Brother like Raavan

 Thinking Activity:-  I. A. Richards Practice Criticism - Figurative language 

Hello Readers! This blog is a response to the Thinking Activity assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir. In this blog I will explain about the poem Brother like Raavan in context to I. A. Richards "The Figurative language". 

14. Brother like Raavan by Shintsie Kumar

मुझे रावण जैसा भाई चाहिए!

गर्भवती माँ ने बेटी से पूछा

क्या चाहिए तुझे? बहन या भाई

बेटी बोली भाई 

माँ - किसके जैसा? बेटी ने गर्व से

रावण सा, माँ ने जवाब दिया 

क्या बकती है? पिता ने धमकाया

माने घूरा, गाली देती है 

बेटी बोली, क्यू माँ ?

बहन के अपमान पर राज्य 

वंश और प्राण लूटा देने वाला 

शत्रु स्त्री को हरने के बाद भी 

स्पर्श न करने वाला 

रावण जैसा भाई ही तो 

हर लड़की को चाहिए आज 

छाया जैसी साथ निभाने वाली  गर्भवती निर्दोष पत्नी को त्यागने वाले मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम सा भाई लेकर क्या करूंगी मैं?

और माँ 

अग्नि परीक्षा चौदह बरस वनवास और अपहरण से लांछित बहु की कतर आहे तुम कब तक सुनोगी और

कब तक राम को ही जन्मोगी

माँ सिसक रही थी - पिता आवाक था

.....

Shintsie kumar 

Problematic things in this poem:-

1. Brother like Raavan / रावण सा / रावण जैसा भाई

Raavan is an antagonist  character from Hindu mythology. But In this poem daughter would want a brother like Raavan, who is a symbol of evil or Cruel. Then why does the daughter want a brother like Raavan.

2. कब तक राम को ही जन्मोंगी  

Ram is  considered as a virtuous character in Hindu mythology. But in this poem daughter said that stop giving birth to more people like lord Ram. 

3. हर लड़की को आज रावण जैसा भाई ही तो चाहिए 

Poet Intension in this poem:-

1. Ram is a good character in Hindu mythology. But in this poem "Brother like Ravan"  the poet satire on a virtuous character Ram.  Poet said कब तक राम को ही जन्मोंगी means it suggests that despite lord Ram being considered a virtuous and ideal figure in Ramayana, but his behaviour towards sita raises questions about his character. He misbehaved towards sita and banished her to the forest due to public pressure and doubts about her chastity. 

In the present time women or sisters don't want brothers like ram. Who treated them with bad behaviour. 

2. Raavan is a considered as a giant or evil character in Hindu mythology. But in this poem "Brother like Raavan" poet said that हर लड़की को आज रावण जैसा भाई ही तो चाहिए. It means here Raavan portrayed as a good character. This line suggests that a brother like Ravan, who is often depicted as a villain, might be a better option than a husband like Ram. Because Raavan, in some versions of the Ramayana, is depicted as a powerful king who respected and valued his sister, while Ram is seen as abandoning sita despite her innocence. 

In today's world every woman or sister wants a brother like Raavan who can protect her and her family. 

Overall, the intention of poet in this poem convey the message that society should strive to have brothers like Raavan, who is depicted as a strong , noble  and protective. It also raised question on the morality of the good man, who is supposed to be morally superior, but who is willing to abandon his wife. We can say that it is a traditional beliefs that we see Raavan as a villain and Ram as a hero. Raavan is a complex character with both positive and negative qualities rather than as a villain or bad person. The poem  also suggests the need for a revolution of traditional beliefs and accusation placed on women. 

Aim of the Poem:- 

The poem "Brother like Raavan" poet has feminist perspective as she raises the question of the role women in society. The mother and daughter conversation highlights the expectations and limitations placed on women, with the daughter expressing a desire for a brother like Raavan who is traditionally seen as a villain, but also as a symbol of power and strength, rather than a sister who is expected to conform to societal norms and surrender their personal desires. Overall, the poem expresses a feminist viewpoint by questioning the traditional norms and expectations placed on women and calling for a shift towards gender equality.