Pravin Gadhvi's Laughing Buddha

 Pravin Gadhvi's Laughing Buddha

Hello Everyone, This blog is written task of laughing Budhdha which written by Pravin Gadhavi.

- Assigned by Prakruti Bhatt Ma'am.

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Poem : Laughing Buddha

(Full Moon day of Buddha's birthday)

There was an

Underground atomic blast on

Buddha's birthday-a day of

Full Moon

Buddha laughed!

What a proper time!

What an auspicious day!

Buddha laughed!

At whom ?

There was a laughter on his

Lips and tears in his

Eyes

He was dumb that day.

See,

Buddha laughed!

About the Poet :

Pravin Gadhavi is a contemporary Indian poet known for his insightful and reflective poetry. His works pass the interesting message, themes, ground line and many more aspects. His writings strike a deep chord with readers because they demonstrate a sharp awareness of contemporary concerns and a great comprehension of the human condition. Gadhavi's poetry is characterised by its straightforwardness, but it also has a strong emotional resonance, which makes his works understandable and relevant to a broad readership.

👉 Discuss the Questions :

1. What should be of a higher moral importance for governing bodies, national security or basic needs of its citizens? What do you think is Gadhvi's opinion about this?

Ans. For governing organizations, balancing individuals' basic needs with national security is a challenging task. National security is essential because it protects the country's people from external threats, ensuring their safety and defense. It provides a stable environment where basic needs can be met without fear of disruption. Long-term security helps prevent catastrophic events that could hinder the fulfillment of these needs.

Meeting basic necessities directly improves citizens' standard of living and well-being. It includes fundamental human rights such as access to food, water, shelter, transportation, employment, and healthcare. Ensuring these needs makes society fairer and more equal.

Gadhavi's Opinion :-

Poet and Philosopher Pravin Gadhvi often discusses human dignity and social justice in his writings. Gadhvi likely supports a balanced approach, emphasizing that citizens' basic needs should not be sacrificed for national security. He might argue that a government's moral standing and legitimacy come from its ability to protect its citizens' interests. True security, according to him, involves both meeting basic human needs and ensuring physical protection. He consistently advocates for citizens' rights and their capabilities.

2. In light of Henri Bergson's essay titled "Laughter: An Essay On The Meaning Of The Comic" share your thoughts about the possible interpretations of Buddha's laughter in Gadhvi's poem.

Ans. Henri Bergson, in his essay, discusses how laughter arises and its consequences. For example, Bergson stated that by highlighting and ridiculing deviations, laughter acts as a gentle corrective, promoting more harmonious and dynamic social interactions.

Buddha’s laughter can be seen as ironic, as illustrated in the lines:

“There was a laughter on his Lips and tears in his Eyes.”

These lines reveal Buddha's mixed emotions. Buddha might laugh at the irony of people planning an atomic bomb test on Buddhapurnima, a day known for its message of peace. He laughs at the triviality of humans thinking they are doing something significant by providing national security.

At the same time, Buddha laughs at the consequences of the bomb, the double standards, and the hypocrisy of political leaders. The atomic bomb test happened, and people only learned about it later. The power dynamics are in the hands of politicians, and Buddha laughs at them for making decisions based on their urgency, not the right timing.

However, this laughter is painful. One laughs when overwhelmed or broken by pain. Buddha is broken by the harsh reality he cannot bear, leading to his silence. 

3. The rise and fall of significance of a particular moment in history depends on the narrative that is build around it. Discuss this statement with specific reference to Laughing Buddha.

Ans. Yes, the importance of historical events often depends on the narrative surrounding them. In the context of this poem, it critiques the atomic test conducted in India. While such an event is significant, the timing was questionable. At that time, attention should have been focused on helping India’s poor. The 1974 test faced heavy criticism both within India and internationally, and literature reflected this negative view.

In contrast, a similar test conducted in 1998 did not attract as much criticism. By then, India was growing as a developing country, and people's basic needs were being addressed. As a result, the 1998 test was viewed more positively and is remembered as an important moment in Indian history. This shows how the way historical events are presented in literature can shape our perception of them.

4. Share your interpretation of the lines: "What a proper time! What an auspicious day!"

Ans. The lines "What a proper time! What an auspicious day!" express a deep sense of perfect timing and favorable circumstances. They suggest that the moment being described is exceptionally significant or well-suited for an important event or decision.This remark can be seen as acknowledging a moment that feels almost divinely arranged or perfectly aligned with one's goals and desires. When people experience events that seem unusually lucky, they often attribute them to fate, destiny, or a lucky alignment of factors.

The phrases highlight the human tendency to recognize and value moments that feel particularly right or promising. They capture the excitement and joy of feeling in sync with the world, ready to seize an opportunity or start a new venture with the benefit of good fortune.

According to think of the poem discussing the atomic test, these lines might be critiquing the choice of timing for such a serious event. The words "proper" and "auspicious" could be used sarcastically to emphasize that the timing of the test was, in reality, inappropriate or insensitive. It underscores a disconnect between the importance placed on the timing and the reality of the situation, where the timing was perhaps seen as more about political or strategic gains rather than moral or ethical considerations.

Overall, these lines could be questioning the legitimacy or the morality of the timing of the event, suggesting that the day might have been seen as "auspicious" only from a self-serving perspective, rather than from a genuine consideration of its broader implications.

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