Disgust and Emotion: A Poetic Reflection on Human Suffering and Ignorance

It is with a heart burdened by the weight of disgust that I approach the question of transforming human emotion into verse. This poem is a candid, though heavy, examination of the life lived under the shadow of superstition and ignorance, where one's days are marred by the bitter taste of injustice and suffering. Herein lies a candid journey into the depths of emotional turmoil.

Life's Disgusting Embrace

To live in a world where summers are spent in the stifling confines of rustic mud huts, devoid of the periodic comfort of fresh air, is a beleaguered existence. The hearth smokeclouds over midday meals, a stark reminder of the struggle to thrive in such an environment. The absence of food or a nourishing breakfast sets the tone for a day fraught with the stark reality of daily strife.

Indian days stretch endlessly in the heat and loo, a poisonous combination of temperature and humidity that can make one's soul wither. To endure months without food, without the promise of sustenance, is a harsh reality. And yet, it is in the company of characters and situations as banal as the Indian Trishanku that the true disgust takes hold. The invective and buffoonery that punctuate everyday life are not merely amusing but a piercing reminder of the depths to which humanity can stoop.

The Theater of Deceit

Rural life, a stage for the enactments of a Mahabharata stretched out to fit the fancies of hypocrisy, deceit, and treachery. Here, Dronacharya Yudhisthira, Yuryodhana Dhritrashtra, and other characters play their parts in a farce where the rule of nature is ignored for the whims of the cunning. The hypocrisy that permeates every aspect of life, from village politics to the pretense of cultural practices, is a bitter pill to swallow. The gluttony of the pahalwans during weddings and funerals, the kirtanias chanting kirtana for the sake of money, and the occasional outmoded practitioners of religion without any true understanding of their beliefs are all a part of the tragedy.

The Inner and Outer

Some conservative pundits, much like Chanakyas, pontificate without understanding, imparting moral lessons for the sake of material gain. The pahalwans, in their displays of strength and skill, often use the lathi as a tool of violence rather than harmony. The rigid caste system, touchability, and untouchability, gender biases, and prejudices are all woven into the fabric of a society that is at once ancient and yet perpetually stuck in the mire of its past.

A Survivor's Cry

But it is a survivor's cry that brings us back to the core of human emotion - that of disgust. For in the aftermath of war, when the world is drenched in blood, the survival instinct is all that keeps us from succumbing to the enormity of the suffering we witness. The crying vultures, the spilling blood, the whimpering children, and the filling wells become a living testament to the human capacity for endurance. The laugh turned into a cry, the breath turned into a stench, and the will to live turned into an impossible mission - to live without a mother is a folly.

Conclusion

Disgust, as a human emotion, is a powerful force that can illuminate the darkest corners of society. It is a reminder of the struggles, the injustices, and the lengths to which we, as individuals and as a collective, are capable of going to survive. It is through the exploration of these emotions that we can find the strength to change and to move forward.

Note

If you enjoyed this piece, do not forget to explore the rest of the poetry collection for more reflections on human emotion and existence.

~M.E.E.T.A

For the poem mentioned in the title, click here for more details.