A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya
A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya
Memoir TO BE BABA NAGARAJUN Bageshri Chakradhar Translated by Nishi Tiwari Everyone is aware of the fact that Baba had adopted Buddhism. This shows that he was not influenced by the Vedic Vaishnav-Sanatan Dharma followed by those in power then. He was more in touch with the aspirations and longings of the common man. Moreover besides being influenced by the different sects of Buddhism, like, Mahayana, Hinayana, Sahajyana and Vajrayana, he was also influenced by the experiences of the Siddhas and Nathas (self realized persons and masters). That is why all his life he remained a wanderer. He saw a reflection of the current form of Buddhism in the leftist movement that shook Russia as a result of the Russian revolution. This made him a leftist. Thereafter his inner consciousness prevented him from flattering those in power and becoming a court poet. He always identified himself with the common man and always defended the poor, the exploited and the deprived. Atrocities against the unprivileged enraged him, and he was filled with indignation. It pained him greatly to witness the inequalities in society: poverty on one hand and the luxurious life led by the rich on the other. Whenever he saw the politician’s indifference to the injustice being done to the poor, he composed poems denouncing it. That is why he did not attain recognition so long as he lived. People feared that, they would be deprived of the facilities they were receiving or could receive. Now, when he is no more among us, his poems are being highly 124 :: January-March 2012
admired and appreciated. In the 70s and the 80s we, who came from Hathras- Mathura found ourselves in close proximity with him. We felt closeness with him which very few must have had the chance to feel. We have been very fortunate to be very closely associated with him for over a number of years. Due to the fact that we were very close family friends, he was very loving to us. But, he never tried to assert his superiority over us. Now, when we turn around and review the past, and go through his poems, we find that he was not only a great poet; but also a great philosopher, thinker and an intellectual. After completing her graduation a 19year old girl came to Delhi from Hathras in 1973. It was a very difficult procedure, because in those days girls were not given so much freedom. Everyone at home objected strongly to this decision. It was because of my brother Mukesh Garg that I could go to Delhi for my post-graduation course from Delhi University. He became adamant. But with kaka giving his approval everyone had to relent and I landed in Delhi in 1973. Unable to get a hostel in the beginning I, along with Shashi stayed with Mukesh bhaiya at 242, Tagore Park. Shashi was doing post-graduation in Sanskrit from Daulat Ram and I took admission in Hindu College, in the Post Graduation, Hindi department. Many teachers of the Delhi University resided in Tagore Park, Model Town during those days. A lot of good-will and friendship existed among them, so much so that there was a feeling of camaraderie among them. 48, Tagore Park, the house where Sudhishji lived was like a commune. Bhaskar Pauchari, Chakradhar Ji, Rajpal, Anil Chaudhari were frequent visitors. And Baba lived among them. We never realized his greatness and eminence as a scholar and a poet at that time. Frequent regular meetings on “Pragati” would be attended by Agyey, Shamsher, Sarveshwar Dayal Saxena, Raghubir Sahay and others. All of them seemed great, but Baba was so loving and familiar, that he never appeared great to us. There used to be an aura surrounding these great poets. They had many admirers who always tried to remain in close proximity to them, attended reverence on them, going to receive them, and making arrangements for their meals, etc, their arrival in room no 22 at the Arts Faculty was considered to be an occasion. But as for Baba! He was very humble and modest,( surrounded by none of this glamour ) He in his pyjamas which ended a little above his ankles, and a dirty-brown kurta, with a bag slung over his shoulders was a familiar sight. Very simple, unaffected and modest among the students, he met them with great love and affection. He listened to them with interest, and read out his poems to them. There was no feeling of discrimination in him. He appeared to be careless, but on the contrary he was not. Rather, he was January-March 2012 :: 125
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Memoir<br />
TO BE BABA NAGARAJUN<br />
Bageshri Chakradhar<br />
Translated by<br />
Nishi Tiwari<br />
Everyone is aware <strong>of</strong> the fact that Baba had adopted Buddhism.<br />
This shows that he was not influenced by the Vedic Vaishnav-Sanatan<br />
Dharma followed by those in power then. He was more in touch<br />
with the aspirations and longings <strong>of</strong> the common man. Moreover<br />
besides being influenced by the different sects <strong>of</strong> Buddhism, like,<br />
Mahayana, Hinayana, Sahajyana and Vajrayana, he was also influenced<br />
by the experiences <strong>of</strong> the Siddhas and Nathas (self realized persons<br />
and masters). That is why all his life he remained a wanderer. He<br />
saw a reflection <strong>of</strong> the current form <strong>of</strong> Buddhism in the leftist movement<br />
that shook Russia as a result <strong>of</strong> the Russian revolution. This made<br />
him a leftist. Thereafter his inner consciousness prevented him from<br />
flattering those in power and becoming a court poet.<br />
He always identified himself with the common man and always<br />
defended the poor, the exploited and the deprived. Atrocities against<br />
the unprivileged enraged him, and he was filled with indignation.<br />
It pained him greatly to witness the inequalities in society: poverty<br />
on one hand and the luxurious life led by the rich on the other.<br />
Whenever he saw the politician’s indifference to the injustice being<br />
done to the poor, he composed poems denouncing it. That is why<br />
he did not attain recognition so long as he lived. People feared<br />
that, they would be deprived <strong>of</strong> the facilities they were receiving<br />
or could receive.<br />
Now, when he is no more among us, his poems are being highly<br />
124 :: January-March 2012
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