Har Prasad Sharma : “Poems on Sri Krishana” : Bridge-in-making Kolkata, 2006, p.p. 32, rs. 40/-

By Dr. Ram Sharma
Sr. Lecturer in English
Janta Vedic College
Baraut, Baghpat (U.P.)

While judging the poetry of Dr. O.P. Bhatnagar Dr. S.C. Pandey, a well known critic of Indian English Poetry, tries to put the scenario of Indian Poetry in English before us :

“Poetry, more particularly post independence Indian poetry, is yet to fise its roots firmly in the indigenous soil. Quite like Indian culture, it is a unity in diversity. There is no single formula or code for writing poetry. Poets do not write under a set banner. They are no more versifiers or imitations of their elders. They respect the emblem of cross as much as they respect swastika.”

Har Prasad Sharma, a stalwart in Indian English poetry and who has published his poems more in abroad than in his own country. His poems appeared in America, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Norway and Switzerland. His work was acclaimed by world Readers translated into 35 languages. His poem ‘World Peace at Staka’ was admired by the excellencies of president of France, the chancellor of Germany, the prime minister of Denmark.

There are twenty eight poems in this volume entitled ‘Poems on Sri Krishna’. In this volume Har Prasad Ji has presented himself the true devotee of Lord Krishna and he has described the childhood of Lord Krishna like Surdas in Hindi. In the very first quatrain Sharma has presented Lord Krishna as a musician and the effect of his flute music.

“Krishan plays upon his flute,

And he goes in his gorgeous dress,

The Godies fall upon his feet,

Some of them his kness embrace.”

Every particle of the universe was affected by the enchanted music of Lord Krishna.

“The Distant sky was star-filled,

Krishan placed his flute on his lips,

His universal music around echoed,

Smile played on Radha’s lips.”

In this next quatrain, Sharma has presented Lord Krishna in a beautiful decorated dress. In the next two quatrains he has presented the childhood of Lord Krishna in a beautiful manner.

“In the lap of Yashoda Krishan lies,

She loving Him showers Her kisses,

He has silky hair and yet-black eyes,

Therefore him Yashoda ever misses.”

In the next four quatrains, Sharma has presented the love of Radha & Krishna.

“Krishan goes with Radha behold,

Through the moon-lit forest,

Their bodies are finer than gold,

By the strumming river they will rest.”

Har Prasad has narrated the incidents of Kaliya Nag and lifting of the mountain on his finger in his next two quatrains.

Krishan lifted the mountain on his finger,

Dwellers of the city stood below it.

They were saved from Indra’s great anger,

His sheets of rain no one could hit.”

Sharma Ji has tried to high light Lord Krishna as a man of action and he has narrated the saving of Draupdie’s sari.

“When Draupdie’s Sari was being drawn,

By cruel Dusasan to strip her bore,

She cried for Krishan drawing hot moan,

He ran bare foot and saved her honour.”

In the next part of this volume such devotes of Lord Krishna have been described like Surdas and Mirabai.

“Krishan’s glory is the highest,

This saints and sages mention,

So his devotion is the best,

To break the cycle of transmigration.”

Now Sharma presents himself as true devotee of Lord Krishna and he desires to shower his mercy upon him.

“O, Lord Krishan where are you?

Shower your mercy upon me,

Your devotion I always do

Why don’t you appear before me?”

He calls himself a fish out of water without Lord Krishna. The poet also says that his troubles remind him His name. In the end of this poetry volume there are three long poems ‘In Praise of Lord Krishan, I worship you Krishan, Raaslila of Lord Krishan and Without you Krishan.” The poet calls his life zero without Lord Krishna.

“Without you Krishan my life is zero,

For you’re the soul of my life,

When you’re with me I become a hero,

To triumph over worldly strife.”

There are brilliant poetic flashes and evocative images. Shri Sharma  has presented the religious aesthetic is in this volume. This volume is unique for presenting the total personality of Lord Krishna. In the end I can say that ‘Poems on Sri Krishan’ by Har Prasad Sharma is a delightful Collection and a must read for everyone who loves poetry. The price of this volume is also reasonable.