Bareilly has played a very important and dramatic role in Bachchan’s life. Circa 1938, it’s just been about a year since the death of Shyama, the first wife of Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan. He has not written any new poem since her passing but attends poetry events (Kavi Sammelan) for his own peace (स्वांत: सुखाय). One such invite came from Bareilly and this is where he comes across an admirer of his poetry, who commits suicide in front of the very train that Mr Bachchan was travelling on.

गिर-गिर टूटे घट-प्याले, - बुझ दीप गए सब क्षण में,

सब चले किए सिर नीचे - ले अरमानों की झोली;

गूँजी मदिरालय भर में - लो, ‘चलो, चलो’ की बोली!

But, can his poetry be termed ‘Morbid’, or be held responsible to driving one to end his/her life? Madhushala does not urge people to do this, even in its sadness, some such lines:

कुचल हसरतें कितनी अपनी, हाय, बना पाया हाला,

कितने अरमानों को करके ख़ाक बना पाया प्याला!

पी पीनेवाले चल देंगे, हाय, न कोई जानेगा,

कितने मन के महल ढहे तब खड़ी हुई यह मधुशाला!

We also talk about an English poet AE Houseman, whose poetry actually urged people to end their life if it becomes a burden. He said, “And if your hand or foot offend you – Cut it off, lad, and be whole; But play the man, stand up and end you – When your sickness is your soul”

Bareilly was yet to give another dramatic role in Bachchan’s life - stay tuned to know more ;-)

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This is the 17th episode of stories from Madhushala (मधुशाला), Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic poetry, written in 1935 and part of the trilogy of Madhubala and Madhukalash. This is a podcast of Hindi Poems, Poets, their Stories and a bit of History of India.

Check out another podcast "Dhai Aakhar" on poetry of Hope, Life and Optimism - https://spoti.fi/2Rvdich

If you want to join us for an online chit-chat on poetry, please join our meetup group: https://bit.ly/3f0ZSxP

Do write a review and send your comments. Thanks for listening :-)

Apple: https://apple.co/3hlGhGP

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3hDyOXc

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3f46UCk

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2T8CZAp

YouTube: https://bit.ly/342wYHz

Website: www.arisudan.com

Credits:

1. Madhushala poetry book written by Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and Autobiographies of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan – Kya Bhulun Kya Yaad Karun, Need Ka Nirman Phir, Basere se Door, Dashdwar se Sopan Tak. Published by Rajpal & Sons, and Rajkamal Prakashan

2. Various YouTube Videos and information from Internet

3. Voice: Arisudan Yadav

WFH could well be Work from Himalayas, or Working remotely from Hills!

That’s what we did before COVID wave surged again. In this episode, we travel to a small village called Jibhi, in Himachal. We talk about the experience of working remotely, and life in the hills with some short poems inspired by these pristine hills, waterfalls, simple living people.

You can read the full script with meanings of some words on my blog: https://bit.ly/3p756Mc

Watch the YouTube video of this episode with visuals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQe6u44pfE

Some poems include: तू हिमाला! ए फसीले किशवरे हिंदोस्तान, चूमता है तेरी पेशानी को झुककर आसमा

Or:  राग रस रंग हैं पहाड़ों में, ज़िंदगी आसां नहीं पहाड़ों में

Or:  किस गठरी की गांठें खोलूं, क्या बांधूं मैं क्या छोडूं रे किस किस को मैं अपना समझूं, क्या पकडूं क्या जाने दूं रे

Listen in to podcast "Dhai Aakhar" on poetry of Hope, Life and Optimism - https://spoti.fi/2Rvdich

If you want to join us for an online chit-chat on poetry, please join our meetup group: https://bit.ly/3f0ZSxP

You can rate this podcast and connect with me on these links:

Apple: https://apple.co/3hlGhGP

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3hDyOXc

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3f46UCk

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2T8CZAp

YouTube: https://bit.ly/342wYHz

Clubhouse: https://www.joinclubhouse.com/@arisudan

Website: www.arisudan.com

Credits:

1. Original poems by Arisudan Yadav

2. Other poems written by Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Sumitranandan Pant, Allama Iqbal

Circa 1938 – Bachchan Ji was in Indore for a Kavi Sammelan, where Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the guest of honor. Somebody complained to Gandhi that Madhushala is a drunkard's poetry. Bachchan was terrified when Gandhi summoned him. Gandhi asked him to recite some of his poems, Bachchan smartly picked up two verses. Do take a listen to know which ones were those :-)

यज्ञ अग्नि सी धधक रही है मधु की भटठी की ज्वाला,ऋषि सा ध्यान लगा बैठा है हर मदिरा पीने वाला

One goes into a meditative state in his/her mind's own Madhushala. Madhushala said it first and it was the same philosophy picked up by Osho. Whatever good or bad happens in the world, a true Yogi remains unaffected / स्थितप्रज्ञ.

Welcome to the 5th episode of stories from Madhushala (मधुशाला), Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic poetry, written in 1935 and part of the trilogy of Madhubala and Madhukalash. This is a podcast of Hindi Poems, Poets, their Stories and a bit of History of India.

I host one more podcast "Dhai Aakhar" on poetry of Hope, Life and Optimism - https://spoti.fi/2Rvdich

If you want to join us for an online chit-chat on poetry, please join our meetup group: https://bit.ly/3f0ZSxP

Do write a review and send your comments. Thanks for listening :-)

Apple: https://apple.co/3hlGhGP

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3hDyOXc

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3f46UCk

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2T8CZAp

YouTube: https://bit.ly/342wYHz

Website: www.arisudan.com

Credits:

While we started with a story from Armenialast episode, this time we are going to Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and how this trip turned out to be a perfect gift for the poet of Madhushala. When Madhushala was translated in Russian – the title meant a bouquet of colors and the poem has all sorts of Roop, Rang, Ras, Gandh in her spirit.

चित्रकार बन साकी आता लेकर तूली का प्याला

And there is music in its poetry: पान कराती श्रोतागण को, झंकृत वीणा मधुशाला

Then we talk about how Madhushala is above and beyond all sorts of divisions, like in these two lines

मिले न मंदिर, मिले न मस्जिद, मिल जाती है मधुशाला

Or

चिर विधवा है मस्जिद तेरी, सदा सुहागिन मधुशाला

On the same topic of Mandir, Masjid – we also take a cue from Ghalib –

ज़ाहिद शराब पीने दे मस्जिद में बैठ कर, या वो जगह बता दे जहाँ पर ख़ुदा न हो

Welcome to the 14th episode of stories from Madhushala (मधुशाला), Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic poetry, written in 1935 and part of the trilogy of Madhubala and Madhukalash. This is a podcast of Hindi Poems, Poets, their Stories and a bit of History of India.

Check out another podcast "Dhai Aakhar" on poetry of Hope, Life and Optimism - https://spoti.fi/2Rvdich

If you want to join us for an online chit-chat on poetry, please join our meetup group: https://bit.ly/3f0ZSxP

Do write a review and send your comments. Thanks for listening :-)

Apple: https://apple.co/3hlGhGP

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3hDyOXc

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3f46UCk

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2T8CZAp

YouTube: https://bit.ly/342wYHz

Website: www.arisudan.com

Credits:

1. Madhushala poetry book written by Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan

2. Autobiographies of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan – Kya Bhulun Kya Yaad Karun, Need Ka Nirman Phir, Basere se Door, Dashdwar se Sopan Tak.

3. Various YouTube Videos and information from Internet

It’s popularly known that while Dr Bachchan wrote Madhushala aka The House of Wine, he never touched any liquor – well, that’s not entirely true. He started drinking years after Madhushala but gave it up around the year 1944, as a sacrifice for something – now that’s linked with Amitabh Bachchan, and how?

We will also go over the beauty of Himalayas and Kanchanjangha as depicted in the poetry of Madhushala, with quotes from Dinkar, Kalidasa, and Iqbal, such as:

मेरे नगपति! मेरे विशाल! साकार दिव्य गौरव विराट! पौरुष के पुंजीभूत ज्वाल, मेरी जननी के हिम-किरीट, मेरे भारत के दिव्य भाल!

Or –

तू हिमाला! ए फसीले किशवरे हिंदोस्तान, चूमता है तेरी पेशानी को झुककर आसमा

Now, where does Steve Jobs fit into all this, let’s check out ;-)

Welcome to the 12th episode of stories from Madhushala (मधुशाला), Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic poetry, written in 1935 and part of the trilogy of Madhubala and Madhukalash. This is a podcast of Hindi Poems, Poets, their Stories and a bit of History of India.

Check out another podcast "Dhai Aakhar" on poetry of Hope, Life and Optimism - https://spoti.fi/2Rvdich

If you want to join us for an online chit-chat on poetry, please join our meetup group: https://bit.ly/3f0ZSxP

Do write a review and send your comments. Thanks for listening :-)

Apple: https://apple.co/3hlGhGP

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3hDyOXc

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3f46UCk

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2T8CZAp

YouTube: https://bit.ly/342wYHz

Website: www.arisudan.com

Credits:

1. Madhushala poetry book written by Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan

2. Autobiographies of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan – Kya Bhulun Kya Yaad Karun, Need Ka Nirman Phir, Basere se Door, Dashdwar se Sopan Tak.

3. Various YouTube Videos and information from Internet

Mrig Trishna or Mirage - this is the story of two women in Mr Bachchan’s life and the reflection of these experiences on his poetry. Circa 1925, Champa who was Karkal’s wife, and a dream-world that a young Harivansh and his best friend Karkal had weaved together with Champa, followed by two tragic deaths.

Fast forward to 1939, then comes Iris, one with blue eyes and light brown hair who inspired one of his most beautiful poems but not until 13 years in the land of Ireland. Iris proved to be a mirage, however. As he then said –   “चल अभागे मन, कहीं अब और मैं तुझको रमाऊँ” ...

As part of these stories, we are also reading a couple of poems from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar - और त्रिया जो अबल, मात्र आंसू, केवल करुणा है

And a “Savaiya” from Raskhan on Shri Krishna...

नारद से सुक ब्‍यास रहैं पचि हारे तऊ पुनि पार न पावैं, ताहि अहीर की छोहरियाँ छछिया भरि छाछ पै नाच नचावैं...

Welcome to the 11th episode of stories from Madhushala (मधुशाला), Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic poetry, written in 1935 and part of the trilogy of Madhubala and Madhukalash. This is a podcast of Hindi Poems, Poets, their Stories and a bit of History of India.

Check out another podcast "Dhai Aakhar" on poetry of Hope, Life and Optimism - https://spoti.fi/2Rvdich

If you want to join us for an online chit-chat on poetry, please join our meetup group: https://bit.ly/3f0ZSxP

Do write a review and send your comments. Thanks for listening :-)

Apple: https://apple.co/3hlGhGP

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3hDyOXc

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3f46UCk

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2T8CZAp

YouTube: https://bit.ly/342wYHz

Website: www.arisudan.com

Credits:

1. Madhushala poetry book written by Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan

2. Autobiographies of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan – Kya Bhulun Kya Yaad Karun, Need Ka Nirman Phir, Basere se Door, Dashdwar se Sopan Tak.

3. Various YouTube Videos and information from Internet

Year 1935 – it was quite a struggle to publish Madhushala for the first time. Abhyuday Press where Bachchan Ji used to work, was dilly dallying for a year, so Bachchan had to take the matter in his own hands – using all possible resources at his disposal and with friends, he founded a press called “Sushma Nikunj”, which became the first publisher of Madhushala, and subsequently of Madhubala and Madhukalash.

Then we talk about the symbols used here, such as, skies, earth, stars and an interdependent eco-system, the Yin-Yang kind of relationship via Madhushala.

झड़ी लगाकर बरसे मदिरा रिमझिम, रिमझिम, रिमझिम कर, बेलि, विटप, तृण बन मैं पीऊँ, वर्षा ऋतु हो मधुशाला

We are also talking about Bachchan ji reliving his past when he sees his dead friends Karkal and Champa into his new friends Shri Krishna and Rani. Kind of Augmented Reality!

आँखों के आगे हो कुछ भी, आँखों में है मधुशाला

Welcome to the 4th episode of stories from Madhushala (मधुशाला), Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic poetry, written in 1935 and part of the trilogy of Madhubala and Madhukalash. This is a podcast of Hindi Poems, Poets, their Stories and a bit of History of India. 

I host one more podcast "Dhai Aakhar" on poetry of Hope, Life and Optimism - https://spoti.fi/2Rvdich

If you want to join us for an online chit-chat on poetry, please join our meetup group: https://bit.ly/3f0ZSxP

Do write a review and send your comments. Thanks for listening :-)

Apple: https://apple.co/3hlGhGP

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3hDyOXc

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3f46UCk

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2T8CZAp

YouTube: https://bit.ly/342wYHz

Website: www.arisudan.com

Credits: 

1. Madhushala poetry book written by Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan 

2. Autobiographies of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan – Kya Bhulun Kya Yaad Karun, Need Ka Nirman Phir, Basere se Door, Dashdwar se Sopan Tak. 

3. Various YouTube Videos and information from Internet

A flashback from 1977 to 1935 - We are talking about the time when Shri Bachchan was seriously ill and Amitabh Bachchan used to read his autobiography and old poems to him, and Senior Bachchan used to find a new meaning in his own poems written decades ago. One such was this –

“मैं शिव की प्रतिमा बन बैठूं, मंदिर हो यह मधुशाला”

We are also talking about the presence of joy and sorrow at the same time and how it’s reflected in these lines of Madhushala – “जगा करेगा अविरत मरघट, जगा करेगी मधुशाला”. Then we briefly touch upon the musical impact of Alankar in some of his lines.

Welcome to the 3rd episode of stories from Madhushala (मधुशाला), Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic poetry, written in 1935 and part of the trilogy of Madhubala and Madhukalash. This is a podcast of Hindi Poems, Poets, their Stories and a bit of History of India. 

I host one more podcast "Dhai Aakhar" on poetry of Hope, Life and Optimism - https://spoti.fi/2Rvdich

If you want to join us for an online chit-chat on poetry, please join our meetup group: https://bit.ly/3f0ZSxP

Do write a review and send your comments. Thanks for listening :-)

Apple: https://apple.co/3hlGhGP

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3hDyOXc

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3f46UCk

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2T8CZAp

YouTube: https://bit.ly/342wYHz

Website: www.arisudan.com

Credits:

You can read the full script on my blog by clicking here. We do a live session of Madhushala every Sunday on Mentza, please follow on Instagram to check out :-)

What’s common between #Madhushala, MBA and Alice in Wonderland? And, what is the philosophy of compensations?

इस एपिसोड में मधुशाला की दो कविताएँ पढ़ रहे हैं, पहली कविता की कहानी और भावार्थ में है Theory / Philosophy of Compensations, और दूसरी कविता में हम बात कर रहे हैं Alice in Wonderland की - 

प्रियतम, तू मेरी हाला है, मैं तेरा प्यासा प्याला, अपने को मुझमें भरकर तू बनता है पीने वाला,

मैं तुझको छक छलका करता, मस्त मुझे पी तू होता, एक दूसरे की हम दोनों आज परस्पर मधुशाला ।।३।

And -

मदिरालय जाने को घर से चलता है पीनेवाला, 'किस पथ से जाऊँ?' असमंजस में है वह भोलाभाला,

अलग-अलग पथ बतलाते सब पर मैं यह बतलाता हूँ - 'राह पकड़ तू एक चला चल, पा जाएगा मधुशाला ।।६।

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Welcome to Madhushala Podcast (मधुशाला), based on Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic poetry, written in 1935 and part of the trilogy of Madhubala and Madhukalash. This is a podcast of Hindi Poems, Poets, their Stories and a bit of History of India.

I host one more podcast "Dhai Aakhar" on poetry of Hope, Life and Optimism. If you want to join us for an online chit-chat on poetry, please join our Meetup group. Do write a review and send your comments. Thanks for listening :-)

Apple | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | YouTube | Pinterest | http://www.arisudan.com

Credits:

1. Madhushala poetry book written by Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan

2. Autobiographies of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan – Kya Bhulun Kya Yaad Karun, Need Ka Nirman Phir, Basere se Door, Dashdwar se Sopan Tak.

3. Various YouTube Videos and information from Internet

Keywords: #Bachchan #Madhushala #AliceInWonderland #PhilosophyOfCompensations #Hindi #Poetry 

You can read the full script on my blog by clicking here.

What did Dr Bachchan call #Madhushala a penance? 

From the grapes of experiences and imagination - the poet has created this wine called Haala and welcomes the world to his House of Wine, aka Madhushala.

मृदु भावों के अंगूरों की आज बना लाया हाला, प्रियतम, अपने ही हाथों से आज पिलाऊँगा प्याला,

पहले भोग लगा लूँ तेरा फिर प्रसाद जग पाएगा, सबसे पहले तेरा स्वागत करती मेरी मधुशाला ।।१।

And then the poet who has sacrificed the sweetness of his life, will shower the joys of Madhushala on the readers / listeners of his poem. 

प्यास तुझे तो, विश्व तपाकर पूर्ण निकालूँगा हाला, एक पाँव से साकी बनकर नाचूँगा लेकर प्याला,

जीवन की मधुता तो तेरे ऊपर कब का वार चुका, आज निछावर कर दूँगा मैं तुझ पर जग की मधुशाला ।।२।

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Welcome to Madhushala Podcast (मधुशाला), based on Harivansh Rai Bachchan's epic poetry, written in 1935 and part of the trilogy of Madhubala and Madhukalash. This is a podcast of Hindi Poems, Poets, their Stories and a bit of History of India.

I host one more podcast "Dhai Aakhar" on poetry of Hope, Life and Optimism. If you want to join us for an online chit-chat on poetry, please join our Meetup group. Do write a review and send your comments. Thanks for listening :-)

Apple | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin | YouTube | Pinterest | http://www.arisudan.com

Credits:

1. Madhushala poetry book written by Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan

2. Autobiographies of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan – Kya Bhulun Kya Yaad Karun, Need Ka Nirman Phir, Basere se Door, Dashdwar se Sopan Tak.

3. Various YouTube Videos and information from Internet

Additional sources: 1. Madhushala poetry book written by Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan 2. Autobiographies of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan – Kya Bhulun Kya Yaad Karun, Need Ka Nirman Phir, Basere se Door, Dashdwar se Sopan Tak. 3. Various YouTube Videos and information from Internet