A Tribute to Ritwik Ghatak by John Abraham

Ritwik Ghatak,

in partition, not physically of willingness-the country departed

Out of his outer consciousness - cosmic consciousness

none of his mistakes,

Reactions - natural reactions - reflections

Ritwik Ghatak,

refugee, unborn, unwanted, unbearable

penetrative towards the Victorian hangover

of the Tagorian corruption of thinking

Life was more important to him

than the words in praise of god,

the god of Victorian Tagorian thinking.

Hence, he was rejected from the Bengalian thinking

Ritwik Ghatak - the name doesn't suit

the hierarchic thinking of the Raynian Zamidarian thinking

Perhaps, the long echo of the forgotten factors

that becomes reminiscence of

the 'death of the salesman' or otherwise

the long columns and no more Chhabi Biswas,

Cardiac arrest is common.

The death of Ghatak is uncommon.

Nay, Ritwik Ghatak

I remember,

a tall man

his hands moving around my shoulders,

catching me with the feeling of nearness,

rather than imperialism-

the man who stands before mequestioning my manliness

loosing his hands to shake my handsin appreciation of manliness

recognizing each other-

abiding in each other

kicking on my an's and telling me

"Get up, awake shoot"

I remember, not with sentiments

with awakening proud, Ritwik Ghatak

Ritwik Daa,

let me call you Ritwik Daa,

I know that you are no more.

But I am, alive for you

Believe me.

When the seventh seal is opened

I will use my camera as my gun

and I am sure the echo of the sound

will reverberate in your bones,

and feed back to me for my inspiration.

Thank you Ritwik Daa,

I am thanking you

not with impotency and insipidity

Ritwik Daa,

I remember you,

when the words fails to criticize you,

Ritwik Daa,

eternally you are

in my brain

in my spirit and

in my Holy Ghost

Amen.