Turmeric by Satchidanandan- A summery and Critical Analisis

K. Stchidanandan. (1946-    )

K Stchidanandan is a bilingual literary critic, poet, columnist, translator, and playwright.  His many works have been translated into English, Chinese, Italian, Arabic, German, and Indian languages like  Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, etc. He has 25 translated collections of poetry in different languages. He was an editor of the Indian Literature Journal and former secretary of Sahitya Akademy. 

Awards

K Stchidanandan has received numerous awards for his works so far. Some of them are given below.

• Sahitya Akademy award for poetry, drama, essay, and travelogue

• Ashan Award.

• Odakuyal Prize.

• Ulloor Award.

He was also nominated for  Nobel Prize in Literature in 2011.

Summary of 'Turmeric'

The poem begins with the comparison of turmeric with Unniyarcha who was famous for her skill in Kerala native martial art kalarippayattu.  Like Unniyarcha, turmeric also was a heroine under the surface of the earth. Inside of her pale skin, she hides golden beauty.   Her glory was like the golden shoes of princess Cinderella.  We use turmeric dust for the ritualistic purpose to please different gods. Apart from that, we use turmeric to design courtyards on the occasion of different festivals and celebrations. The Serpent kings used it as nectar of immortality. It was beneficial for both the earth and the moon. It has a magical power to cure the wounds created by religious frenzy people on their bodies with weapons like swords during their performance.

Apart from the ritualistic purpose it also uses as a medicine as well. It can be used as anti-venom. It has a significant position in Indian cuisine. She is a golden heroine of the Indian Kitchen.  She gives the yellow colour and fragrance for food.  Turmeric was everything for Indians. we use it from the labor room to the bridal chamber and bridal champer to death rites.  Now everything has changed, everyone forgets the traditional position of turmeric. Now it became merely an expensive cosmetic cream trapped in the tubes and sold in the supermarket.

Critical Analysis of the Poem 'Turmeric'.

The poem "Turmeric" reflects cultural changes that take place in Indian society. Turmeric was a reflection of Indian culture because it was a part and parcel of Indian society.   In Indian culture, the importance of turmeric is never confined to a single purpose. We use turmeric to celebrate different festivals and religious ceremonies. Apart from that, it also uses to decorate the courtyards and use it as a coloring agent in different art forms. 

Apart from that turmeric has a significant role in Indian cuisine. As a natural herb, it uses as a spice in a variety of dishes.  It gives a pleasant and sweet smell also. Moreover, it gives the yellow color to various curries.   Apart from religious and culinary use, turmeric also uses as medicine.  Especially it can be used as an anti-venom.

The majority of us forget its uses just like the way how we forget traditional practices. Recently,  it is not a part of our culture.  Earlier times most of us cultivate turmeric in our own home and use it for different purposes.  Now we buy turmeric from the supermarkets in the form of cosmetic creams and other food articles. We don't even remember the actual uses of turmeric.

Apart from the cultural change, this poem also talks about the impact of globalization on developing nations like India. Globalization is another form of colonialism developed by capitalist countries to exploit developing Nations. There are many international laws are passed by developed countries for their wellbeing in the international market. As a result of laws like Patent Law and International Intellectual Property Right, many third-world countries lost their control over the many indigenous products. Turmeric is one among them. Now turmeric is no more an Indian.  We cannot produce and market it in the international market. Its Patent has been taken by America who doesn't know anything about turmeric. Earlier turmeric was everything thing for Indians. We use it for many purposes like religious, ritualistic, culinary, and medicinal uses for hundreds of years. Now it has converted into market-oriented cosmetic cream by erasing its all cultural values.

Conclusion.

In the poem, K. Satchidanandan brings out the importance of turmeric. It is a spice that is used globally but people have forgotten the cultural values connected with it.