WIND by Subramania Bharati

 I. Thinking about the poem 

 1. What are the things the wind does in the first stanza?

 In the first stanza, the wind breaks shutters, scatters papers, tears book pages, and brings rain, showing its destructive and powerful nature. These actions highlight how the wind causes chaos and damage. 

 2. Have you seen anybody winnow grain at home or in a paddy field? What is the word in your language for winnowing? 

What do people use for winnowing? (Give the words in your language, if you know them.) Yes, winnowing is a common process in farming areas. In Hindi, winnowing is called "सूपना" (Soopna) or "फटकना" (Fatakna). People use a "सूप" (Soop) or winnowing fan—a flat, circular basket—to separate the grain from the chaff by tossing it in the air. The lighter husk blows away, while the heavier grains fall back down. 

 3. What does the poet say the wind god winnows? 

 In the poem ‘Wind’ by Subramania Bharati, the poet uses the metaphor of winnowing to describe how the wind god separates the weak from the strong. Just as farmers winnow grain to remove husk from seeds, the wind god winnows people—crumbling weak houses, doors, rafters, and hearts, while leaving the strong unharmed. 

 4. How does we make wind our friend? 

 To make the wind our friend, we must become strong and resilient. The poet advises us to build sturdy homes, firmly shut doors, and strengthen our bodies and hearts. When we prepare ourselves to face life’s challenges—just like a tree that bends but doesn’t break—the wind, instead of destroying us, becomes our ally. It winnows away weakness but leaves the strong standing tall. By embracing courage and perseverance, we can turn the wind from a foe into a friend. 

 5. What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you? 

 The last four lines teach us that we can't stop the wind—or life's challenges—from coming, but we can prepare ourselves to face them bravely. Just like building a strong house protects us from storms, we must strengthen our bodies, minds, and hearts to withstand difficulties. When we become resilient, the wind stops being our enemy and instead becomes a friend that makes us tougher. The poet reminds us that true strength comes from within, helping us grow unshaken by any storm. 

 6. How does the poet speak to the wind—in anger or with humour? You must also have seen or heard of the wind “crumbling lives”. What is your response to this? Is it same as the poet’s? 

 The poet addresses the wind not with anger or humour, but with a practical and defiant tone, acknowledging its destructive power while urging us to respond with strength and resilience. He describes how the wind "crushes weak things" but then instructs us to "build strong homes" and "make the heart steadfast," turning his message into both a warning and a call to action. Like the poet, I've seen how life's sudden storms—whether literal winds or personal struggles—can shake us, but where he emphasizes resistance, I believe we can also learn to adapt and grow from these challenges, much like trees that bend without breaking in strong winds. This perspective doesn't contradict the poet's lesson but expands it, suggesting that while we prepare for hardship, we can also find wisdom in weathering it. 

 7. The poem you have just read is originally in Tamil. Do you know any such poems in your language? 

 Yes, many Indian languages have beautiful poems about nature’s forces, just like Wind. For example: "Pavan" (पवन) by Harivansh Rai Bachchan celebrates the wind as both a destroyer and a life giver.