Rehabilitation

By Shankha Ghosh 

‘Rehabilitation’ explores the pain of

the refugees after the Partition of
Bengal. With stark imagery, it delves
into the lasting impact of this tragic
event.

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Shankha Ghosh
Nationality: Indian

Shankha Ghosh was an influential

poet and literary critic that
reshaped Bengali literature.

He also taught at many

educational institutions, retiring in
1992.

Poems

Key Poem
Information
Central Message: The stark
effects of socio-political
unrest and violence on
human lives

Themes: Failure, Journey,

New Life

Speaker: A refugee

Emotions Evoked: Anger,

Courage, Depression,
Hopelessness

Poetic Form: Free Verse

Time Period: 20th Century

'Rehabilitation' by Sankha
Ghosh is a poem about the
pain of displacement and
loss after the partition of
Bengal. It is a reminder of the
human cost of political
upheavals.

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Poem Analyzed by Deepti

Sharma
English Literature Minor in
Undergraduate Commerce degree
(Hons)

‘Rehabilitation‘ by Shankha Ghosh is

a heartfelt poem exploring the tragic
loss of one’s homeland due to India’s
partition. Using vivid imagery, it
captures the emotional turmoil
experienced by those affected.
Crafted with finesse, the verses
depict the speaker’s intimate
connection with their surroundings
and the shattered memories of a
fragmented society. Through nature,
landmarks, and personal reflections,
the poem conveys a pervasive sense
of exile and the struggle for identity in
the face of extreme upheaval.

Explore Rehabiltation
1 Summary

2 Literary Devices

3 Structure

4 Detailed Analysis

5 FAQ

6 Similar Poetry

Summary

‘Rehabilitation‘ by Shankha
Ghosh is a moving poetic
reflection on the displacement
and intense emotional impact
experienced by individuals after
India’s partition.

The poem explores the theme of

millions losing their homes as a
byproduct of India’s partition. It
vividly depicts the shattered realities
and emotional turmoil experienced by
those affected by that historical
event. Through powerful imagery and
descriptive language, the poem
captures the loss and nostalgia that
permeate the lives of the displaced
people.

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The speaker’s intimate connection

with their surroundings, the
fragmented memories of a once-
unified society, and the desperate
struggle for identity in the face of
upheaval are beautifully conveyed,
painting a tragic picture of the impact
of historical events on individual lives.

Literary Devices
The poem ‘Rehabilitation‘ employs
several literary devices to effectively
convey its themes and emotions.
These devices are:

search for any poem, poet or literary term

Metaphor- Metaphors are

skillfully utilized, like
comparing the lost
possessions to the sun sinking
in the western sky, highlighting
the speaker’s profound sense
of loss.
Imagery- Throughout the
poem, vivid imagery paints a
detailed picture of the
speaker’s experiences and
surroundings after the
partition, such as “Flying hair /
Naked path.”
Irony- Irony is employed when
the speaker, now displaced,
finds themselves reduced to
the role of a beggar,
highlighting the stark contrast
between their previous life and
their current state.
Symbolism- The various
symbols used in the poem,
such as broken temples, grass
and pebbles, arrows, and
spears, represent the
shattered realities and
hardships of immigrating
people in the wake of a
tragedy.
Zoomorphism- The skillful
use of personification brings
life to memories depicted as a
“serpentine crowd” and time
drifting under the speaker’s
feet.
Repetition- The repetition of
the phrase “Whatever was
around me” is beautifully
employed to emphasize and
reinforce a particular idea.
Enjambment- Finally,
enjambment keeps the flow of
the narrative uninterrupted,
engaging the reader in the
journey of relocation and the
struggle of people through the
continuation of the sentence
or phrase without a pause
beyond the end of a few lines
in the poem.

Structure
The structure of the poem
‘Rehabilitation‘ follows a free verse
format, lacking a strict rhyme scheme
or meter. It is divided into three
stanzas, each exploring different
aspects of the theme of displacement
after India’s partition.

The first stanza sets the tone and

introduces the sense of loss and
nostalgia experienced by the speaker.
It consists of short, fragmented lines
that mimic the fragmented memories
and shattered realities of the people
who had to leave everything behind.
The use of enjambment creates a
flowing and continuous narrative,
allowing the emotions to build and
intensify.

The second stanza shifts focus to the

present situation of the speaker,
emphasizing their unfamiliarity with a
new city. The lines become more
fragmented, reflecting the disjointed
nature of the speaker’s existence.

The final stanza delves deeper into

the impact of the partition, employing
powerful imagery and symbolism.
The lines become a bit longer and
more descriptive, painting a vivid
picture of the speaker’s surroundings
and the struggles they face. The
stanza culminates in the ironic
depiction of the speaker as a beggar,
leading to an uphill task of
rehabilitation.

Detailed Analysis
Stanza One

“ Whatever I had around me

Grass and pebbles
Reptiles
Broken temples
Whatever was around me
Exile
Folklores
Solitary sunset
Whatever was around me
Landslides
Arrows and spears
A homestead
All shiver with their faces turned
west.
Memories are like a serpentine
crowd
Under the mango trees, broken
boxes
One step denying another
And suddenly all are homeless.

The opening stanza of the poem

presents an elaborate description of
the speaker’s surroundings after the
partition of India. It begins by
emphasizing the humble and ordinary
elements of the speaker’s former life,
represented by grass and pebbles.
This suggests a connection to nature
and simplicity, which is now
disrupted by the turbulence of the
partition.

The mention of reptiles and broken

temples adds a layer of symbolism to
the stanza. Reptiles, often associated
with change and adaptability, allude
to the transformative and
unpredictable nature of the partition.
The broken temples signify the
destruction and loss of religious and
cultural heritage that accompanied
that tragic historical event. It further
emphasizes the disarray and turmoil
caused by the partition.

The repetition of “Whatever was

around me” serves to underscore the
speaker’s disorientation and
homeless state. It highlights the
abruptness of the change and the
loss of familiar surroundings. The
subsequent references to exile,
folklores, and a solitary sunset evoke
a sense of loneliness and isolation,
marking the emotional toll of being
uprooted from one’s homeland. He
has mentioned simple things like
grass and landslides, even his home
that he had to leave behind.

The stanza concludes with an image

of everyone shivering with their faces
turned west. This image captures the
collective fear and uncertainty that
permeated the lives of those affected
by the tragedy. It suggests a longing
for what was left behind and an
anticipation of the unknown future.

The stanza also employs powerful

metaphors and vivid imagery.
Memories are likened to a serpentine
crowd, implying their unpredictability
and the difficulty of navigating
through them. The mention of mango
trees and broken boxes underlines
the sense of loss and fragmentation
experienced by the speaker. The line
“One step denying another” conveys
the struggle to move forward in the
face of overwhelming challenges.

Stanza Two
“ Whatever is around me
Sealdah station
High noon
Pockmarked walls
(…)
The void
Under my feet drifts Time.

In the second stanza, Ghosh

continues to provide a detailed and
alive portrayal of the speaker’s
environment after the partition of
India. The use of specific locations
and imagery adds depth and
significance to the description.

The mention of Sealdah station, a

bustling railway station in West
Bengal, sets the scene and
emphasizes the sense of
displacement that the speaker
experiences, as it suggests they were
a refugee from East Bengal. The
reference to “high noon” suggests
the intensity and harshness of the
surroundings, perhaps reflecting the
challenging conditions that the
protagonist had to face. In the next
line, the description of pockmarked
walls evokes a sense of decay and
destruction, reflecting the physical
scars left behind by the partition. It
symbolizes the lasting impact of the
violent events and the deep sense of
loss experienced by the people.

Further, the poet represents a sense

of being trapped and directionless in
the phrase, “Blind alleys,” while the
mention of slogans hints at the
political and social unrest during the
partition period. The Monument,
likely a reference to a historical or
cultural landmark, highlights the
contrast between the past and
present and the disruption of
established symbols and identities.

The mention of the bed of arrows and

lamp-posts evokes a sense of danger
and uncertainty, drawing the picture
of the hostile environment in which
the speaker finds themselves. The
imagery of the Ganges flowing red
suggests the bloodshed and violence
that accompanied the partition,
adding to the somber and tragic tone
of the stanza.

The reference to bones and darkness

within serves as a metaphorical
representation of the deep emotional
wounds and the hidden traumas
suffered by the people affected by
the partition. It conveys a sense of
internal struggle and pain of the
refugees. Ghosh further says that the
Howrah Bridge is a silent observer of
this violence. The imagery of time
moving under the speaker’s feet
symbolizes the ever-present passage
of time, relentless and indifferent to
the individual experiences of
suffering and adversity.

Overall, this stanza offers a poignant

description of post-partition India. It
effectively conveys the disarray,
danger, and emotional weight
experienced by the speaker and the
wider community.

Stanza Three

“ Whatever is fountain around me

Flying hair
(…)
Two flintstones that scrape each
other
And ignite my daily
rehabilitation.

In the concluding stanza, Ghosh

describes the aftermath of the
violence and turbulence of the
Partition. The phrase “Whatever is
fountain around me” suggests a
continuous flow of experiences and
sensations that surround the
protagonist. The speaker says the
hair of the dead flies in the air,
insinuating that the violence has left
a trail of death and destruction. The
path beneath the speaker’s feet is a
witness of the same. Men with
torches search for anyone left
behind, alluding that the violence
might not be over yet.

In the following lines, Ghosh delves

deeper into the existential and
introspective aspects of the
speaker’s experience after the
partition of India. The phrase
“Whatever is transparent around me”
suggests clarity and openness in the
speaker’s perception of their
surroundings. It implies an acute
awareness of their environment and a
willingness to confront difficult
truths.

Next, the phrase “The sound of the

dawn” represents the beginning of a
new day and symbolizes hope and
renewal. It signifies the possibility of
a fresh start and the potential for
healing in the face of adversity. The
image of the body after a bath
conveys a sense of purification and
rejuvenation, suggesting a cleansing
of the past and a readiness to move
forward.

Further, the mention of “the Shiva of

the cremation ground” is
metaphorical and holds profound
significance. Shiva, in Hindu
mythology, is the deity associated
with destruction and rebirth. Here, it
represents the transformative power
of death and the inevitable cycle of
life. It alludes to the deep existential
questions and the contemplation of
mortality.

The lines “Each day, a thousand days,

a birthday” emphasize the enduring
impact of time and memory. They
highlight the weight of past
experiences and the passage of time,
underscoring how every moment,
whether ordinary or momentous,
contributes to the collective
memories that shape one’s identity
and perception of the world.

The image of the beggar sitting in the

fading dusk conveys a sense of loss,
vulnerability, and marginalization. It
serves as a metaphor for the
speaker’s own state of being,
reflecting their sense of longing in the
aftermath of the partition.

The metaphor of “two flintstones that

scrape each other” captures the
friction and conflict between what
was lost and what remains. It
symbolizes the internal struggle and
tension that fuels the speaker’s daily
process of rehabilitation. It implies
that through the confrontation of
past and present, the speaker finds
the spark of resilience and the drive
to rebuild their life.

FAQ

What is the theme of the poem

‘Rehabilitation‘ by Shankha
Ghosh?

The theme of the poem

‘Rehabilitation‘ is the suffering of
refugees after the Partition of
India in 1947. The poem is written
from the perspective of a refugee
who has lost everything,
including their home, their city,
and their people, and now has to
try to settle down in a different
city.

Why is the poem titled

‘Rehabilitation?’

Ghosh titled the poem

‘Rehabilitation‘ because it is
about the process of rebuilding
lives after a major trauma, such
as the Partition of India in 1947.
The speaker of the poem is now a
refugee, struggling to rebuild
their lives in a new city. The poem
explores the challenges of
rehabilitation.

When was the poem

‘Rehabilitation‘ by Shankha
Ghosh published?

‘Rehabilitation‘ was first

published in the Bangla language
in the anthology “Shreshtho
Kobita” in 1970. It was later
translated into English in the year
2019.

What is the historical context of

the poem ‘Rehabilitation?’

Ghosh’s ‘Rehabilitation‘ talks

about the mass exodus caused by
the Partition of Bengal in 1947.
The division between West
Bengal and East Bengal led to the
displacement of millions, with 5
million Hindus leaving East
Bengal and 2 million Muslims
leaving West Bengal due to
violence and unrest.

Similar Poetry
Here are a few other pieces of poetry
that talk about the sufferings of the
people during India’s partition:

‘After Death: Twenty Years‘ by

Birendra Chattopadhyay – It
reflects on a country’s stormy
history and current despair,
contrasting it with Tagore’s
unwavering dreams.
‘Partition‘ by Sujata Bhatt – It
is a critical commentary
regarding a tragic moment and
its consequence.
‘Toba Tek Singh‘ by Gulzar – It
is a spin-off on a very famous
story of Manto based on the
partition of India.
‘I Say unto Waris Shah‘ by
Amrita Pritam – Talks about
the transition of a land of love
into a slaughterhouse during
partition.

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Rehabilitation
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understanding the poem.

Shankha
Ghosh
There is currently no rating and
description for the tag of Shankha
Ghosh.

Poet: Courage 63
Shankha Depression
Ghosh 65
(poems) Hopelessness
Period: 71
20th 65 Topics:
Century Abuse 63
Nationality: Adversity 73
Indian 70 Chaos 74
Themes: History 80
Failure 52 Form:
Journey 59 Free Verse 78
New Life 61
Genre:
Emotions: Lyric 72
Anger 69

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Rehabilitation

About
Deepti
Sharma
Deepti is a
management
graduate and
a former entrepreneur who has a
passion for poetry and literature.
She reads, analyzes, and writes
poetry, such as her published
anthology 'Emotionally yours,'
and has won many contest prizes
for her poetry and literary fiction
too.
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