Vishnu Khare: A journalist, writer, translator and above all a poet of candour

‘I want to see a sparrow in the exact moment/ When it decides on its own before its last flight/ That it is the last flight and exactly as before/ Flies out beyond clocks and maps/ For a place where perched on an impossible tree, being quiet/ It has to become an invisible sparrow/ I just want to see/ Because neither can I get the resolve of the sparrows nor their flight/ I can only make an effort for these in my death...’ (Vishnu Khare)

Vishnu Khare was a versatile journalist and writer, versatile because he could write and edit news copies with as much ease as he would write a critique, a review or a thought-provoking intellectual analysis. But above all, he was essentially a poet.

There was a stark difference between Khare and the ‘image’ of a poet that we all carry. The tender emotions, intense sensitivity and lucidity of expression were not at all reflected in his semblance. He was a person, most of us would remember as having plenty of rough edges. He used to come across as a very aloof and dry person, almost ‘rude’. But in the world of literature where it’s difficult to ‘fathom’ the intellectual and creative superficiality and depths alike, Vishnu Khare’s persona stood out for his intellectual soundness and integrity.

It is immaterial to recount the accolades he received as a poet, writer. Of course, Khare received many. It is his words and poems which will remain precious and relevant for us and in them he can be rediscovered every now and then for years to come. He was a translator, scriptwriter, film and music critic too. Not many writers can dabble in such varied forms of writing. Writing poetry in form of prose and breaking the boundaries of prose and poetry would be one of his major accomplishments in Hindi poetry..

I remember, when I started writing in the 90s, Hindi poets were striving to create poetry in the form of prose—prose poetry. The poems were written in short paragraphs with short succinct and expressive lines. Mangalesh Dabral is one such poet who has maintained the inherent simplicity, lyricism and profundity in prose poetry too.

Vishnu Khare was the poet who used prosaic sentences, even stories in his poems to convey a much deeper thought and emotion. As satirist and writer Vishnu Nagar said in his tribute, “He was the most important poet of our time. The changes he brought about in poetry, younger poets afterwards followed them. In fact, his style of writing poetry was a little different. He used to write poems as if writing a story or we can say that he used to write a story in a poem. He used to write stories too. It’s difficult to write such poetry… This style of writing a poetry by a journalist created a very different and special image of Vishnu Khare.”

Vishnu Khare’s ‘Goong Mahal’ is a brilliant example of such poems.

Eminent Hindi Journalist, poet and writer Priyadarshan wrote that although Vishnu Khare came across as a rough and rude person, he never discouraged dialogue and never hesitated in calling a spade a spade. He wrote poetry in an absolutely non-poetic language, almost as if writing facts as a journalist but in the process he could reveal deep poetic sentiments. He was a poet who could write a poem on any prosaic subject. It’s clear, his poetry was not dependent on any immediate impulses or reactions, instead, it consisted of a feeling built on a long conceptualisation which made the reader look at a subject in a new light.

Well-known poet Anamika wrote on her Facebook wall that she was always surprised by Vishnu Khare. He was very terse in his interaction and his poetry reflected an amazing intellect and intelligence. But in totality, he was kind-hearted and the child-like simplicity of this audacious and irreverent person was a revelation to her.

Eminent Hindi poet Mangalesh Dabral was not only Vishnu Khare’s good friend but also admired his scathing intellect and a deep understanding of music and cinema. Paying an emotional tribute to the veteran poet, journalists, critic, translator, writer, above all a poet, Dabral rightly pointed out his commitment, candour, intellect and his rebellious streak.

Not many are left in Hindi literature to carry this tradition of forthrightness, sound intellect and profound though mostly biting sensitivity;

‘I have removed myself from every competition/ I am not your opponent, rival or partner/ No matter whether you give me something or not/you can be relaxed about at least one man..’ (Vishnu Khare)