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मधुशाल�
Starting the third leading poet Bachchan's poetry Rshake middle 'honey' or Sadira around up and 'bar' starting with 'Madhubala' and 'Madhukalash' A - published by a margin of one year. These are very popular and the first 'bar' by the boom has created. This fact has become part of the spirit of Hindi literature and join the ranks of Karjyie compositions have stood. These poems were composed while the poet of the age 27-28 years, so naturally that these collections are full of youth juice and tide. Bachchan himself has urged everyone to read together. The poet the "Today brought wine - the drink Havishyt escape the fear and suffering of the past go away ..., today the wine of life, which forced us had to drink, how bitter. Le, Pan to the item in frenzy, their suffering, be forgotten. "
77 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1935
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February 9, 2017
यह १३� बेशकीमती रुबाइयाँ मात्� किसी मधुशाल� के लि� एक क़सीदा नही� है अपित� गाती हु� रूपक है ज़िन्दगी की , वह ज़िन्दगी जो उजाल� और अंधेरे से, न्यायनीति और भेदभाव से ,आलिंगन और अभाव से परिपूर्ण है |
अपनी कल� को नीली स्याही मे� डुबाये, हमार� दीवाना सा वर्णनकर्ता लिखत� चल� जाता है; लिखत� है गुनगुनात� हु� जीवन की नीरसता की गाथा, जिसम� उसके विचारो� की टोकरी को मात्� एक हाला का प्याला, किसी मधुशाल� का निवाला, संभाले हु� है� | एक छेड़ती हु� प्रेमिका की तर� मधुशाल� शानदार अमृत-पा� के वादे के सा� आकर्षि� करती है लेकि� उन मदिराओ� को ज़रा दू� सिरक� देती है; शायद मिलन से पूर्� उस दीवाने के पैरो� की स्थिरत� की अपेक्ष� मे� | लेकि� जीवन की शासकों के नीति के विपरी�, यहां लोगो� के अपने सपनो� के पीछे भागन� पर को� पाबंदी नही� है | जाति, संस्कृति, धर्म और स्थिति भुला कर , मधुशाल� सभी को सम� लेती है और इसी अद� से उसका आकर्षण बहुत गुना बढ� जाता है | हमार� वर्णनकर्ता यह मानत� है� की हव� मे� उड़ी को� स्वा� भी उन्मादता से अनछु� नही� है ; अर� वह शही� भी तो आज़ादी के नश� मे� जिया करता है ! हर प्याले के सं� प्या� जैसे मि� सी जाती है किन्तु थोड़ी तल� फि� भी बाकी रह जाती है | नही� होती अग� अपूर्ण तृप्ति , तो आँखो� के कि� समंद� मे� सूरज की नवी� किरणों उतरती? नही� होती अग� थोड़ी ऊं� घा� मे� बाकी, तो कौ� रा� देखत� शीतल, सुहाती चन्द्रमा का ?
लेकि� आखिर कब तक एक मधुशाल�, अपनी दीवारो� को कुरेदती दुनिया से सुरक्षित रखती ? एक दि�, वह ढह गयी | बड़ी बड़ी बातो� का पिटारा, अंतत� छोटी खुशियो� को निगल गय� और मधुशाल�, बेचारी इस बह्मां� के विशा� काया मे� लुप्� हो गयी | और उसी के सं�, हमार� वर्णनकर्ता भी क्षि� हो गय� | पर रा� बनने से पूर्�, उसकी एक ही विनती थी - मुझे � दफ� करना, � मुझे जलान�, � की अमृत से मेरे होंठ गीले करना, � मेरा कही� ना� लिखन� और � मेरे सम्बन्धियो� को सूचि� करना | करना तो बस यही की मेरे शव को उस स्थल पर रखना जहां कभी को� मधुशाल� हु� करती थी, जहां उपलब्धियां और कमियों के बारे मे� � को� प्रश्न पूछत� था और जहां समान� का एकमात्� योग्यत� एक शुद्� इराद� एव� निष्कपटी भावन� होती थी |
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This splendorous string of 135 quatrains is not just an ode to the tavern; it is a metaphoric meditation on life that is fraught with light and darkness, equity and discrimination, embrace and absence.
Dipping his pen into the inky blue of his heart, our vagabond scribbles; scribbles away the humdrum with a humming cornucopia of thoughts that demands nothing but a mere glass of wine in his favourite tavern, to bloom. Like a teasing lover, the tavern attracts with the promise of magnificent elixirs but removes them from an arm’s length, perhaps fortifying the vagabond’s feet to assume stability before the union. Oh but unlike the perceptions of life’s police, there is no bar on the type of people who can reach for their dream catch and thus, merging caste, culture, religion and status, the tavern romps up its allure in no time. Our narrator insists there is no breath scurrying in the air without the hint of intoxication in it, why, for even the martyrs in the war are inebriated by the promise of freedom! And with every glass, and one more, the thirst gets full and yet remains a bit hungry. If not for incomplete satiation, who would present the pool of eyes over which the new sun may dawn upon? If not for that tinge of unhealed wound, who would await the tender medication of the pale, nursing moon?
But how long can a tavern, after all, uphold its walls from the blotched world? One day, it cows down. The infallible grasp of enormous things, eventually, usurps small happinesses, dispatching the mere tavern into the might belly of the constantly fire-bellowing universe. And along with it, perishes our narrator. But before he becomes ash, he has one request; to not bury him or set his corpse on fire, to not wet his lips with nectar of any kind, to not register his name anywhere, to not inform his links to the material world. He simply wants to be laid down on a ground where there was once a tavern, where no questions are asked of accomplishments and misses and only qualification to be accepted is a pure intent to be one’s self, without the rhetoric of duplicity.
अपनी कल� को नीली स्याही मे� डुबाये, हमार� दीवाना सा वर्णनकर्ता लिखत� चल� जाता है; लिखत� है गुनगुनात� हु� जीवन की नीरसता की गाथा, जिसम� उसके विचारो� की टोकरी को मात्� एक हाला का प्याला, किसी मधुशाल� का निवाला, संभाले हु� है� | एक छेड़ती हु� प्रेमिका की तर� मधुशाल� शानदार अमृत-पा� के वादे के सा� आकर्षि� करती है लेकि� उन मदिराओ� को ज़रा दू� सिरक� देती है; शायद मिलन से पूर्� उस दीवाने के पैरो� की स्थिरत� की अपेक्ष� मे� | लेकि� जीवन की शासकों के नीति के विपरी�, यहां लोगो� के अपने सपनो� के पीछे भागन� पर को� पाबंदी नही� है | जाति, संस्कृति, धर्म और स्थिति भुला कर , मधुशाल� सभी को सम� लेती है और इसी अद� से उसका आकर्षण बहुत गुना बढ� जाता है | हमार� वर्णनकर्ता यह मानत� है� की हव� मे� उड़ी को� स्वा� भी उन्मादता से अनछु� नही� है ; अर� वह शही� भी तो आज़ादी के नश� मे� जिया करता है ! हर प्याले के सं� प्या� जैसे मि� सी जाती है किन्तु थोड़ी तल� फि� भी बाकी रह जाती है | नही� होती अग� अपूर्ण तृप्ति , तो आँखो� के कि� समंद� मे� सूरज की नवी� किरणों उतरती? नही� होती अग� थोड़ी ऊं� घा� मे� बाकी, तो कौ� रा� देखत� शीतल, सुहाती चन्द्रमा का ?
लेकि� आखिर कब तक एक मधुशाल�, अपनी दीवारो� को कुरेदती दुनिया से सुरक्षित रखती ? एक दि�, वह ढह गयी | बड़ी बड़ी बातो� का पिटारा, अंतत� छोटी खुशियो� को निगल गय� और मधुशाल�, बेचारी इस बह्मां� के विशा� काया मे� लुप्� हो गयी | और उसी के सं�, हमार� वर्णनकर्ता भी क्षि� हो गय� | पर रा� बनने से पूर्�, उसकी एक ही विनती थी - मुझे � दफ� करना, � मुझे जलान�, � की अमृत से मेरे होंठ गीले करना, � मेरा कही� ना� लिखन� और � मेरे सम्बन्धियो� को सूचि� करना | करना तो बस यही की मेरे शव को उस स्थल पर रखना जहां कभी को� मधुशाल� हु� करती थी, जहां उपलब्धियां और कमियों के बारे मे� � को� प्रश्न पूछत� था और जहां समान� का एकमात्� योग्यत� एक शुद्� इराद� एव� निष्कपटी भावन� होती थी |
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This splendorous string of 135 quatrains is not just an ode to the tavern; it is a metaphoric meditation on life that is fraught with light and darkness, equity and discrimination, embrace and absence.
Dipping his pen into the inky blue of his heart, our vagabond scribbles; scribbles away the humdrum with a humming cornucopia of thoughts that demands nothing but a mere glass of wine in his favourite tavern, to bloom. Like a teasing lover, the tavern attracts with the promise of magnificent elixirs but removes them from an arm’s length, perhaps fortifying the vagabond’s feet to assume stability before the union. Oh but unlike the perceptions of life’s police, there is no bar on the type of people who can reach for their dream catch and thus, merging caste, culture, religion and status, the tavern romps up its allure in no time. Our narrator insists there is no breath scurrying in the air without the hint of intoxication in it, why, for even the martyrs in the war are inebriated by the promise of freedom! And with every glass, and one more, the thirst gets full and yet remains a bit hungry. If not for incomplete satiation, who would present the pool of eyes over which the new sun may dawn upon? If not for that tinge of unhealed wound, who would await the tender medication of the pale, nursing moon?
But how long can a tavern, after all, uphold its walls from the blotched world? One day, it cows down. The infallible grasp of enormous things, eventually, usurps small happinesses, dispatching the mere tavern into the might belly of the constantly fire-bellowing universe. And along with it, perishes our narrator. But before he becomes ash, he has one request; to not bury him or set his corpse on fire, to not wet his lips with nectar of any kind, to not register his name anywhere, to not inform his links to the material world. He simply wants to be laid down on a ground where there was once a tavern, where no questions are asked of accomplishments and misses and only qualification to be accepted is a pure intent to be one’s self, without the rhetoric of duplicity.
November 21, 2018
काफ़ी अरसा हो गय� हिंदी मे� कवित� पढकर� बहुत ही खूबसूर� कवित� थी� आनंद � गया। हम सभी को प्रयास करना चाहि� इससे पढ़न� का� जितनी बा� पढ़ोगे हर बा� अल� अर्थ मिलेगा और सोचन� वाली कवित� है� कवी बच्च� जी ने कभी मदिर� का सेवन नही� किया उसके बा� भी ऐसी कवित� लिखी है, यह इनकी गहरायी दर्शाती है� जितनी सुन्दरता इससे पढ़न� मे� है उतनी सुंदरत� इससे सुनन� मे� भी है� आप सभी यूट्यू� मे� उनके पुत्� अमिताभ बच्च� और महान संगीतकार मन्न� डे को अवश्� सुने�
April 12, 2013
the internal churning is best captured in the following lines from Madhushala!!
मधुर भावनाओ� की सुमधुर नित्� बनात� हू� हाला,
भरता हू� इस मध� से अपने अंतर का प्यासा प्याला,
उठ� कल्पना के हाथो� से स्वय� उस� पी जाता हू�,
अपने ही मे� हू� मै� साकी, पीनेवाला, मधुशाला।।५�
चलने ही चलने मे� कितन� जीवन, हा�, बिता डाला!
'दू� अभी है', पर, कहता है हर पथ बतलानेवाला,
हिम्मत है � बढूँ आग� को साहस है � फिरु� पीछे,
किंकर्तव्यविमूढ़ मुझे कर दू� खड़ी है मधुशाला।।७�
मधुर भावनाओ� की सुमधुर नित्� बनात� हू� हाला,
भरता हू� इस मध� से अपने अंतर का प्यासा प्याला,
उठ� कल्पना के हाथो� से स्वय� उस� पी जाता हू�,
अपने ही मे� हू� मै� साकी, पीनेवाला, मधुशाला।।५�
चलने ही चलने मे� कितन� जीवन, हा�, बिता डाला!
'दू� अभी है', पर, कहता है हर पथ बतलानेवाला,
हिम्मत है � बढूँ आग� को साहस है � फिरु� पीछे,
किंकर्तव्यविमूढ़ मुझे कर दू� खड़ी है मधुशाला।।७�
August 24, 2017
This appeals to novice poetry readers as well as veterans. The simplicity with which the verses are strewn along haala, pyaala, saakibala and madhushala are bound to set you in a trance.
I read it in parts in the last couple of days, and re-read it in a single sitting today as recommended by the author, and such is the magic that I'm craving for more now....
क्या कहता है, रह � गई अब तेरे भाजन मे� हाला,
क्या कहता है, अब � चलेगी मादक प्यालो� की माला,
थोड़ी पीकर प्या� बढ़ी तो शे� नही� कु� पीने को,
प्या� बुझाने को बुलवाक� प्या� बढ़ाती मधुशाला।।६९।
I read it in parts in the last couple of days, and re-read it in a single sitting today as recommended by the author, and such is the magic that I'm craving for more now....
क्या कहता है, रह � गई अब तेरे भाजन मे� हाला,
क्या कहता है, अब � चलेगी मादक प्यालो� की माला,
थोड़ी पीकर प्या� बढ़ी तो शे� नही� कु� पीने को,
प्या� बुझाने को बुलवाक� प्या� बढ़ाती मधुशाला।।६९।
July 16, 2021
বলিউডে� বচ্চ� পরিবারকে কে না চেনে বিশেষত অমিতাভ বচ্চনকে। বি� শতাব্দী� বিখ্যা� কব� হরিবংশ রায় বচ্চনেরই ছেলে অমিতাভ বচ্চন। একটি কবিত� শুনেছিলা� ইউটিউব�, কি চমৎকার সব লাইন-
ব্যা� যাতা হু মিট্টি পে আকসা�-
কি� কি মুঝে আপনি অওকা� আচ্ছ� লাগত� হে�
ম্যায়নে সামান্দা� সে শিখা হে জীনে কা সালিকা;
চুপচাপ সে ব্যা� না, ঔর আপনি মৌ� মে রে� না�
এয়স� নেহি হে কে মুঝম� কো� অ্যা� নেহি হে;
পা� সা� কে� তা হু, মুঝম� কো� ফারে� নেহি হে�
তখ� জানতাম না উন� কে� কবির না� দেখে প্রথমে� বচ্চ� পরিবারের কথ� মন� পড়ল�; গিয়� দেখি বচ্চ� পরিবারের কর্ত�!তারপ� হু� করেই উনার লিখা পড়া� ইচ্ছ� জাগলো। না� দেখে মধুশাল� সিলেক্� করলাম। মধুশাল�, মধুবাল�, মধুকলস -এই কাব্যগ্রন্� তিনটিক� তা� অম� সৃষ্টি বল� ধর� হয়। বল� হয� এই ট্রিলজির পেছন� ওম� খৈয়ামের রুবাইয়া� অনুপ্রেরণা জুগিয়েছে।
মধুশাল� বলতে যেহেতু পানশাল� বা ওয়াইন হাউজ বোঝায় তা� প্রতিট� রুবাইত� মধ�, হালা (মদ), সাকী (মদ পরিবেশনকারিনী), পেয়াল�, মদির� প্রভৃত� শব্দ বারবার চল� এসেছে। এই শব্দগুলো বারবার ব্যবহা� কর� কব� জীবনের একেকটা দি� তুলে ধরেছেন- জীবনের জটিলতা, সাধারণ জীবনধারা, জন্ম, মৃত্যু, জাতি, ধর্ম, জাতি-ধর্মভে�, রাজনীতি, অস্তিত্ব, সংকট থেকে শুরু কর� বিভিন্� দর্শ� তুলে ধরেছেন�
চমৎকার লেগেছে মধুশালা।
~১৬ জুলা�, ২০২১
ব্যা� যাতা হু মিট্টি পে আকসা�-
কি� কি মুঝে আপনি অওকা� আচ্ছ� লাগত� হে�
ম্যায়নে সামান্দা� সে শিখা হে জীনে কা সালিকা;
চুপচাপ সে ব্যা� না, ঔর আপনি মৌ� মে রে� না�
এয়স� নেহি হে কে মুঝম� কো� অ্যা� নেহি হে;
পা� সা� কে� তা হু, মুঝম� কো� ফারে� নেহি হে�
তখ� জানতাম না উন� কে� কবির না� দেখে প্রথমে� বচ্চ� পরিবারের কথ� মন� পড়ল�; গিয়� দেখি বচ্চ� পরিবারের কর্ত�!তারপ� হু� করেই উনার লিখা পড়া� ইচ্ছ� জাগলো। না� দেখে মধুশাল� সিলেক্� করলাম। মধুশাল�, মধুবাল�, মধুকলস -এই কাব্যগ্রন্� তিনটিক� তা� অম� সৃষ্টি বল� ধর� হয়। বল� হয� এই ট্রিলজির পেছন� ওম� খৈয়ামের রুবাইয়া� অনুপ্রেরণা জুগিয়েছে।
মধুশাল� বলতে যেহেতু পানশাল� বা ওয়াইন হাউজ বোঝায় তা� প্রতিট� রুবাইত� মধ�, হালা (মদ), সাকী (মদ পরিবেশনকারিনী), পেয়াল�, মদির� প্রভৃত� শব্দ বারবার চল� এসেছে। এই শব্দগুলো বারবার ব্যবহা� কর� কব� জীবনের একেকটা দি� তুলে ধরেছেন- জীবনের জটিলতা, সাধারণ জীবনধারা, জন্ম, মৃত্যু, জাতি, ধর্ম, জাতি-ধর্মভে�, রাজনীতি, অস্তিত্ব, সংকট থেকে শুরু কর� বিভিন্� দর্শ� তুলে ধরেছেন�
ঠি� যতটুকু লেখা আছ� কপাল�
ঠি� ততটুকু� তুমি পাবে হালা,
যতবা� লেখা আছ� কপাল�
ততবারই পাবে পেয়াল�;
যত� হও পাতক পাপী
রাস্তা ধর� অন্য-
কপাল� যেথায় লেখা আছ�
সেথায়� মিলব� মধুশালা।
চমৎকার লেগেছে মধুশালা।
~১৬ জুলা�, ২০২১
February 15, 2018
The translation probably will spoil even the title - wine-house? Unlike most other poems that are on a single theme and used a large number of motifs to give a single message, this contains 139 messages (a message for each stanzas) including themes like seasons, life, existional crises, aging, death, hedonism, hopefulness, desperation, religion, caste, class, politics, the alcohal itself, the stanzas themselves etc and it is only motifs that stay same - Madhushala (alcohal shop -hindi word 'madhur' means sweet and has a sweet sound to it), Saki (female cupbearer - sort of like waitress only the original word is much more sensual), pyala (cup), Halalhal (a sort of poison) etc. None of those words translate as beautifully as far as I know, it must be fun to try an English translation.
February 6, 2018
I love the way Mr. Bachchan has conveyed so many messages with this book. This is an absolute treat to read. He has touched almost every aspect of human life with this. Whether its -
Hatred Based on religion
"मुसलमा� और हिन्दू है� दो,
एक, मग�, उनका प्याला,
एक, मग�, उनका मदिराल�,
एक, मग�, उनकी हाला;
दोनो� रहते एक � जब तक
मंदि� मस्जिद को जाते.
बै� बढ़ाते मंदि� मस्जिद
मे� कराती मधुशाल�"
Inequality based on monetary status
"बड़े बड़े परिवार मिटे यो�
एक ना हो रोने वाला
हो जाएँ सुनसान मह� वे,
जहाँ थिरकती� सुरबाल�,
राज्� उल� जाएँ, भूपो� की
भाग्यसुलक्ष्मी सो जा�;
जग� रहेंगे पीने वाले,
जग� करेगी मधुशाल�"
Or any kind of inequality
"एक तर� से सबका स्वागत
करती है साकीबाला,
अज्ञ विज्� मे� है क्या अंतर
हो जाने पर मतवाला,
रं� रा� मे� भे� हु� है
कभी नही� मदिराल� मे�,
साम्यवाद की प्रथ� प्रचार�
है यह मेरी मधुशाल�"
Different colors of life
एक बर� मे�, एक बा� ही,
जगती होली की ज्वाला
एक बा� ही लगती बाज़ी,
जलती दीपो� की माला
दुनिया वालो� किन्तु, किसी दि�,
� मदिराल� मे� देखो
दि� को होली, रा� दिवाली,
रोज़ मनाती मधुशाल�
Uncertainty of life
छोटे से जीवन मे� कितन�
प्या� करूं, पी लू� हाला
आन� के ही सा� जग� मे�,
कहलाया जानेवाला
स्वागत के ही सा� विदा की,
होती देखो तैयारी
बन्द लगी होने खुलत� ही,
मेरी जीवन मधुशाल�
Even our inexcusable religious belief
"धर्मग्रन्थ सब जल� चुकी है
जिसक� अंतर की ज्वाला,
मंदि�, मस्जिद, गिरर्ज� सबको
तोड़ चूका जो मतवाला,
पंडि�, मोमि�, पादरियों के
फंदो� को जो का� चूका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का
स्वागत मेरी मधुशाल�"
Or any other sociological issue
"वी� सुतो� के ह्रदयरक्� की
आज बन� रक्तिम हाला,
वी� सुतो� के वर शीशो� का
हाथो� मे� लेकर प्याला,
अत� उदार दानी साकी है
आज बनी भारतमाता,
स्वतंत्रता है तृषि� कालिका,
बलिवेदी है मधुशाल�"
The real beauty is that he conveyed it so simply yet effectively that you can't neglect it and bound to think on that. You can't ask for anything more from a book which is so good to read and beautiful to recite or listen.
A perfect poem someone wrote in his eulogy, to sum up this creation and the great creator
"कविताओ� के विस्तृ� नभ मे�
सूरज का कर उजियाल�,
चि� निद्रा मे� चल� गय� कव�
मधुशाल� लिखन� वाला,
मंदि� मस्जिद एक कर� कर,
जा� पा� का का भे� मिटा
सच्चाई की रा� दिखाती
है दुनिया को मधुशाल�"
Bravo! 5 Stars any day. A must read for poetry-lovers or reader in general.
Hatred Based on religion
"मुसलमा� और हिन्दू है� दो,
एक, मग�, उनका प्याला,
एक, मग�, उनका मदिराल�,
एक, मग�, उनकी हाला;
दोनो� रहते एक � जब तक
मंदि� मस्जिद को जाते.
बै� बढ़ाते मंदि� मस्जिद
मे� कराती मधुशाल�"
Inequality based on monetary status
"बड़े बड़े परिवार मिटे यो�
एक ना हो रोने वाला
हो जाएँ सुनसान मह� वे,
जहाँ थिरकती� सुरबाल�,
राज्� उल� जाएँ, भूपो� की
भाग्यसुलक्ष्मी सो जा�;
जग� रहेंगे पीने वाले,
जग� करेगी मधुशाल�"
Or any kind of inequality
"एक तर� से सबका स्वागत
करती है साकीबाला,
अज्ञ विज्� मे� है क्या अंतर
हो जाने पर मतवाला,
रं� रा� मे� भे� हु� है
कभी नही� मदिराल� मे�,
साम्यवाद की प्रथ� प्रचार�
है यह मेरी मधुशाल�"
Different colors of life
एक बर� मे�, एक बा� ही,
जगती होली की ज्वाला
एक बा� ही लगती बाज़ी,
जलती दीपो� की माला
दुनिया वालो� किन्तु, किसी दि�,
� मदिराल� मे� देखो
दि� को होली, रा� दिवाली,
रोज़ मनाती मधुशाल�
Uncertainty of life
छोटे से जीवन मे� कितन�
प्या� करूं, पी लू� हाला
आन� के ही सा� जग� मे�,
कहलाया जानेवाला
स्वागत के ही सा� विदा की,
होती देखो तैयारी
बन्द लगी होने खुलत� ही,
मेरी जीवन मधुशाल�
Even our inexcusable religious belief
"धर्मग्रन्थ सब जल� चुकी है
जिसक� अंतर की ज्वाला,
मंदि�, मस्जिद, गिरर्ज� सबको
तोड़ चूका जो मतवाला,
पंडि�, मोमि�, पादरियों के
फंदो� को जो का� चूका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का
स्वागत मेरी मधुशाल�"
Or any other sociological issue
"वी� सुतो� के ह्रदयरक्� की
आज बन� रक्तिम हाला,
वी� सुतो� के वर शीशो� का
हाथो� मे� लेकर प्याला,
अत� उदार दानी साकी है
आज बनी भारतमाता,
स्वतंत्रता है तृषि� कालिका,
बलिवेदी है मधुशाल�"
The real beauty is that he conveyed it so simply yet effectively that you can't neglect it and bound to think on that. You can't ask for anything more from a book which is so good to read and beautiful to recite or listen.
A perfect poem someone wrote in his eulogy, to sum up this creation and the great creator
"कविताओ� के विस्तृ� नभ मे�
सूरज का कर उजियाल�,
चि� निद्रा मे� चल� गय� कव�
मधुशाल� लिखन� वाला,
मंदि� मस्जिद एक कर� कर,
जा� पा� का का भे� मिटा
सच्चाई की रा� दिखाती
है दुनिया को मधुशाल�"
Bravo! 5 Stars any day. A must read for poetry-lovers or reader in general.
March 28, 2014
These two lines of the book themselves say about the book.
मेरे साकी मे� सबने अपना प्यारा साकी देखा,
जिसकी जैसी रुचि थी उसने वैसी देखी मधुशाला।।१३१�
(Everybody understands it in the way that interests them).
कभी � कण-भर खाली होगा ला� पिएँ, दो ला� पिएँ!
पाठकगण है� पीनेवाले, पुस्तक मेरी मधुशाला।।४�
(Irrespective of how many people consume it, its quality will not deteriorate).
A must read for all ages.
मेरे साकी मे� सबने अपना प्यारा साकी देखा,
जिसकी जैसी रुचि थी उसने वैसी देखी मधुशाला।।१३१�
(Everybody understands it in the way that interests them).
कभी � कण-भर खाली होगा ला� पिएँ, दो ला� पिएँ!
पाठकगण है� पीनेवाले, पुस्तक मेरी मधुशाला।।४�
(Irrespective of how many people consume it, its quality will not deteriorate).
A must read for all ages.
July 22, 2021
For the times when the heart is too heavy, there is always solace to be found in the words of Madhushala.
Through the ~130 quatrains, Bachchan charts the stages of a human life through the metaphoric reference to a drinking spot/tavern, deeply embedded with his own reflections. It always offers so much to explore as each stanza carries its own theme / 'yatharth'. Each time he uses the words 'madhu' or 'madira', they denote a different emotion from the previous stanza.
As the poem progresses and tracks one's life from youth till the declining years, the tone of the poem shifts from enthusiastic play to sombre representation. Quite magical!
I grew up listening to Madhushala recitals - reading the words in print is comforting in its own way. Can't recommend Manna Dey's recital enough!
Through the ~130 quatrains, Bachchan charts the stages of a human life through the metaphoric reference to a drinking spot/tavern, deeply embedded with his own reflections. It always offers so much to explore as each stanza carries its own theme / 'yatharth'. Each time he uses the words 'madhu' or 'madira', they denote a different emotion from the previous stanza.
As the poem progresses and tracks one's life from youth till the declining years, the tone of the poem shifts from enthusiastic play to sombre representation. Quite magical!
I grew up listening to Madhushala recitals - reading the words in print is comforting in its own way. Can't recommend Manna Dey's recital enough!
June 21, 2016
'Madhushala' is not necessarily a tavern. 'Madhushala' symbolizes dreams, ambitions, life, universe, or rather any asymmetric multi-agent system. (जिसकी जैसी रुचि थी उसने वैसी देखी मधुशाला।�131)
Any one who yearns is man. Wine(मध�/हाला/ साकीबाला), is what he yearns for, provider is Saaki(साकी - one who serves wine), the medium is pyaala (प्याला - wineglass) and the place which provides is 'Madhushala'. The poem endorses life, not alcoholism.
There are total 135 Chaupai (4-line verses) and every one of them ends with term madhushala. The language is fairly simple. Poem touches various philosophical(and pragmatic) aspects of life and societal norms. Among various concepts,I loved how the poem develops the relation between man and his 'Madhushala'. Their relationship goes through the period of acceptance, romance, separation and, in the end, self-revelation.
The following selected phrases are beautiful and capture the brilliance of poem. (Also, look at how it develops)
सु�, कलकल� , छलछल� मधुघ� से गिरती प्यालो� मे� हाला,
सु�, रूनझुन रूनझुन चल वितर� करती मध� साकीबाला,
बस � पहुंचे, दु� नही� कु�, चा� कद� अब चलना है,
चह� रह�, सु�, पीनेवाले, मह� रही, ले, मधुशाला।�10
एक बर� मे�, एक बा� ही जगती होली की ज्वाला,
एक बा� ही लगती बाज़ी, जलती दीपो� की माला,
दुनियावालो�, किन्तु, किसी दि� � मदिराल� मे� देखो,
दि� को होली, रा� दिवाली, रोज़ मनाती मधुशाला। 26
किसी ओर मै� आँखे� फेरू�, दिखलाई देती हाला
किसी ओर मै� आँखे� फेरू�, दिखलाई देता प्याला,
किसी ओर मै� देखू�, मुझक� दिखलाई देता साकी
किसी ओर देखू�, दिखलाई पड़ती मुझक� मधुशाला।� 39
या� � आए दुखम� जीवन इससे पी लेता हाला,
जग चिंताओ� से रहने को मुक्�, उठ� लेता प्याला,
शौ�, सा� के और स्वा� के हेतु पिया जग करता है,
पर मै वह रोगी हू� जिसकी एक दव� है मधुशाला।� 78
जो हाला मै� चा� रह� था, वह � मिली मुझक� हाला,
जो प्याला मै� माँग रह� था, वह � मिला मुझक� प्याला,
जि� साकी के पीछे मै� था दीवाना, � मिला साकी,
जिसक� पीछे था मै� पागल, हा � मिली वह मधुशाल�! | 90
जिसन� मुझक� प्यासा रक्ख� बनी रह� वह भी हाला,
जिसन� जीवन भर दौड़ाय� बन� रह� वह भी प्याला,
मतवालो� की जिह्वा से है� कभी निकलते शा� नही�,
दुखी बनाय� जिसन� मुझक� सुखी रह� वह मधुशाल�!� 103
वह हाला, कर शांत सक� जो मेरे अंतर की ज्वाला,
जिसमें मै� बिंबित-प्रतिबिंबि� प्रतिप�, वह मेरा प्याला,
मधुशाल� वह नही� जहाँ पर मदिर� बेची जाती है,
भेंट जहाँ मस्ती की मिलती मेरी तो वह मधुशाला।� 121
Any one who yearns is man. Wine(मध�/हाला/ साकीबाला), is what he yearns for, provider is Saaki(साकी - one who serves wine), the medium is pyaala (प्याला - wineglass) and the place which provides is 'Madhushala'. The poem endorses life, not alcoholism.
There are total 135 Chaupai (4-line verses) and every one of them ends with term madhushala. The language is fairly simple. Poem touches various philosophical(and pragmatic) aspects of life and societal norms. Among various concepts,I loved how the poem develops the relation between man and his 'Madhushala'. Their relationship goes through the period of acceptance, romance, separation and, in the end, self-revelation.
The following selected phrases are beautiful and capture the brilliance of poem. (Also, look at how it develops)
सु�, कलकल� , छलछल� मधुघ� से गिरती प्यालो� मे� हाला,
सु�, रूनझुन रूनझुन चल वितर� करती मध� साकीबाला,
बस � पहुंचे, दु� नही� कु�, चा� कद� अब चलना है,
चह� रह�, सु�, पीनेवाले, मह� रही, ले, मधुशाला।�10
एक बर� मे�, एक बा� ही जगती होली की ज्वाला,
एक बा� ही लगती बाज़ी, जलती दीपो� की माला,
दुनियावालो�, किन्तु, किसी दि� � मदिराल� मे� देखो,
दि� को होली, रा� दिवाली, रोज़ मनाती मधुशाला। 26
किसी ओर मै� आँखे� फेरू�, दिखलाई देती हाला
किसी ओर मै� आँखे� फेरू�, दिखलाई देता प्याला,
किसी ओर मै� देखू�, मुझक� दिखलाई देता साकी
किसी ओर देखू�, दिखलाई पड़ती मुझक� मधुशाला।� 39
या� � आए दुखम� जीवन इससे पी लेता हाला,
जग चिंताओ� से रहने को मुक्�, उठ� लेता प्याला,
शौ�, सा� के और स्वा� के हेतु पिया जग करता है,
पर मै वह रोगी हू� जिसकी एक दव� है मधुशाला।� 78
जो हाला मै� चा� रह� था, वह � मिली मुझक� हाला,
जो प्याला मै� माँग रह� था, वह � मिला मुझक� प्याला,
जि� साकी के पीछे मै� था दीवाना, � मिला साकी,
जिसक� पीछे था मै� पागल, हा � मिली वह मधुशाल�! | 90
जिसन� मुझक� प्यासा रक्ख� बनी रह� वह भी हाला,
जिसन� जीवन भर दौड़ाय� बन� रह� वह भी प्याला,
मतवालो� की जिह्वा से है� कभी निकलते शा� नही�,
दुखी बनाय� जिसन� मुझक� सुखी रह� वह मधुशाल�!� 103
वह हाला, कर शांत सक� जो मेरे अंतर की ज्वाला,
जिसमें मै� बिंबित-प्रतिबिंबि� प्रतिप�, वह मेरा प्याला,
मधुशाल� वह नही� जहाँ पर मदिर� बेची जाती है,
भेंट जहाँ मस्ती की मिलती मेरी तो वह मधुशाला।� 121
June 1, 2021
Must read for all poetry lovers!
To have had conceived the idea of comparing a ‘Madhushala� with the entire embodiment of one’s existence, was in itself brilliant, and this piece of poetry is sheer brilliance! Mr. Bacchan brings together people of all castes, religions and statuses together through this legendary piece. I was transported to a dreamland where we knew no such man made boundaries and were liberated in the truest sense.
धर्म-ग्रं� सब जल� चुकी है, जिसक� अन्त� की ज्वाला,
मंदि�, मस्जिद, गिरज�, सबको तोड़ चुका जो मतवाला,
पंडि�, मोमि�, पादरियों के फंदो� को जो का� चुका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वागत मेरी मधुशाल� ||
An epic composition; I’m enchanted to say the least.
5/5🌟.
To have had conceived the idea of comparing a ‘Madhushala� with the entire embodiment of one’s existence, was in itself brilliant, and this piece of poetry is sheer brilliance! Mr. Bacchan brings together people of all castes, religions and statuses together through this legendary piece. I was transported to a dreamland where we knew no such man made boundaries and were liberated in the truest sense.
धर्म-ग्रं� सब जल� चुकी है, जिसक� अन्त� की ज्वाला,
मंदि�, मस्जिद, गिरज�, सबको तोड़ चुका जो मतवाला,
पंडि�, मोमि�, पादरियों के फंदो� को जो का� चुका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वागत मेरी मधुशाल� ||
An epic composition; I’m enchanted to say the least.
5/5🌟.
March 23, 2013
Madiraley jaane ko ghar se..
chalta hai peene wala..
kis path pe jaun asmanjas mei wo hai bhola bhala..
alag alag path batlaate sab..mai toh ye batlata hu...
raah pakad tu ek , chala chal, pa jayega Madhushala...
chalta hai peene wala..
kis path pe jaun asmanjas mei wo hai bhola bhala..
alag alag path batlaate sab..mai toh ye batlata hu...
raah pakad tu ek , chala chal, pa jayega Madhushala...
May 11, 2012
binding different religions together in true means...marvellous!
May 7, 2015
*Ramblings of an amateur reviewer, high on madakta:
I wonder if one can ever truly enjoy literature in a language other than his mother tongue. I have read a number of poems before in English, poems unanimously (almost) deemed great, and I did enjoy them, but irrespective of their theme or rhythm or anything, they don't come anywhere near this.
Hold back your arms, ardent worshippers of Keats and Pushkin, my intent is not to posit that it is better than any of those globally deified poems and yes my statement is highly subjective, which is the whole point: Can you ever perform an honest, objective comparison between poetry from different languages?
I wonder if one can ever truly enjoy literature in a language other than his mother tongue. I have read a number of poems before in English, poems unanimously (almost) deemed great, and I did enjoy them, but irrespective of their theme or rhythm or anything, they don't come anywhere near this.
Hold back your arms, ardent worshippers of Keats and Pushkin, my intent is not to posit that it is better than any of those globally deified poems and yes my statement is highly subjective, which is the whole point: Can you ever perform an honest, objective comparison between poetry from different languages?
May 3, 2020
Oh man, reading this (at times aloud) was so much fun!
This is a set of Rubāʿīs (or stanzas with 4 lines each) based on the recurring metaphor of a madhushala (wine house), saki (someone, usually a woman, who serves alcohol), pyaala (goblet), madhu (wine), and the drinker. There's no central theme here - the poet talks about everything and anything, and that's intentional:
मेरी हाला मे� सबने पा� अपनी-अपनी हाला,
मेरे प्याले मे� सबने पाया अपना-अपना प्याला,
मेरे साक़ी मे� सबने अपना प्यारा साक़ी देखा;
जिसकी जैसी रूचि थी उसने वैसी देखी मधुशाल� |
Madhushala takes on the form of a lover, a painting, a veena, a season, youth, life, the world, and this poem itself! While Bacchan doesn't talk about anything new, or something that hasn't been already been said, it's pure joy to see madhushala become a metaphor for countless feelings and experiences, and it's hard not to think of your experiences/emotions when you read those. For example:
बहुतेर� मदिराल� देखे, बहुतेरी देखी हाला,
भाँत�-भाँत� का आय� मेरे हाथो� मे� मध� का प्याला,
एक-एक से बढ़क�, सुन्दर साक़ी, ने सत्कार किया,
जँची � आँखो� मे�, पर, को� पहली-जैसी मधुशाल� !
A good part of the poem is extolling the virtues of a madhushaala from the point of view of the drinker (and this is so much fun too):
सजें � मस्जिद और नमाज़ी, कहता है अल्लाताल�,
सजधजकर, पर, साक़ी आत�, बन ठनकर, पीनेवाला,
शे�, कहाँ तुलन� हो सकती मस्जिद की मदिराल� से
चि�-विधव� है मस्जिद तेरी, सद�-सुहागि� मधुशाल� !
Or,
और रसों मे� स्वा� तभी तक, दू� जभी तक है हाला,
इतरा ले� सब पात्� � जब तक, आग� आत� है प्याला,
कर ले� पूजा शे�, पुजारी तब तक मस्जिद-मन्दिर मे�
घूँघ� का पट खो� � जब तक झाँक रही है मधुशाल� |
Or,
एक बर� मे� एक बा� ही जलती होली की ज्वाला,
एक बा� ही लगती बाज़ी, जलती दीपो� की माला;
दुनियावालो�, किन्तु, किसी दि� � मदिराल� मे� देखो,
दि� को होली, रा� दिवाली, रोज़ मानती मधुशाल� |
I loved how charged with youth and rebellion this poem is. I can understand how its recitations would have driven the crowds crazy back in the day.
Damn, I should've read it as part of my plea in front of my college's disciplinary committee! ¯\_(�)_/¯
This is a set of Rubāʿīs (or stanzas with 4 lines each) based on the recurring metaphor of a madhushala (wine house), saki (someone, usually a woman, who serves alcohol), pyaala (goblet), madhu (wine), and the drinker. There's no central theme here - the poet talks about everything and anything, and that's intentional:
मेरी हाला मे� सबने पा� अपनी-अपनी हाला,
मेरे प्याले मे� सबने पाया अपना-अपना प्याला,
मेरे साक़ी मे� सबने अपना प्यारा साक़ी देखा;
जिसकी जैसी रूचि थी उसने वैसी देखी मधुशाल� |
Madhushala takes on the form of a lover, a painting, a veena, a season, youth, life, the world, and this poem itself! While Bacchan doesn't talk about anything new, or something that hasn't been already been said, it's pure joy to see madhushala become a metaphor for countless feelings and experiences, and it's hard not to think of your experiences/emotions when you read those. For example:
बहुतेर� मदिराल� देखे, बहुतेरी देखी हाला,
भाँत�-भाँत� का आय� मेरे हाथो� मे� मध� का प्याला,
एक-एक से बढ़क�, सुन्दर साक़ी, ने सत्कार किया,
जँची � आँखो� मे�, पर, को� पहली-जैसी मधुशाल� !
A good part of the poem is extolling the virtues of a madhushaala from the point of view of the drinker (and this is so much fun too):
सजें � मस्जिद और नमाज़ी, कहता है अल्लाताल�,
सजधजकर, पर, साक़ी आत�, बन ठनकर, पीनेवाला,
शे�, कहाँ तुलन� हो सकती मस्जिद की मदिराल� से
चि�-विधव� है मस्जिद तेरी, सद�-सुहागि� मधुशाल� !
Or,
और रसों मे� स्वा� तभी तक, दू� जभी तक है हाला,
इतरा ले� सब पात्� � जब तक, आग� आत� है प्याला,
कर ले� पूजा शे�, पुजारी तब तक मस्जिद-मन्दिर मे�
घूँघ� का पट खो� � जब तक झाँक रही है मधुशाल� |
Or,
एक बर� मे� एक बा� ही जलती होली की ज्वाला,
एक बा� ही लगती बाज़ी, जलती दीपो� की माला;
दुनियावालो�, किन्तु, किसी दि� � मदिराल� मे� देखो,
दि� को होली, रा� दिवाली, रोज़ मानती मधुशाल� |
I loved how charged with youth and rebellion this poem is. I can understand how its recitations would have driven the crowds crazy back in the day.
Damn, I should've read it as part of my plea in front of my college's disciplinary committee! ¯\_(�)_/¯
March 3, 2016
The writing has perhaps the best "rhythm" of all that I've read - so spectacular that at times, I enjoyed verses purely on the basis of their metric, rather than their content.
I appreciate the title - "Madhushala". It is a reflection of the sentiment of revolution (reformation?) against orthodox, structured edifices (primarily religious edifices). The idea of *alcohol* has a very strong connotation to it.
I feel comfortable with the knowledge that I know very little. It is scary and overwhelming - for it drives a screwdriver right at the idea of self-preservation; if we do not know, who are we? (Please don't answer with the trivially obvious Jon Snow).
In any case, returning to Madhushala - it has been overwhelming. Firstly, because of my own discomfort with the Hindi language. This is the first time I have read Hindi, aside from the school textbooks that I gave up in 2006. Secondly, I am also quite a novice when it comes to poetry. That makes this all the more difficult.
But the main point is this - the work is immensely layered. The meaning of "Madhushala" that is interpreted is so subtle, so intricately woven, so finely balanced, that at times the literal reading of a few verses came across as a shock. Certain verses I pondered over several times and found to be exquisite. Certain verses I skimmed over, unable to grasp the meaning and the vocabulary.
There is no rush. I am confident that with time, further layers, the entire depth of the text will reveal itself to me. As I said, I am comfortable with the knowledge that I know very little.
I appreciate the title - "Madhushala". It is a reflection of the sentiment of revolution (reformation?) against orthodox, structured edifices (primarily religious edifices). The idea of *alcohol* has a very strong connotation to it.
I feel comfortable with the knowledge that I know very little. It is scary and overwhelming - for it drives a screwdriver right at the idea of self-preservation; if we do not know, who are we? (Please don't answer with the trivially obvious Jon Snow).
In any case, returning to Madhushala - it has been overwhelming. Firstly, because of my own discomfort with the Hindi language. This is the first time I have read Hindi, aside from the school textbooks that I gave up in 2006. Secondly, I am also quite a novice when it comes to poetry. That makes this all the more difficult.
But the main point is this - the work is immensely layered. The meaning of "Madhushala" that is interpreted is so subtle, so intricately woven, so finely balanced, that at times the literal reading of a few verses came across as a shock. Certain verses I pondered over several times and found to be exquisite. Certain verses I skimmed over, unable to grasp the meaning and the vocabulary.
There is no rush. I am confident that with time, further layers, the entire depth of the text will reveal itself to me. As I said, I am comfortable with the knowledge that I know very little.
September 12, 2011
refreshing,stimulating,intoxicating,englightening,liberating,captivating,mesmerising,overwhelming,fulfilling,satisfying,invigorating,...
December 13, 2018
For the first time, I'm deviating from my usual method of reviewing. First of all, I believe poetry is not something which can be reviewed. Secondly, when it is an epic work like this, one can only express their views.
Views:
I had the pleasure of reading this book recently; written in 1933-34, sometime around when my grandparents were born. It makes me wonder; books, literature, written material is so wonderful. To have survived through generations.
In In the Afternoon of Time: An Autobiography by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, he states that "imitations or parodies of Madhushala had begun to appear immediately after its first public reading: the day after my recitation at Benares Hindu University in December 1933, Professor Manoranjan Prasad dashed off imitations of several verses and recited them during the course of my own readings the day following". In this book, from the fifteenth edition, the same professor has shared his experiences of the seminar along with a few quatrains of the parody he had created based on Bachchan's poem. Prof. Prasad writes that, and I translate, "My Madhushala concerns the materialistic, unlike Bachchan's mystic Madhushala".
Hindi is not my first language, and hence I had difficulty in understanding many of the verses. I had to consult a dictionary most of the times but, as they say, a literal translation is never impressive as far as poetry is concerned. I have also come across some translations by fellow readers/bloggers but, there also, the essence of the poem gets lost in translation. Now, the perfect and most poetic translation of this piece in English is the one done by Marjorie Boulton & Ram Swaroop Vyas, first published by Fortune Press in 1950, and the revised edition published by Penguin Books in 1989. In 2009, in India, from what I gathered from press reports; Madhushala � The House of Wine was reproduced again, this time with illustrations, and launched with much fanfare with the entire Bachchan clan in attendance. It's been nine years since, but I just could not find a single edition of that book anywhere. Why is it so? I couldn't find it in any of the publisher's websites either. And the few sites, including Amazon, where it is available, it costs a bomb! I would have loved to read it, in its entirety. It would have given me a better understanding of the text. As of now, only Columbia University's website has a PDF version of the book but, only the first twenty-five of the one-hundred-and-thirty-five quatrains are available in scanned format; while select American Universities have an edition of the same book in their library. I have added the link below to the same.
I don’t know why, studying both English and Hindi from the first standard itself, I haven’t been able to embrace the latter as well as I have done the former. Maybe, that is the reason that it took me from August to October to finish a book of 77 pages!
Madhushala in English (the first 25 quatrains):
Manna Dey, one of the most versatile and celebrated vocalists of the Hindi film industry, singing twenty selected quatrains, with the first one sung by Bachchan himself:
P.S. I read this book as a part of the #discoveringindiareadathon (Discovering India Readathon), which was held from 1st to 15th August, 2018. In its second year now, this challenge has been curated by three wonderful bookstagrammers:
Padmaja ( )
Aritri ( ), and
Ankita ( ).
It is a great way of reading as well as discovering the gems of Indian Literature. Just follow the hashtag on Instagram, and the above three accounts, and you are good to go!
Originally posted on:
Views:
I had the pleasure of reading this book recently; written in 1933-34, sometime around when my grandparents were born. It makes me wonder; books, literature, written material is so wonderful. To have survived through generations.
In In the Afternoon of Time: An Autobiography by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, he states that "imitations or parodies of Madhushala had begun to appear immediately after its first public reading: the day after my recitation at Benares Hindu University in December 1933, Professor Manoranjan Prasad dashed off imitations of several verses and recited them during the course of my own readings the day following". In this book, from the fifteenth edition, the same professor has shared his experiences of the seminar along with a few quatrains of the parody he had created based on Bachchan's poem. Prof. Prasad writes that, and I translate, "My Madhushala concerns the materialistic, unlike Bachchan's mystic Madhushala".
Hindi is not my first language, and hence I had difficulty in understanding many of the verses. I had to consult a dictionary most of the times but, as they say, a literal translation is never impressive as far as poetry is concerned. I have also come across some translations by fellow readers/bloggers but, there also, the essence of the poem gets lost in translation. Now, the perfect and most poetic translation of this piece in English is the one done by Marjorie Boulton & Ram Swaroop Vyas, first published by Fortune Press in 1950, and the revised edition published by Penguin Books in 1989. In 2009, in India, from what I gathered from press reports; Madhushala � The House of Wine was reproduced again, this time with illustrations, and launched with much fanfare with the entire Bachchan clan in attendance. It's been nine years since, but I just could not find a single edition of that book anywhere. Why is it so? I couldn't find it in any of the publisher's websites either. And the few sites, including Amazon, where it is available, it costs a bomb! I would have loved to read it, in its entirety. It would have given me a better understanding of the text. As of now, only Columbia University's website has a PDF version of the book but, only the first twenty-five of the one-hundred-and-thirty-five quatrains are available in scanned format; while select American Universities have an edition of the same book in their library. I have added the link below to the same.
I don’t know why, studying both English and Hindi from the first standard itself, I haven’t been able to embrace the latter as well as I have done the former. Maybe, that is the reason that it took me from August to October to finish a book of 77 pages!
Madhushala in English (the first 25 quatrains):
Manna Dey, one of the most versatile and celebrated vocalists of the Hindi film industry, singing twenty selected quatrains, with the first one sung by Bachchan himself:
P.S. I read this book as a part of the #discoveringindiareadathon (Discovering India Readathon), which was held from 1st to 15th August, 2018. In its second year now, this challenge has been curated by three wonderful bookstagrammers:
Padmaja ( )
Aritri ( ), and
Ankita ( ).
It is a great way of reading as well as discovering the gems of Indian Literature. Just follow the hashtag on Instagram, and the above three accounts, and you are good to go!
Originally posted on:
March 27, 2013
Madhushala is an abstraction of anything and everything you 'wish'. It is what you wanna be, where you wanna be. And it has it's elements, which have their own characters. The book, after 80 years of it's conception, holds true to me, and very many people who, in all their remaining capacities, are seeking for a refuge from all that the world represents. People have had millions of interpretations of this book, all of them true to the person. This book creates a world of like minded people, who are equal, freindly; a world very different from our own, a world of dreamers, where you can dream of whatever you want, and to achieve it, all you have to do is to strive hard for it. Sometimes it behaves like a woman, sometimes like a moderator, sometimes a teacher and sometimes i just run out of words to describe it. For someone like me, it's a relief to just think about it......
April 16, 2012
Harivanshrai Bachchanji was among d best Hindi poets.He have written many books including- novels,biography,autobiographies and poems. Madhushala is probably his best known work.Its written in form of quartets(poem consisting of 4 lines),madhushala is collection of his poems.A superb collection of poems which is connected with our lives.Number of people often say that it just about liquor(as madhushala in English means- or place where one drinks and get liquor);its totally wrong as through his poems he have stated many things as-passion,determination,destiny,social inequalities,caste-ism,religion etc.
July 14, 2015
धर्मग्रन्थ सब जल� चुकी है, जिसक� अंतर की ज्वाला,
मंदि�, मसजि�, गिरिजे, सब को तोड़ चुका जो मतवाला,
पंडि�, मोमि�, पादिरयों के फंदो� को जो का� चुका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वागत मेरी मधुशाला।।१७।
लालायि� अधरो� से जिसन�, हा�, नही� चूमी हाला,
हर्ष-विकंपि� कर से जिसन�, हा, � छु� मध� का प्याला,
हा� पकड़ लज्जित साकी को पा� नही� जिसन� खींच�,
व्यर्थ सुखा डाली जीवन की उसने मधुम� मधुशाला।।१८।
बन� पुजारी प्रेमी साकी, गंगाजल पावन हाला,
रह� फेरत� अविर� गत� से मध� के प्यालो� की माला'
'और लिये जा, और पीये जा', इसी मंत्� का जा� कर�'
मै� शि� की प्रतिम� बन बैठू�, मंदि� हो यह मधुशाला।।१९।
मंदि�, मसजि�, गिरिजे, सब को तोड़ चुका जो मतवाला,
पंडि�, मोमि�, पादिरयों के फंदो� को जो का� चुका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वागत मेरी मधुशाला।।१७।
लालायि� अधरो� से जिसन�, हा�, नही� चूमी हाला,
हर्ष-विकंपि� कर से जिसन�, हा, � छु� मध� का प्याला,
हा� पकड़ लज्जित साकी को पा� नही� जिसन� खींच�,
व्यर्थ सुखा डाली जीवन की उसने मधुम� मधुशाला।।१८।
बन� पुजारी प्रेमी साकी, गंगाजल पावन हाला,
रह� फेरत� अविर� गत� से मध� के प्यालो� की माला'
'और लिये जा, और पीये जा', इसी मंत्� का जा� कर�'
मै� शि� की प्रतिम� बन बैठू�, मंदि� हो यह मधुशाला।।१९।
January 2, 2018
There is so much depth in every 'rubai' and so much 'nasha' in this 'madhushala'. Inspirational, thought provoking, intellectually stimulating - all combined with those poetic 'aah' and 'waah' moments. A masterpiece.
मै� मदिराल� के अंदर हू�, मेरे हाथो� मे� प्याला,
प्याले मे� मदिराल� बिंबित करनेवाली है हाला,
इस उधेड�-बु� मे� ही मेरा सारा जीवन बी� गय� �
मै� मधुशाल� के अंदर या मेरे अंदर मधुशाल�!।११९�
मै� मदिराल� के अंदर हू�, मेरे हाथो� मे� प्याला,
प्याले मे� मदिराल� बिंबित करनेवाली है हाला,
इस उधेड�-बु� मे� ही मेरा सारा जीवन बी� गय� �
मै� मधुशाल� के अंदर या मेरे अंदर मधुशाल�!।११९�
January 13, 2013
One of the best Hindi poetry I have ever read. I will say that u will read the book less & sing the poetry more. Each & every line touches the deep botton of your heart and makes you feel so good so merry & 'Madhushala' at the end of each verse is beautiful. You will literally celebrate this book rather than enjoying it...!! JUST LOVE IT!! LOVE IT SO MUCH
May 24, 2013
भावुकत� अंगु� लत� से
खींच कल्पना की हाला
कव� साकी बन कर आय� है
भर कर कवित� का प्याला
कभी � कण भर खाली होगा
ला� पीये� दो ला� पीये�
पाठक गण है� पीने वाले
पुस्कत मेरी मधुशाल�
An excellent book portraying wine symbolically as a unifying force of the society. Note that the book doesn't provoke to drink or to get addicted.
खींच कल्पना की हाला
कव� साकी बन कर आय� है
भर कर कवित� का प्याला
कभी � कण भर खाली होगा
ला� पीये� दो ला� पीये�
पाठक गण है� पीने वाले
पुस्कत मेरी मधुशाल�
An excellent book portraying wine symbolically as a unifying force of the society. Note that the book doesn't provoke to drink or to get addicted.
Read
February 6, 2013I found the whole universe in this book.
July 13, 2017
you need a moment to appreciate the beauty hidden in the lines!
September 21, 2020
It felt lot like the voice in my head reading the text in amitabh bachchans voice
September 15, 2023
Oh how I feel sad for the people of the world who never tasted the Hala(Wine) that is Madhushala. The greatest book of poetry ever written.
The poetry is revolutionary, rebellious, and driven by a sense of freedom. It's about finding your path in life. It's about breaking old traditions and narratives that plague divisions in society. It's about passion in the face of social objections. It's about losing the passion and finding it again. It's about existential dread and death. It's life expressed with the analogy of Hala (Wine), Saaki (Server), Pyaala (wine cup) and Madhushala (Tavern). Hala is often used as a placeholder for your passion and Madhushala as one for your goals. Saaki is often referred to signify the seductions of life once you accomplish your goal.
Here are a few of the hard-hitting portions although almost the entire book would have to included if I sit to select my favourite.
मदिराल� जाने को घर से चलता है पीनेवल�,
'कि� पथ से जाऊँ?' असमंजस मे� है वह भोलाभाला,
अल�-अल� पथ बतलाते सब पर मै� यह बतलाता हू� -
'रा� पकड़ तू एक चल� चल, पा जाएग� मधुशाला।
Seeking wine, the drinker leaves home for the tavern.
Perplexed, he asks, "Which path will take me there?"
People show him different ways, but this is what I have to say,
"Pick a path and keep walking. You will find the tavern."
धर्मग्रन्थ सब जल� चुकी है, जिसक� अंतर की ज्वाला,
मंदि�, मसजि�, गिरिजे, सब को तोड़ चुका जो मतवाला,
पंडि�, मोमि�, पादिरयों के फंदो� को जो का� चुका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वागत मेरी मधुशाला।
He who has burnt all scriptures with his inner fire,
Has broken temples, mosques and churches with carefree abandon,
And has cut the nooses of pandits, mullahs and priests ---
Only he is welcome in my tavern.
ना� अग� को� पूछे तो, कहना बस पीनेवाला
का� ढालन�, और ढालन� सबको मदिर� का प्याला,
जाति प्रिये, पूछे यद� को� कह देना दीवानो� की
धर्म बतान� प्यालो� की ले माला जपना मधुशाला।
If anyone asks my name, say it was, "The Drunkard".
My work? I drank and passed the goblet to everyone.
O Beloved, if they ask my caste, say only that I was "one of the crazy ones".
Say my religion worshipped goblets and then chant with your rosary, "The tavern, the tavern!"
It's the literature that like wine will keep calling you back to have another taste of it, to feel intoxicated about life, and give you the zeal to make your life worthwhile.
The poetry is revolutionary, rebellious, and driven by a sense of freedom. It's about finding your path in life. It's about breaking old traditions and narratives that plague divisions in society. It's about passion in the face of social objections. It's about losing the passion and finding it again. It's about existential dread and death. It's life expressed with the analogy of Hala (Wine), Saaki (Server), Pyaala (wine cup) and Madhushala (Tavern). Hala is often used as a placeholder for your passion and Madhushala as one for your goals. Saaki is often referred to signify the seductions of life once you accomplish your goal.
Here are a few of the hard-hitting portions although almost the entire book would have to included if I sit to select my favourite.
मदिराल� जाने को घर से चलता है पीनेवल�,
'कि� पथ से जाऊँ?' असमंजस मे� है वह भोलाभाला,
अल�-अल� पथ बतलाते सब पर मै� यह बतलाता हू� -
'रा� पकड़ तू एक चल� चल, पा जाएग� मधुशाला।
Seeking wine, the drinker leaves home for the tavern.
Perplexed, he asks, "Which path will take me there?"
People show him different ways, but this is what I have to say,
"Pick a path and keep walking. You will find the tavern."
धर्मग्रन्थ सब जल� चुकी है, जिसक� अंतर की ज्वाला,
मंदि�, मसजि�, गिरिजे, सब को तोड़ चुका जो मतवाला,
पंडि�, मोमि�, पादिरयों के फंदो� को जो का� चुका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वागत मेरी मधुशाला।
He who has burnt all scriptures with his inner fire,
Has broken temples, mosques and churches with carefree abandon,
And has cut the nooses of pandits, mullahs and priests ---
Only he is welcome in my tavern.
ना� अग� को� पूछे तो, कहना बस पीनेवाला
का� ढालन�, और ढालन� सबको मदिर� का प्याला,
जाति प्रिये, पूछे यद� को� कह देना दीवानो� की
धर्म बतान� प्यालो� की ले माला जपना मधुशाला।
If anyone asks my name, say it was, "The Drunkard".
My work? I drank and passed the goblet to everyone.
O Beloved, if they ask my caste, say only that I was "one of the crazy ones".
Say my religion worshipped goblets and then chant with your rosary, "The tavern, the tavern!"
It's the literature that like wine will keep calling you back to have another taste of it, to feel intoxicated about life, and give you the zeal to make your life worthwhile.
May 30, 2014
For a change, I picked this up as it has rave reviews and I personally like Harivansh bachchan's work.
So yeah. Understood only 3/4th of it because of the Hindi which is both, embarrassing and motivating to explore Hindi more.
As of the book- short novella that contains poetry based upon madhushala (bar, so to say). The beauty lies in its vagueness. You can interpret it in so many different ways. He's also touched some social aspects for eg "mandir masjid alag karate ek karati madhushala'.
So yeah, as nobody reads my reviews I think I've written enough and you should definitely explore this while on a short flight or something. There's also a YouTube video of amitabh bachchan reciting some verses from the same which is also pretty cool.
Bye now. Fuck off.
So yeah. Understood only 3/4th of it because of the Hindi which is both, embarrassing and motivating to explore Hindi more.
As of the book- short novella that contains poetry based upon madhushala (bar, so to say). The beauty lies in its vagueness. You can interpret it in so many different ways. He's also touched some social aspects for eg "mandir masjid alag karate ek karati madhushala'.
So yeah, as nobody reads my reviews I think I've written enough and you should definitely explore this while on a short flight or something. There's also a YouTube video of amitabh bachchan reciting some verses from the same which is also pretty cool.
Bye now. Fuck off.
December 4, 2010
The only thing I have to say as regards to Madhushala is "This wine is really addictive."
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