Yayati Madan G Gandhi’s poetry translated in Italian

THE LIGHT

Why not to house the God
Of different religions, under one roof?
Why to erect walls before the Light?
If Mohammad is the ultimate revelation,
Jesus-Krishna too
reveal the self-same One

***

THE POWER OF POETRY

There is a secret life
which a poet reveals
that we fail to see.
In this power
to reveal unknown, lies,
power of poesy.
Were you to be on the sea,
in a glass-bottomed boat,
and keenly looking about.
You will surely enjoy blue
of summer sky, the ocean waves,
and the beauty of island hills.
But if yours gaze is downward
on the glass bottom of the boat,
its manifold beauty will thrill:
The goldfish
darting hither and thither,
the umbrella-shaped jellyfish,
Lazily swimming by,
and the fish
of infinite variety.
The sea-urchins of brilliant color,
the endless forest of water-weeds,
each one, looking exquisite in design.
Photography, here may seem to fail:
and camera failing to report
the priceless treasures hidden.
But the poet in you continues
to preserve on the memory chip,
ravishing scenes; with emotions.
A record of these,
in word-pictures will bring to life,
the wondrous beauty of the marine life.

***

ONE SEED

I sing of Whole:
body, mind and soul.
since all reality is One.
Behind every revelation,
Truth revealed
is One.
From One seed
all things sprout:
the root and shoot.
Why then this fight?
When all emanate
from self-same light!
When whatever you see
is manifest Grace:
like beads of One necklace.

From the foreword of “Le più grandi opere del poeta laureato Yayati Madan G Gandhi”, collection of 100 poems in English translated in Italian by Maria Miraglia and published by The Poetry Society of India:

Did it all start by chance? A question to which I myself could not give a definite answer. I was in India, a journey I had thought of for a long time, ever since my college years. My desire was prompted by a book by Edward Morgan Foster, “A Passage to India” that speaks of the British rule in that country, of the condition of submission and violated freedoms of that people that made me immediately feel on their side and so it was to be along the time. I was also there to meet a poet friend, Dr Jernail Singh Anand with whom we had founded an association for peace. We had to discuss the lines, projects, how to lead it. Dr Anand, in the afternoon had a working meeting with Madan Gandhi, his publisher, to which we were invited too, my husband and me. I consider that meeting a magical moment, still can sense even the smallest emotions I felt then: I found myself next to a charismatic man, who gave off a very special charm. Our meeting did not last long, but it was enough to give a new flavor to my life.

To tell of Madan Gandhi is not easy, given the vastness of his work that goes to different directions, invests different fields of art and culture as a poet, painter, astrologer, educationist and much more: fields in which he has always given outstanding contributions. Madan is not only a poet, but a gift from heaven. His works cannot be classified, as they are not only “poetry”, but also an ancient soul’ s pearls of wisdom. Reading his poems, day after day, line after line, interpreting its meaning, translating them was for me a very exciting experience. It offered me personal growth, I would say, gave me two small wings that make me feel better than when all this started.
Today I find myself having to talk about his poetry and I wish to begin with his words, or rather, with some of his verses:

Not content with scratching surface
I continue to dig
deep, and deeper still.
Until I can uncover
treasure of words and metaphors
hidden in my subconscious,
and even collective unconscious.

Over time, the work of literary critics who have gone and go in search of definitions that can offer clarity to the meaning of “poetry” has been big, producing also lots of elucidations of eminent poets, all plausible, each perfect for some, less for others.

Poetry can express an intimate reflection of the soul, be dictated by the observation of beauty, determined by reflection on men’s behaviour. It should, in any case, let the personal ambit to become objectively valid, lead the reader to grasp things and meanings which also belong to his living sphere, if not directly to him, to the universe around him. It’s also this that derives from the poetry by Madan Gandhi: universality of thought and emotions: man, an integral part of creation and with him all the living beings and nature itself. Silence is essential to meditation for self-knowledge and creation; love the only glue among men, without distinction; among men and the elements of nature; one divinity seen as the supreme father of all. If I had to sum up the spirit of the poems By Madan Gandhi I would quote some words by Tagore, philosopher, poet and winner of a Nobel Prize for Literature: «Love is the ultimate meaning of everything around us. It is not a mere sentiment; it’s truth; it’s the joy; that is at the root of all creation.»

Madan Gandhi was born on August 31, 1940 in Lahore and named Madan Gopal. His family moved to India after the partition and here he got his degree with Honors in English Literature from D.A.V College, Ambala. Soon he began teaching at university level and conducted and guided researches in international Politics, Nation Building, Dalit and Minority issues. Mandan founded many Cultural Associations and organizations that soon became active instruments of selfless service to the poor.
He travelled extensively around the country, disseminating Gandhi values and promoting national integration, communal harmony, emancipation of the poor.

Dr Madan Gandhi has made an outstanding contribution in the field of teaching and research. He has been dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Den of Education, Professor of Political Science, Professor for Third World Studies. He has to his credit many publications in Political Theory, Third World Studies and International Politics and has been member of several Academic Bodies.
Dr. Madan Gandhi is an authority on Yoga, Tantra and predictive sciences. He was the winner of the Tagore Award for Poetry in 1961 and his contributions to painting and design have received international recognitions.
President of The Poetry Society of India, he is author of 18 volumes of poetry of several books on political philosophy for promoting world order and international understanding.
Dr. Madan Gandhi has received numerous awards and honors.
He is married to Dr. Sushma Gandhi Devayani, noted educationist, editor and an authority on New Media. They live in Gurgaon, India.

Edited by Maria Miraglia

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