Translation of Maithili poems by Jeevkant, Somdev, Mayanand Mishra, and Kedar Kanan
मैथिली कविताएं
The Truth ( A Maithili Poem by Baidyanath Mishra ‘Yatri’/ Nagarjun)
Baba Nagarjun is counted among the greatest poets of modern India. He wrote in Maithili, Hindi and Bangla. His original name was Baidyanath Mishra to which he added 'Yatri'.
This poem is a searing indictment of the orthodox religious mindset which privileges the other world over what is real, this world. The poet says, 'the Shruti is false, so is Smriti,
false are the Puranas and the sacred books,
fasting and penance are false,
false is the history of the kings and the rulers.'
It is a long but powerful poem. Perhaps he would have been lynched if he wrote today! That is why his poems need to be read in as many languages as possible. Here is the English Translation of his Maithili poem Param Satya
Rajkamal Chaudhary (Maithili Poem)
Two poems of Rajkamal Chaudhary, the celebrated Maithili poet into English.
Eating Atom Bomb to Plucking Jalebi from Tree
It is a light hearted look at the world a few decades ago. Growing up in a small place in Bihar, I never thought Atom Bomb was an unusual name for a sweet. Cold drink was not yet part of people’s daily food and was still looked at as an intruder, however alluring. Jalebi could be a fruit or a sweet, depending upon where you are and of course, Ghebar and Jaleba retained their place as sweet memories of changing times.
Hyphen 