Manish Srivastava's second book (MIDNIGHT JOURNEY OF A SEED-Pathways to Resilience In the face of a Pandemic) hits stand, and I missed laying my hands on it, for a long time! Not this time, though. Ordered on Amazon and got it the next day! https://lnkd.in/gHw3xfEjI know Manish for 20 years now! Having known him being a flat mate during the MBA days, living in an asbestos clad tenement in a place called Jawadi (a 'basti' in simple terms!) in Pune.
Back to this book! As the name suggests, this poetic book has been consummated while traveling, mid in the night (between a bedroom and the kitchen, at times) during the Covid pandemic enforced lockdown in India. As evident and the premise to this book; Manish is pained by people's plight, the long march by the migrant workers to their villages from big cities, who disowned them overnight! Penniless, hungry, dehydrated barefoot worker's helplessness and Govt apathy combined made situation worse!
It was a long, arduous, march to their villages, the only place left for them to fall back on! This migrant story is endless, and world history has evidenced it for centuries. Migration and reverse migration are phenomenon, that studied for a few decades or longer may earn you a Ph.D. or even a Nobel, but migrant workers remain a mere subject to the city's development, making a temporary dent to the demographics, as can be seen in the slums that inhabit them.
Mumbai's largest slum, Dharavi has inspired lives and even the blockbuster movies like Slumdog Millionaire!
Migrant workers brought several cities to life as an essential factor to development. India's BIMARU states have a lot more than the viruses to convert rubbles into monuments. But when Covid imposed total lockdown was imposed, no one needed that virus. There was an imported virus that took over all sentiments. Govt surrendered to this impending menace, knowing nothing except that lockdown is only way to break the chain of virus from killing all of us!Manish goes back to the industrialization era, labor migration (read uprooting, as against seed's nature) and their systemic exploitation. Poet's nights are kaleidoscopic views into the theatre of people's plight. During midnights, he spins his tale of anthropological aspects of human evolution and migration (away from his roots, the only trusted source of nurturing him)
During the day, he faces modern day realities of Covid restrictions and sufferings, helplessness and rising levels of compassion among the underprivileged (bringing them closer to humanity) and depleting levels of patience among the privileged (Dubai, party haven amid pandemic, faces its biggest surge:
Indian celebs moved to Dubai to continue with their annual vacation rituals as India was strictly under lockdown)! When workers sink, celebs surge!
Back to the book: 😎
After 77 poems and living under the mandala of the printed poems, pasted around his bed, Manish travels a full cycle of self-healing, while establishing, renewing and reinforcing the anthropological connections to his roots. Connections of generations of human evolution and his war and peace with the struggle and exploitation in the name of capitalist led advancements, where migrant workers are only the fringe elements!
Whenever I read Manish, I feel like reading Munshi Premchand. Here something like the novel, "Godaan" by Premchand! Manish talks about family, spouse, child, friends, society (read strangers!) and he uses them as lenses to look at the societal connections and problems too. All through his journey, his seed (of humanity, human grit and perseverance, hope) survives, even when trudged through the parched lands to the concrete crevices.
Relax, here is the disclaimer; this book is not only about sinking feelings but one of resurgent hope and belief of a brighter tomorrow.
Yes, at times, you find the family man, poet, the incessant warrior, open his arms and his lady love sinking her head in the warmth of his chest!
This book is a consuming song of the soul! I urge you to read it, soak into it to acknowledge various emotions that you experience...that's your therapy!
Thank you, Manish, for being the Chaaragar (चारागरچارہ گر)!
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