question_answer

The Many Sides of Bombay

My father came down the Sahyadris

A Quilt over his shoulder

He stood at your doorstep.

With nothing but his labour

I carried a tiffin box

To the mill since childhood

I was cast the way

A smith forges a hammer

I learned my ropes

Working on a loom

Learnt on occassion

To go on strike

My father withered away toiling

So will I, and will my little ones

Perhaps they too face such a nights

Wrapped in coils of darkness

Excerpted from the poem Maze Vidyapeeth (1975) by Narayan Surve.

 

(a) What kind of life of a labourer is depicted through these lines?

(b) Explain the pathos and hopelessness hidden in these lines.

(c) Do you think in modem day, the life of a labourer has changed in Bombay? If so how?

 

Answer:

(a) The poet describes how long back his father came to Bombay to become a labourer. Years have passed. His son too has become a labourer. His father passed away toiling for others without changing his own fate. He knew he too will die in the same way and so will his son.

(b) A deep pathos and hopelessness mark these without speaking about it. A life which has no goal or motivation a knowledge that there is no social mobility for them a life without hope is difficult to live. But on most big cities hundred of them are destined to inconsequential lives.

(c) In present day the life of a labourer in Bombay has definitely shown improvement. There are labour unions and various other organisation to look after their interests. Now they hope for a better future send their children to school and there are instances of social mobility. Their children are moving out for the drudgery to a better life by virtue of their own abilities. Government too have passed various laws to protect their rights.