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What is Worth Knowing?
作者Author  /  Sujata  Bhatt  

What is Worth Knowing?

 
  • Before you even try to understand the poem, remember that Sujata Bhatt is now in Germany after her experience of multiple migration.  This explains partly her allusions to many places and names you don't know in the poem.  For instance, Nevky Ave is in St. Petersburg.  Gogol (19th-century Russian writer 1809-1852 ) has stories named "Nevsky Avenue" and "The Nose," though I don't think it matters that much whether you know it or not. 
     
  • To make sense of the poem, first we have to sort out the kinds of things included in the poem.  There are repeated references to "Van Gohn's ear" and "the nose of Nevsky Ave"( --suggesting Gogol?).  There are mentioning of some colonial facts about the Dutch and the Spanish.  There are allusions, also, to facts in nature which may not be facts (for instance, Spring does not start in May in India; May to September is their monsoon season), juxtaposed with a little bit of Indian "flavors" -- colors of turmeric and chilli powder.   Try to figure out why the poet include so many different things. 
  • And then try to answer her question -- "what is worth knowing?"
 
   
 
   
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