Introduction
and The post-modernist philosophers-Jean Baudrillard, Jean Francois Lyotard, Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida find that the contemporary society is characterized by plurality, diversity, and intense disintegration fragmentation. It is a society of consumerism, it is a society of communication made by mass media, and is based on hyper reality. Today man is indulged so much in worldly and bodily pleasures that he has forgotten the real aim of life. He does not understand the importance of human values like mercy, charity, compassion, love, fellow feeling and sacrifice. Dr. Raghvendra Narayan Singh is a prolific writer who has written more than sixty books both in English and Hindi on different themes associated with societal norms and human life. In his writings we find Indian ethos and sensibility. Through his writings Dr. Singh aims to reform society by correcting the bad habits and thinking of men and women. He exposes the vices, follies, superfluities and absurdities of the contemporary society. It's A Mad Mad World is a collection of poems written on different occasions of life. Here the poet compares the present life with the life of the past. People are dwelling in glamorous cyber culture and they are crazy for having worldly success at any cost. Money and power have become the main objective of their life. Human values are dissipating rapidly from society. People do not give imporatnce to values like respect for elders, kindness, copassion, honesty, chaos, anarchy, disintegration and violence have commitments, love and good manners. Consequently taken place in the contemporary world. The poet expresses his anguish and disillusionment in the following lines: I felt this world to be a nice place Where everyone is born to celebrate The festivities of life with gaiety and joy But now when I am mature enough to know What's beneath and what looks on the surface It seems we are thrown into a mental asylum Where our sweet medicine is the fatal poison We are to drink daily with pleasure like Socrates Or our own Shiva and Mira with ease Smiling faces have often great pains. (It's A Mad Mad World) The poet had very nice conception of the world where people had simple living and high thinking, they had love and compassion for each other. Contrary to it, now people are devoid of human values. They have become selfish and self centred. It is because of it 'This earth is really a mad mad sphere.' The poet further advises the readers not to get indulged in the unnecessary and unwanted things of the world. This can never be beneficial for humanity.
About The Book
It's a Mad Mad World is Dr. Raghavendra Narayan Singh's fourth collection of poems. This volume of poetry contains fifty two poems composed by the author on different occasions of life. These poems bear the stamp of the writer's views and experiences. Dr. Singh himself admits it, when he says, "Poetry seems to be the perfect medium to express one's personal as well as philosophical thoughts." The poet relates himself to his surroundings. No doubt his poetry expresses the real facts of life. He keeps his eyes close to the events taking place around him to get the material for his poems. That is why his poems are realistic. They endeavour to convery a message to the readers to make life meaningful by living in accordance to the sets of morals laid down by our great forefathers. There is plenty on this earth for each individual, but due to a negative approach to life man is busy making this earth worse than hell. Dr. Raghvendra Narayan Singh's poetry incorporates beautiful images from nature. His style is inimitable. He is on the side of those individuals who are innocent but meted out injustice by the unjust social system. His poetry stands for justice, love, honesty and compassion. Dr. Raghvendra Narayan Singh is definitely a major contemporary poet who is contributing significantly to the body of English writing in India.
About The Author
Raghavendra Narayan Singh (born 1960) holds a Ph.D. degree in English literature from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. A bilingual author Dr. Singh is a prolific writer whose sixty three books speak of his merit as a writer. He has published his books on poetry, fiction, prose, criticism and spirituality. His major books in English include Shades of Darkness (Novel), I will Sing Eternally, An Orchard for life, Shakespeare in India, Dance Draupadi Dance, It's A Mad Mad World, Papa, One Day I Will Go (Poetry), Poetry of W.H. Auden (Criticism), Glory Be to God, Book of God (Spirituality). Besides these, his books in Hindi include twelve novels, seven collections of short stories and twenty anthologies of poems. Raghavendra Narayan Singh served as Professor of English at S.B. Post-graduate College, Badagaon, Varanasi, India till his superannuation in 2021. His research papers are published in reputed journals. He lives at A-55, 212, Gautam Garden Colony, Shivpur Bypass, Shivpur, Varanasi, India.
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Visual Search
Manage Wishlist