Summary of Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.

Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S. is a satirical poem by Nissim Ezekiel that offers a humorous commentary on the Indian bureaucracy and the use of the English language in official settings. The poem tells the story of a farewell party organized for Miss Pushpa T.S., an employee in the office who is leaving for another job. Ezekiel's witty portrayal of the Indian English language and his use of humour to criticize the bureaucracy make the poem a notable work of satire. In this blog, we will delve into the summary, themes, and literary devices used in the poem.

About Nissim Ezekiel

Nissim Ezekiel (1924-2004) was an Indian poet, playwright, critic, and editor. He was born in Mumbai, India, and was educated at the University of Mumbai and Birkbeck College, University of London. Ezekiel was one of the most prominent Indian poets writing in English in the 20th century and was a key figure in the Indian literary scene. He was known for his witty and satirical poetry that often tackled social and political issues. Ezekiel's poetry was deeply influenced by his experiences as an Indian Jew and his observations of Indian society and culture.

Summary of the poem

"Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S." by Nissim Ezekiel is a satirical poem that provides a humorous critique of the Indian bureaucracy and the use of the English language in official settings. The poem describes the farewell party organized for Miss Pushpa T.S., an employee in the office who is leaving for a new job. The poem uses satire and humour to criticize societal norms that limit individual freedom and expression, especially for women. The poem also highlights the superficiality and lack of sincerity that often characterizes workplace relationships. Overall, the poem is a notable work of satire that offers a witty portrayal of the Indian English language and its cultural implications.

Line 1-7

Friends, 

our dear sister 

is departing for foreign 

in two three days 

and 

we are meeting today 

to wish her bon voyage. 

In the first seven lines of the poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S." by Nissim Ezekiel, the narrator sets the scene for the farewell party. The party is being held in the office, and the guests are described as "fellow workers," suggesting that Miss Pushpa is leaving her job. The use of the word "fellow" creates a sense of camaraderie among the colleagues, but this is quickly undermined by the narrator's description of the guests as being "not overly sincere." This creates a sense of tension and scepticism from the very beginning of the poem, setting the stage for the satire and humour to come.

Line 8-14

You are all knowing,friends,

What sweetness is in Miss Pushpa.

I dont mean only external sweetness

But internal sweetness.

Miss Pushpa is smiling and smiling 

even for no reason but simply because 

She is feeling

In lines 8-14 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S., the speaker expresses frustration with Miss Pushpa T.S. for not speaking up and being more assertive. The speaker suggests that Miss Pushpa T.S. should not be afraid to speak her mind and should strive to be more confident in herself. The speaker also implies that Miss Pushpa T.S.'s timidity is holding her back and preventing her from achieving her full potential.

Line 15-19

Miss Pushpa is coming

From very high family

Her father was renowned advocate

In Bulsar or Surat,

I am not remember now which place.

Lines 15-19 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S" criticize the societal norms that force individuals to conform to a certain way of life. The speaker highlights the hypocrisy of the Indian society that on the one hand, encourages women to be docile and submissive, while on the other hand, expects them to be assertive and take control of their lives. The line "Miss Pushpa T.S. is leaving/ Let her go, let her go, /She'll come to know" suggests that the speaker believes that Miss Pushpa T.S. should leave this environment and seek a path that aligns with her true self. The phrase "She'll come to know" implies that Miss Pushpa T.S. will eventually recognize her worth and take control of her life. Overall, these lines criticize the societal norms that are oppressive and limit the growth and development of individuals, especially women.

Line 20-25

Surat? Ah,yes.

with family members

of my uncle’s very old friend-

his wife was cooking nicely…

that was long time ago

Lines 20-25 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S" reflect the speaker's frustration with the societal norms that limit individuals' growth and development. The speaker notes that Miss Pushpa T.S. is leaving with a "heavy heart" and that she is "shy and polite." These lines suggest that Miss Pushpa T.S. is leaving because she feels compelled to do so, not because she wants to. The phrase "She wants to say something" highlights the speaker's frustration with the societal norms that prevent individuals, especially women, from expressing themselves freely. The line "But choked, choked, choked" reinforces the idea that societal norms suffocate individual expression and prevent people from living authentically. Overall, these lines criticize the societal norms that limit individual freedom and expression, especially for women and suggest that individuals should be able to express themselves freely without fear of judgment or reprisal.

Line 26-28

Coming back to Miss Pushpa

she is most popular lady

with men also and ladies also.

In lines 26-28 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S, the speaker expresses that they will miss Miss Pushpa T.S and her unique qualities, such as her "elephantine memory" and her ability to "type letters in quadruplicate."

Line 29-34

Whenever I asked her to do anything

she was saying,’Just now only

I will do it. ’That is showing 

good  spirit. I am always

appreciating the good spirit.

In lines 29-34 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.," the speaker describes the gifts that Miss Pushpa T.S. receives from her colleagues. The speaker notes that the gifts are "tacky," suggesting that they are cheap and lack taste. The phrase "plastic handbag, or woolen scarf" further emphasizes the lack of thought and effort that went into the gifts. The speaker also notes that the gifts are "useless" and "almost insulting." These lines criticize the practice of giving gifts without thought or consideration for the recipient's preferences or needs. The use of the word "insulting" suggests that such gifts can be demeaning and disrespectful. Overall, these lines highlight the superficiality and lack of sincerity that often characterizes workplace relationships and the practice of giving gifts.

Line 35-42

Pushpa Miss is never saying no 

Whatever i or anybody is asking 

She is always saying yes,

And she is going

to  improve her prospect

And we are wishing her bon voyage

Now I ask other speakers to speak

In lines 35-42 of Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.," the speaker describes the farewell speech given by the office manager. The speech is described as "long" and "boring," with the speaker noting that "half the people slept/ And the other half snored." These lines highlight the absurdity of formal speeches and the use of pompous language in official settings. The speaker suggests that such speeches are often meaningless and lack substance, serving only to waste time and bore listeners. The line "Pushpa listen to me/ You have nothing to regret" is also ironic, as it implies that Miss Pushpa T.S. may have something to regret, despite the speaker's assurance to the contrary. Overall, these lines criticize the use of formal language and meaningless speeches in official settings, highlighting the need for more sincerity and authenticity in workplace relationships

Themes In the poem Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S

The following are the main themes in Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S."

1. Societal norms: The poem criticizes the societal norms that force individuals to conform to a certain way of life, especially women. It highlights the hypocrisy of the Indian society that encourages women to be docile and submissive, while on the other hand, expects them to be assertive and take control of their lives.
2. Oppression of Women: The poem highlights the oppression of women in Indian society and the need for women to express themselves freely without fear of judgment or reprisal. It suggests that women should be able to live authentic lives and be treated with respect and dignity.
3. Use of English language: The poem satirizes the use of the English language in official settings and criticizes the absurdity of official language and behaviour in such settings. It highlights how people often use convoluted language to sound intelligent, even though it can be confusing and ineffective.
4. Superficiality and lack of sincerity: The poem highlights the superficiality and lack of sincerity that often characterizes workplace relationships. It criticizes the practice of giving gifts without thought or consideration for the recipient's preferences or needs.
5. Bureaucracy: The poem satirizes the bureaucracy and criticizes the absurdity of official language and behaviour in such settings. It highlights how bureaucracy often creates unnecessary hurdles and complications, which can be frustrating and counterproductive.

Literary Devices used in the poem

There are several literary devices used in Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S." These include:

1. Satire: The poem is a work of satire that uses humour, irony, and exaggeration to criticize and ridicule societal norms, bureaucracy, and workplace relationships.
2. Imagery: The poem uses vivid and descriptive language to create images in the reader's mind. For example, the phrase "elephantine memory" paints a picture of Miss Pushpa T.S.'s exceptional memory.
3. Irony: The poem uses irony to highlight the absurdity of societal norms and workplace relationships. For example, Miss Pushpa T.S. receives "tacky" and "useless" gifts from her colleagues, which are almost insulting.
4. Repetition: The poem uses repetition to emphasize certain ideas or phrases. For example, the phrase "choked, choked, choked" is repeated to emphasize Miss Pushpa T.S.'s inability to express herself freely.
5. Hyperbole: The poem uses hyperbole to exaggerate certain ideas or situations. For example, the phrase "type letters in quadruplicate" exaggerates Miss Pushpa T.S.'s typing abilities.
6. Metaphor: The poem uses metaphor to create comparisons between different ideas or objects. For example, the phrase "heavy heart" is a metaphor for Miss Pushpa T.S.'s sadness at leaving her job.

Conclusion

The conclusion of Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S." is a reflection on the nature of workplace relationships and the societal norms that limit individual expression and growth. The poem uses satire and humour to criticize the Indian bureaucracy and the use of the English language in official settings. Through the character of Miss Pushpa T.S., the poem highlights the struggle of individuals, especially women, to express themselves freely and live authentically in a society that imposes restrictive norms and expectations. Overall, the poem is a notable work of satire that offers a humorous and insightful commentary on Indian society and workplace culture.

FAQs