मछलियों को लगता था
के जैसे वे तड़पती हैं पानी के लिए
पानी भी उनके लिए
वैसा ही तड़पता होगा।
लेकिन जब खींचा जाता है जाल
तो पानी मछलियों को छोड़कर
जाल के छेदों से निकल भागता है।
पानी मछलियों का देश है
लेकिन मछलियां अपने देश के बारे में
कुछ नहीं जानतीं।
- नरेश सक्सेना
Here is the English translation and analysis of the poem:
The fish used to feel,
That just as they writhe for water,
The water too, for them,
Must writhe the same way.
But when the net is pulled,
The water abandons the fish
And escapes through the holes of the net.
Water is the fish's country,
But the fish
Know nothing about their country.
— Naresh Saxena
Sharing My Thoughts :
In my view, this poem is not merely a tale of a fish and water, but a profound commentary on human beings and their fundamental beliefs or support systems.
1. The Illusion of Reciprocal Expectation
The fish’s belief that the water "must writhe the same way" represents the human tendency towards blind faith and one-sided expectation in key relationships or support systems (our careers, our society, even our concept of God). We project our own intense emotional need ("writhing") onto the source of our comfort, assuming a mutual loyalty or reciprocal longing that often doesn't exist.
2. The Exposure of Reality in Crisis
The moment "when the net is pulled" symbolizes a major life crisis—a betrayal, a disaster, a massive failure. In this moment of acute need, the water (our foundation, our relationship, our belief) suddenly reveals its true, indifferent, or selfish nature by effortlessly "escaping through the holes." This demonstrates that many of our perceived 'bases' or 'foundations' are built on convenience and circumstance, not unconditional commitment.
3. The Tragedy of Ignorance
The final lines are the poem's philosophical climax: "Water is the fish's country, / But the fish / Know nothing about their country."
This speaks to the tragic irony of human existence: we are often ignorant of the true nature of the very thing we depend on most.
We see Nature as our home but forget its capacity for detached destruction.
We rely on Society but are unaware of its quickness to discard us in a crisis.
The fish knows water as 'life' but not as 'an indifferent substance' that prioritizes physics (gravity and hole size) over loyalty.
The core sorrow of the poem lies in the fact that the fish's longing is genuine, but its foundation of belief is hollow. It urges us to understand the reality of our support systems, rather than just clinging to emotional expectations of them.
Here is the analysis of Naresh Saxena's poem based on I.A. Richards' Four Kinds of Meaning framework:
Four Dimensions of Meaning: "Water is the Fish's Country..."
Naresh Saxena’s poem utilizes language that goes beyond mere depiction, weaving depth through four layers of meaning: Sense, Feeling, Tone, and Intention. Analyzing these lines through I.A. Richards' criteria reveals the following:
1. Sense
'Sense' defines what is explicitly articulated—the 'items' the poet refers to.
• The Poem's Sense: The fish believes that water longs for it reciprocally (the illusion of mutual love). When the net is pulled, the water abandons the fish and escapes (the foundation's betrayal). Water is the fish's country, but the fish knows nothing about it (ignorance).
• Conclusion: The poem narrates a four-stage event: Belief (Longing) \right arrow Crisis (Net) \right arrow Abandonment (Escape) \right arrow Ultimate Truth (Ignorance).
2. Feeling
'Feeling' is the emotional attitude the speaker (here, the fish/poet) holds towards the thoughts being expressed.
• The Poem's Feeling
•Initially: The fish exhibits a naive faith. It feels an emotional oneness with its 'country,' generating a sense of security and love.
• During the Crisis: This feeling transforms into intense agony and betrayal. The suffering is not just about survival, but about broken, unrequited love.
•Conclusion: The poet masterfully structures the emotional contrast between faith and shattered faith.
3. Tone
'Tone' is the attitude the writer adopts towards their readers or audience, shaped by the writer's awareness of that relationship.
•The Poem's Tone: The tone is calm, philosophical, and ironic.
• The poet describes the fish's agony without any aggressive emotion or exaggeration.
• The speaker narrates the event like a Neutral Observer, but introduces a pitying irony in the final lines ("But the fish / Know nothing about their country."). This tone invites the reader to engage in deep contemplation rather than mere emotional reaction.
4. Intention
'Intention' encapsulates the writer’s purpose, whether conscious or subconscious—the effect the writer endeavors to evoke.
•The Poem's Intention: Saxena's purpose is not just to tell a story of a fish but to challenge fundamental truths of human existence.
• The poet intends to make the readers realize that the foundation (country, relationship, belief system) we rely on blindly can prove to be indifferent in moments of crisis.
• The poem motivates humanity to recognize the realistic nature of their supports and discard mere emotional expectations.
The Interaction of Levels :
Sense : Provides the imagery of the net and the escapin water. Establishes the framework of the crisis.
Feeling : Converts innocent faith into sharp, broken suffering. Communicates the emotional intensity of betrayal.
Tone : Presents the truth in an ironic and composed voice. Compels the reader to think objectively about their supports.
Intention :challenges blind faith and demands knowledge/awareness. Raises a philosophical question on human ignorance regarding its own foundations.
Through the analysis of these four dimensions, it becomes clear that the poem transcends the story of fish and water, skillfully exposing the profound truth about human existential foundations and the illusionary expectations associated with them.
Conclusion :
Naresh Saxena’s poem exposes the bitter contradiction between belief and reality.
The fish's illusion that the water "must writhe the same way" for it is symbolic of human expectations and our blind faith in the foundations of our lives. The poem teaches us that we often expect the same emotional loyalty from our "country" or fundamental support systems as we invest in them.
However, the effortless escape of the water in the moment of the net being pulled (crisis) proves that our 'foundation' (be it nature, society, or relationships) is often indifferent and convenient, not loyal.
The final lines encapsulate the deep philosophical sorrow of the poem: we remain ignorant of the true nature of the very thing we depend on most. This poem compels us to reflect on whether we understand the 'country' of our lives merely through emotion, or whether we truly grasp its reality. This ignorance is the root cause of the fish's (and humanity's) suffering.
Refference:
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