1.

Title of Research work

Existential Concerns in the Poetry oI Nissim Ezekiel
. 3troductio3
%he advent oI modernism in Indian English literature is one subiect, an
adequate history oI which still waits to be written. II the year 1914 was the
watershed that announced the herald oI modernism in Europe, in India ,the
process was Iar more spread out.Looking back, in the post-colonial scenario
in Indian English Writing, the Romanticism and Victorianism oI
Harindranath Chattopadhyay, Manmohan Ghose and the Mysticism oI Sri
Aurobindo had outlived its relevance. Since, the Indian Ireedom struggle had
become a deep rooted nationalistic upsurge during this time, the prevailing
political and social conditions as well as the general emotional climate was
Iertile Ior the growth oI a typically romantic art. %echnically, also, the pre-
Independence poetry shows the characteristics oI derivativeness and lack oI
concern with the signiIicance oI language and art in poetry.
%he decades aIter independence saw a quickening in the shiIt-- Irom the then
prevalent poetry that engaged in dialogues with eternity to one that sprang
Irom a search Ior spiritual dimensions inside. Now the voiceless vacant Iound
a voice. %he conventional sonnets and elegies made way Ior the blank verse
and modern idiom .%he old imageries as well as attitudes metamorphosed
into a new language the living language oI Indian experience.
Little homogeneity existed amongst the Indian English poets who were
writing in this era on matters such as- views on liIe or poetry per se or even
in Iorms that ranged Irom Iormal metered to Iree verse. However,
camaraderie did exist, whose obiective oI deIining and iustiIying its role was
IulIilled by %he Writers Workshop Iounded in 1958. %he declaration oI Hindi
as the national language and the exclusion oI English Irom the list oI Indian
languages in this decade, Iurther served as catalyst that brought the Indian
poets closer to each other-- to reaIIirm their Iaith in English as a language
that they Ielt could play a creative role in Indian literature and a language was
at par with other Indian languages in its ability to convey the subtle nuances
oI the native rhythms. In 1959,this commitment Iound itselI adapted into a
revolutionary eight point 'Kavita ManiIesto, edited by P.Lal and
K.Raghavendra Rao to deIine the realm oI realistic poetry and set the tone
oI poetry to come. In their modernist maniIesto ,they announced at least two
notable principles.
In the Iirst place, they declared Ior honesty oI theme and accuracy oI
expression. %hey conceived the Iirst duty oI the Moderns as being to
disembarrass poetry oI its shadow oI piety, and they rendered the service.
%his was the modernism in Indian terms that implied both a radical criticism
oI the past and a deIinite commitment to change the values oI the Iuture. It
was characterized by praise oI non-conIormism, courageous exploration and
conIidence in the Iinal victory oI time and immanence over traditions that try
to appear eternal and immutable.
%heir second principle Iollowed--emphasizing the newness oI the matter.
%hey were obliged to make their meters more elastic to accommodate their
novelties. %heir Iree verse was no Iorm at all, yet it made history. Hence,
modernism was not historically but aesthetically Iorward.


%he distance between the reader and the poet was narrowing down and the
stage was set Ior a change whereby, Nissim Ezekiel, as a mouthpiece oI this
movement, establishes Ior himselI a place and claim. As an original creative
writer oI poetry in English in India, he not only was the voice oI this new
creed but also the inspiration oI poetry Ior many young poets.
While there is a Iormidable list oI the modern Indian poets in English, the
poetry oI most oI the leading poets- Nissim Ezekiel, Dom Moraes, P. Lal,
Adil Jussawalla, Gieve Patel, A.K Ramanuian, R. Parthasarthy, Kamala Das,
Gauri Deshpande, Monica Verma, to name a Iew, lends itselI to study as a
movement or a body oI poetry Ior which selI- probing and deIining contexts
oI selI have been maior concerns.
Ezekiel, the poetry czar oI post- independence Indian-English Poetry was
born on 16 December, 1924 to Moses Ezekiel %alkar and Diana oI Bene-
Israel Jewish descent in a chawl oII Byculla Bridge in Bombay. His Iather
was a lecturer in Wilson College and mother, the Iounder oI the school she
taught in. A living legend, whose interests ranged Iar and wide Irom
writing drama ,poetry-and-art criticism , as well as academics, poetry was
Ezekiel`s Iorte. His proliIic poetic output , spanning over halI a century
resulted in publication oI eight volumes oI poetry including the Akademi
Award winner 'Latter Day Psalms(1982).
Ezekiel`s work can be divided, Irom the technical point oI view, into prose
poetry and verse. %he bulk oI his poetry is in Iree verse, but it includes
rhymed verse as well. His corpus also contains poster poems, poems meant
Ior singing and Indian English poems. %he themes that his poetic corpus
embraces are many and varied. %he versatility oI the themes explored by
Ezekiel clearly leads one to the reIlection oI liIe`s impulses in them.
Ezekiel`s poetry derives all its sustenance Irom his immediate environment-
social, cultural, literary, political, aesthetic and most importantly, his own
mind - the inner environment, the selI .%he meaning springs out as integrity,
sincerity, authenticity, compassion and Ireedom oI choice. A Iree
disseminator oI thoughts, Ezekiel always deIied totalitarianism, by denying
being Ienced- in and deIined purely in contexts oI stalwarts like Pound,
Rilke or Eliot--an individualist to the core.
%he obiective oI the proposed work is to study existential concerns in the
poetry oI Ezekiel and how they stand reIlected throughout his poetry. %he
term existential will embrace all the human concerns , human spirit and
human actions in Ezekiel`s poetry .A poet on a voyage oI discovery oI an
authentic idiom and poetry being liIe itselI Ior Ezekiel, this quest matures
into a voyage inwards. %he term will also explore the philosophy oI
Existentialism as it applies to Ezekiel`s poetry,
%he term Existentialism- was explicitly adopted as a selI-description by
Jean-Paul Sartre, and through the wide dissemination oI the postwar literary
and philosophical output oI Sartre and his associatesnotably Simone de
Beauvoir, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Albert Camusexistentialism
became identiIied with a cultural movement that Ilourished in Europe in the
1940s and 1950s. Among the maior philosophers identiIied as existentialists
were Karl Jaspers, Martin Heidegger, and Martin Buber in Germany, Jean
Wahl and Gabriel Marcel in France, the Spaniards Jose Ortega y Gasset and
Miguel de Unamuno, and the Russians Nikolai Berdyaev and Lev Shestov.
%he nineteenth century philosophers, Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich
Nietzsche, came to be seen as precursors oI the movement.%heir views
existed more as a critical attitude towards common assumptions and
positions in traditional theology and philosophy.More speciIically,
existentialism displays hostility towards abstract theories or systems that
propose to describe all oI the intricacies and diIIiculties oI human liIe
through more-or-less simplistic Iormulas. Such abstract systems tend to
obscure the Iact that liIe is actually rather disorganised , oIten problematic.
For existentialists, there is no single theory that can contain the whole oI the
experience oI human liIe.
An existentialist viewpoint may be understood as the philosophical theory
which holds that whatever happens to us, is a consequence oI our choices
and we must take responsibility Ior that there is no way we can transIer
that to any other agency, human or otherwise.
%his predominant Ieature strikes the discerning reader in Ezekiel`s poetry
where his sensitivity is Iound operating in response to the ethical,
cultural, literary and political scenarios and the poet emerges as - doubter,
interpreter, creator, silent thinker, communicator, innovator and messiah.
Ezekiel's views on love, religion and poetry are all connected with his ideas
on the state oI man, his pangs oI loneliness in "First %heme and Variations"
(Sixtv Poems.1953) For him , human existence is characterized by Sartrean
nothingness` where he surrenders to the Iinal void` `which would analyze
his errors`('Nothingness Sixtv Poems, 1953).His existentialist authenticity`
indicates a certain kind oI integritynot that oI a pre-given whole, an
identity waiting to be discovered, but that oI a selI-deIined role to which he
commits himselI in his commitment in Background ,Casually(Hvmns in
Darkness. 1976)
%he studies made on Ezekiel so Iar concentrate more or less on the stylistic
devices, thematic aspects, Iorm and value oI his poetry, in a segregated
manner or his poetic art in synthesis. Little has been done to contextualize
these aspects vis-a-vis his concerns about existence beIore essence`. His
thoughts about human existence require new categories not Iound in the
conceptual repertoire oI ancient or modern thought. Ezekiel`s ' Conclusion
(The Third, 1958)proclaims that human beings cannot be understood as
substances with Iixed properties or as subiects oI an outside world
Just at this moment oI extreme individualism, however, Ezekiel steps back
and reminds us that we aren`t isolated individuals but rather members oI
communities and oI the human race. %here may not be a universal human
nature, but there is certainly a common human condition we are all in this
together, we all living in human society, and we are all Iaced with the same
sorts oI decisions. He advocates development, decision and deIining oI the
world through an engagement with oneselI, the society, and the natural
world. ('Creation, Sixtv Poems. 1953)
Ezekiel unabashedly portrayscritical moments where basic truths about
human nature and existence come crashing down upon him, upsetting his
preconceptions and shocking him into a new awareness about liIe in poems
like Psalm 151, Sixtv Poems. 1953. %hese 'existential moments oI crisis
then lead to more generalized Ieelings oI angst. He exhorts absolute Ireedom
in the world. %his Ireedom in turn produces anxiety and Iear because,
without an essence, humanity is leIt alone and without an external source oI
direction or purpose. %hen Ior him , there is-
So much light in total darkness!/So much courage given beside the
abyss.(Hvmns in Darkness.v.).
%he obiective oI this research works then is (a) to study closely the
instances existential concerns Ezekiel`s poetry(b) to gauge the ingraining oI
existentialism in moulding and explaining the contexts oI his poetic selI.

3. Brief review of work already do3e i3 the field

A review oI critical literature on the poet demonstrates that the Iive book
length studies that have appeared so Iar comprise oI Chetan Karnani`s
issim Ezekiel(1974) in which a systematic graph oI Ezekiel`s poetic
sensibility has been chalked out , A Raghu`s The Poetrv of issim Ezekiel
(2002) carries out a thematic and stylistic analysis oI the corpus oI Ezekiel.
Anisur Rehiman in his Form and Jalue in the Poetrv of issim Ezekiel
(1981)has dealt with the Iorm and value in Ezekiel`s poetry. Harish
Raizada in his issim Ezekiel. A Poet of Human Balance
(1992)concentrates on the humanistic pre -occupations oI the author. Saniit
Mishra`s The Poetic Art of issim(Ezekiel 2001) provides rich glimpses into
the author`s poetic virtuosity.
%here has been no dearth oI critical interest in the works oI this versatile
author. Qamar %alat in her paper 'Nissim Ezekiel vis-a-vis His
Contemporary Indiain Indian Writing In English ,Jol 1(Ed. Rama
Kundu,2003) enumerates and evaluates the glimpses oI India that a reader
catches in Ezekiel`s works. M.K Pandey discovers Ezekiel`s concern with
Iinding meaning in liIe on hisQuest Ior SelI-Realisation in Nissim Ezekiel`s
Poetry in Indian Poetrv in English (Ed. Birendra Pandey,2001) .A.K Sinha
captures '%he Ontological Elements Ezekiel`s Poetry in Indian Writings in
English.Jol 5( Ed.Manmohan.K.Bhatnagar,1994) .
%here is a large number oI researches on diIIerent aspects oI the works
oI Nissim Ezekiel, some oI which are listed in the attached Bibliography.
Much has been written on various aspects that engage his poetry, however,
to the best oI the researcher`s knowledge ,no other doctoral research work
has been completed on the theme oI existential concerns in his work.

. Noteworthy co3tributio3s i3 the field of proposed work

As mentioned above, there is little or no work dealing directly with the topic
oI this proposed research work ,to the best oI researcher`s knowledge.
However, there are a number oI articles dealing with the idea oI humanism
in Ezekiel`s work which are listed in the attached Bibliography.
A handIul oI critics have attempted to study and highlight the social
consciousness ,Indianness, quest Ior identity, humanism and inner conIlicts
oI some Indian poets like Pritish Nandy, A.K Ramanuian and Ezekiel.
Existentialism in the works oI Nissim Ezekiel, however, has not been
explored separately. Since Ezekiel`s highly developed and proiected
existential strains are the main Ieature in most oI his poems, my study will
explore this Ieature in the poetry oI the author.

5. Proposed Methodology of Research Work.

%he proposed methodology Ior this research work is descriptive ,analytical
and comparative with other poets with special Iocus on the selected angle oI
enquiry. %exts will be corroborated with current trends in Ezekiel`s
criticism. For the purpose oI documentation, MLA Handbook Ior Writers
oI Research Papers, Seventh Edition, will be Iollowed.


. Proposed Chapter -Wise Divisio3 of Dissertatio3


Chapter-1 Poetic credo of Ezekiel


Nissim Ezekiel will be placed in the historical background oI Indian English
poetry and vis-a-vis his contemporaries and his predecessors. %he credos oI
these poets will be discussed in comparison to that oI Ezekiel .



Chapter - Existe3tialism-Co3cept. Nature a3d Directio3s



%he chapter will examine the meaning, nature and scope oI existential
concerns and take existentialist themes as its basis . Existentialism is a
philosophical movement which emphasizes on individual existence, Ireedom
and choice. %here are several philosophical positions that existential
philosophy adopts but the main identiIiable common proposition, is that
existence precedes essence. By this, existentialism states that wo/man exists
and in that existence, wo/man deIines her/ himselI and the world in her/his
own subiectivity. S/he wanders between choice, Ireedom, and existential
angst .

Chapter- 3 Quest for the Self`

%he chapter will Iind answers to questions like-what it means to be a human
being` Ior Nissim Ezekiel. %he theme oI love ,problem oI identity and selI-
questioning will be discussed as predominant themes oI this phase and their
echoes will be discovered in his poetry in the corpii oI A Time To
hange(1952) .Sixtv poems(1953)) and The Third(1958) . His poetry will
be explored as the endeavours and outcomes oI the poet in coming to terms
with himselI and also compared and contrasted with similar quests in other
poets. Glimpses oI existential angst , abandonment and subiectivity will be
highlighted.


Chapter - From Skepticism to Faith
In this chapter, an analysis oI poetry Irom the corpii oI The Unfinished
Man(1960),The Exact ame(1965) and Hvmns In Darkness(1976) will
shed light on the poet`s stance as he is iuxtaposed between an existential
involvement and an intellectual urge to rise above the monotony oI routine
liIe. %he exploration will show the achievement oI the poet in reaching a
holistic view in which dualities are embraced by overcoming the sense oI
nothingness.

Chapter- 5 Reco3ciliatio3 of Co3flicts

%his chapter will iourney along with atter Dav Psalms(1982) and the
'Latest Poems in ollected Poems (1989) which culminate in an
acceptance and aIIirmation which endow him with an enlarged sympathy.
%he poet`s response to the macrocosm and his decision to celebrate liIe
despite its transitoriness will be understood.

Chapter- Co3clusio3
%his chapter will sum up the Iindings oI the dissertation and open up
avenues Ior Iurther research.


Chapter- 7 Expected outcome of the proposed work

%he thesis is expected to shed light on the existential concerns operating in
the works oI Ezekiel and consequently enrich the understanding oI what
goes into the making oI poetry.






















Bibliography

Primary Sources
Nissim Ezekiel`s Works


A Time to hange, London : Fortune P, 1952.
Sixtv Poems. Bombay : published by the author, 1953.
The Third. Bombay: Strand, 1958.
The Unfinished Man. Calcutta : Writers Workshop, 1960.
The Exact ame. Calcutta : Writers Workshop, 1965.
Hvmns in Darkness. Delhi : OxIord UP, 1976.
atter-Dav Psalms. Delhi : OxIord UP, 1982.
ollected Poems 1952-1988. Delhi : OxIord UP, 1989.







Secondary Sources

Karnani, Chetan. issim Ezekiel. New Delhi : Arnold Heinemann, 1974.
Kher, Inder Nath. 'Introduction. JSAL, 11.3-4 (1976) : 3-7.
'%hat Message Irom Another Shore ` :%he EstheticVision oI Nissim
Ezekiel. MahIii, 8.4 (1972) : 17-28.
King, Bruce. Modern Indian Poetry in English. Delhi : OxIord UP, 1987.
.%hree Indian Poets : Nissirn Ezekiel, A.K. Ramanuian, Dom Moraes.
Madras : OxIord UP, 1991.
Kundu , Rama, Ed Indian Writing in English.New Delhi: Atlantic, 2003.
Misra, Saniit. The Poetic Art of issim Ezekiel .New Delhi :Atlantic, 2003.
Naik, M.K Ed..Aspects of Indian Writing In English. New Delhi:
Macmillan,2006.
Pandey, Birendra . Indian Poetrv in English. Atlantic: 2001
Paraniape, Makarand. Ed. Indian Poetrv in English. Madras Macmillan, 1993.
Raghu, A. The Poetrv of issim Ezekiel. Atlantic,2008.
Rahman, Anisur. Form and Jalue in the Poetrv of issim Ezekiel. Delhi : Abhinav,
1981.
Rao, R. Rai. issim Ezekiel. The Authorized Biographv. New Delhi : Viking-
Penguin, 2000.
Sarang, Vilas, Ed. Indian English Poetrv since 1950 . An Anthologv. Bombay:
Disha-Orient Longman, 1990.
Sartre,J.P.Existentialism ,tr, Bernard Frechtman.OxIord,UP, 1956.
Shahane, Vasant A. '%he Religious -Philosophical Strain in Nissim Ezekiel`s
Poetry JSA, 11.3-4 (1976) : 253-6 1.
.






Existe3tial Co3cer3s i3 the Poetry of
Nissim Ezekiel
SYNOPSS

Submitted for the the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy i3 E3glish
By
Ri3koo Wadhera
u3der the Supervisio3 of
Dr. Abha Pa3dey
Professor a3d Head
Departme3t of E3glish
Gover3me3t Model Scie3ce College. Pachpedhi. 1abalpur
Ra3i Durgawati Vishvavidyalaya
1abalpur (M.P)



PROFORMA FOR SYNOPSIS (Para-3)

1. Title of Thesis
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2. ntroduction: Giving purpose :
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of research (in about 200 words)

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3. A brief review of the work already
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done in the field.

4. Noteworthy contributions in the
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field of propose work.

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5. Proposed methodology during the
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tenure of the research work.

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6. Expected outcome of the proposed :
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Research work.

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7. Bibliography in standard format
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8. List of published papers of the
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Candidate.

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Signature of the Supervisor Signature of the Candidate