Measurements| Navakanta Barua | Summary |IV Sem. BSC/BCA |BU|BNU|ENGLISH
Summary
TLDRIn 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
📜 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.
🔍 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.
🌍 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Modernity
💡Development
💡Measurements
💡Navakantha Baruha
💡European Decadent Culture
💡Metaphor
💡Nothingness
💡Bitterness
💡Ethnic Violence
💡Communal Tensions
💡Separatist Movements
💡Tailoring
💡Mechanical
💡Relativity of Truth
💡Pessimism
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
the like button for more videos on
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stay in tune with Mukesh English thank
you once again
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