not manage to live in it.
Hunger you are mouse, cat, lion in turn
How long can mere mortals like us stand
I this game that you’ve set up?
2.
Hunger
a shrewd peace is growing everywhere
this is the beginning of our new life sentence
hunger forgive us that we cannot cut the tree of time
but even cut, the sky will still be blue.
To which market can we carry dumb hearts?
Where auction them
Where day sweeps life
Who will buy crushed hearts
Who will profit by the deal?
Hunger, tell us your game, your strategy
If we can muster guts enough
We’ll fight you to the finish
Can’t crawl and grovel on our stomachs
Too long with you
How much can we wash the grime off hunger?
How much wash the dust off years?
How much scorn to the very ends of scorn?
Hunger, if a bridge of iron will not join you to us
Then let us fly free like unfettered birds
Hunger, your land, the thorns upon your land,
Fester in the brain all night
Till the brain itself freezes.
Hunger, when a thing is taken from the fridge
Is it still fresh?
Hunger your every blood drop is cold
Your every blood drop is mute
Order, let lightening course through the guts
Order, let life get charged
Wounded seas and the long moans of our demands
Hunger, say yes to our dreams
Don’t snuff out the orphan huts upon the shore
We’ll see later
The gold-threaded struggle
Between the snail of pain and the sea.
3.
Hunger
we have made our demand
let you need us
will we never grow?
Let us grow
The sun may blithely have forgotten dawn
The river may blithely have forgotten time
We wanted more from light
Than mere life
But the light turned false.
Hunger,
We will not allow a column of cloud to stand,
Indifferent, to our door
How much more can we thank
Pain the music in pain
If we have not made ourselves a tidy life
What right do we have to quarrel with the flowers?
How much can we excite pain
How much can we burn
How much can we catch the fire that burns forever?
If our words find no expression
In this stream of sun
We’ll salute you like defeated soldiers
Whoever said that every soldier in the army
Fights like a man?
4.
Hunger,
There’s not a single grain in our house today
not a single clever brain in our house today
hunger
if one sings till the last light of the innermost being
will it turn off hunger light?
Hunger if one takes care of you now
Will it darken?
Hunger, your style is your own
No other calamity comes our way
But you.
Hunger, if we cannot mate you
Cannot impregnate you
Our tribe will have to kill itself
Hunger we have all the aces
Why talk of the songs of the half-sexed jacks?
Here’s our manhood before you now,
Let’s see who wins this round
You or we.
5.
Hunger
which came first, seed or tree?
Hunger you make things too difficult
Hunger just tell us what breed this monkey is
And if you can’t
Then we will screw
Seventeen generations of you
Hunger, you and your mother..
Summary of Hunger
The poem Hunger by Namdeo Dhasal is a powerful expression of the struggles and frustrations faced by the Dalit community in India. The poem is a lamentation of the unrelenting and debilitating nature of hunger, which is not just a physical craving but also a metaphor for the emotional and psychological pain inflicted by societal oppression. The speaker of the poem addresses hunger directly, questioning its role in their lives and the impact it has on their ability to live with dignity.
Throughout the poem, Dhasal uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the desperation and helplessness that come with hunger. He describes hunger as a force that cannot be defeated, comparing it to a fire that cannot be extinguished and a tree that cannot be cut down. The speaker also expresses a sense of hopelessness, wondering how much longer they can endure the physical and emotional toll of hunger.
The poem also touches on themes of identity and the struggle for self-respect. The speaker asks hunger if it will ever allow them to grow and thrive, and if it will ever be satisfied with the little they have. The poem ends with a sense of defiance, with the speaker challenging hunger to a battle, asserting their determination to fight against its oppressive grip.
Themes
The central theme of Namdeo Dhasal's poem "Hunger" is the relentless struggle against the oppressive force of hunger, both physical and metaphorical, faced by the Dalit community in India. The poem explores the devastating impact of hunger on the lives of the marginalised and their determination to resist and overcome it.
Throughout the poem, Dhasal personifies hunger as a formidable adversary that cannot be easily defeated. He uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the desperation and hopelessness that comes with hunger, comparing it to a fire that cannot be extinguished and a tree that cannot be cut down.
The poem also touches on themes of identity and the struggle for self-respect. The speaker questions hunger's role in their life and the impact it has on their ability to live with dignity. They challenge hunger to a battle, asserting their determination to fight against its oppressive grip.
Dhasal also explores the emotional and psychological toll of hunger, describing it as a force that not only deprives people of physical sustenance but also robs them of their humanity. The speaker wonders how much longer they can endure the pain and suffering caused by hunger.
The poem also highlights the resilience and determination of the Dalit community in the face of adversity. Despite the overwhelming odds, the speaker refuses to give up and vows to continue fighting against hunger until the end.
Significance of the Title "Hunger"
The title "Hunger" in Namdeo Dhasal's poem holds significant meaning, as it serves as a metaphor for the multifaceted struggles faced by the Dalit community in India. Hunger, in this context, transcends the physical need for food and encompasses the emotional, psychological, and social pain inflicted by systemic oppression and marginalisation.
The title "Hunger" symbolises the relentless and all-consuming nature of the struggles faced by the Dalits. It represents the unrelenting force that drives them to fight for their rights, dignity, and survival in a society that has historically denied them these basic human needs. The title also highlights the ways in which hunger is not just a physical craving but also a metaphor for the emotional and psychological toll of oppression, which can be just as debilitating and all-consuming.
Historical Context of Namdeo Dhasal's Poem “Hunger”
The historical context of Namdeo Dhasal's poem "Hunger" is deeply rooted in the social and political landscape of India, particularly focusing on the struggles of the Dalit community. Dhasal, a prominent Dalit poet and activist, wrote this poem during a time when Dalits, also known as "Untouchables," faced severe discrimination, oppression, and marginalisation in Indian society.
The poem reflects the harsh realities and challenges faced by the Dalit community, highlighting the pervasive issues of poverty, hunger, and social injustice that plagued their lives. Dhasal uses hunger as a powerful metaphor to symbolise the deprivation and suffering experienced by Dalits, not only in terms of physical hunger but also in terms of the hunger for equality, dignity, and social justice.
During the time when Dhasal wrote this poem, Dalits in India were subjected to systemic discrimination, denied access to basic rights and opportunities, and relegated to the lowest rungs of society. The poem captures the frustration, despair, and resilience of the Dalit community as they grapple with the oppressive forces that seek to keep them marginalised and powerless.
Overall, the historical context of Namdeo Dhasal's poem "Hunger" is one of social inequality, caste-based discrimination, and the enduring struggle of the Dalit community for recognition, empowerment, and justice in a society that has long denied them these fundamental rights.
Conclusion
Hunger by Namdeo Dhasal delves deep into the profound struggles and relentless challenges faced by the Dalit community in India. Through vivid imagery and poignant metaphors, Dhasal personifies hunger as a formidable adversary that not only encompasses the physical deprivation of food but also symbolises the emotional and social hunger for equality, dignity, and justice.
The poem captures the desperation, resilience, and defiance of the marginalised community as they confront the oppressive forces that seek to keep them marginalised and powerless. Dhasal's powerful verses resonate with themes of resilience, defiance, and the unwavering spirit of those who refuse to be defeated by the all-consuming force of hunger.
