Class 9: English – Beehive (Literature)

Poem 2: Wind
By Subramania Bharati
(Translated from Tamil by A. K. Ramanujan)

TO BE WRITTEN IN THE CLASSWORK NOTEBOOK

I) Theme
1) People with strong body and strong mind can face any obstacles in life.
2) You will never know your strength until you face your struggles.
3) Problems in life make weak ones weaker and strong ones stronger.

II) Poet and Translator Info

Subramania Bharathi (11 December 1882 – 11 September 1921), was a
Tamil writer, poet, journalist, Indian independence activist, social reformer and
polyglot. Popularly known as "Mahakavi Bharathi" ("Great Poet Bharathi"), he was
a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry and is considered one of the greatest Tamil
literary figures of all time. His numerous works included fiery songs kindling
patriotism during the Indian Independence movement. He fought for the
emancipation of women, against child marriage, stood for reforming Brahminism
and religion. He was also in solidarity with Dalits and Muslims.
Attipate Krishnaswami Ramanujan (16 March 1929 – 13 July 1993) was
an Indian poet and scholar of Indian literature who wrote in both English and
Kannada. Ramanujan was a poet, scholar, professor, philologist, folklorist,
translator, and playwright. His academic research ranged across five languages:
English, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Sanskrit. He was awarded the Sahitya
Akademi Award posthumously in 1999 for The Collected Poems.
III) Form
Poetry – Free Verse (Translated from Tamil)

IV) Word stock

 shutters – the panels to open and close the windows
 scatter – throw in different directions
 softly – slowly
 poking fun of – making fun of
 weaklings – weak things/persons
 frail – weak
 crumbling – destroying, breaking
 rafters – sloping beams of a roof
 winnow – separating weaker and stronger things
 firm – make strong
 steadfast – firm and determined
 blow out – to stop a fire
 flourish – grow, develop

V) Thinking about the Poem (Question & Answers)

1) What are the things the wind does in the first stanza?
The wind breaks the doors of the window, scatters the papers and throws down the books on the
shelf. It also tears the pages of the books and brings rain.
2) What does the poet say the wind god winnows?
The wind god winnows or destroys weak houses, everything at home, weak bodies, weak hearts
and even takes lives of those that are weak.
3) What should we do to make friends with the wind?
As the wind favours the strong, we should build strong homes with sturdy doors, make our bodies
and hearts strong to make friends with the wind.
4) What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you?
The last four lines convey the message that only people who are physically and mentally strong
are able to withstand the troubles and become stronger in life. The weak people will be swept
away and defeated. So, the poet asks the people to consider the problems in life as our friends as
they make us stronger. He also says that we should admire them.
5) List out few poetic devices used in the poem.
a) Personification (A human quality/characteristic is given to an inanimate object or idea)
Line 5 – 8: “poking”, “winnows” and “crushes” are the human qualities given to the wind.
b) Anaphora (The repetition of a word or a phrase at the beginning of the lines)
Line 2 – 5: The word “Don’t” is repeated
c) Metaphor (Direct comparison of two different things (without using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’) which
has a common quality.)
Line 12 – “wind god”. Here, wind is compared to God for its destruction power.
d) Alliteration (The repetition of a consonant sound in close connection)
Line 12 – “wind god winnows”.
Here, wind and winnows give consonant sound and are closely connected.
e) Symbolism (A symbol is a person, object, place, event, or action that suggests more than its
literal meaning.)
In the whole poem the ‘wind’ is nothing but the adversities/problems we face in life.

*****