7 verses · ~1 min
चेहरे पढ़ने पर लगें टेढ़े-मेढ़े अन्दर
थर्मामीटर तोड़ रहा है उबल-उबल कर पारा लेबल मीठे जल का लेकिन पानी लगता खारा
समय उस्तरा है जिसको चला रहे हैं बन्दर
चीलगाह जैसा है मंजर लगती भीड़ मवेशी किसकी कब थम जाएँ सांसें कब पड़ जाए पेशी
कितने ही घर डूब गए यह बाज़ार-समंदर
त्याग दिया हंसों ने कंठी बगुलों ने है पहनी बागवान की नज़रों से है डरी-डरी-सी टहनी
दिखे छुरी को सुन्दर-सा सूरज एक चुकंदर
इति
The Poet
अवनीश सिंह चौहान
Avaneesh Singh Chauhan
1972 · 2010
Avaneesh Singh Chauhan represents a fresh and necessary voice in contemporary Hindi literature, particularly in his efforts to revitalize traditional lyrical forms for a modern audience. Born in 1979 in the Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh, he has dedicated his literary career to the Navgeet movement and the adaptation of Haiku into the Hindi language. He does not write from the isolation of an ivory tower. Instead, his poetry addresses the environmental decay, social fragmentation, and rural displacement that define twenty-first-century India. Chauhan serves as the executive editor of the literary journal Naye Purane, where he actively fosters dialogue between established literary figures and emerging writers. Through his poetry and critical essays, he proves that ancient poetic rhythms can perfectly articulate the anxieties of the modern world. He is a careful observer of everyday life, using short verse and melodic compositions to document the quiet realities that often escape mainstream attention.
Paired Painting
Thut Heree Bazar, The Widest Street in Benares
This evocative lithograph captures the bustling heartbeat of Benares, known today as Varanasi, during the early nineteenth century. James Prinsep, a polymath with an unmatched devotion to the history and architecture of India, meticulously recorded the daily life of this ancient city. Through his eyes, we witness the narrow, storied streets where the rhythmic sounds of commerce and the quiet sanctity of tradition coexist. The image invites us to walk through history, observing the inhabitants of the Thatheri Bazar as they navigate the passage of time beneath stone balconies that hold the secrets of centuries. It is a humble yet profound testament to the enduring spirit of a city that remains a living cradle of civilization.
Open the viewer →