Rice - Appreciation
'Rice' is a highly discussed satirical poem written by the famous Malayali poet Chemmanam Chacko. The poem is translated in English by Prof. K. Ayyappa Paniker.
The poem deals with the plight of the farmers who tried to grow cash crops instead of food crops for profit.
The poem begins with the nostalgic feelings of the poet who returns to his home in Kerala from North India after having a doctorate on making toys with husk. The poet imagines his beautiful house surrounded by paddy fields, and longs to eat rice during his meal. But in his village, he is welcomed by an unexpected sight. He could only see tall rubber trees there instead of greenish paddy fields.
His father says that they have stopped paddy cultivation as it is not profitable any more. The narrator sarcastically concludes the poem by commenting on the Chief Minister. He flies high above the fields filled with cash crops to the Centre to request for more rice for keralites. The narrator's desire to eat rice has broken here like a bubble ! Like others he has to eat the wheat that is available through rationing. And What about his doctorate? How can he find husk to make toys? As the poem ends, the poet sarcastically asks a question whether the Centre will give him husk to make toys too.
The poet uses a mixed variety of imageries and poetic devices to adorn his poem. He also used a number of Malayalam words here. The language used here is colloquial. The poem is written in free verse.
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