All true art is the expression of the soul. Poetry is no exception. In the recently published book 'Golden Horizon" Dr.Biplab Majumdar in one of his haikus says,
Indian poetry
Springs from Nature
And ends in deep spirituality
Which is true. Indian ancient culture is richest in the history of the world.. The great sage Shri Adi Shankarcharya once came across the old poor women, who offered a small fruit with great devotion. The sage was so moved that at that instant he formed and uttered a sloka in the form of poetry that gold coins showered from the sky on the old women.
Else where in the planet too the old flock lore played a great role in foretelling the calamities of the Nature.For example in October 2004 issue of National Geographic magazine in the article about Volcanoes in U.S.A. Hawaii National park in pacific ocean, the sequence of volcanoes is clear in flock lore of Hawaii pacific legend what is described in chant and song is the metaphor of what really happened. Scientist now regret it was all in the stories if they had the foresight to look there first.
Now let us look at our own tsunami of 2004. In hindu cosmology the universe is created anew out of cosmic ocean over and over again. Each time it begins in golden age the Krita yuga and ends in the time of social disorder and individual wrongdoing Kali yuga.
The flood now becomes the doomsday flood or pralaya which means at the end of the four ages of eon.
In oldest extant of Indian variant from about 900 B.C. the Shatabdha Brhamana, the first human being Manu, the Indian Adam, a tiny fish asks Manu to save him from big fish who which otherwise eat him. Fish eat fish is Sanskrit equivalent of dog eat dog which means anarchy. Fish in return promises Manu to save him from great flood that is to come.
Manu saves the fish but not only himself alone but all creatures with the help of the fish which is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
More significantly the myth is the part of cycle of time involving fire as well as flood, which Robert Frost called "Fire and Ice".
As young poet practically speaking now literature is finding a place in management courses. Literature especially poetry helps to develop concentration in over whelming information and fragmented ideas.
So poetry is for the future and not only of the past.
Let poets be true celebrities of the planet along with adventurers, explorers and scientists.
