Thinking activity on The Waste land

The task given by Dilip Barad Sir,

-Thinking activity
                       
                         The Waste Land(poem)

About The Waste Land


        The Waste Land is a poem by T. S. Eliot, widely regarded as one of the most important poems of the 20th century and a central work of modernist poetry. 

This epic poem divided into different five parts like as,
(1)The Burial of the Dead (76lines)
(2)A Game of Chess (96 lines) 
(3) The Fire Sermon (139 lines) 
(4) Death by Water (10lines)
(5)What the Thunder Said (113lines)


“The Waste Land” Parts I-II Analysis. In the first two parts of his poem “The Waste Land,” T.S. Eliot uses personification to contrast life and death and the past and present, and alludes to classic Western works to highlight the immense differences between the old and modern world.

Q-1  What are views on the following image after reading 'The Waste Land'?Do you think that  Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzche's views? Or has Eliot received universality of the thought by recalling mythohistorical answer to the contemporary malaise ?


Answer

              According to me, the views of Eliot can be considered as more realistic than Nietzsche, Nietzsche finds the solution of present in future while Eliot is finding the solution of present and future in past because past is like a mirror as well as lesson for people that is why Eliot make his views universally and realistic. 

 Answer :-

Yes, it is truth that giving free vent to the repressed primitive instinct' can lead us to happy and satisfied life, but individually, things and happiness which is satisfying us can harm others and which give pleasure to others can harm us. But as per Eliot views if all follow such culture, tradition and belief in such lifestyle and moralities, a network of understanding can be created human live peacefully.

3) Write about allusion to the Indian thought in "The waste land"(where, how and why are the Indian thought referred?)

The allusion to the Indian thought Eliot mentioned in the last part of the poem:

"Ganga was sunken, and the limps leaves

waited for rain, while the black clouds

gathered far distant, over Himvant

The jungle crouched, humped in silence."\

Then Eliot gives three 'Da'

1)Datta- to give not only charity but giving oneself for some noble cause.

2) Dayadhvam- Sympathies yourself with the sorrows and suffering of others, come out of your isolation and love into others.

3)Damyata- Self control, control over one's passion and desire.

             As per my view, every religion have good thoughts and ideas but Upnishadas idea of peace does not mean just a state of No-war neither it is limited just to men or countries and communities. But it embraces the whole nature and the whole creation.

           LetsL see the original Shantih mantra and its translation so we can get idea about why Eliot found it suitable. 

            So, here we can say that Indian thoughts about peace in every universal things. We should not like vulture, keep others away from having what we actually don't need but be a giver, sympathies with other. Gandhiji also said: ''There is enough on this earth for everybody's need, but not sufficient for one's greed. We should not belivbb in materials and contemporary things that one day will destroy. In this way I think T.S Eliot might found Upnishada's thoughts of ,"Datta", "Damyata", "Dayadhvam", and "Shantih" suitable for universal peace.