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Different History

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A Different History

SUJATA BHATT

Great Pan is not dead; he simply emigrated to India. Here, the gods roam freely, Disguised as snakes or monkeys; every tree is sacred and it is a sin to be rude to a book. It is a sin to shove a book aside

with your foot, a sin to slam books down hard on a table, a sin to toss one carelessly across a room. You must learn how to turn the pages gently without disturbing Sarasvati, without offending the tree from whose wood the paper was made.

Which language has not been the oppressor’s tongue? Which language truly meant to murder someone? And how does it happen that after the torture, after the soul has been cropped with a long scythe swooping out of the conqueror’s face – the unborn grandchildren grow to love that strange language.

Pan] the Ancient Greek god of nature, part-­‐man, part-­‐goat Sarasvati] the Hindu goddess of the arts

A different history With close reference to the poem, analyse Bhatt’s feelings towards and beliefs about India.

In her poem "A Different History", Bhatt explores her feelings and beliefs about India. She tries to understand if her love damages her identity of Indian culture and religion.

The poet starts off the poem by mentioning "Great Pan", who is the Roman God of nature. The fact that "He simply emigrated to India" suggests how Europe has rapidly industrialised and there is no place left for nature in Europs, so Pan has emigrated to India. "Great Pan" is able to "roam freely" in India indicating how God is very important for the Indian religion. Bhatt emphasises the sacredness of the Indian religion as "every tree is sacred" and "it is a sin to be rude to a book". The culture shows a lot of gratitude to books as the word "sin" is repeated several times throughout the illustration of disrespected actions towards books. The reference to the Hindu goddess of arts and knowledge "Sarasvati" emphasises Bhatt's respect towards the "sacred" books and "tree[s]" that shouldn't be "offend[ed]".

Bhatt continues the poem as she now analyses the concept of language. She uses rhetorical questions to confuse and make the readers think about the dangers of the language, English. She strongly describes the language as "the oppressor's tongue" and "meant to murder someone". This anger and bitterness tone suggests how the poet is mad about this language which destroys the Indian culture and religion as Britain colonised India. The repetition of the phrase "which language" displays her strong hatred towards the western culture's language. Moreover, she expresses her disappointment for her own people by using the metaphor of the "long scythe" which relates to "Great Pan" "cropp[ing]" the "soul[s]". This paints a strong picture of Britain colonising, "tortur[ing]" and "oppres[ing]" India and its religion and culture. The poet can't believe how "the unborn grandchildren grow to love that strange language." Perhaps, she is also disappointed with herself, of how she allows herself to use English or the "strange language". This displays how the Indians, including herself, have given up their cultural and religious identities.

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