In Memory of Dilip Chitre

Dilip Chitre, poet, writer, filmmaker and painter, died in Pune from cancer at the age of 71 last week.

Dilip Chitre, poet, writer, filmmaker and painter, died in Pune from cancer at the age of 71 last week. Chitre’s famous works were Says Tuka and Anubhavamrut, the English translation of the poems of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar, respectively. But he also made his mark in Hindi cinema, the highlight being the theme poem he wrote for the film Ardh Satya. It is read in the film by Om Puri.

This is the original Hindi version of Ardh Satya.

Chakravyuh mein ghusne se pehle / kaun thha mein aur kaisa thha / yeh mujhe yaad hi na rahega. / Chakravyuh mein ghusne ke baad / mere aur chakravyuh ke beech / sirf ek jaanleva nikat’ta thhi / iska mujhe pata hi na chalega. / Chakravyuh se nikalne ke baad / main mukt ho jaoon bhale hi / phir bhi chakravyuh ki rachna mein / farq hi na padega. / Marun ya maarun / maara jaoon ya jaan se maardun. / iska faisla kabhi na ho paayega. / Soya hua aadmi jab / neend se uthhkar chalna shuru karta hai / tab sapnon ka sansar usey / dobara dikh hi na paayega. / Uss roshni mein jo nirnay ki roshni hai / sab kuchh s’maan hoga kya? / Ek palde mein napunsakta / ek palde mein paurush / aur thheek taraazu ke kaante par / ardh satya.

Here is an English translation by Arun Kelkar. It has been approved by Jayant Joshi, a writer and close friend of Dilip Chitre’s.

Before entering the Chakravyuha / I would not remember / who was I and what was I. / After entering the Chakravyuha / I would not realise / There existed / Between me and the Chakravyuha / Only a deep deathly intimacy. /  After escaping the Chakravyuha / I may attain freedom / Yet the Chakravyuha would remain unchanged.  /  Should I kill or be killed / Obliterate or be obliterated / It would remain for ever undecided.  /  Like a sleeping person / Once awake / would not again / See his world of dreams. /  In that, the light of the decision / will everything be level?  / Impotence in one tray / and manhood in the other / Plumb on the needle / Is the ardh satya.

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