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| Brian reads his poem 'Kundun' to Tenzin. |
To be in the presence of Tenzin Tsundue is to be humbled by an extraordinary life. Here was a poet, writer and activist who has devoted his life to the cause of Tibet. The red bandana he wears, he has said, he will not remove until Tibet is free.
As I read my poem 'Kundun' (2000) from my book titled A Peace of India (2010) Tenzin listened with rapt attention. Later he held the book in his hand and read out the poem to himself as if registering the words. The poem was written at Tibetan Children's Village, Dharamsala.
Though his poetry is disarmingly simple, one only has to listen to it attentively to see that its roots run deep. 'When it Rains in Dharamsala' uses a room with lizards and insects as denizens as a microcosm of a world which has unbelonged him, Yet even in his exile he realizes he needs to console the tin roof 'who has been on duty / from the British Raj.' The roof is seen as a living being, This is indicated by the use of 'who' instead of 'which.'
Observation - perception - articulation is the schema which he advises to write poetry. 'Writing is history,' he says enjoining all to write.
His poem 'Proposal' is a cheeky proposal to well-placed people to make some room in their sprawling houses for him to live - since he does not have a home. The stunning opening lines take your breath away: pull your ceiling halfway down / and you can create a mezzanine for me. The implication is that everyone is capable of making space for others, if only they want to do it sincerely enough. The tragic irony is complete as the poem closes with i am resting at your doorstep / call me when you are awake.
He remembers Mumbai. That was the time when he was privy to the poetic practice of poets like Nissim, Eunice, Kolatkar and Dom. Their caustic criticism of each others work revealed to him the craft of writing poetry. He records the plight of 'The Tibetan in Mumbai'. Dog-tired at the end of the day doing odd jobs, 'On the 11 pm Virar fast / He goes to the Himalayas.'
Tenzin took his listeners on a journey which was literal, metaphoric, and poetic. By now Tenzin would be on the flight to Delhi. From there he heads to another destination. He came to Goa from Pune. Everywhere he goes he speaks about Tibet and what is happening there. This literal journey has to be seen in the context of his metaphorical journey to and from Tibet - the land that has been lost to Tibetans. In articulating the predicament of his homelessness he finds poetry to be the most powerful tool. His poetic journey is an outpouring of the anguish he feels as he remembers the traditional practices he can no longer perform.
Most of the poems he regales his audiences with are from Kora (2002), Though, before he left I managed to pick up a copy of Under the Blue Skies: A Tibetan Reader (2022). This, he says, is the first anthology of Tibetan writing after they learned to speak English in Dharamsala. It contains fiction, poetry and non-fiction.
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Pic taken by Arantxa on 26th September 2022 in Goa.
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