Daak Weekly: Poetry of Resistance and Revolution

Is there a point to poetry, it has been asked. One might as well ask if there is a point to life, for what is poetry but the expression of human life: our ecstasy and dissent, our most ardent prayers and fervent desires; through rhythm and rhyme, poetry has given us the words to strive, to resist, to persist and to overcome even when the odds are stacked against us. Today, we bring you the power of poetry, which has carried and comforted people through times of political strife and oppression.

Dushyant Kumar (1933-1975) was a prominent Hindi poet and a pioneer of the Hindi ghazal. He worked as a scriptwriter for All India Radio and wrote during a politically sensitive time — the Indian Emergency of the 1970s. He is often hailed as the voice of Indian youth during those turbulent times. His provocative poetry, which traverses themes of love and rebellion, is more relevant than ever before. Kumar wrote stinging critiques of establishments in lyrical verse, the spirit of dissent alive in each expression.

Born in a small village in Uttar Pradesh in 1945, Gorakh Pandey saw the oppression of the caste system firsthand. His small acts of rebellion, such as interacting with lower-caste peasants and labourers, had already created a deep rift between him and his family. As a college student at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and later at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he began writing provocative poems primarily against discrimination and the suppression of marginalized communities. He gained popularity during the Naxalite movement, and his poems and songs resonated in rallies, protests, and demonstrations across the country.

Poetry remains a powerful tool for expression, resistance and hope, inspiring people to stand against injustice and envision a better future. Through poetry, we discover the courage to persist and the hope to change our world.

Love,

Team Daak

---

Celebrate the festive spirit of Eid with our discounted itr (natural perfumes) - from floral to wood, find your perfect fragrance!