A different history
Explore the ways in which Sujata Bhatt memorably conveys differences between cultures in this poem.
Sujata Bhatt is an Indian who emigrated to the states. This is poem is written as a wakeup call for the Indians. This poem is itself ironical because the poem is written in English and talks about the disadvantages of English.
1. The 3 lines shows that India is such a beautiful country that the “great Pan” emigrated here. Great pan is known to be a lover of nature and beauty. This may show the absence of beauty in the foreign countries that he chose this country. The other countries believe he is dead because he is not seen there anymore because he doesn’t live there anymore. The culture of India is also known to be the most diverse and rich in the world so this may also may the reason why great pan emigrated to India.
2. The next two lines show the diversity of the culture of India where not only gods are as humans but as animals too! While the irony in theses 2 lines is that if they are free to roam by themselves , then why do they need to “disguise”?. Also the mention of gods exaggerates the fact that there is more than 1 god unlike in other culture where it is limited to 1.
3. The next 9 lines show the importance Indians give to knowledge:
a) May suggest the value they give to knowledge , that is their secret to prosperity.
b) Or that because they preserved their knowledge so well that it is so diverse in culture.
The repetition of sin, emphasis a brutal effect which guards their secret to wisdom. Indians think everything of as a sin so they try not to make sins, so their life is stress free, free of punishments they are afraid of.
4. The next 4 lines show the importance of being grateful to receive knowledge. The mention of Indian god of art ‘Saraswati’ , emphasis the fact that culture is so important to them. This para shows the importance of respect which is in itself a culture.
5. The overall stanza shows the diversity of culture present in
Sujata Bhatt is an Indian who emigrated to the states. This is poem is written as a wakeup call for the Indians. This poem is itself ironical because the poem is written in English and talks about the disadvantages of English.
1. The 3 lines shows that India is such a beautiful country that the “great Pan” emigrated here. Great pan is known to be a lover of nature and beauty. This may show the absence of beauty in the foreign countries that he chose this country. The other countries believe he is dead because he is not seen there anymore because he doesn’t live there anymore. The culture of India is also known to be the most diverse and rich in the world so this may also may the reason why great pan emigrated to India.
2. The next two lines show the diversity of the culture of India where not only gods are as humans but as animals too! While the irony in theses 2 lines is that if they are free to roam by themselves , then why do they need to “disguise”?. Also the mention of gods exaggerates the fact that there is more than 1 god unlike in other culture where it is limited to 1.
3. The next 9 lines show the importance Indians give to knowledge:
a) May suggest the value they give to knowledge , that is their secret to prosperity.
b) Or that because they preserved their knowledge so well that it is so diverse in culture.
The repetition of sin, emphasis a brutal effect which guards their secret to wisdom. Indians think everything of as a sin so they try not to make sins, so their life is stress free, free of punishments they are afraid of.
4. The next 4 lines show the importance of being grateful to receive knowledge. The mention of Indian god of art ‘Saraswati’ , emphasis the fact that culture is so important to them. This para shows the importance of respect which is in itself a culture.
5. The overall stanza shows the diversity of culture present in