Life of a Poet~Panchali

Hold onto your hats, kids, as today you are in for a very special treat. We are making a whirlwind tour of Kolkata, India. Panchali, the wonderful poet who writes at  PanchaliBolchi, is allowing us to visit her amazing family, and she is going to point out some of her favorite sights in the City of Joy. I have always loved India, and Africa, (where Panchali also lived for some years), as they feel, to me, like the ancient heartbeat of humankind. Come sit by me. Panchali’s “man Friday” is bringing in hot chai tea, there is the smell of incense in the air, and the women, arrayed in the most beautiful of saris, are beaming with happiness.

Poets United: Panchali, I am so excited to be visiting with you! I have always adored India.

Panchali: You have touched a very sensitive chord in me with your juxtaposition of India and Africa as the "ancient heartbeat of humankind". I  lived in Africa for 5 years - late eighties / early nineties ; accompanied my husband who took up a World Bank assignment with National Railways of Zimbabwe (erstwhile Southern Rhodesia). It was a very satisfying experience to have lived in the cradle of human civilization, especially for a re-connect with our origin. ( 65,000 years ago there was a migration of human population from Africa to India). I returned enriched. 

I was very excited to read a recent scientific report on genetic research which  establishes - arguably - that 4500 years ago there was yet another migration of homo sapiens ( or were they neanderthals ?) , this time from India to Australasia (Australia + South Pacific) . In one go, genes of Africans, Indians and Australians (aborigines) got superimposed like on a palimpsest; the Dingoes of Aussie aborigines and the street dogs of India became blood relations.

Typical Kolkata

P.U.: This is utterly fascinating. A similar migration is said to have occurred between Russia and the North American Arctic, resulting in our northern indigenous communities. Past and present journeys – all so fantastically interesting.

Panchali:  It has been truly a long journey. (Reality, more than a metaphor). I was born in New Delhi and for twenty-three years I lived in that city, traversing the usual trajectory of School, College and University. After a master’s degree in Philosophy, I enrolled for a research course. Seeing my abhorrence for analyticity (too much clarity darkens—Pascal), I was gently nudged to concentrate on Heidegger’s existentialism; till marriage uprooted me from Delhi. That was the end of my formal academics…

Me, proud homemaker, in my lounge

My husband of the arranged marriage was employed with Indian Railways. So, my locomotion started: Assam (North-Eastern part of India), Kolkata, Mumbai, Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) and twice to New Delhi in the interims. After my hubby finished with Indian Railways in 2010, we finally settled down in Kolkata. Our daughter, married for seven years now, also lives in Kolkata with her husband. She works as a professional in IT Company. We meet over the weekends…

Me and my dotty

For the working days, my company is my dearest boy Mawgli ( a mixed-breed, spotlessly white; so we introduce him as a spotless-Dalmatian) !

For the last 25 years, Mawgli is the fifth canine member in a row; the preceding four, acquired within a period of three years, are no more: Bibi ( a Rhodesian ridgeback, we got her from Zimbabwe), Misha( a German shepherd, it was a lovely gift from my Dutch friend Paula De Jong from Zimbabwe), Bozo ( A white spitz), Mick ( A snowy Samoyed),…..RIP.

P.U.: I know the heartbreak of losing beloved dogs. I’m glad you have Mawgli. I love him!  That is the sweetest photo I have ever seen! What does your ordinary day look like, Panchali?

Panchali: I am busy home-making, which has no share of the economic pie (wisdom gathered from text-books). However, I am occupied for every waking minute of the day. Attending to domestic chores, driving out to pick up provisions, groceries and spending time on pet care ( am also a proud owner of few sharks and Gold-fish. Tweeky, my cockatiel, sadly passed away a month ago) take some time and then I am left with ample time for read & write, music and net surfing.

I am also attached to a voluntary organisation that works for the welfare of deprived women and children.

PU: Kiddo, working at home, making a home, is round the clock, work that never ends. Hardest job there is. But it allows time for poetry, one of the perks! I so admire that you do volunteer work. And Tweeky was adorable.

Panchali: The term 'home-maker’ — flashes images of dreariness:  it connotes an unproductive life…but, for me, it has been a boon. --- I believe a housewife contributes the ‘most’ in a household. Every second of life is a balancing act for her, it's not easy!! Everyone’s circumstances/needs are different and there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to this.....As you say …it is a 24x7 job! And I have no regrets today. I'm happy that I have spare time to sit and lament :) 

[A grinding stone is still the star attraction of a Bengali kitchen. 

We do have electrical appliances in every home, but we need this pair to grind 

mustard seeds and poppy seeds for making traditional eastern cuisine....]

Sometimes, I wonder, what I would do with the flow of visitors I keep having at home, if I'd been working. Thankfully, we get experienced domestic helpers in India, so things are never too hard. Our man Friday, Vijay, has been with us for the past twelve years...he's a hard worker and puts in a lot of effort. May God bless his soul!

Vijay

Once in a while, I travel fifteen kms, in a city with treacherous roads, to meet friends, relatives or visit British Council Library. Weekend evenings are meant for get-togethers (family or friends), theaters, plays, music soiree or films. Being trained in Indian classical Music, my performance is known and appreciated by hubby et al. Culturally, Kolkata is the most happening place in India. We can always pick up something during spare time.

Academy of the Arts - the cultural hub of Kolkata

This is yet another place we frequent quite often 

to watch theater, drama, ballets etc.

Kumartuli - the Street of Idolmakers

Clay idols made for ceremonies year round

Right now is the Goddess of Knowledge

 P.U.: That is wonderful – that you have such gifts, and that they are appreciated. Would you like to share some memories of childhood??

Panchali: In a very true sense, I ought to call myself a Delhite, having lived for the first twenty three years of my life in Delhi. However, when I look back, one place that jostles ahead and takes the center stage is Calcutta, the city of joy--- now Kolkata. In 1947, hard on the heels of India gaining Independence, the state of Bengal was divided; western part remaining with India and the eastern part became East Pakistan and then Bangladesh. 

My parents and my husband's parents belonged to East Bengal; they migrated to India following Independence, which caused the fateful 'partition of India'. Three of them came from East Pakistan to Calcutta; while my father trekked from Rangoon, now Myanmar (Burma, where my grandfather worked as a civil engineer) to Chittagong (in Bangladesh) during the Second World War via the dangerous hilly tracks of Arakans, and then went straight to New Delhi. 

The bank of the Ganges

But, all the other relatives settled--or rather carelessly settled---as 'refugees' in Calcutta. Childhood memories of visiting Calcutta during my school vacations are significant in my life. Exploring the place was exciting, but, the family re-unions when the preceding generation recalled good times and lamented the loss-- the sheer pain of being separated from one's homeland leaked noisily, sadly.

My parents' wedding portrait in 1952

The displacement stories were heartrending. Partition was a cataclysmic event in Indian history which irrevocably altered the everyday lives of many Bengali citizens; however, the migration did not dismantle the ‘family-bond’; responsibilities took precedence over the petty issues of nationality. The mental balance, peace, harmony was never destroyed. This was reflected by the exciting stories my parents, uncles and aunts used to narrate of the mango orchards in their compounds, the dusty paths and meandering rivers of the village, it was like unrolling an ancient scroll at our feet to survey. We, as kids, relished the stories, and listening to them became an enthralling pastime for our generation! 

Street flower vendor, selling marigold ropes

P.U.: Wow, Panchali, you could write a book full of all those stories.

Panchali: Standing up as a full blown adult now, with hearts built on association and repetition, filled with recurring phrases and 'images of partition'--  today I understand what guts it takes to migrate, rehabilitate and settle down in an alien environment. It’s incredible, how they coped with the trauma, rebuilt their lives--they, perhaps, saw one of the most enduring miseries of Indian times. There are so many stories to tell.

I can't resist from presenting few lines of a poem by Michael Ondaatje--'The Story':

"With all the swerves of history
I cannot imagine your future...
I no longer guess a future.
And do not know how we end
nor where
Though I know a story about maps,
for you."

And these 'maps' bring to me the scent of my ancestors' devastation of homeland, moving from the realm of the personal loss, maintaining integrity of feeling in the midst of political violence and tragedy was definitely not easy!!

Enough! Enough of this reminiscing! :)

Navadvip-ghat - boats to carry passengers 

across the Ganga River

So, how could I live anywhere else? Much maligned Calcutta (remember the famous Broadway play 'Oh! Calcutta'--that's a restaurant in Kolkata now---the fish specialist)

My last words on this question...

"....did you lift stone above stone
on a groundwork of rags?
Coal upon coal, at the bottom, just tears!"

I have a drop in your years, Kolkata!

P.U.: What a fascinating history. Yours is such a rich culture. Sigh. I am set to dreaming........ Is there one person in your life you feel has had a significant impact on your life and/or your writing?

Family Portrait

Panchali:  My husband and my daughter, who are my pillars of strength and my biggest critics… then, my son-in-law, who is no less than a son. 

My dotty and son-in-law

Last, but not least, my wonderful parents and my parents-in-law (we lost all four of them in the 90’s). What really shines through is their love. Now, looking through the scrapbook of my life, my heart goes out to everyone who put effort into this pure treasure trove ! So many wonderful people have touched my life. My heart is overflowing with love….Touch wood !

P.U.: That is true happiness: a heart overflowing with love!  You recently celebrated your 33^rd wedding anniversary. You mentioned an arranged marriage. Do you find, in India, marriages avoid the terrible divorce stats we have in North America, because tradition supports the family unit?  

Our 33rd Anniversary

Panchali: Mine was an arranged marriage, and our ‘bond’ grew with much patience and time. When we got married 33 years back, the whole concept of ‘love’ seemed pretty alien for both of us… we had to literally nourish the relationship with mutual respect and understanding… time tests both types of marriage. So far, the journey has been fascinating, despite all ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’.....Today, as I look back, I feel, our generation was probably far more practical and mature in dealing with marriages. We didn't see stars, nor hear the little bells…. But, love grew naturally, which is far better than today’s marriages of passion or convenience.

When problems arise in arranged marriages, the families of the bride and groom come together to solve the issues. Due to this, arranged marriages offer more protection to the girl.  But then, there are many drawbacks as well…sometimes, too much parental interference brings in more devastation.

[Gaye holood - Bengal ceremony of applying 

turmeric paste to the body. 

My niece, in the yellow sari, is ready for the ceremony, 

at our recent family wedding]

[Fish is a Bengali delicacy. Considered auspicious, 

the wedding ritual cannot start until 

the fish is adequately decorated and placed in the forefront]

[Decorated trays of saris, jeweleries, cosmetics, shoes, bags, toiletries, 

sweets, betel-leaf, betel-nut, masala, fish, sandalwood paste and haldi 

(turmeric) are brought by the groom's family 

to the girl's house, and vice versa]

The divorce rates in India were even lower some years ago. If they have increased, it is not because of love marriages (which are common now), but because women are getting educated and earning well. So, they are walking out of marriages where they are getting abused. 

So, according to me, tradition and family helps a couple to stay together to some extent. But, eventually it is the responsibility of a couple to keep each other happy; both must learn to make little compromises and adjustments. A happy marriage demands love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity.

Poets United: Wise advice for any culture, in any country. Thank you so much for helping us to learn more about this topic, Panchali. When did you begin writing poetry, and what caused you to choose poetry as your means of creative expression?

The Victoria Memorial

Panchali: Loneliness is, perhaps, one of the strongest emotions for a writer. You exhale, when you do not wish to taint your insides, likewise, I wandered, seeking some occupation, some activity, some oxygen after my daughter got married and left home. Every sinew of thought had only one purpose:  escape solitude and ennui.  It was such a frustratingly idle existence, after my doting husband left for work. After all, autumn is the season for yellowing…I thought!

During my school and college days, I used to write regularly for their journals. One afternoon, I picked up a pen and a paper and in twenty minutes I wrote a poem…I named it ‘scribbling of my lonely afternoon’…Thereafter, the days followed a pattern, a programme of order in which, my mind started playing with words & soon rhythm was born. So, in the congress of body and mind, rhythm and word---I knew myself. I learnt that beneath the guise, I was a poet too… - or could be one - and for me that was the only way to be… So, the ‘empty nest syndrome’ created a significant transition and period of growth in my life… minding the mind, writing came naturally to me..... Thankfully, this intense breakthrough got me out of my mid-life crisis!

I sincerely believe that poetry reveals a poet’s personality. I am emotional and oversensitive by nature. Thankfully my writings bring me happy tidings and peace. 

Poetry intrigues me, because it touches the psychological depths of a human mind. What makes poetry enchanting is also the rhythm of the language, muse and of course, of the land, the wind, the sky, and other lives. 

P.U.: You speak so beautifully, Panchali. 

Little Me

Panchali: One of the most important developments of humankind has been writing. I cannot remember the exact reason why my parents gave me a notebook, when I was a kid. I was pretty introverted by nature, so perhaps they hoped that through writing I would open up more. But I was quite a dreamer even at that time.  

My dotty and I at the anniversary

Life, for me has been, with all kinds of involvements, quite effectual. But, as I said earlier, after my dotty left home, I was going through a bad time emotionally. The only way of getting through it, was to put my feelings down in verse. I dusted the old notebooks containing my old poems. The pages of the diary, yellowed like autumn leaves stirred up a whole gamut of feelings … and slowly I began to write, sporadically.  It wasn't great,  but it helped me keep my feet on the ground!   In a dramatic way, life started changing; my lonely afternoons became  more meaningful and less melancholic.

So, writing became an intimate process once again. After many many years, it was wonderful painting canvases with words and giving sound effects to the dramatic scenes through rhythms with words again..... 

St. Paul's Cathedral, a replica of the Bell Harry Tower

of Canterbury Cathedral

P.U.: How has blogging impacted your writing?

Panchali: I’d heard about blogging, but had no clue how to start, since I was not computer-savvy. I was only good at retrieving e-mails. So, hubby gave me a crash course on the basic processes of creating folders, moving and copying files, creating shortcuts to files and using the Windows Explorer interface.  Computers have come a long way since then. … On a personal level, it provided me means with a basis to showcase my creativity and it was during this time, I desired the courage to pick an identity, a handle for myself in the blogosphere. I hoped to get a few readers to read my poetry & continued to write…Trust, receptivity, living consciously amid the bloggers gave me a peculiar quality of 'freshness'. 

Vegetable market

For more than six years, I have been blogging now on a regular basis, and this experience has offered me one of the greatest tools: confidence in writing. It also gave me a feeling of accomplishment that is necessary for every writer.

Fruit Market

 Another major benefit of blogging has been networking, as I mentioned above. Thanks to the miracle of social media, I came in contact with a global audience. And then, one day… I was drawn to Poet’s United. What an amazing community you have here!! Your prompts, encouragements and finally this interview make me feel so rich and blessed.

It feels wonderful to be part of a community that reads and writes poetry with discernment and enthusiasm--the interaction, encouragement, appreciation that I receive from my fellow-poets mean so much. I feel so humbled by their goodwill.

Thank you for “seeing” me and “hearing” me. That means so much to me.

The support I feel from you, Mary, and other members of Poets United, is an unending source of encouragement for me to keep at it. It is a huge gift to me to find international readers willing to spend their valuable time reading and commenting on my blabbering. I write, just because I enjoy scribbling.

Writing affords me a chance every day to just sit with my thoughts and be still. You guys have touched me.Thanks a lot! I would love to stay in touch with you all. And if ever you people are in India...feel free to contact me. I live in Kolkata--Land of Tagore, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen ( all Noble Laureates)...so, there's a lot to see and admire!

All my love to the members of Poet’s United !

P.U.: That love comes right back at you! Thank you, Panchali, for allowing us such a generous look into your life. We look forward to reading many more of your poems.

Wow, kids. I know this interview ran long, and thank you for sticking with us, but with a poet this interesting and wonderful, and being granted such a fascinating and generous look into her life, it was very difficult to cut anything. I truly feel I have visited India, don’t you? Come back to see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you.