Master Composition-Madhushala

I've just finished reading through 'Madhushala' . It is a poem penned in Hindi by late 'Mr. Harivanshrai Bachchan Srivastav'. It is considered by many as one of the greatest literary masterpieces in Hindi Poetry.

I took to reading this poem after i was introduced to the song by a good friend of mine (read:Akash Srivastav). It is in the melodious voice of 'Mr. Manna Dey' with soulful music by 'Mr. Jaidev' . I must say i was deeply impressed by the accurate and intricate description of the mind and ways of a drunkard. For the uninitiated let me give a brief background.

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Dr. Harivanshrai Bachchan Srivastav (हरिवंशराय बच्चन श्रीवास्तव) was a distinguished Hindi poet, perhaps best known for his early work Madhushala (मधुशाला). Legend has it that death of his first wife 'Shyama' inspired him to write Madhushala, It is said that his style of writing was influenced by Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyyat.

Madhushala was first published way back in 1935. It is a book of 135 rubaai's (or stanzas in english). The pecularity of this poem is that every rubaai ends with the word madhushala. In this poem he has tried to explain the complexity of life using four instruments, viz:

• Madhu/Madira/Haala-the liquor,
  
• Pyaala-the glass used to serve liquor,
  
• Saaki-the person who serves liquor,
  
• Madhushala-the place where liquor is served(Pub or Bar)

The greatness of this is its simplicity. The ease with which the different vagaries of life have been compared with the life/miseries of a drunkard. And most important of all the amazing accuracy with which everything fits into place. Mr. Harivanshrai has beautifully touched every aspect of human life, be it religion or love or death or patriotism, etc. and has done this in style. I bet every person who has had liquor at some or the other time in his life would certainly feel nostalgic after going through the paces with this poem.

What amazes and baffles me no less is the legend that this great artist himself had never touched liquor prior to penning this masterpiece. Needless to say this goes lengths in speaking about his skill and craft.

One rubaai that i am particularly fond of is:

बिना पिये जो मधुशाला को बुरा कहे, वह मतवाला,
पी लेने पर तो उसके मुह पर पड़ जाएगा ताला,
दास द्रोहियों दोनों में है जीत सुरा की, प्याले की,
विश्वविजयिनी बनकर जग में आई मेरी मधुशाला।

This would broadly translate (my interpretation of the poet's words) into the following:

The poet says that when that someone; who has never tasted liquor and criticizes it, happens to taste liquor; he is rendered speechless. The liquor and the cup always win in every battle. The poet adds that liquor has come into this world as a world conquerer.

A couple of other rubiaa's that i took an instant liking to are:

बने पुजारी प्रेमी साकी, गंगाजल पावन हाला,
रहे फेरता अविरत गति से मधु के प्यालों की माला'
'और लिये जा, और पीये जा', इसी मंत्र का जाप करे'
मैं शिव की प्रतिमा बन बैठूं, मंदिर हो यह मधुशाला।

This would broadly translate (my interpretation of the poet's words) into the following:

The poet imagines his lover saaki as a priest, the liquor as the holy Ganges water. The saaki is chanting the mantra ‘Take more and drink more’. The poet imagines himself as the Lord Shivas idol and the Madhushala (tavern) as the temple.

"सुन, कलकल़ , छलछल़ मधुघट से गिरती प्यालों में हाला,
सुन, रूनझुन रूनझुन चल वितरण करती मधु साकीबाला,
बस आ पहुंचे, दुर नहीं कुछ, चार कदम अब चलना है,
चहक रहे, सुन, पीनेवाले, महक रही, ले, मधुशाला।"

This would broadly translate (my interpretation of the poet's words) into the following:

The poet is urging the drinker to continue on his quest for liquor and not give up. He asks the drinker rhetorically that can't he hear the sound made by falling liquor.

" धर्मग्रन्थ सब जला चुकी है, जिसके अंतर की ज्वाला,
मंदिर, मसजिद, गिरिजे, सब को तोड़ चुका जो मतवाला,
पंडित, मोमिन, पादिरयों के फंदों को जो काट चुका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वागत मेरी मधुशाला।"

This would broadly translate (my interpretation of the poet's words) into the following:

A whose inner fire has burned down the shackles imposed on mankind by different religious scriptures, one who has demolised all religious structures like temple,mosque and church, one who has broken himself free of pandit, imam and preist , only that person is welcome to the poet's Madhushala(Tavern).


I salute this great master and his masterpiece. As far as liquor is concerned, peshe khidmat hai ek sher:

Ghalib chuti sharaab par ab bhi kabhi-kabhi
peeta hoon roz-o-abr shab-e-mahtaab mein

Meaning:Ghalib says that he has quit drinking, but he does only on two occasions; when there are clouds during the day or if there is moon at night.

Disclaimer:

I solemnly acknowledge that i am neither an expert in Hindi literature nor am i an expert on Madhushala. I happened to come across this song through a friend and I was deeply impressed. All i've tried doing here is to pay tribute to the legend who penned down this amazing poem, in my own way. All views are based on my 'limited' understanding of the Hindi literature. Also, as a result of the translation, the meaning and/or the relevance of the poem might be lost. I have no intention of hurting any sentiments whatsoever. The poet has never tried to promote liquor. Any mis-interpretations are to be attributed to my shallow knowledge and certainly not to the poet.

I'd quote one of the lines of Mr. Harivanshrai Bachchan :
“Jiski jaisi ruchi thi, usne waise dekhi madhushala”
(meaning that a person will interpret Madhushala as one wishes or as one has experienced life)