Dear friends,
I am intentionally writing this in English language such that non-Gujarati readers can appreciate and learn about a great Gujarati poet.
On his birth anniversary, while there is a buzz going around about Gujarati poet Ramesh Parekh, I want to share some personal interactions I had with him and other tidbits.
Ramesh Parekh is one of the pinnacle names of Gujarati poetry.
We are indebted to his immense contribution to Gujarati poetry.
Ramesh Parekh is lovingly known as Ra.Paa among his poetry lovers and literary circles.
He was a little moody and at times not so predictable. Maybe that was an asset attribute for his limitless creativity.
Ramesh Parekh and a couple of other poets visited Los Angeles. We had an opportunity to host them, spend time with them taking them around LA and to Las Vegas. He was on USA tour with poet Vinod Joshi (if I remember correctly) and with his friend /manager Late Vinubhai Mehta. We, LA’s Gujarati Sahitya lovers, had invited them.
We had arranged a poetry recitation event of Ra.Paa and accompanying poets.
It was a small office hall converted into a concert hall in Dinkerbhai Shah’s office building. There were about thirty to fifty Gujarati language loving people present.
After very politely taking permission from Ra.Paa, our friend, Surabhiben Shah, sang Ra.Paa’s most celebrated geet-SANVARIO in his presence. People liked her singing. So someone from the audience openly mentioned that we should sing some more geet of Ra.Paa. Before singing, we had again personally asked his permission to sing. This was a good gesture on our part to felicitate him.
After one or two songs, Vinubhai Mehta introduced both poets. We gave all of them flowers to welcome and आवकार – अभिवादन.
Next, we requested Ra.Paa to present his poems. He got angry and said no. He said we should just keep singing his poems; he will not recite his poems. He mentioned there was no need for him to present his poetry. Other poets and Vinubhai Mehta also urged him to recite. Later, Vinubhai Mehta mentioned to the audience/fans that because they have been driving a long distance from Las Vegas, Ra.Paa is a little tired. Ra.Paa then sat on the stage chair with other poets, but did not recite.
Other poets presented their poems. Then after, poet Vinod Joshi graciously read his own and Ra.Paa’s poems to keep us happy. We had to calm down the situation and the program ended without Ra.Paa presenting his poems.
On the next day at some other event he did recite his poems.
He was kind of a very moody person in those days. Maybe that’s why his creativity was at its peak in those days.
During those few days we spent a lot of time with him. He heard about it and wanted to go to a dance bar in Hollywood. We took him. He sat at the very far away corner for more than three hours quietly- just observing and watching the dances. He did not want to go closer to the stage. We did not leave till wee hours either. He mentioned that he had never imagined he would see such exotic erotic dance in-person. The next day, he told us that he felt little guilt… but he liked it! It was worth an experience, he said.
He also mentioned that Sonal is an imaginary character in his poems. He was never in love or attracted by any other woman in his life. He loved his wife unconditionally and totally. He never had any affairs. He said he only writes his imaginations.
He also had a lot of erotic images in many of his poems. He, in many poems, describes and writes about breasts and thighs etc. Some people may get a different impression of him.
Unlike other great creative people and poets, the likes of Tagore and others, Ramesh Parikh’s personal life was a very clean typical Saurashtra KATHIYAAVAADI SANSKARI lifestyle (with kathiawadi values and morals). There was no લફરા. He had a very typical family lifestyle.
Just as BAPU (બાપુ), a character in his poems, ALAA KHAACHAR (આલા ખાચર) and Sonal (સોનલ) also were some of the imaginary characters he had evolved in his poetry.
He had clearly mentioned it to me personally in the presence of many.
So in my humble opinion, there is no mystery about his poetry character Sonal.
One thing is for sure, had he written these poems in English, Hindi, or any other languages, he would have had much more international fame and recognition.
His poems’ images, metaphors, and similes’ are of the most profound and of cosmic level at the same time of the most earthly daily KATHIAWADI routine realities. He had KATHIAWADI colloquial (તળપદી) vocabulary in his poems which he mentioned that he adapted from his mother.
A few years ago we had done a full (કાવ્યસંગીત) program of his poems to celebrate him. For this program, I have proudly composed some of his poems and I sing those frequently. I feel honoured to sing his poems.
Ra.Paa created a unique trend in Gujarati poetry which is followed by many newcomers.
Ra.Paa is from Amreli, while Manoj Khanderia and Rajendra Shukla are from Junagadh. These three names along with Anil Joshi – are considered contemporary and peer in terms of genre.
Earlier also, there was a group of poets in Amdavad – Adil Mansuri, Laabh Shankar Thaker, Chinu Modi and a few others. They were called Re- Math poets (રે-મઠ ના કવિઓ). There is a history about the name Re-Math (“રે-મઠ “શબ્દ પાછળ history છે). We will discuss it later some other day. Re-Math poets along with Ra.Paa and these poets from Junagadh, all are considered peers. Great new gen poets after the era of Umashankar Joshi or the era of Gandhi Yug.
Gujarati poetry is more subtle (બારીક), compared to many other languages’ poetry. Ra.Paa has a great contribution in modern Gujarati poetry. His spectrum of topics, imaginations, and emotions range from a small child, CHANDU, to an ailing old man RAJPUT ALAA KHAACHAR.
He will always be celebrated as one of the top few Gujarati poets, playwrights, and writers, especially as a great poet.
We love Ra.Paa!
ર.પાને સલામ !!!!!!!!
e.mail : vijaybhatt01@gmail.com