Critical Analysis Of Nissim Ezekiel's Hymns In Darkness

Nissim Ezekiel, the founding figure of Indian English Writing shot to fame since his early days of poetic journey. In India and abroad he is famed as a better craftsman. He truly did greater service in the development and recognition of Indian English. He identified himself with India and Indian culture and life. In his verse saga he has been tour de force. He all the way took pains to bring about harmony or balance in form and content equally. He in fact set the path for other forthcoming and aspiring poets. He never romanticizes aspects of life. He depicted life as he had savored it. In this short project it has been attempted to bring into focus those points and moments when he exposed himself to the vision. Nissim Ezekiel throughout his

Nature, they said, had conspired against them. (CP 188)
“Hymns in Darkness” ridicules common weaknesses of modern man. The first stanza describes some weaknesses shared by all modern mankind. According to the poet, there is no connection between the ideal and the real aspect of modern man’s life. The modern man speaks a lot about the virtue called ‘humility’ but seldom practises it himself. It is the first casualty with the modern man. The modern man pretends to be thoughtful and intellectual, but unfortunately, this bargain proved him harmful: He has exchanged the wisdom of youthfulness for the follies of maturity. What is lost is certain, what is gained of dubious value. (CP 217)
The modern man feels glorified in “self-esteem” but it has interrupted his natural growth. He doesn’t know how to be an ago-free person; otherwise he has been a happy creature. The modern man is burning like his own passion. His state of mind and spirit is compared by the poet to the hustle-bustle of the city. As the matter of fact, he does not know himself adequately. “All truths are outside him” so he remains mere a bundle of ignorances that “mock his activity”. He doesn’t know in real sense what he is