About the poet :
Arundhati Subramaniam lives in Bombay where she works as writer, editor and curator. She has published two books of poetry in India with Allied Publishers, On Cleaning Bookshelves and Where I Live, and in Britain, Where I Live, which combines selections of work from her two Indian collections with new poems. She has also written The Book of Buddha and Sadhguru: More Than a Life , co-edited Confronting Love, an anthology of Indian love poems in English, and edited Pilgrim's India: An Anthology . In 2006 she appeared at London’s Poetry International festival and gave readings throughout Britain on a tour organised by the Poetry Society.
‘Madras’ by Arundhati Subramaniam :
I was neither born nor bred here.
But I know this city
of casuarina and tart mango slices,
gritty with salt and chilli
and the truant sands of the Marina,
the powdered grey jowls of film heroes,
my mother's sari, hectic with moonlight,
still crackling with the voltage
of an MD Ramanathan concert,
the flickering spice route of tamarind and onion
from Mylapore homes on summer evenings,
the vast opera of the Bay of Bengal,
flambéed with sun,
and a language as intimate as the taste
of sarsaparilla pickle, the recipe lost,
the sour cadences as comforting
as home.
It's no use.
Cities ratify
their connections with you
when you're looking the other way,
annexing you
through summer holidays,
through osmotic memories
of your father's glib
lie to a kindergarten teacher
(‘My mother is the fair one'),
and the taste of coffee one day in Lucca
suddenly awakening an old prescription -
Peabury, Plantation A
and fifty grams of chicory
from the fragrant shop near the Kapaleeshwara temple.
City that creeps up on me
just when I'm about to affirm
world citizenship.
About the poem :
In 'Madras' by Arundhati Subramaniam, the speaker delves into a profound reflection on their relationship with the city of Madras (now Chennai), expressing a deep and intimate connection despite not being born or raised there. The poem is rich in sensory imagery, painting a vivid portrait of Madras through its distinctive sights, sounds, and tastes.
The speaker reminisces about the city's essence, evoking memories of its unique features such as the casuarina trees, which are emblematic of its coastal landscape, and the tangy flavor of tart mango slices, often enjoyed with salt and chili, capturing the essence of street food culture. They also describe the Marina beach, renowned for its expansive sands and the salty breeze, offering a nostalgic recollection of carefree moments spent there.
Further, the poem alludes to the cinematic heritage of Madras, mentioning the "powdered grey jowls of film heroes," which symbolize the glamour and allure associated with the city's film industry. The speaker's mother's sari, still imbued with the magic of moonlit evenings and the echoes of musical concerts, serves as a poignant reminder of familial connections intertwined with the city's cultural fabric.
The sensory journey continues with descriptions of the aroma of tamarind and onion wafting from Mylapore homes on summer evenings, evoking a sense of nostalgia for the flavors and scents of home. The speaker also captures the grandeur of the Bay of Bengal, likening it to a vast opera flamboyantly illuminated by the sun, showcasing Madras's natural beauty.
Central to the poem is the exploration of language as a vital component of the speaker's connection to Madras. The familiarity and intimacy of the language are likened to the comfort of sarsaparilla pickle, evoking a sense of belonging and rootedness in the city's linguistic and cultural milieu.
Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the paradox of their identity, acknowledging the allure of a broader, more cosmopolitan worldview while simultaneously being drawn back to the specificities and intimacies of Madras. Despite their attempts to affirm a sense of "world citizenship," the city asserts its hold on them through the resonance of memories, familial ties, and the enduring essence of its culture and landscapes.
In essence, "Madras" by Arundhati Subramaniam is a poignant exploration of belonging, memory, and identity, showcasing the enduring bond between an individual and the city they call home.
Thank You...
