Good Bye Party to Miss Pushpa T.S by Nissim Ezekiel

 

Quick Notes - Good Bye Party to Miss Pushpa T.S

Introduction to Nissim Ezekiel (1924-2004):

  1. Early Life:
    • Nissim Ezekiel was born in Bombay in a Bene Israel Jewish family.
  2. Work as a Translator and Writer:
    • Ezekiel translated literary works from Marathi to English.
    • He wrote plays and edited fictional works.
  3. Life in England (1948-1952):
    • During 1948 to 1952, Ezekiel lived in England, which was a time of new experiences and challenges.
    • He stayed in a small basement room and struggled to make ends meet.
    • To support himself financially, he wrote reviews and other short pieces.
    • Due to financial constraints, he couldn’t return to India.
  4. Journey Back to India:
    • Ezekiel and a friend took up a job on a cargo ship heading to India.
    • On the ship, they did menial tasks like scrubbing and washing.
    • Before leaving for India, Ezekiel sent the manuscript of his poems to the Fortune Press, London, and it was published in 1952 as his first collection of poems titled “A Time to Change,” based on his experiences in England.
  5. Career in India:
    • After returning to India, Ezekiel worked as a sub-editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India under the editor C R Mandy.
    • Mandy played a significant role in nurturing the new literary sensibility in India.
    • In 1953, Ezekiel published his second collection of poems titled “Sixty Poems.”
  6. Establishing Himself as a Poet and Critic:
    • Ezekiel’s editing work added finesse to his poems, making him more conscious of the art of writing.
    • He became a leading literary critic, publishing magazines and advising young writers on poetry.
    • In the 1960s, Ezekiel had established himself as a poet and critic of significance.
  7. Academic Career:
    • In 1961, he was appointed as a lecturer at Mithibai College.
    • Later, he joined Bombay University as a Professor.
  8. Published Works:
    • Ezekiel’s published works include several poetry collections: “The Third” (1959), “The Unfinished Man” (1960), “The Exact Name” (1965), “Hymns in Darkness” (1976), and “Latter Day Psalms” (1982).

Summary of “Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T. S.”:

Poem Summary:

·         The poem is about a farewell party held for Miss Pushpa, who is about to travel abroad.

·         The speaker praises Miss Pushpa’s tenderness and constant smiling.

·         He mentions her prestigious family background and her father, a renowned lawyer in either Bulsar or Surat.

·         The speaker highlights her accommodating nature and her willingness to say yes to requests.

·         The poem ends with well-wishes for her journey.

Critical Analysis:

·         The poem satirizes the way some urban Indians speak English, often referred to as “Babu English.”

·         It exposes character flaws and human failings rather than making fun of Miss Pushpa.

·         The use of Babu English, grammatical errors, and exaggerated compliments add humour to the poem.

·         The poem reflects the common tendency in India to praise someone extravagantly during farewell parties.

Unfolding Identity:

·         The speaker’s identity is not specified, making the errors relatable to a broader Indian audience.

·         The speaker’s tone and narrative style reflect the reality of everyday speech.

Form and Language:

·         The poem is written in free verse with no set rhyme pattern or meter.

·         Ezekiel uses line breaks and punctuation to create melody.

·         The informal, colloquial language enhances the humour in the poem.

Conclusion:

·         The poem humorously portrays Indian discourse and satirizes the behaviour of educated individuals.

·         It focuses on how Indians use English, reflecting cultural aspects.

·         The use of Babu English, irony, and ambiguous speech contributes to the poem’s parody and humour.

 

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