Uday Prakash :: Two poems

Introductory note:

 Uday Prakash is well-known as a short story writer, or rather as a writer of novellas in Hindi. His stories Paul Gomera’s Scooter, The Walls of Delhi as well as The Girl with the Golden Parasol have been trendsetters in Hindi literature. He has been attacked quite fiercely for his stories, which provide deep and incisive insights in the various issues concerning Indian society. He has written against environmental degradation and mining, which are likely to run afoul of various local governments. Ideologically, he’s a disillusioned Marxist, who occupies a centrist, liberal position, from where he explores the various forms of dehumanization around him. A striving to manifest dehumanization in various forms also leads to writings on caste, creed, and the myriad issues which stratify Indian society into different layers.

Uday Prakash has six collections of poetry. It is perhaps indicative of our times that his poetry has lain forgotten while his stories have gained prominence—although he himself once told me, “I’m foremost a poet and I began by writing poetry.” In his poems, Prakash carries forward the themes of his stories. He is also a filmmaker, and his poems seem to be visual cameos of social insights.

--RN