Chapter 1 - Introduction: Poetic Mind of K. V. Dominic
by P. C. K. PREM
Dominic considers multiculturalism or unity in diversity as the essence of existence, the real beauty of oneness. The symphony and harmony in nature are symbols of unity in diversity. Multiculturalism is visible everywhere—from microcosm to macrocosm, from individuals and families to the entire world. The human organism certainly displays diversity, but still, wide-ranging organs work for the whole in perfect harmony. If a man upholds harmony in each wing of life, a meaningful synthesis will work for a dignified cause. Like many poets, he affirms that materialism distorts, rather kills principles, values, family, and social relations. Corruption is the hallmark of contemporary life where poets, as prophets, must perform social duties, he exhorts at many places. And the advent of terrorism and religious fanaticism disturb him. He calls it an irony that a man does everything in the name of God.
K. V. Dominic has published three poetic collections:Winged Reason (2010), Write Son, Write (2011),and Multicultural Symphony (2014) so far, and each volume exhibits the poet’s anxieties for the little aspirations of an ordinary man who works in the fields and factories and who does not live a comfortable life.
Earthly Realities
Dominic’sWinged Reason is a collection of poems of earthly imagination. Lofty thoughts and ideas are not the areas of his poetic forays. Dominic is worried about the social life of man. If a man is happy in a society and earns his livelihood, he makes a wonderful world.Winged Reason conveys a definite message. His second collection of poemsWrite Son, Write carries the thought process forward, and again the poet raises issues concerning man, life, and god. He is truly realistic and down-to-earth in the sense that the words with the tonal values do not distract the readers with multi-faceted meanings. InMulticultural Symphony, thoughts of love, fellow feelings, social anxieties, and compassion present universal feelings of human sentiments. He attempts to recognize pains, sufferings, and anguish of men, who work hard, live a miserly life but contribute to the building of vast empires, nations, and rulers. However, no one really thinks of the wellbeing of the poor and hardworking people.
The poet believes in simple, straight, and unadorned language while displaying genuine anxiety for the socially neglected segments of society. He is more interested in conveying feelings, thoughts, miseries, and the little joys of life rather than the craft and style of poetry. He is genuinely interested in life of men and considers it a poetic forte when he says:
A poet should be responsible to his own conscience. Otherwise, he cannot be called a poet. I do agree with Jayanta Mahapatra that the craft and style of language are only frills of poetry. A poet is a creator, a representative of the Almighty Creator. His duty is to recreate the world in the minds of the readers with added beauty. He has to present before his fellow beings an ideal world. Let me make a criticism of my poems, as Seamus Heaney, the Nobel Laureate, has always been doing to his poems. As a poet, I am responsible to my own conscience and I want to convey an emotion or a message often through social criticism.... poetry should be digestible as short stories and novels are. I adopt a conversational style in poetry, which again attracts the ordinary readers. Here I am influenced much by the Victorian poet Robert Browning.
I believe what he says, and he proves it. Poetry, if serves humanity, will make a permanent impression, he feels. He concentrates on the miserable conditions of the poor and feels emotional attachment. He constructs a philosophy of life worth emulating. In the sufferings of man, he finds hidden zest and meaning for life. The relation between God, Nature, and Man is the theme in Dominic’s poetry. The poet believes that Man learns many things from Nature and non-human beings. Unfortunately, human b
