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Readings on Indian Literatures

5
Poem

(Other) Worldly Folk Tale

Geet Chaturvedi

ESSAY
Q. How do you relate the themes of the poem with human life?

Geet Chaturvedi is a widely-read Hindi poet. The poem, "(Other) Worldly Folk Tale",
is based on the Buddha doctrine that highlights mind as the only reality. It portrays the
relationship between the earth and the seed like the bond between a mother and a child.
Once upon a time, there was a Seed and an Earth. They loved each other. The Seed
rollicked in the lap of the Earth; it wanted to remain there forever; it did not want to grow.
One day, it rained and the Seed put forth shoots. It rose to a great height. The earth does not
grow in height but spreads out. They both grew apart.
The Tree wishes to become a Seed again. The Earth wishes to take back her blessing.
The Tree is sad that it can never again become that single Seed. The Earth would never be
able to feel the soft touch of that very same Seed. Every single thing in life does not have an
obverse to it. Night is not a dark Day, and Day is not a bright Night.
In fact, the tree has not grown; it has just achieved heights; it is still the very same
seed. The tree is merely Earth’s imagination. All trees grow in imagination. In memory, they
always remain seeds.
The poem relates the relationship between the earth and the seed to the bond between
a mother and a child. The tree's desire to return to the earth’s lap is like a man’s desire to go
back to his childhood. The poet advises the readers not to be intoxicated by the victories in
life.

SHORT ANSWER
1. Why was the seed reluctant to grow?
The Seed and the Earth both loved each other. The Seed enjoyed itself in the lap of
the Earth and wanted to remain there forever. For this reason, the seed was reluctant to grow.

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2. Why couldn't the seed defer its sprouting?

Rollicking in the comfort of the lap of the Earth, the Seed was reluctant to grow. But
one day, it rained and the Seed could not defer its sprouting.

3. Why does the tree wish to go back as a seed and what obstructs it from doing so?
The tree desires to return to her mother earth's security as a seed. But the tree can
never again become that single Seed.

4. "You are merely Earth's imagination." Why is the tree called the imagination of the
earth? And how is this connected to the Buddhist doctrine?
The tree has not grown; it has just achieved heights; it is still the very same seed. The
tree is merely Earth’s imagination. According to Buddha, all objects of the world and forms
of experience are manifestations of the mind.

PARAGRAPH

5. "Every single thing in life does not have an obverse to it. Night is not a dark Day, and
Day is not a bright Night. Moon not a cold Sun, and Sun not a hot Moon." How does the
poet speak against binary opposites through these lines?
The Seed and the Earth loved each other. The Seed rollicked in the lap of the Earth; it
was reluctant to grow. But one day, it rained and the Seed rose to a great height. The earth
does not grow in height but spreads out. They both grew apart. The Tree wishes to become a
Seed again. The Earth wishes to take back her blessing. The Earth would never be able to feel
the soft touch of that very same Seed. Every single thing in life does not have an obverse to
it. Night is not a dark Day, and Day is not a bright Night.

6. "All trees grow in imagination. In memory, they always remain seeds." Explain.
The Seed and the Earth both loved each other. The Seed rollicked in the lap of the
Earth. It wanted to remain there forever; it was reluctant to grow. But one day, it rained and
the Seed could not defer its sprouting. It put forth shoots and rose to a great height. In fact,
the tree has not grown; it has just achieved heights; it is still the very same seed. The tree is
merely Earth’s imagination. All trees grow in imagination. In memory, they always remain
seeds. According to Buddha, all objects of the world and forms of experience are
manifestations of the mind.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

email: mbabucr@gmail.com

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu