THE ILLETERATE (LAXMI PRASAD DEVKOTA)

The Illiterate

Laxmi Prasad Devkota

Tone of the Poem:

Sarcastic, Satirical poem,

The poem makes fun of a so-called intellectual/ educated person during the Rana Regime who is always running after and bowing down before the Rana Rulers for his own personal benefit. In the poem the Illiterate is not an uneducated person rather an educated person who suffers from extreme shortsightedness (myopia to the race) and he is narrow minded as well.  In the poem, the poet compares the illiterate with different animals, birds, plants and vegetables. In the first stanza, in a satirical tone, the poet says that the illiterate has eyes of daisy and the ears like barley but in reality he is like a headless animal. The poet thinks of the illiterate as a vegetable physically alive but without mental or thinking abilities.

Similarly, in the second stanza the poet compares him with dodo and mammoth and calls the illiterate an unintelligent person. Likewise, the poet argues that an unintelligent person is slave to the wind and he is even ready to follow the dog or worship snakes for his own benefits.  In the third stanza the poet considers the illiterate as worthless, ‘a straw in the scale’. Moreover, here he considers the illiterate as a person with short and narrow visions who is always running around his rulers for his own selfish motives. In the fourth stanza the poet pictures the illiterate as a small fellow with a clean face. However, he is without self dignity of his own and his moonshine fades before a truly intellectual/ educated person. In the fifth stanza, the poet compares the illiterate with owls and cats and argues that he needs the power of the sight to see the reality. In the last stanza, calls the illiterate disgrace to our race. He is still acting like a monkey in the jungle even though he has image of almighty. Lastly, in anger, the poet urges us to blot out (wound) their face.

Interpretation:

 For the poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota the illiterate is someone who acts like uneducated although he is educated.  He characterizes the illiterate as a person who has refused to use his mind and think beyond himself, for his country and his fellow beings.  He is only running after short races and bowing before cruel and corrupt rulers for his own benefit.  In the poem, the poet calls these people disgrace to the nation.

Critical thinking:

   Can a human being be compared with animals and birds? Who is actually the poet referring to?  Is it possible for someone to be educated and yet illiterate?  Why the poet uses such harsh words for human beings?  Why is the poet provoking violence?