Divided in between Quest and Dilemma in Arun Kolatkar’s Poetry

Abstract

Postmodern Indian English poetry is the result of many experiments, new themes, techniques, personal experience, irony, maximalism, pastiche and above all rejection of romantic and melodious style and rhythm. So many poets like Jayanta Mahapatra, A.K.Ramanujan, Kamala Das, Shiv.K.Kumar, Gieve Patel and Arun Kolatkar try to keep up the tradition of postmodernism in their poetry. But among them Arun Kolatkar is somehow different. His poetry is free from any kind of imitation and antipoetic elements are seen in his poetry. He is ironic, experimental, sardonic, unconventional and realistic in nature. The so called Indian society, religion, rituals do not influence him as he is more interested in realism, modernism, society and local people. He is a very simple downtrodden poet and often we find in his poetry dualism and conflict between tradition and modernism, between realism and superstition and he always wants to search the truth behind all these. This paper attempts to highlight his quest for truth and the dilemma and conflict that we find in his poetry.

Keywords: Quest, Truth, Authenticity, Dilemma, Modernity.