G.M. Muktibodh's “The Void” (Translated from Hindi by Vinay Dharwadker) - Essay

 

G.M. Muktibodh's “The Void” (Translated from Hindi by Vinay Dharwadker) is a powerful exploration of inner emptiness and its destructive consequences. The poem metaphorically examines the void within individuals, depicting it as a force that is not only destructive but also self-perpetuating, spreading through society like a contagious disease. Through its intense and vivid imagery, the poem delves into themes of inner darkness, violence, and the cyclical nature of despair and destruction.

 

The poem begins by personifying the void inside us as something with "jaws" and "carnivorous teeth," immediately establishing it as a predatory force. The void is not a passive absence but an active presence with the ability to "chew you up" and consume everything in its path. This depiction suggests that the void within individuals is inherently violent and destructive, a force that devours both the self and others.

 

Muktibodh further intensifies this image by describing the void as being filled with a "pond of blood," adding a visceral and gruesome dimension to the void's destructive power. This image of blood, typically associated with life, is here presented as stagnant and contained within the "dark hollow" of the jaws, symbolizing a perversion of life into something deadly and grotesque. The void, then, is not only empty but also filled with the potential for violence and suffering.

 

The poem also addresses the nature of this void, describing it as "utterly black," "barbaric," "naked," and "self-absorbed." These descriptors paint the void as something primitive and base, a force that is stripped of any redeeming qualities. It is also "disowned" and "debased," suggesting that it is something that society and individuals try to reject or deny but ultimately cannot escape. The void is intrinsic to human nature, "habitually angry," and perpetually hungry.

 

The speaker acknowledges their own role in spreading this void, stating, "I scatter it, / give it away, / with fiery words and deeds." Here, the void is shown to be communicable, passed on through actions and language. The wounds the speaker inflicts on others become conduits for the void, allowing it to grow and spread. This imagery of spreading the void through wounds emphasizes the idea that pain and suffering beget more pain and suffering, creating a cycle of violence and emptiness.

 

The void is described as "very durable" and "fertile," suggesting that it is resilient and capable of producing more of itself. It breeds "saws, daggers, sickles," and "carnivorous teeth," all instruments of violence and destruction. This proliferation of destructive tools underscores the idea that the void is not just a passive absence but an active force that creates and sustains violence. The void, in its fertility, perpetuates a world filled with instruments of harm, leading to a society where "death is now giving birth / to brand new children."

 

The poem concludes with a bleak vision of a world where "oversights with the teeth of saws" and "heavily armed mistakes" dominate. These images suggest that the destructive void has become so pervasive that even errors and oversights are deadly, armed with the tools of violence. The world, "rubbing its hands," continues on, seemingly indifferent to the pervasive presence of the void and its consequences.

 

In “The Void”, Muktibodh paints a grim picture of a world where inner emptiness and despair have externalized into a cycle of violence and destruction. The poem serves as a commentary on the destructive nature of human beings and the way in which inner darkness can manifest in the world, spreading and perpetuating suffering. Through its intense and evocative imagery, the poem highlights the dangers of unchecked inner voids and the devastating impact they can have on both individuals and society at large.