Journalism of Courage
The personality as well as works of Kavi Grace,the more popular moniker of Nagpur-born poet Manik Godghate,were widely considered inscrutable. Dr Nandkumar Mulmule,55,was well aware of this. A decade ago,the Nanded-based psychiatrist-consultant started an event series called Graceful Sandhyakal,which has been organised across the state.
The programme tries to explain Kavi Graces poetry and the unique ideas in it. We recite an assortment of his poems and I even try to translate them into English, said Mulmule. He had been associated with Kavi Grace for the past 10 years,during which he had conducted two interviews of him,which are preserved on video CD. I would meet him regularly and used to visit his house sometimes. We would have discussions on many topics, Mulmule recalled. He spoke to Grace around three months ago,when he was undergoing treatment at Punes Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital. He told me he would be coming back to his hometown Nagpur. He told me to announce that he would like to attend the programme and would speak on Gandhinchi Hasya (Gandhis Smile). It was an unusual topic to talk about,but it never could happen and I dont know what he wanted to say, Mulmule added.
He made use of many archaic symbols in his poems that were difficult to understand, said Mulmule. In the course of his association with the late poet,Mulmule discovered that the mystique attached to him was over-rated.
He had a sensitive mind. I remember him telling me that he has never seen the Ganges,that he didnt need to. He never explained it in simple words. Some critics thought his poems to be a hotchpotch of words,that pushed people away, said Mulmule. I have memorised hundreds of his poems and have realised that they are not so mystical.
