5 verses · ~1 min
उफ़, यह समय झरता हुआ।
कल के बेडौल हाथों हुए ख़ुद से त्रस्त।
कहीं कोई है कि हममें कँपकँपी भरता हुआ।
बनते हुए ही टूटते हैं हम पठारी नदी के तट से। हम विवश हैं फोड़ने को माथ अपना निजी चौखट से।
एक कोई है हमें हर क्षण ग़लत करता हुआ।
इति
The Poet
ओम प्रभाकर
Om Prabhakar
1935 · 2005
Om Narayan Awasthi, known to the literary world as Om Prabhakar, was born in 1941. He carved a unique space for himself by moving fluidly across the boundaries of Hindi poetry, Urdu ghazals, and critical literature. While many poets confined themselves to a single tradition, Prabhakar merged the lyricism of the ghazal with the grounded vocabulary of modern Hindi verse. His writing acts as a quiet rebellion against political apathy and social decay. Rather than relying on loud sloganeering, his poems and ghazals use understated irony to expose the contradictions of contemporary life. He also produced significant literary criticism, including works analyzing major figures like Mohan Rakesh. His verses speak directly to the ordinary individual navigating an increasingly fragmented society. He stands as a bridge between the classical poetic heritage and the urgent realities of the modern Indian experience.
Paired Painting
Abhimanyu Kills Lakshmana
This profound chromolithograph captures one of the most dramatic and sorrowful moments of the Mahabharata war, depicting the youthful warrior Abhimanyu delivering a devastating blow to Lakshmana. The artwork immortalizes the raw fury and tragic destiny of the Kurukshetra battlefield, where young heroes met their fateful ends. Through the dissemination of the Ravi Varma Press, this image became deeply woven into the cultural consciousness of India, reminding generations of the immense cost of war and the fierce valor demanded by righteous duty.
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