Wind by Subramania Bharati: Unlock Its Deep Meaning

Wind by Subramania Bharati is a powerful poem that explores themes of strength, resilience, and the force of nature. This comprehensive guide is designed to help Class IX students understand the essence of the poem, its poetic devices, and its deeper meanings. Whether you’re preparing for exams or simply looking to appreciate the beauty of Bharati’s words, this post provides a detailed summary, word meanings, questions and answers, and extra practice to ensure you’re fully prepared. Dive into the world of ‘Wind’ and discover how to interpret its powerful message for your exams!

Summary of Wind by Subramania Bharati

The poem Wind by Subramania Bharati, translated by A.K. Ramanujan, portrays the wind as a powerful force of nature. Initially, the poet pleads with the wind to be gentle, urging it not to cause destruction by breaking shutters, scattering papers, or tearing books. However, the wind mocks the weak and destroys fragile structures, weak bodies, and fragile spirits. The poet personifies the wind as a symbol of challenges in life, emphasising that it favours strength over frailty.

To befriend the wind, the poet advises building strong houses, reinforcing doors, and developing strength in body and mind. He highlights how the wind extinguishes weak fires but makes strong ones thrive. The poem concludes by appreciating the wind’s power, teaching readers to embrace challenges and grow stronger. This inspiring poem is part of the Beehive textbook for Class 9 English under NCERT solutions.

Important Themes in Wind by Subramania Bharati

The Destructive Power of Wind

The poem highlights the wind’s uncontrollable and destructive nature. It is portrayed as a force that tears down fragile structures, such as weak houses, doors, and rafters. It also destroys books, scatters papers, and disrupts lives. This destruction symbolises how life’s challenges can break the weak and unprepared. The poet uses vivid imagery to show how the wind crushes anything vulnerable, urging readers to acknowledge and respect nature’s immense power.

Strength Versus Weakness

A central theme in the poem is the contrast between strength and weakness. The wind is unkind to the weak, demolishing whatever cannot withstand its force. However, it strengthens the sturdy and resilient. This serves as a metaphor for life’s adversities, where only those who prepare and persevere can thrive. The poet encourages us to build physical, emotional, and spiritual strength to face challenges.

Embracing Challenges

Instead of resisting or fearing the wind, the poet suggests befriending it by preparing ourselves. This theme conveys the idea that challenges are inevitable, but they can be turned into opportunities for growth. By reinforcing homes, strengthening bodies, and firming our hearts, we can make peace with the forces that initially appear hostile.

The Wind as a Friend

The poet ultimately praises the wind, seeing its friendship as beneficial. Strong fires roar and flourish under the wind’s influence, symbolising how adversities can help the strong grow even stronger. The poem teaches that with preparation, resilience, and determination, we can turn hardships into allies, leading to success and fulfilment.

Paraphrase of Wind by Subramania Bharati

The wind blows fiercely and causes destruction. The poet requests the wind to be gentle and not break things like window shutters, scatter papers, or throw books off shelves. The wind is cruel to the weak, destroying frail houses, doors, and even lives. It does not listen to requests or commands.

The poet advises building strong houses and doors, making our bodies and hearts firm, and preparing to face challenges. If we are strong, the wind will be our friend. Weak fires are extinguished by the wind, but strong fires grow bigger. The wind, like life’s difficulties, helps the strong become stronger. The poet ends by praising the wind’s strength and encourages us to learn from it.

Words Meaning of Wind by Subramania Bharati

Words/Expressions	Meaning
Shutters	Panels attached to windows that can be opened or closed
Scatter	Spread things in different directions
Rafters	Beams that support a roof
Winnows	Separates the useful part from the unwanted, often used for grain
Crumbling	Breaking into small pieces or falling apart
Weaklings	People or things that are physically or mentally weak
Poking fun	Making fun of or mocking
Steadfast	Firm, strong, and unchanging
Flourish	To grow or develop in a healthy, strong way
Extinguish	To put out a fire or stop something from burning
Adversities	Difficult or unpleasant situations
Fragile	Easily broken, damaged, or destroyed
Symbolises	Represents an idea or quality
Persevere	To continue doing something despite difficulties

Poetic Devices in Wind by Subramania Bharati

Personification

The poet personifies the wind by giving it human traits, portraying it as a mischievous and destructive force. For example:

• “You tore the pages of the books.”
• “The wind god winnows and crushes them all.”
  This device helps readers relate to the wind as a metaphor for challenges in life.

Alliteration

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words adds rhythm and musicality to the poem. For instance:

• “Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters.”
  The repeated “c” sound emphasises the fragility of weak things.

Repetition

Words like “crumbling” are repeated to highlight destruction and vulnerability caused by the wind. This reinforces the poem’s central message about strength and resilience.

Imagery

The poet uses vivid descriptions to create strong mental pictures, such as:

• “Don’t scatter the papers. Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.”
  These images help readers visualise the wind’s impact.

Symbolism

The wind symbolises adversities in life. Its destructive power represents challenges that test the strength of individuals. For example:

• “The wind blows out weak fires. He makes strong fires roar and flourish.”

Metaphor

The poet compares the wind to a powerful force that separates the weak from the strong:

• “The wind god winnows and crushes them all.”
  This metaphor suggests how life’s struggles help the strong rise above difficulties.

Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence across multiple lines creates a natural flow in the poem. For example:

• “So, come, let’s build strong homes, / Let’s joint the doors firmly.”

These poetic devices work together to convey the poem’s message about resilience and preparation in the face of life’s challenges.

Wind by Subramania Bharati Questions and Answers

Thinking About the Poem

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

Very Short Answer:
The wind breaks shutters, scatters papers, throws down books, tears their pages, and brings rain.

I.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.)

Short Answer:
Yes, winnowing is a common practice in rural areas. In Hindi, it is called ‘Ootna’. People use a sup (a flat, bamboo basket) to separate grain from chaff.

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

Very Short Answer:
The poet says the wind god winnows weak and fragile things, separating them from the strong.

I.4. What should we do to make friends with the wind?

Short Answer:
We should build strong homes, secure doors, strengthen our bodies, and make our hearts firm. By becoming resilient and prepared, we can befriend the wind.

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

Long Answer:
The last four lines convey that challenges in life, like the wind, help the strong become stronger while the weak perish. The wind extinguishes weak fires but makes strong ones flourish. It teaches us to embrace adversities as opportunities for growth.

I.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 like the poet’s?

Long Answer:
The poet speaks to the wind with a mix of humour and earnestness. He acknowledges its destructive power but also sees it as a force that strengthens the prepared. The idea of the wind “crumbling lives” reflects how challenges impact people differently. Like the poet, I believe we should accept adversities and build resilience rather than fear them.

II. The poem you have just read is originally in Tamil. Do you know any such poems in your language (Hindi or Urdu)?

Short Answer:
Yes, in Hindi, poems like “Pushp Ki Abhilasha” by Makhanlal Chaturvedi convey themes of nature and resilience. In Urdu, “Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua” by Allama Iqbal inspires strength and hope. Both reflect the essence of overcoming challenges, similar to this poem.

Wind by Subramania Bharati Extra Questions and Answers

Thinking Beyond the Text

I.1. How does the poet use the wind as a metaphor for life’s challenges?

Short Answer:
The wind symbolises difficulties in life. Its destructive nature highlights how adversities test people’s strength. The poet suggests building resilience to withstand these challenges.

I.2. Why does the poet focus on building strong homes and firming the body?

Short Answer:
Strong homes and firm bodies represent physical and mental preparedness. The poet emphasises that only strength and determination can help us overcome life’s hardships.

I.3. Do you think the wind is portrayed as a friend or foe in the poem? Why?

Long Answer:
The wind is portrayed as both a friend and a foe. It appears destructive when it breaks weak things but becomes a friend to those who are strong and prepared. This dual nature shows how life’s challenges can either crush or empower us.

I.4. Can the wind be seen as a symbol of change? Explain.

Short Answer:
Yes, the wind can symbolise change, as it clears away the weak and frail while strengthening the strong. It teaches us that change, though challenging, often leads to growth and renewal.

I.5. Why does the poet say, “The wind god winnows and crushes them all”?

Short Answer:
The poet likens the wind god to a force that separates the weak from the strong. It metaphorically shows how life’s struggles eliminate weakness and nurture strength.

Imagery and Style

II.1. What is the significance of the repeated use of the word “crumbling” in the poem?

Short Answer:
The repetition of “crumbling” highlights the fragility of weak structures, both physical and emotional. It reinforces the destructive power of the wind on unprepared things.

II.2. How does the poet create a sense of motion and energy in the poem?

Short Answer:
The poet uses action verbs like “break,” “scatter,” and “throw down.” These words, along with vivid imagery, convey the wind’s force and energy effectively.

II.3. Why do you think the poet refers to the wind god instead of simply ‘wind’?

Short Answer:
By referring to the wind god, the poet personifies the wind and gives it a divine and uncontrollable quality, emphasising its power over human efforts.

II.4. How does the poem inspire a positive outlook on facing difficulties?

Long Answer:
The poem encourages readers to face challenges with strength and preparedness. It shows that adversities can be turned into opportunities for growth if we build resilience. Instead of fearing the wind, the poet advises making friends with it, promoting optimism and determination.

II.5. How is the poem relevant to the lives of students?

Short Answer:
The poem teaches students the value of hard work, preparation, and resilience. It encourages them to see challenges as opportunities to grow stronger and achieve success.

Wind by Subramania Bharati Summary in Hindi

वायु – सुब्रह्मण्य भारती

कविता का विस्तृत सारांश

सुब्रह्मण्य भारती द्वारा लिखित कविता “वायु” में कवि ने हवा को एक प्रतीकात्मक रूप में प्रस्तुत किया है। यह केवल प्रकृति का तत्व नहीं है, बल्कि जीवन की कठिनाइयों और चुनौतियों का प्रतीक भी है।

कविता की शुरुआत में, कवि हवा से निवेदन करता है कि वह धीरे-धीरे चले और किसी प्रकार की तोड़फोड़ न करे। हवा की तेज़ गति से खिड़कियों के शटर टूट जाते हैं, कागज इधर-उधर बिखर जाते हैं और अलमारी से किताबें गिर जाती हैं। कवि हवा की इस उद्दंडता को देखकर उसे शांति से चलने का आग्रह करता है।

इसके बाद कवि हवा की शक्ति का वर्णन करता है। हवा कमजोर चीजों को चकनाचूर कर देती है, जैसे कमजोर घर, दरवाजे, शरीर और दिल। यहां “वायु” को एक पवित्र देवता के रूप में दर्शाया गया है जो “अनाज को फटकने” (छानने) की प्रक्रिया की तरह कमजोर और मजबूत को अलग करता है।

कवि कहता है कि हमें मजबूत बनना चाहिए। हमें अपने घरों को मज़बूत बनाना चाहिए, दरवाजों को मज़बूती से जोड़ना चाहिए, शरीर को सशक्त बनाना चाहिए और अपने दिल को दृढ़ रखना चाहिए। कवि यह सिखाता है कि हवा, या जीवन की कठिनाइयां, केवल कमजोरों को नुकसान पहुंचाती हैं। जो लोग आत्मविश्वास और साहस से भरे होते हैं, हवा उनके लिए दोस्त बन जाती है।

अंत में, कवि हवा की प्रशंसा करता है। वह कहता है कि हवा कमजोर आग को बुझा देती है लेकिन मजबूत आग को और प्रज्वलित करती है। इसी प्रकार, जीवन की चुनौतियां कमजोर व्यक्तियों को हताश कर देती हैं, लेकिन मजबूत व्यक्तियों को और अधिक सफलता प्राप्त करने में सहायता करती हैं। कवि हर दिन इस “वायु देवता” की प्रशंसा करने की बात करता है और इसे एक सकारात्मक और प्रेरणादायक दृष्टिकोण से देखता है।

इस प्रकार, यह कविता हमें सिखाती है कि जीवन की कठिनाइयों से बचने की बजाय हमें उनका सामना करने के लिए खुद को तैयार करना चाहिए।

Urdu Summary: Wind by Subramania Bharati