Realistic Approach of Life with Special Reference to Dalvir Singh Gahlawat's Poem “Self”

Dalvir Singh Gahlawat is one of the leading voices in Indian English poetry. He is the author of Smile from the Veil: A Collection of Poems, and a number of academic books. His poems deal with various issues of life and the ways for its betterment. He shares his sweet and sour experiences and underlines the contemporary situation of the society suggesting and fixing the accountability for the betterment of mass which is easily convincible by the so called contractors and reformers of the society. The difficulty he raises in his poetry is faced by everybody in his life from cradle to death. “Self” is one of his important poems that vindicates difficulties, courage, vision and positivity towards life. it represents the common man's celebration of self who is recollecting the memories of birth and development of his self. The poet symbolizes man's self with a little sapling in dexterous manner. He puts up whole process of development of man's self and tiny sapling. What can be more realistic and more just to compare one's self other than a sapling? Self and sapling both are created by God; both come across hurdles of life; both suffer in adverse situations right from the start but they develop beautifully and secure a splendid as well respectable place in the world. Both are the symbols of truth, courage and confidence. The paper is a comprehensive study of the poem “Self” in which the poet shows that self and sapling both celebrate their victory over negative situations but life is not so smooth so they are destined to put themselves in the troubles again and again. It is the very truth of life that one has to go and go towards the path of ambition without any malice in order to achieve one's goal.