Expressions

Children were given Grace’s one of the most popular poems – Bhay Ithale Sampat Nahi – to think on and make a clay model on it. Hundreds were the kids, and thousands were their ways of thinking. It was a poem by Marathi’s most complicated yet most expressive poet known for writing something out of the world, still very much within the heart. Difficult to understand for the literary critics and language experts, the Grace’s poetry was given to the school going children attending the art camp of Nagpur’s famous Basoli Group. Everyone was excited how children recreate the poetic expression into the clay modeling.

Results were fantastic. The poem, in brief, speaks about the recreation, rebirth and the memoirs. The most famous expression of it roughly says that ‘we rest (for ever) under the trees, to born again through the trees’. The same clicked many of the children. Some of them created a huge tree, two or three human figures resting under it, and one figure immerging out of it as a symbolic rebirth. Many created comparatively small trees, and small human figures, and a big figure immerging out of the tree. Some expressed that the one resting under the tree is mother, and the one immerging out from it is a child, while others relate it to the next generation.

Two or three kids created small simple clay balls, around ten-twelve in numbers and finished off. When asked, they explained that the round shaped clay balls were the seeds, which grow into another tree. Amazing concept, wasn’t it?  

What clicked me from the incident were the different manners of expressions we have with us. Some created a huge model, while others just a few clay balls. They expressed truthfully what they felt after reading the poem. Every art work was powerful enough to convey the message. No one was wrong or incorrect. The way of expression may be different, but that doesn’t affect the degree or the power of expression. The small seeds were equally powerful to the big clay model. Then came the question – if both ways of expression are right, then which way is better? – A small representative package or a huge expressive presentation?

I remembered an old interview with producer director Karan Johar. Probably, it was a clipping from the making of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, a multi-starrer mega movie with lavish sets and colourful jewellery and lights and hundreds of co-dancers and support artists everywhere. Karan Johar said, when frame comes to his mind, it’s always a massive one. That he can’t imagine small, ‘economic’ frame. Similarly, while reading an interview of legendary novelist Dr S L Bhyrappa, I remembered him saying that he always writes magnum opus because the plots come only in massive form in his mind. Johar’s movies, or Dr Bhyrappa’s novels – are, no doubt, popularly recognized as finest forms of expressions. So, can we say that the huge expression is always more appealing or preferable form?

Well, sometimes when I read two-lined ‘Chhoti Beher Ki Ghazal’ by Nasir Kazmi or Ahmed Faraz; I wonder the world can be expressed in two lines only. Or when I read Gulzar, I wonder, just one line is enough. One expression of Dilip Kumar speaks for the whole film, while one Bindu of Raza is enough to explain the whole art of painting. R K Laxman creates just a few figures and nothing more is necessary to convey the message, Sivamani beats simple bucket or a Kadhai and creates percussions at its best.

When I read Abhags of Sant Tukaram or Sant Dnyaneshwar; I wonder a few words are enough to explain whole universe. When I go deeper into the past towards the Upanishads and Vedas, I realize, two letters – ‘Prajnanam Brahma’ or ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ are enough. And finally, going even deeper makes me realize that only one letter – The Aum – is enough to express the whole thing. Then, can I conclude that the simpler, smaller and representative form of expression is better?

Observing the final display of hundreds of the clay models gave me the answer. The seeds created by two or three boys were catching attraction and also were gaining special appreciation from all. But, this was because the seeds were placed with the big and small clay models around. After going through others, when they used to notice the seeds, the beholders used to understand the smartness of the concept. Means, the elaborated expressions around were adding value and enhancing the quality of the small, representative expressions.

The big expressions attract the people towards the phenomenon and the small expressions tell the real meaning of it. Both must be there, as they help each others.

Big and small expressions exist with each others, for each others. They compliment each others. That is why followers of Buddhism create larger than the life statues of Buddha to take the common people towards the path of peace. That is why, our ancestors write Vedas, Upanishads and Mahakavyas to make us finally understand the two-word philosophies.

That is why Krishna shows a Vishwaroop to explain the way of life for common human beings.