Poetry as Protest: Group Reflections on Eklavyam and The Laughing Buddha

This blog is assigned by Prakruti Bhatt Ma'am as part of a group discussion and reflective activity. In group discussion We were assigned two poems: “Eklavyam” by Meena Kandasamy and “Laughing Buddha” by Pravin Gadhvi. As a group, we divided the poems and related reflection questions equally.

Recitation of the poem Eklavyam 

Step 1: Based on the poem assigned to your group, discuss the thematic and critical aspects, and prepare one long and one short answer from the question bank.

Long questions 

1)

Disscus the poem "Eklavyam" by Meena Kandasamy.

Meena Kandasamy’s poem Eklavyam is not just a modern retelling of a myth it's a bold political satire, a caste-conscious protest, and a philosophical statement on resistance. By drawing from the story of Ekalavya in the Mahabharata, she attacks Brahminical supremacy, exposes institutional fascism, and suggests an alternate route of revolutionary defiance.

🔹 Understanding the Symbols in the Poem

Eklavyam: Represents all the marginalized  Dalits, tribals, the voiceless who are denied access to power and knowledge.

Dronacharya: Symbolizes Brahminical authority, caste privilege, and educational exclusion  a gatekeeper of systemic inequality.

The Thumb: A metaphor for forced obedience and intellectual disarmament of the oppressed.

Trigger/Bomb: Represents political rebellion  a shift from silence to action when denied justice.

🔹 Key Ideas and Political Undertones

1. Fascism vs. Communism

The poem subtly places Dronacharya as a symbol of fascism  a rigid figure enforcing upper-caste dominance. In contrast, Ekalavya’s revolt (pulling a trigger/hurling a bomb) hints at a Communist-style rebellion, where the oppressed seize power through radical means. Kandasamy critiques how fascist systems destroy talent, while also suggesting radical resistance as an answer.

2. Critique of Brahminical Caste Hierarchy

Dronacharya’s demand of the thumb is not about tradition or respect   it’s about controlling who gets to be powerful. Kandasamy sharply condemns this centuries-old exclusionary practice where Dalits and Adivasis are taught to accept oppression as fate.

3. Non-Dualism and Resistance

Traditional Hindu philosophy teaches non-dualism (Advaita)  the idea that all are equal in essence. But Kandasamy exposes how real-life practice contradicts this belief. The caste system stands in direct opposition to spiritual equality, and the poem becomes a critique of this hypocrisy in religious values.

4. Satirical Resistance

Lines like:

"You don’t need your right thumb / To pull a trigger or hurl a bomb"

are deeply ironic. Kandasamy turns the act of silencing into a call to rebellion. It mocks how the powerful try to disable potential, and in turn, warns them   resistance doesn't need permission.

2)

Explain the significance of laughing in the poem The laughing budhha by Pravin gadhavi

In The Laughing Buddha, Pravin Gadhavi uses laughter as a complex symbol it is not just joy, but also sarcasm, irony, pain, and protest. The laughter of the Buddha in the poem is not innocent or blissful, but rather layered with historical, political, and emotional meaning.

🔹 1. Laughter as Irony: A Symbol of Peace Laughing Amid Violence

One of the most striking ironies in the poem is the choice of Buddha’s birthday for conducting the Pokhran nuclear test in India (Pokhran-II, May 11, 1998). Gautam Buddha is globally revered as a symbol of peace, non-violence, and enlightenment and yet, the nation chose this very day to test weapons of mass destruction.

This contrast between peace and war is not lost on the poet.

The Buddha laughs but not out of joy.

His laughter is a sarcastic commentary on how the world, especially political systems, manipulate symbols of peace while preparing for destruction.

🔹 2. Historical and Economic Context: Laughter as Bitterness

As you rightly observed, Krupali, the economic condition of the country at the time was not strong. India was going through economic strain, with poverty, inequality, and unemployment still persistent issues. Yet, crores of rupees were spent on a nuclear test, claiming it was for national pride and defense.

 In this context, the Laughing Buddha becomes a witness of contradiction

laughing through tears, mocking the misplaced priorities of the state.

🔹 3. Buddha’s Laugh: A Satirical Mirror to Society

Buddha’s laughter is also satirical as if he’s asking:

• "What are you celebrating?"
• "What kind of progress is this?"
• "Has the world misunderstood my teachings so deeply?"

The poem forces us to reflect:

While the statue of Buddha is smiling, the message of Buddha is crying.

The laughter here is a metaphor for the absurdity of how we twist moral and spiritual teachings to justify our political actions.

🔹 4. Emotional Layers: Laughter with Tears

The poet describes the Buddha as laughing with tears a powerful image that reveals:

A deep sadness hidden behind a smile

A mocking acceptance of how far humans have drifted from peace

A symbol of suppressed emotion, where even a god-like figure has nothing left but to laugh at the irony of the world

🔹 5. The Statue Speaks: Symbolism of the Laughing Buddha

In popular culture, Laughing Buddha is seen as a figure of good luck, wealth, and happiness. But Pravin Gadhavi flips this meaning:

• The statue doesn’t bless anyone
• It judges silently
• It watches the contradictions of the modern world, standing as a silent rebel

 Conclusion:

 Laughter as a Political and Philosophical Protest

In The Laughing Buddha, laughter is not simple or sweet it is sarcastic, bitter, thoughtful, and haunting. The poem uses Buddha’s smile to challenge nationalism, political propaganda, historical irony, and spiritual betrayal.

By presenting a Buddha who laughs with tears, Pravin Gadhavi forces us to think:

Is our progress really worth celebrating, if it comes at the cost of peace, values, and truth?

Short Questions 

Write a note on use of myth in Meena Kandasamy's poem

Meena Kandasamy powerfully uses myth in her poem Eklavyam by retelling the story of Ekalavya, a character from the Mahabharata. But she doesn’t tell it like a traditional myth  instead, she gives it a modern, political, and rebellious voice.

1. Myth Reimagined

In the Mahabharata, Ekalavya is a tribal boy who learns archery on his own and offers his thumb as guru dakshina to Dronacharya.

Traditionally, the story teaches about obedience and sacrifice, but Kandasamy retells it as a story of injustice, discrimination, and resistance.

2. Myth as a Political Tool

She uses the myth to criticize casteism, showing how power and privilege (represented by Dronacharya) suppress talent from marginalized groups (like Ekalavya).

The poem connects ancient injustice to modern-day caste oppression, showing how little has changed.

3. Breaking the Silence

In Kandasamy’s version, Ekalavya is not silent he becomes a voice of protest.

The use of myth helps empower the oppressed and challenge Brahminical dominance.

 4. Symbol of Resistance

The image of Ekalavya losing his thumb becomes a symbol of how the oppressed are made powerless.

But Kandasamy flips this symbol  she says, you don’t need your right thumb to pull a trigger or hurl a bomb making Ekalavya a symbol of revolution.

5. Myth in Contemporary Context

By using a well-known myth, Kandasamy makes her message easy to relate to   but she radicalizes it.

The poem links ancient stories to modern struggles  caste violence, unequal education, and fascist oppression.

Conclusion:

Meena Kandasamy’s use of myth in Eklavyam is bold and transformative. She retells an old story not to glorify tradition, but to expose its injustice and to inspire resistance. The poem shows how myths can be used not to maintain power, but to fight it.

2."Laughing" - write a note on the use of this word in praveen gadhvi's poem .

In Pravin Gadhavi’s poem The Laughing Buddha, the word “laughing” is used in an ironic and thought-provoking way. Traditionally, the laughing Buddha symbolizes joy, peace, and spiritual satisfaction. However, in the poem, this laughter becomes symbolic of helplessness, irony, and protest. The Buddha is not laughing with happiness, but rather in disbelief at the contradictions of the world around him, especially the decisions made by political powers in the name of progress and nationalism.

The poem refers to India’s Pokhran nuclear tests, which were conducted on Buddha Purnima, the birthday of Lord Buddha  a symbol of non-violence and peace. This creates a powerful irony: the country celebrated Buddha’s birth while testing weapons of destruction. The Buddha’s laughter, in this context, becomes a satire on the government’s actions, showing the irony of performing violent acts in the name of peace. It’s as if the Buddha is laughing with tears in his eyes, mourning the loss of true values.

The poem also touches on economic concerns  how, despite poverty and social inequality, a developing nation like India focused on nuclear power. The Buddha's laughter questions these misplaced priorities. His “laughing” becomes a silent critique, a symbolic act of resistance against violence, political hypocrisy, and broken moral values. Thus, the word "laughing" in the poem carries deep emotional, historial, and political weight, urging readers to reflect on the real meaning of peace and progress.

Step : 2 Prepare a report of the group discussion addressing the following questions:

Which poem and questions were discussed by the group? Was there any unique approach or technique used by your group to discuss the topic?

We discussed two poems are : 

• Eklavyam by Meena Kandasamy 
• Laughing Buddha by Pravin Gadhvi

Questions that we are discussed:

• “Laughing” - write a note on the use of this word in Praveen Gadhavi’s Poem.

• Write a note on use of Myth in Meena Kandasamy’s Poem.

• Discuss the Poem “Eklavyam” by Meena Kandasamy.

• Explain the Significance of Laughing in the Poem “Laughing Buddha” by Praveen Gadhavi.

Apart from this, we also explored various aspects connected to the poems, including critical perspectives and political interpretations.

Was there any unique approach or technique used by your group to discuss the topic?

Yes, our group adopted a collaborative and organized approach to discussing the topic. There were six members in our group, so we divided ourselves into two sub-groups three members focused on one poem, and the other three on the second poem. Within each sub-group, we further distributed the questions from the question bank among ourselves. This method helped us cover all aspects of both poems efficiently and encouraged equal participation from every member.

Who led the discussion or contributed most to the discussion? Did everyone contribute equally?

Yes, all present group members contributed equally to the discussion. Before the discussion began, we had already divided the questions among ourselves. This allowed each member to focus on their assigned questions and prepare explanations. During the discussion, if someone made a mistake or missed a point, others helped by correcting and supporting them. This cooperative method ensured active participation and learning for everyone.

Which points were easy and which ones were difficult for everyone in your group to understand?

We discussed all the important aspects related to both poems. As I mentioned earlier, we had divided the questions among ourselves, so each member focused on their assigned parts. Because of this, no topic felt particularly easy or difficult for the group as a whole everyone was able to explain their points clearly. 

Personally, I found the critical views on The Laughing Buddha, as well as the ideas of fascism vs. communism, Brahminical hierarchy, and the use of myth in Eklavyam, easy to understand. The other points were not difficult either, but since I hadn’t prepared them in advance, I understood them better during the discussion with the help of my group.

Step 3: Briefly present your learning outcomes from this activity.

 I improved my ability to discuss and express literary ideas in a group. The discussion helped me gain new perspectives on themes like oppression, resistance, and the use of myth and symbolism in poetry.

Thank you 😊