Just Middling by Debjani Chatterjee

Just Middling

- Debjani Chatterjee

Author Introduction:

         * Debjani Chattejee was born on 21 november 1952, She was called as "British best known Asian poet". 

          * She was born in India and Settled in England. 

          * She is a children's writer, full of wit and charm, also she is a voice of rare originality. 

          * She has written more than 65 books, short stories, plays and translated many books of various languages. 

          * Her major works are "The Elephant Headed God and other Hindu Tales" (1985),  "I was that woman" (1989) & etc. 

          * She won many awards like Paterloo poetry prize, Doctorate Award.

          * She was the Torch Bearer in Olymbics during 2012 in the arts and culture field. 

          * She got (MBE) "Member of the order of the British Empire" (2008).

          * She was the editor in "Hongkong Sunday Newspaper" and "Bharath Rathna Magazine".

Summary:

          Just Middling is a poem which says about the feelings of Bheem who was the middle child and being a middle child how he was ignored by others. The painful experience is deputed in this poem. The poem starts that he is not the favorite of being born in the middle among five. Though he was born in a noble family, he is comparing himself. Because of that he lacks the patience of his elder brother Dharma and lacks Kindness and attractiveness of his brother Arjuna also.

          He is comparing himself his half-brothers, Nahulan and Sahadeva, who are noted for their divine good looks. But, he is always middling. So, he started to develop himself by building muscular strength. He is admitting that he is not good in mental So the very reason he developed his physical strength. During his childhood days, his brothers were not punished for not doing their homeworks. But Bheem was not excused.

          Bheem took his weapon as fighting and he wrestled during leisure. He slowly and surely built his muscles and he smiled for everyone's jokes. Bheem is good in eating, so he is called as an 'elephant' and other used to say him as, "jumbo never-ending appetite".He was eating much because to hide his sorrow.

          Bhoomi mother used to invite Nakul and Sahadeva to sit in her lap and she used to hug her darlings and noble sons Yudhistra and Arjuna. Bheem used to watch this thing in secretly and painfully with his soft eyes. Bheem is able to see the pain in her mother's eyes because of her loses in life, the demise of Pandu and Madri and many more.

          All his brothers carved their places in history, but being born in middle, Bheem cannot attain a place. Destiny made him as her son and she as his mother. Once Bheem asked "his mother to sit on her lap,  but she said you are like a hill and it is too heavy and your weight would cuch my bones". This made him cry loudly and he came outside and hugged a tall peepal tree which shattered like his heart.

          Bheem, Dharma, Arjuna, Nakul and Sahadeva are royal pandu's sons. The poet compares in five brothers with five fingers. It is a direct Comparison that means it is a simile. Bheem compared to the thumb finger which is always like an aloof and also fat, And rest of the four fingers are closely knitted like the four brothers of Bheem in his family. 

          Once his great father Bhisma saw his crying. He held him with his powerful arms and he drew him to his mighty chest under the sacred tree. He once ask Bheem to sit on his solid Knees. Bhishma says to him that "used to share my sorrow and worries with the river Ganga, She is the one Who looks after me, no mother in the world abandon her child, best my mother left me in this river".

          Bhisma says Bheem that mother Ganga is also as your mother and Bheem can tell his sorrows to her and she will wash them away and pour her heart with blessed peace. His great father did not question what reason made him to sob and why he reached the river.

          But, Bheem sobbed into his great father's silver beard. Bheem was inspired by Bhisma that he says never forget the sole. Also he says to him that Bheem was the middle son and the honour of their dynasty rests on his shoulders. Then Bhisma says that his strength will increase than him. He says that you are the one giving strength.

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Just Middling by Debjani Chatterjee