Oh Lord!

Never have I urged

Before your Highest Court

To change things

Upside – down

Dr. Bhawani Shankar Nial, renowned poet from Odisha state of India, shares his poem

Internationally acclaimed poet Dr. Bhawani Shankar Nial was born on 6th July 1968 in Kalahandi district, Odisha state of India. He is also a Human Rights Activist having worked all over India. He is founder of many social, political and cultural organizations. Originally, he is an Odia poet, side by side he wrote in Hindi. He published three anthologies in Odia, two in Hindi (Unpublished), two anthologies in English (Lockdown and an Encounter with Death). He is the Editor of magazines ‘The Surjya’, ‘The Kalahandi Express’, and ‘The Bande Kalahandi’, the Chief Editor of ‘Mahuri’, a Literary Magazine of the State of Odisha. He is the Chairman of Mahuri Award started since 2008 to felicitate those who have a great role in contemporary literature. His poems have been translated into 20 languages including English, Italian, Russian, Serbian, Chinese, French, Polish, Arabic, Albanian, Philippines Vietnamese, Urdu, Bengali etc. He got International Awards like International Ambassador for Peace by WLFPHR, Bhuttan; Global Peace Ambassador by Iqra Foundation, India; Global Star Award by Global Footprint, Bangladesh; Police Material Art Award by South Korea; Literary Luminaries Award-2021 by School of Art and Poetry, Nizeria; Doctorate Confer by Maxican Morocco Cultural & Humanitarian Alliance. His two poetry collection ‘Lockdown’ and ‘An Encounter with Death’ had been published by Blue Rose Publication London and New Delhi and An International Poetry Review named Tapestry of Words by one Greek Prof Irene Doura-Kavadia published by Writers International Edition Athens and Mysore India Bring attention In Global Literary Platform.

Shri Jagannatha Temple – Photo courtesy: Wikipedia

NEVER PRAYED BEFORE

Oh Lord!

Never have I urged

Before your Highest Court

To change things

Upside – down

To disturb the seasonal cycle

To bring rain or

Alter the very concept

Of love like the battle plan

All of a sudden.

Or

To declare zero hour

For divorced relationship

Or

To construct a poem

And appreciate it

Or

To know your Master Plan

On life and death and

The rebirth and the utter

Silence thereafter

Or

Never have I desired for

A handful of time

For the future to

Restore sunrise

In my library.

Or

To know my fate

In thy Sat-Chit-Anand

Swaroopa.

[Original in Odiya titled ‘Abedana Kari na thili’. Translated into English by Dr. Tapan Kumar Rath]

*** 

Konarka Temple – Photo courtesy: Wikipedia

یہ دعا مانگی نہ تھی

اے خدا تیری دربار میں

میں نے کبھی یہ دعا مانگی نہ تھی

کہ میری خاطر

نظام اپنا بدل ڈالو

بارشوں کے لیئے

موسموں سے کوئی چھیڑخانی کرو

یا پھر کسی جنگی چال کی طرح

پیار کا تصور بھی

اچانک ہی بدل ڈالو

یا تعلق ایسے قطع کردو

جیسے کبھی کچھ تھا ہی نہیں

یا کبھی کوئی نظم لکھوں

اور میری تعریف کر

یا کبھی کوشش نہ کی زندگی اور موت کے نظام کو جاننے کی

یا دوبارا جنم لینے یا مکمل خامشی کی۔

میں نے کبھی خواھش نہ کی

مٹھی بھر وقت کی

اور میرے کتب خانے پر سورج طلوع ہونے کی

تیرے ست چت آنند سواروپ میں

اپنی قسمت جاننے کی۔

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Published under International Cooperation with "Sindh Courier"