KALIDASA'S INFLUENCE ON POET DINA NATH NADIM

                                            

PROFOUNDLY INFLUENCED BY KALIDASA AND HIS IMAGERY,DINA NATH NADIM IS THE NIAGARA FALL OF MODERN KASHMIRI LITERATURE 

(1) "A wayward wind, wanderer in the sky, Cooled by the touch of the fresh clean raindrops, Rustles the leaves of trees Bowed with the load of flowers. And makes them dance; Fragrant with the charming odour Of the golden pollen of the ketaki. It steals the heart of lonely lovers."

(.Rainy Season in Ritusamhara )

(2)

"The clouds, hanging low.

Laden with rain. And adorned by flashes of lightning. And gleaming with the rainbow hues; And the maids, with their glittering girdles , And bejewelled ear-rings. Capture in the same moment The lone wayfarer’s vulnerable mind......"

(.Rainy Season in Ritusamhara )

(3)

"Often the sheeted lightning,

Followed by a deafening crash of thunder,

And its lingering terrifying sound.

Scare the young wife into longing;

She nestles close and embracing her lover

Forgives the error of his ways.

(Rainy Season in Ritusamhara )

(4)

"The young wives of voyagers. In despair and fevered unrest.

Wait and fidget

For the golden hour of the loved one’s return; They discard the chaplets of flowers.

Their trinkets and knick-knacks of beauty;

Like pearly dew on tender foliage

The tear-drops fall from their lotus eyes, And moisten the twitching lower lip

Red-ripe like the bimba fruit.

(.Rainy Season in Ritusamhara )

(5)

'Focks of panting birds forgather

To perch on leafless trees,

And troops of weary monkeys

Shelter in caves in the hills;

The herd of wild bison wanders,

In anxious search for water,

The Sarabhas suck avidly

The dwindling water of the pools."

( Description of Summer in Ritusamhara)

(6)

"The starlit-nights of winter. 

Decked with the sparkling constellations, 

Are icy cold with frost. 

And colder still by moonlight. 

In the piercing chill. 

They are not enjoyed in the open air."

( Description of Winter in Ritusamhara )

After reading Kalidasa's Ritusamhara and Meghduta recently, I firmly believe in this:-

"Dina Nath Nadim's poetry echoes Kalidasa's vivid descriptions of nature, love, and the human experience. The imagery of clouds, lightning, flowers, autumn, snowfall, tall trees, rain, winds, birds, and waves in the lake is all reminiscent of Kalidasa's Ritusamhara and Meghduta.

Ritusamhara or"The Garland of Seasons",  which is considered a lyrical description of the six seasons. It is an ode to the seasons—summer, monsoon, autumn, winter, late winter, and spring. It describes each season with vibrant imagery of trees, flowers, birds, and animals, showcasing them in their romantic and natural aspects. It is described as a "delight" in the portrayal of plants, birds, and nature, showing the earth adorned in colours. 

Meghaduta, a lyric poem focusing on longing,  features an extraordinary description of mountains, rivers, and forests in Northern India. The Yaksha (the protagonist) personifies nature, treating the cloud as a living creature and making the natural landscape an active participant in his journey.

Kashmir also has six distinct seasons like Greeshim, Soant, Vahraat, Harud, Vandha, and Shishur, which Nadim brings into his poems. In his opera, 'Bombur Ta Yemberzal', Nadim personifies Harud and many other flowers. So many other similarities, too many, between Nadim and Kalidasa. Poems like "Dal Baeth Baeth", "Vothi Baagitch Kukli",  "Shuhu Kul" and many more and also his operas showcase Nadim's mastery of nature imagery, which is unmistakably influenced by Kalidasa's style. The way Nadim weaves together the natural world with human emotions and experiences is a testament to Kalidasa's enduring influence upon Kashmiri literature.

It's fascinating to see how Nadim has adapted and reinterpreted Kalidasa's themes and motifs to create his own unique voice and style. The influence is undeniable, and it's a great example of how literary traditions can transcend time and geography ."

( Avtar Mota )

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