4 verses · ~1 min
थोड़ा-सा आत्म-तोष चाहता रहा था मन पीहर में पति- सुख पा इठलाती बाला बन. मन में उछाह भर, ताज़ा हो जाने का, बार-बार आने का अवसर, सुहाग-सुख पाने का .
थोड़ा सा संयम ही चाहा था रत्ना ने, भिंच न जाय मनःकाय थोड़ा अवकाश रहे, खुला-धुला, घुटन रहित. नूतन बन जाए पास आने की चाह .
कैसे थाह पाता विवश नारी का खीझा स्वर, तुलसी, तुम्हारा नर! स्वामी हो रहो सदा अधिकारों से समर्थ पति की यही तो शर्त!
सह न सके . त्याग गए कुंठा भर . सारा अनर्थ थोप एकाकी नारी पर!
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
King Dasharatha and Queen Kaikeyi in the Wrath Chamber
This poignant artwork captures a deeply tragic and pivotal turning point from the Ayodhya Kanda of the Ramayana. Queen Kaikeyi lies in profound despair and anger upon the floor of her wrath chamber, the Krodh Bhavan, having demanded boons that will exile Prince Rama and uproot the kingdom. King Dasharatha stands above her, his posture broken by a mixture of shock, sorrow, and impending doom. The painting evokes a heavy emotional atmosphere, reflecting the agonizing clash between royal duty, binding promises, and personal devastation.
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