Author(s): Jayantakumar Panda
Abstract:
A. K. Ramanujan’s Obituary is a poignant meditation on death, legacy, and the complex intersections of familial memory and ritual. Through a layered narrative of personal recollection and cultural commentary, the poem captures the emotional aftermath of a father’s passing, highlighting what remains: ashes, obligations, and yearly rites. Written in sparse, evocative free verse, the poem resists sentimental eulogy, offering instead a critical exploration of mortality, transience, and ritual. This paper analyzes the poem through multiple lenses—literary, philosophical, spiritual, and cultural—revealing its deep alignment with Upanishadic and Vedantic wisdom concerning impermanence, karma, ritual, and the nature of the Self. Drawing from scriptural references such as the Katha Upanishad, Bhagavad Gita, Shrimad Bhagavatam, and the Vachanamrut, the study unpacks how Ramanujan’s modern voice resonates with ancient truths while questioning the hollow shell of social customs divorced from inner realization.
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