Madhushala - Rubaiya 28

बनी रहें अंगूर लताएँ
banee rahen angoor lataayen
जिनसे मिलती है हाला,
jinse miltee hai haalaa,
बनी रहे वह मिट्टी जिससे
banee rahe mitti jisse
बनता है मधु का प्याला,
bantaa hai madhu kaa pyaalaa
बनी रहे वह मदिर पिपासा
banee rahe vah madir pipaasaa
तृपत न जो होना जाने,
tript na jo ho honaa jaane,
बने रहें ये पीने वाले,
bane rahen ye peene waale,
बनी रहे यह मधुशाला
banee rahe yeh madhushala


The first time I read it, I didn't understand this verse. On the one hand, Bachchan says that the madhushala represents the undefeated, immutable laws of life...and on the other hand, he wishes, in this verse, that it stays available. I thought that this verse was in the tradition of the South Asian way of saying something was desirable by wishing it longevity. For example, we say, "may you live long", to indicate that you are loved or wanted.


This may indeed be the explanation, but I'd like to think that Bachchan pointed out something deeper in this verse. The parochialism of ideas and organizations make us selfish and greedy; we denude the earth and build instruments of death as a consequence. It is possible that in being thus, we may destroy ourselves entirely; and with that will go the madhushala as well? Is it possible that Bachchan is hoping that it won't come to that - that we will somehow stay south of complete destruction; that somehow, the human spirit will prevent us from annihilating ourselves?


May the madhushala remain open! For eternity!