मधुशाला
Podcast
What makes Madhushala so mysterious and deeply philosophical?
मदिरालय जाने को घर से चलता है पीनेवाला,
‘किस पथ से जाऊँ?’ असमंजस में है वह भोलाभाला,
अलग-अलग पथ बतलाते सब पर मैं यह बतलाता हूँ ,
राह पकड़ तू एक चला चल, पा जाएगा मधुशाला
This is the central theme of Madhushala, an epic piece of poetry written by Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan back in 1930s, when he was still in his 20s. Madhushala has been one of the most controversial and somewhat mysterious poems in Hindi literature. The essence of Madhushala is relevant in our lives in current times even while we are almost 100 years apart from the time it was written. For example, as expressed in the above four lines, when one is unsure of which road to take – the poet recommends to take any road, any road will take you there. Hey, isn’t it what they said in Alice in Wonderland?
Then there is also an impression that Madhushala is written in praise of Wine / Alcohol and the poet himself was a drunkard. Or that Bachchan ji merely based his Madhushala on Umar Khayyam's Rubaai'yat. This podcast is an attempt to demystify some of it and understand the essence of Madhushala with stories from Dr. Bachchan’s life, his inspirations, his experiences and people around him.
We will pick one poem (रुबाई) from Madhushala at a time and talk about it – a quartet or a Rubaai (रुबाई) is a Four lines short poem, or as we say in Hindi – a Chatushpadi (चतुष्पदी / चौपाई). We will explain the meaning and tell stories associated with them, or ones that are relatable.
So, here we are :-) we will talk poetry with stories and stories with poetry. Want to join me in this journey? चलेंगे आप मधुशाला के सफर पर मेरे साथ – तो आइए, एक गरम चाय की प्याली पर मिलते हैं और शुरुआत करते हैं…
Click here for all Madhushala episodes
1. मधुशाला पहली बार, शिवाजी हाल (Madhushala's First Public Appearance)
2. मधुशाला क्या है (What is Madhushala)
3. मधुशाला जैसे शिव का नृत्य (Madhushala - a penance, like lord Shiva)
4. राह पकड़ तू एक चला चल (Alice in Wonderland, Philosophy of Compensations)
5. किंकर्तव्यविमूढ़ मुझे कर दूर खड़ी है मधुशाला (Crossroads and Writers Block)
6. सुन कलकल, छलछल़ और अग्निपथ (Madhushala and Agnipath)
7. लाल सुरा की धार लपट सी (Midnight in Paris and Madhushala)
8. मंदिर हो यह मधुशाला (When Bachchan revisited Madhushala)
9. गांधी और मधुशाला (Gandhi Mandir Masjid Madhushala)
10. मुहर्रम का तम, होलिका की ज्वाला | Muharram ka Tam, Holika ki Jwala
11. कहानी हरिवंश राय नाम की | Story behind Bachchan's Name
12. बच्चन और चमारिन अम्मा | Bachchan and Chamarin Amma
13. मधुशाला में ग़ालिब, इक़बाल, फराज़ | Ghalib, Iqbal, Faraz in Madhushala
14. दिन को होली रात दिवाली रोज़ मनाती मधुशाला | Life is a long weekend
15. मधुशाला पहली बार किताब के रूप में | How Madhushala became a book
16. कर्ण अर्जुन और कोयल की तपस्या | Karn Arjun, Koyal's penance
17. वर्षा ऋतु, पर्यावरण, बचपन | Yin-Yang, Butterfly Effect
18. मरकत द्वीप की कविता | Nostalgia and Emerald Island "Ireland"
19. अप्सरा रंभा, यज्ञ, द्रोण कलश | Madhushala: Apsara Rambha, Yagya, Dron-Kalash
20. प्रथम संकोच, स्वाभिमान, साकी से छेड़छाड़ | Hole in the Bucket and Introverts
21. एक तरह से सबका स्वागत करती मधुशाला | Madhushala is a great equalizer
22. पलक बिछाती मधुशाला | Bachchan's social boycott
23. पटना के योगी और पंत जी की ज़ुल्फ़ें | Madhushala's criticism and a poetic reply
24. प्रणय की मधुशाला और कैंब्रिज के युवा | Being young at Cambridge University
25. ढोल गँवार शूद्र पशु नारी का विवाद | The controversy of Ramcharitmanas
26. स्वागत के ही साथ विदा की तैयारी | Lucknow and her poetic mannerism
Madhushala Podcast episodes on YouTube
