Mamta Kalia

He’s not born in any castle-
In the desert of riches.
He’s a lad of our own lanes.
Reared between our follies and failures
He knows
Our courage and greed
Much more concern and patience he has
He’s more able to create illusions
He’s more adept at keeping us distant from freedom
Close-
A very close watch
Needs to be kept on the best brains of government
Sometimes we may even have to learn from him.
Alok Dhanwa, Born in 1948 in Munger, published his first poem’ Janata
Ka Aadmi’ in 1972. The same year saw his other poem ‘Goli Daago
Poster’. Both these poems became a fiery expression of Leftist movement.
After this Alok Dhanwa looks at life from a different point of view
and the result are poems like ‘Bhaagi Hui Ladikiyaan’ and ‘Bruno’
Ki Betiyaan’. Now he writes shorter and more sensitive poems. He
has long lived in Patna. At present he is writer in residance at Mahaatama
Gandhi International University, Wardha.
Minu Manjari works in an office of the Ministry of Defence. She translates
in many languages. She is also doing her D. Phil. in English from
Patna University. She lives in Patna.
April-June 2010 :: 51