Measurements| Navakanta Barua | Summary |IV Sem. BSC/BCA |BU|BNU|ENGLISH

Summary

In this video, Mukesh Soni explores the poem 'Measurements' by Navakantha Baruha, a renowned Assamese poet. The poem, influenced by T.S. Eliot and European decadent culture, delves into the existential crisis of modernity. It metaphorically criticizes the emptiness of human existence and the futility of endless measurements in life. Baruha's work questions the true essence of development and progress, suggesting that modern civilization's focus on materialistic growth overlooks the creation of happiness and fulfillment for humanity.

Takeaways

• 📚 The poem 'Measurements' by Navakantha Barua is a metaphorical exploration of the human condition and the emptiness of modern existence.
• 🏆 Navakantha Barua is a renowned Assamese poet who received the Sahitya Academy Award in 1975, representing a new generation in Assamese literature.
• 🌏 The poem is influenced by European decadent culture and TS Eliot, reflecting the inner crisis of the human soul through themes of doubt, apprehension, boredom, and frustration.
• 🧵 The initial imagery of the poem involves the mundane task of getting measured for clothing, which later transitions into a deeper philosophical examination.
• 🤔 'Measurements' invites multiple interpretations, including the idea of nationhood and the challenges faced by Assam and the North East India due to ethnic violence and communal tensions.
• 🕊 The poem uses the metaphor of stitching a garment for men to represent the unification of various states into one nation, India.
• 🔍 The poem emphasizes the futility and mechanical nature of life, where people are caught in an endless process of measurements that seem to lead to no meaningful outcome.
• 🌐 It critiques modern civilization's approach to development and progress, suggesting that economic measurements do not equate to true happiness or fulfillment.
• 🔄 The poem suggests that human efforts are often futile and that truth and facts are relative, losing relevance over time.
• 📉 The poem ends with a rhetorical question that highlights the pessimistic view of life, questioning the purpose and effectiveness of human actions.
• 💭 The speaker, Mukesh Soni, encourages viewers to reflect on the poem's themes and consider the true meaning of development and progress in modern society.

Q & A

Who is the poet Navakantha Baruha?

Navakantha Baruha is a renowned poet from Assam, born in 1926 in Nagaon District. He is part of the new generation of poets in Assamese literature and received the Sahitya Academy Award for Assamese literature in 1975.

What is the poem 'Measurements' about?

The poem 'Measurements' by Navakantha Baruha is a metaphorical piece that explores the idea of modernity and development. It discusses the endless process of measuring and counting in human life, ultimately leading to a sense of emptiness and futility.

What is the significance of the tailor in the poem?

The tailor in the poem symbolizes the process of measuring and fitting, which is extended metaphorically to the human condition. It suggests that humans are constantly measuring aspects of their lives, but this process does not necessarily lead to fulfillment or meaning.

How does the poem reflect on the human soul?

The poem reflects on the human soul through the use of metaphors and philosophical perspectives. It suggests that the human soul is in a state of crisis, characterized by doubts, apprehensions, boredom, and frustration.

What influence does T.S. Eliot have on the poem?

The poem is influenced by T.S. Eliot and the European decadent culture, revealing the inner crisis of the human soul. It uses complex metaphors and a philosophical approach to explore themes of emptiness and the mechanical nature of modern life.

What is the deeper meaning behind the stitching of clothing in the poem?

The stitching of clothing in the poem is a metaphor for the process of measuring and fitting aspects of life. It extends to the idea of stitching together the various states of a nation, suggesting a deeper unity or nationhood.

How does the poem view modern civilization?

The poem critiques modern civilization as a process that is focused on economic progress and measurements, but lacks concern for the true well-being and happiness of individuals. It suggests that this approach leads to a sense of emptiness and futility.

What is the role of the rhetorical question at the end of the poem?

The rhetorical question at the end of the poem, 'When will someone stitch the garment to fit men?', highlights the poet's pessimistic view of life. It questions the effectiveness of human efforts and the possibility of achieving a meaningful existence.

What are the themes explored in the poem?

The themes explored in the poem include the emptiness of human existence, the futility of human efforts, the mechanical nature of modern life, and the crisis of the human soul. It also touches on the idea of nationhood and the quest for happiness.

How does the poem use measurements as a metaphor?

The poem uses measurements as a metaphor to represent the endless process of quantifying and evaluating aspects of life. It suggests that this process, while seemingly necessary, ultimately leads to a lack of fulfillment and a sense of purposelessness.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to 'Measurements' Poem

This paragraph introduces the video and the poem 'Measurements' by Navakantha Baruha, a renowned Assamese poet. The speaker, Mukesh Soni, poses questions about the impact of modernization and development on humanity and suggests exploring these themes through Baruha's work. The poem, translated by Dr. Bezu Baruha, is influenced by T.S. Eliot and European decadent culture, reflecting the inner turmoil of the human soul. It metaphorically discusses the emptiness and futility of city life, where people are caught in an endless cycle of measurements, symbolizing the existential crisis of modern existence.

05:01

🔍 Metaphorical Depths of Human Existence

The second paragraph delves into the metaphorical aspects of the poem, highlighting the transition from the literal act of tailoring to the deeper philosophical and spiritual dimensions. The poem suggests that life has become a mechanical process of taking measurements, reflecting the helplessness and aimlessness of human beings. It discusses the complexities of life, where even the smallest actions are quantified, and the futility of human efforts is emphasized. The speaker also touches upon the relativity of truth and the idea that all human endeavors are caught in an endless, purposeless process.

10:02

🌍 Critique of Modern Civilization and Quest for Happiness

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker summarizes the poem as a critique of modern civilization, questioning the concept of progress and development. The poem is seen as a lament for the emptiness of human existence and the failure to achieve happiness. It suggests that while society is preoccupied with economic measurements, there is a lack of concern for the true essence of human well-being. The speaker invites viewers to reflect on the central question of finding a solution to achieve happiness, leaving them with a rhetorical question that encapsulates the poem's theme of futility and the search for meaning in a modern world.

Keywords

💡Modernity

Modernity refers to the current era, characterized by rapid technological advancements, sociocultural changes, and a shift towards secularism. In the video, modernity is questioned in terms of its impact on humanity's problems, suggesting that despite its progress, it may not have necessarily solved fundamental human issues.

💡Development

Development in the script is associated with economic growth and societal progress, often linked to modernization. It is critiqued as potentially superficial, questioning whether it truly addresses the deeper needs and problems of humanity, as opposed to merely creating an illusion of advancement.

💡Measurements

Measurements symbolize the quantifiable aspects of life and the human condition in the poem. It is used metaphorically to represent the futile attempts to quantify and understand the complexities of existence, as well as the endless processes that lead to a sense of emptiness and lack of fulfillment.

💡Navakantha Baruha

Navakantha Baruha is an Assamese poet mentioned in the script, known for his influence on Assamese literature and his Sahitya Akademi Award. His poem 'Measurements' is central to the video's discussion, reflecting on the human soul's inner crisis through the metaphor of tailoring measurements.

💡European Decadent Culture

This term refers to a cultural movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries characterized by a sense of disillusionment and a focus on aestheticism over social concerns. In the script, it is mentioned as an influence on Baruha's work, particularly in revealing the inner crisis of the human soul.

💡Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that indirectly compares two unlike things. In the context of the video, metaphors are used to convey deeper meanings, such as the poem's use of tailoring measurements to symbolize the attempt to understand and quantify human existence.

💡Nothingness

Nothingness in the script represents a philosophical concept related to emptiness and lack of meaning. It is depicted in the poem as a result of the endless process of measurements, suggesting that despite our efforts to define and understand life, we may ultimately find it devoid of inherent meaning.

💡Bitterness

Bitterness is a feeling of resentment or anger without hope for reconciliation. In the video, it is implied as a result of the human condition, where the complexities and struggles of life lead to a sense of disillusionment and dissatisfaction.

💡Ethnic Violence

Ethnic violence refers to conflict between different ethnic groups, often based on cultural, religious, or racial differences. The script suggests that the poem 'Measurements' can be read as a commentary on the spirit of nationhood in the face of such violence, particularly in the context of North East India.

💡Communal Tensions

Communal tensions denote the strained relations between different communities, often leading to social unrest. The video implies that the poem reflects on these tensions, particularly in the backdrop of Assam and the broader Northeast India, as part of the nation's struggle with identity and unity.

💡Separatist Movements

Separatist movements are political or social forces that seek to create a new country or region from an existing one. In the script, these movements are mentioned as part of the challenges faced by the region, which the poem 'Measurements' metaphorically addresses through its themes of fragmentation and unity.

💡Tailoring

Tailoring, the act of making or altering clothes, is used in the poem as a metaphor for the process of defining and understanding human existence. The script explains that the initial focus on tailoring measurements evolves into a deeper philosophical inquiry into the nature of life and the human soul.

💡Mechanical

The term 'mechanical' in the script refers to the repetitive, automated, and often mindless nature of certain human activities. It is used to describe how life has become so routine and process-oriented that it has stripped away the essence of human experience and led to a sense of failure.

💡Relativity of Truth

The relativity of truth suggests that what is considered true can change over time or depending on perspective. In the video, this concept is applied to the poem's exploration of human efforts and their perceived futility, indicating that the value and meaning of our actions may not be absolute but subject to reinterpretation.

💡Pessimism

Pessimism is a philosophical outlook or attitude that emphasizes the negative aspects of life or predicts the worst possible outcome. The video concludes with a discussion of this attitude, reflected in the poem's rhetorical question about the futility of human efforts to create meaningful change or achieve happiness.

Highlights

Introduction to the YouTube channel 'Vocation List' and the host, Mukesh Soni.

Questions posed about development and modernity's impact on humanity's problems.

Introduction of the poem 'Measurements' by Navakantha Baruha, an Assamese poet and Sahitya Academy Award recipient.

The poem's inclusion in the anthology 'Dancing Earth' and its translation by Dr. Bezu Baruha.

Influence of T.S. Eliot and European decadent culture on the poem's theme of inner human crisis.

The poem's metaphorical nature inviting multiple interpretations, including nationhood and ethnic violence.

Discussion of the poem's deeper meanings beyond the materialistic sense of clothing stitching.

The use of the first person plural 'we' to address the narrator, adding to the poem's philosophical depth.

The poem's portrayal of an endless process of measurements, reflecting the mechanical nature of human life.

The poem's commentary on the complexities and helplessness of human life, including the act of suicide.

The mechanical way of living where even letters of speeches are measured and calculated.

The poem's depiction of the aimlessness and emptiness of human existence, with destiny predetermined.

The expression of the futility of human efforts and the relativity of truth in modern times.

The poem's critique of modern civilization and the idea of development and progress.

The rhetorical question posed at the end of the poem, reflecting a pessimistic attitude towards life.

The poem's challenge to the audience to consider the solution to achieve happiness amidst development.

Closing remarks with contact information and an invitation to subscribe and engage with the channel.

Transcripts

hello dear friends welcome back to my

YouTube channel vocation list this is

Mukesh Soni I have few questions before

I begin this poem question number one

what are the ideas of development that

come to your mind when you think of

modernity

do you think the modernization and

development have solved the problems of

humanity

let's try to find the answers of these

questions by reading a famous poem

titled measurements by the famous poet

navakantha baruha

was born in 1926 in nagao District Assam

he belongs to the new generation of

poets in Assamese literature he received

the sahitya Academy Award for Assamese

literature in 1975.

now let's know about the poem this poem

is an extract from dancing Earth an

anthology a poetry from the North East

India it has been translated from

Assamese into English by Dr bezubaruha

the poem has a good deal of influence of

TS Eliot it Bears the influence of the

European decadent culture which reveals

the inner crisis of the human soul

through doubts apprehensions boredom and

frustration in this poem The Poets

he talks about the city life in which

men has to go through an endless process

of measurements resulting into

nothingness

the poem seems to begin with talking

about stitching of clothing in a very

materialistic sense but in its deeper

meanings it gives philosophical and

spiritual perspectives

different kinds of metaphors have been

used to clarify the situations of

nothingness and bitterness

now

let's not let's know the theme of the

poem

measurements is a metaphorical poem that

invites multiple interpretations the

poem can be read as the manifestation of

the spirit of nationhood in the

background of the reign of terror

Unleashed on the North East India

especially on Assam in the name of

ethnic violence communal tensions and

separatist movements

the poems belonging for the stitching of

a garment for men can be taken

metaphorically as stitching of all the

states including the northeastern states

into the Garment of one nation called

India

this poem can be read as a lament on The

Emptiness of human existence so now

let's begin the poem

the poet says it is evening now let's go

to the tellers to get measured

measurements of neck chest hands and

arms measurements of the thumb

we shall give measurements of the palm

and the Heart the entrails the spleen

and the liver give count of hormones and

love

so in these lines the poet seems to be

the poem seems to begin with the

stitching of clothing by Taylor in his

shop

the narrator of the poem proposes to

visit to the tailor shop to give

measurements so that the trailer could

Stitch cloth that fits him or her

so the identity of the narrator is not

disclosed here the poet uses the first

person plural pronoun we we

to address the narrator

the poem begins with a measurement of a

person by a tailor and turns into deeper

rendering of the inner crisis of the

human soul

it takes a philosophical turn as the

poem progresses into next stenches so in

these lines the poet gives a measurement

of the complete human body

as if the clothing is being stitched not

only for the outer body

but also for the inner structure of

physiology a inner structure of human

beings

now in the next line the poet says let

us give some let us give measurements of

Life of this that and several things

give only the measurements

we shall think of the stitching later on

for the time being let's just give the

measurements we can only give

measurements now in these lines

the poem takes a very metaphorical turn

here at the same time

these lines also remind the reader that

what it begin with the stitching of

clothing is no longer a matter of

concern means stitching of clothing is

not much important

there are so many other things are

important than the stitching of clothing

that is the measurement is important

it shows that what one begins with never

what once be what one begins with never

finishes and another new task is yet to

be done or any other task which started

earlier also need to be dealt with

therefore people are caught into an

endless series of work

like measurements

further the poem shows the helplessness

of human beings that they can only give

only measurements

so life has become so mechanical that it

has made human life a complete failure

in almost every sense

in the next lines the further the poet

says we can only take reckonings we

shall record that suicides has swelled

considerably

we shall give count of the letters in a

speech give count of the Christians in

Arabia just give measurements

so this section of the poem discusses

various kinds of complexities of human

life in which

men men

seems to be very helpless again and

again we find here the man is so

helpless in those complex situations of

human life

so example people commit suicide as they

do not find any way out of their

problems and miseries

people have to measure

every activity and actions that they

perform so they take very seriously any

activity any actions whatever they do

even the letters of one's speeches are

to be measured

they take it so seriously that each and

every letter each and every letter of

the speech is measured calculated

examined

this seems too much of the mechanical

way of living

perhaps

everything is just a process or a matter

of measurements for the narrator for the

narrator it's only an online and only

measurements

further the poet says

these further the poet says

we shall think of this teaching later on

only think

someone after us will measure a new

saying that our measurements were all

wrong

fresh new measurements when will someone

Stitch the the Garment to fit men

so these lines seem to depict describe

the aimlessness hollowness emptiness of

human existence in which

man does not have any control over the

things happening around him

his Destiny is predetermined

everything is already said to happen

men cannot change it therefore he delays

he postpones taking any determined

action against the

stagnation against the problems of his

life he will keep on keep on postponing

and these problems will become the

serious problems in his life

so in these lines the poem shows that

all efforts made by us are futile of no

use

facts are bound to change the meanings

in context after a certain period of

time

these lines also Express the relativity

of the truth and suggest that truth is

not timeless

all human efforts are caught in an

endless process and never reach and

never reach to their completeness to the

completion

truth and fact also lose the meaning and

relevance in the modern times

so

the poem shows that all measurements of

Life are just an endless process

really there is no real measurement as

such there is not any final clothes

that is better stitched to fit us

everything is just a process a process

without an end a process without any

meaning therefore the poet ends the poem

with a rhetorical question saying when

will someone Stitch the Garment to fit

men

this rhetorical question perhaps refers

to the pessimist attitude every negative

attitude

very pessimist attitude to life and

questions many issues like helplessness

procrastination futility of human

efforts obscurity mystery and illusion

let's sum up the whole poem in simple

words

this poem can also be read as a Critic

of modern civilization

it critics the idea of development in

progress

as the day is moving from evening to

night the world is moving towards

darkness in the name of development and

progress

in the present times everything is

measured in economic terms

but no one is concerned about what to do

with these measurements or how to stitch

the Garment for the nation with these

measurements

even the measurements done by earlier

generation will be replaced by the Next

Generation

that means to say that the generations

will engage themselves only and only in

measuring the progress of a society in

the economic terms but no one will ever

think of stitching the government the

Garment the government called Happiness

no one will ever think of stitching the

Garment called Happiness that will fit

all human beings

no one is really thinking about one

central question what is a central

question what should be the solution to

achieve happiness

what should be the solution to achieve

happiness so dear friends this is how I

have tried my best to summarize this

poem titled measurements thank you so

much for watching

dear friends thank you so much for

watching this video you can reach me at

Mukesh English at the rate of gmail.com

please do subscribe the channel click on

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you once again