'Caged: Memories Have Names' by Gulzar - Book Review

Caged: Memories Have Names by Gulzar, is an autobiography in verse. He reminiscences about the famous people he has known or who have influenced him. On the left side is the Hindi original, and on the right side Sathya Saran’s translation of Gulzar’s poem on a person. 

As expected, most personalities he writes on are in the world of art, ranging from film makers like Bimal Roy to actors like Naserruddin Shah. Music maestros also find space in this book, from Jagjit Singh to Asha Bhosle. Other luminaries from performing arts included here are from the world of dance, like Birju Maharaj.

Poets are often inspired by artists, and Gulzar has written on contemporaries like Jatin Das and greats like Van Gogh. Inspiring personalities are covered too, ranging from Gandhi to Neil Armstrong. 

The book is divided in four parts, and the last one has poems on his family. The poems on his grandson, Samay, are particularly evocative. 

Gulzar’s characteristic style of strong natural metaphors is evident in his poem on Jayanta Mahapatra. Perhaps because he composed a poem imagining a death of the poet, and then titled it Jayanta Mahapatra after the latter’s death, this one is stronger than the rest. 

Some lines from there - 

“He would collect the shadows of the moon

And droplets o flight, somewhat damp

Holding in his palm, he would rattle

The leaves of the night

Pick from the dense forest of time

Moments that were raw, moments that were ripe.”

These lines are even more beautiful in the Hindi original.

Gulzar’s poem on Asha Bhonsle is also melodious -

“A sprinkliing of tears, a burst of sunshine

From the body of that clay

A sapling of musical notes.

Place the words anywhere

On a branch of her voice

And their meaning

Flowers, full blown,

On her lips. 

Yet, often when the weather shifts

And harsh winds blow

As it hangs precariously from a branch

A nest trembles.

Which ‘thaat’ was kneaded thus?

Holding in it the cool of the neem

This burst of sunshine…

A sapling of melodious notes.”

However, some poems are schoolboyish. It is difficult to write poetically while trying to narrate the story of someone’s life, so Gulzar’s poems on Premchand or Van Gogh fall short. His poem on Jatin Das however, does the artist justice. 

“A painter 

Raised his arm

And using the moon as chalk

Drew burning lines on the sky.”

Contemporaries of Gulzar would enjoy this book the most and they would be familiar with the people he mentions. The younger generation is unlikely to know most of these figures. His pen flows most freely when he talks about his contemporaries, as he focuses on his experiences with them in those cases. 

Rather than an autobiography in verse, this tome is a series of eulogies and odes. The lack of variety in emotions therefore, is a drawback. However, it is worth a read. Gulzar is unquestionably one of the icons of our times and his perspective on his contemporaries is invaluable. 

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