Assignment Writing- Paper No.106
Welcome readers! This blog is written as a Part of assignment writing of Semester - 2, assigned and Inspired by Dr.Dilip barad sir - Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University.
● Name :- Hetal Pathak
● RollNo. :- 09
● Semester :- 2 ( Batch 2022 - 2024)
● Enrollment No.- 4069206420220022
● Paper No. :- 106
● Paper Name :- The Twentieth Century Literature : From 1900 to World war -ll
● Topic :- A Perspective on Indian Thoughts in T.S.Eliot's Poem - 'The Waste Land'
● Submitted to :- Smt.S.B.Gardi Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
● Email Address:- hetalpathak28@gmail.com
● Date of Submission:- 31st March 2023
A Perspective on Indian Thoughts in T.S.Eliot's Poem -
' The Waste Land ' :-
□ Table of Contents :-
▪︎Introduction
▪︎ T.S.Eliot's interest in Indian Culture and Spirituality
▪︎ Overview of the role of Indian Thoughts in the Poem
▪︎ Examples of Indian references in T.S.Eliot's Other Works
▪︎ Conclusion
◇ Introduction :-
T.S.Eliot (Thomas Stearns Eliot) Considered one of the 20th century major Poets. The 1948 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, T.S.Eliot is highly distinguished as a Poet, literary critic, a dramatist, an editor and a Publisher. In the Preface to Four Lancelot Andrews , he proclaimed himself to be ;
" Classicist in literature, Royalist in politics, and Anglo - Catholic in religion."
In 1910 and 1911, While still a College Student, he wrote ' The LoveSong of J. Alfred Prufrock' Published in Poetry Magazine, and Other Poems that are landmarks in the history of modern Literature. Elliot 's most notable Works include ' The Waste Land ' (1922) , 'Four Quartets' (1943) and the Play ' Murder in the Cathedral ' (1935). His awards and honours include the British Order of Merit and the Nobel prize for Literature. Despite his enduring Popularity, Eliot and his work have been Criticised as having Prejudiced views, Particularly anti - Semitism.
' The Waste Land ' is a long Poem by T.S.Eliot, Published in 1922. The 433 line, Five Part Poem was dedicated to Fellow Poet Ezra Pound. It was one of the most influential works of the 20th century. The Poem is divided into 5 Parts.
The Burial of Dead
A Game of Chess
The Fire Sermon
Death by Water
What the Thunder Said
This Poem expresses with great Power the disillusionment and disgust of the Period after World war - I. The Waste Land Poem initially met with Controversy as its Complex and erudite Style , Praised for its Modernism.
◇ T.S.Eliot's interest in Indian Culture and Spirituality :-
T.S.Eliot's interest in Indian Thoughts Came largely through the influence of his teachers at Harvard. After Studying for one Year in Paris which was a centre for Sanskrit Studies. T.S.Eliot back at Harvard in September 1911,Studied ancient Hindu Literature and Scriptures. A reading of Eliot's Poetry reflects the Contribution and influence of the ideas and Wisdom of Ancient India. As Narasimhaiah Said of Eliot ;
" For Indian Thoughts and Sensibility he would have written altogether different kinds of Poetry. "
In his Poetry, references may be found to the Vedas , the Upanishads, the Bhagavad - Gita, Patanjali 's Yoga - Sutras and Buddhist Literature. One of the most Famous Examples of Indian thought in Eliot's Poetry is ' The Waste Land '. There are two Well - known examples of Hindu influence both coming at the end of the Poem in the Section entitled -
' What the Thunder Said '. At the very end we find the triple use of the word - ' Shantih' which is both Vedic in origin and Upanishadic in Content. In his notes, Eliot himself offers this explanation of the Word : Shantih, a Formal ending to an Upanishad. ' The Peace which Passeth Understanding ' is our Equivalent to this Word.
Eliot's Universalism is the result of his Cosmopolitan intellectualism and Poetic Sensibility which transcends all sorts of barriers ranging from Caste, Creed , religion and Spatial Variance. It is Plausible to determine abundance of influences on Eliot's mind and his Writings : Indian Christian Bradleyean Said ;
" Eliot's Presented the Credentials of a Wide- ranging Poetic Sensibility by Incorporating in his Writings not Only the 'best' of European Culture but also of Indian thought. "
" The Poet's mind is a Complex mechanism to absorb and to recreate Something new and Strange ". As regards T.S.Eliot, he was an avid believer in Constant Study throughout his life, hence the range and Variety of his interest was quite amazing. The Exploration of different Sources and influences on the Works of Eliot because of their multifarious layers of suggestions and implications has emerged as a well established and Settled routine because his works are the replica of his ardent and erudite Scholarship.
◇ An Overview of the role of Indian Thoughts in the Poem -
' The Waste Land ' :-
T.S.Eliot's ' The Waste Land ' an important landmark in the history of English Poetry. After its Publications, it found a resounding and reverberating success in World Literature because of its Universal theme and thought Content. This Poem has Quotations and allusions derived from more than thirty writers ranging from Vigil , Ovid , Dante to Shakespeare, Milton and Spenser Etc. Moreover , the mythical material is drawn from Jessie Weston's book :- ' From Ritual to Romance ' & James Frazer 's book :- ' The Golden Bough.'
Apart from these books, The Indian Thoughts especially Hinduism and Buddhism exercised a Conspicuous and impressionable influence on Eliot ' s mind. The ancient Wisdom of mind had attracted the attention of many intellectuals of western Countries. Elliot Studied the Vedas, the Upanishads, Patanjali and Pali. He does not hesitate to remark ;
" Long ago I Studied the ancient Indian languages , and While I was chiefly Interested at that time in Philosophy, I read a little Poetry too and I know that my Poetry shows the Influence of Indian thought. "
of the third section
The titleof the Poem- ' The Fire Sermon' is derived from the Famous Sermon of Lord Buddha to the assembled Priests on the Suffering and pains of modern humanity which arise from their reckless Pursuit of Passion and Sensuality. Lord Buddha Chants ;
" All things are on Fire / They are on Fire of infatuation ; with birth , old age , death , Sorrow lamentation , misery , grief and despair. "
In the Poem ' Fire' Used as a Metaphor, which Symbolises lust. But According to Hindu Scriptures there exists a Superior Fire of Tapa which burns the Flames of lust and the human Soul enjoys the bliss of Purification 'Anand'.
The Waste Land is both Vedic in Origin and Upanishadic as regards its Spiritual Matrix. The Poem ends with the Chanting of Shantih which Eliot drew from ' Brihadaranyaka Upanishd. This Upanishad Comprises Six chapters Which are called Aranyakas and these are Spoken in desert like Condition and Brihad means Great from its extent. As the Upanishad , The Waste Land delivers a message of Salvation for modern humanity from their living death.
The Protagonist of the Poem Tiresias who Perceives the entire Panorama of desolation is like Drasta in Upanishads, what Tiresias Sees is the Substance of the Poem, So whatever Drasta Seens is the Content of the Upanishads. As two sexes meet in Tiresias, they exist in Prajapati too. Both Tiresias and Drasta view the entire Panorama of desolation in their respective Spatial Settings ;
" Ganga Was Sunken and the limp leaves waited for rain , While the Clouds Gathered Far distant , over Himavant .
The Jungle Crouched , hummed in Silence then Spoke the Thunder."
Eliot has employed the Pure Sanskrit word 'Ganga' because of its Spiritual, mythological and religious association with Himavant. Ganga is the divine river called Ganga Mata by Hindus because of the Consort of Lord shiva with this on earth. T.S.Eliot has deliberately used Sanskrit words for this holy mountain which is believed to be the abode of shiva and Parvathi. Both Ganga and Himavant have been described to tell the European the story of restraints and discipline, which would guide them the way to replenish their Waste lands with the Spiritual Water.
T.S.Eliot described Ganga Sunken because it suits the Symbolic Strain of the Poem. Ganga is Sunken because it reflects the debased and miserable condition of Civilization.
In the Upanishad, The message of the Thunder is emblematic of the cryptic mode of Prajapati 's teaching to his three kinds of disciples namely God's, men and demons. After Completing their Prescribed learning phase , the three disciples approach the father Preceptor and ask him what virtues they should cultivate in themselves to lead a meaningful life. Prajapati utters Syllable 'Da' three times, with a different meaning for each of them.
□ For God's ' Da' means :- Damyata ( Control Yourself ).
□ For men 'Da' means :- Datta ( Be a Giver ).
□ For Demons ' Da' Signifies :- Dayadhvam ( Be kind , Compassionate ).
This Symbolic event from Upnishada would turn into Oasis unless Prajapati's disciples practise them earnestly in their lives. In the context of Modern humanity, Datta signifies that man should Sacrifice himself for a noble cause which would be Possible only in moments of Great emotional excitement when human heart throbs with Passion , and the step once taken can not be retracted back after Prudential Consideration. " In Rigveda , Maharishi Dadhichi Sacrificed himself for a noble Cause. "
The Thunder Spoke to them a second time and repeated the Syllable 'Da' which means - Dayadhvam that is to Sympathise. God commanded modern People to come out of their Prison of self and enter imaginatively into the Sorrow and Suffering of others. The Thunder Peals for the third time, instructing the God's directly and human beings indirectly to control themselves - Damyata. This time the message underlies the necessity of regulating the heart so far given over to blood or impulsive living. The well disciplined heart makes life go easy in the same way as the gay boat glides safely under the expert hands of a sailor. For the Controlled heart , even the natural elements give way to and the sea becomes calm and quite;
' Damyata : The boat responded Gaily , to the hand expert with sail oar ;
The sea was calm, Your heart would have responded.
Controlling hands.'
By Controlling his impulses and Passions and leading a disciplined life, man can cultivate the awareness of the self and can live in harmony with the external laws.
In the last Part of the Poem - T.S.Eliot alluded to the Phrase - 'Shantih , Shantih , Shantih…' The word Shantih is also very significant from an Indian Point of view. The word Shantih is Purposefully repeated there to indicate Peace. T.S.Eliot wants the Universe to be at Peace, including Peace for the Waste landers, those who live in an acute atmosphere of awe , Fear, doubts and Frustration.
◇ Examples of Indian references in T.S.Eliot's Other Works :-
It is well known that Eliot had a profound interest in religion, an interest that only increased after his conversion to Anglicanism. Eliot also expanded his religious interest to other systems of faith, concretely Buddhism and Hinduism. He also studied widely religious authors, such as Dante and Milton.
T. S. Eliot considered ‘Four Quartets’ his masterpiece. Besides Dante, Shakespeare, The Bible and other Christian mystics, Eliot was also greatly influenced by Indian Philosophy and mysticism- mostly by The Bhagavad Gita, which is universally acknowledged as one of the world's literary and spiritual masterpieces.
His thorough knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita is clearly evidenced by his statement that;
" The next great Philosophical Poem to the Divine Comedy with my experience. "
‘The Four Quartets’ is the most perfect piece of poetry ever written in Eliot’s whole literary career, which presents the best of Eliot in both form and thought. A Hindu thought, as expressed in the Bhagavad Gita, becomes the central theme of the poem as Eliot’s need of finding solace through Vedic metaphysics.
George Williamson informs that ;
" The basic idea Contained in ' Four Quartets' is seen as analogous in both Christian and Hindu thought Or the Bhagavad Gita."
In fact, the Bhagavad Gita has largely been followed in both its form and content in the ‘Four Quartets.' Eliot’s repeated emphasis on humanity and prayer in the ‘Four Quartets’ is common to both Christianity and Hinduism.
'Four Quartets’, in a perfect bond for the search of the Ultimate Truth, moksa - redemption and an inter-linked approach to salvation. Eliot’s anxiety of a lost identity, awe, anger and dullness created the atmosphere to write the ‘Four Quartets'.
So, 'Four Quartets' and 'The Waste Land' both works by T.S.Eliot can be truly Considered as Masterpieces in which Eliot was greatly influenced with Indian Thoughts and Philosophy.
◇ Conclusion :-
To Conclude, T.S.Eliot 's poem 'The Waste Land' bears the mark of Indian Wisdom to Considerable extent. However, to Confine it to Sheer Indianness will not be a true Justification to this Poem which bears Universal Outlook and Hindu, Vedic and Buddhist religious Undertones Constitutes a Part of the Poet's Universal attitude.
[ Words :- 2108]
[ Images :- 08]
Works Cited :-
“T. S. Eliot.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/t-s-eliot.
“The Waste Land.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 22 Feb. 2023, www.britannica.com/topic/The-Waste-Land
T. S. Eliot’s the Waste Land - the Criterion. www.the-criterion.com/V5/n2/Rajani.pdf.
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