5 verses · ~1 min
रात का धुँधलका, सिर्फ़ तारों की छाँह, मैंने देखा -- मन्दिर से निकल कर एक छायामूर्ति चली जा रही है विजन वन की ओर! आश्चर्य-चकित मैंने पूछा,
' देवि, आप कौन हैं? रात्रि के इस सुनसान प्रहर में, अकेली कहाँ जा रही हैं?'
वह चौंक गई,कुछ रुकी बोली, ' मैं जा रही हूँ राम के वामांग से उठ कर, चिर दिन के लिए, क्योंकि विश्वास और सत्य प्रमाण - सापेक्ष नहीं होते! चेतनामयी नारी का स्थान जहाँ ले ले सोने की मूरत, मर्यादा का यह आचार, मैं, वैदेही की चेतना- छाया, जड़ -सी देखती रह गई! अब मैं जा रही हूँ सदा-सदा के लिये!
'अब?इतने समय बाद? आज? " मेरे मुँह से निकल पड़ा!
वह उदास सी मुस्कराई - 'तुम आज देख पाई हो! मैं तो जा चुकी शताब्दियों पहले, सरयू अपार जल-राशि बहा चुकी है तब से, श्री-हत अयोध्या अभिशप्त है तभी से!'
इति
The Poet
प्रतिभा सक्सेना
Pratibha Saxena
Dr. Pratibha Saxena holds a distinct and vital place in contemporary Hindi literature. Her work connects the rigorous intellectual demands of academia with the sensitive realities of human relationships. Born on February 9, 1938, in Madhya Pradesh, her life path took her from the lecture halls of Kanpur, where she worked as an educator, to a diasporic existence in the United States. This geographical shift is highly visible in her diverse literary output, which includes poetry, short stories, and satire. In collections like Uttar Katha and Seema Ke Bandhan, she examines the modern domestic sphere. She highlights the subtle constraints placed upon women and the shifting dynamics of family life with deep psychological insight. Her language carries a quiet and confident thoughtfulness that never shouts but still commands complete attention. Saxena has spent decades enriching Hindi literature, demonstrating that a writer can remain deeply rooted in their native culture while living far from home.
Paired Painting
Sita Bhumipravesh
This profound canvas captures one of the most heartbreaking and poignant moments in the epic Ramayana, when the noble Queen Sita, weary of constant trials and unjust doubts cast upon her purity, appeals to her divine mother, Bhumi, the Earth goddess. Raja Ravi Varma masterfully orchestrates the scene with deep theatrical grace and psychological tension. On the right, King Rama sits upon his royal throne, his posture a mixture of shock, sorrow, and helpless realization as the earth begins to open up beneath his beloved wife. In the center, devoted attendants and sages watch in stunned silence and despair, their faces etched with grief. On the left, Sita gently surrenders to the embrace of the earth, her expression radiating serene detachment and divine dignity as she departs a world that continually tested her unwavering virtue. Through rich chiaroscuro and masterful emotional expression, the artist transforms a legendary mythological tragedy into an intimately human experience of profound loss and ultimate spiritual liberation.
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