Bayen Analysis

Critical Appreciation of the poem “A River” by A.K. RamanujanThe poem “A River” is written by A.K. Ramanujan. In this poem, the poet has compared and contrasted theattitudes of the old poets and those of the new poets to human suffering. He has come to theconclusion that both the groups of the poetsare indifferent to human sorrow and suffering. Their poetry dose not reflects the miseries of the human beings.He has proved this point in the present poem.
The river Vaikai on whose bank the historic city of Madurai stands has been mentioned in the poems of many poets, both past and present. The river is intimately associated with thelife and culture of the Tamil people. The peculiar thing, which appeals to the poets, is that the river presents two different spectacles in two different season. It is completely dry insummer and flooded in full in the rainy season.
In this poem, the poet refersto the river Vaikai which flows through the city of Madurai. The word Maduraimeans a “sweet city”. It is a Tamil word. As a matter of fact, this city is the center ofTamil culture and learning. It is also a holy city full of temples including the famous Minakshee temple. The poetshave written many poems onthe temples and theriver. In the present poem, A.K. Ramanujan deals with theriver.
In the poem “A River”, we get two pictures based upon two different kinds of description. In the summer, the river is almost empty. Only a very thin stream of water flows. So the sand ribson the bed of the river are visible. The stones that lie on the bed of the river also exposed to view. The portion of the river under the bridge has also been described. We get a vivid picture of the river in the summer season.
There is also the picture of the river in the rainy season.Generally, all kinds of poets have written about it in their poems.
During the rainy season when the floods crone the people observe it very anxiously. They remember the rising of the river inch byinch from time to time. They