RADHIKA SUBHANKAR MUKHERJEE

 

 

Manasi

 

Manasi, you are a beautiful and an elegant Lady,

blessed with a sound mind and a kind heart,

renowned for your intellectual abilities,

and for your spiritual endeavour.

 

You are also equated to the divinity of wisdom,

which is another appellation for goddess Saraswati,

though you are younger to many in age,

your wisdom places you at inordinate altitude than any.

 

In the past, I shone in many fields,

trying to prove myself in every test,

slowly and gradually my performance vanished,

after encountering thunder blows from competitors.

 

Later none trusted my abilities including myself,

I bolted the doors of liberty for good of others,

the talents that once were highly praised,

got crumbled under the title of groupism.

 

You strode into my life like an Angel,

softly listening and patiently consoling,

sprinkling your words of wisdom and reassurance,

motivating me to come out of my shell.

 

Today I dare to step out of my shell,

with baby steps holding your hand to stand firm,

feeling glad to be gracefully and lovingly nurtured,

under your unconditional care and affection.

 

You are gifted abundantly to discern,

the right from the wrong in a peculiar way,

attending to everyone’s issues equally,

and ensuring your decisions for the welfare of all.

 

You have a solution to every problem,

in fact, the problem disappears as you appear,

for your unique way of dealing with problems,

and the problem makers sing praises to you.

 

You have enlightened many lives with your own light,

eventually your efforts bore fruits in the barren land,

Touched multitude of depressed and oppressed souls,

ensuring a better place for everyone under one roof.

 

You go about showering your love and gentleness,

creating a special place within many hearts,

comforting and elevating every distressed soul,

paving a way open to enjoy one’s complete liberty.

 

(This poem is dedicated to my dear Dr. Manasi Pradhan,

Joint Secretary, Satish Pradhan Dnyanasadhana College, Thane, Maharashtra, India)

 

©Capt. Dr. Radhika S. Mukherjee

 

A Free Bird

 

I want to be a free bird,

flying high with likeminded friends,

free from all kinds of discriminations,

that shatters me down to mere nothing.

 

I want to go where my heart desires,

slowly flapping my wings against the winds,

turning my sight away from the scary nights,

and looking forward to take new flights.

 

I want to free myself from the bondages,

that have tied up my legs with chains,

so that I go on an adventurous voyage,

and fly high in the sky of knowledge.

 

I want to demonstrate to the world,

that I am able to fly high,

showcasing my talents and capabilities,

while going on new strides and rides.

©Capt. Dr. Radhika S. Mukherjee

 

Being Me

 

I am what I am,

and I know who I am.

I strive hard each day to get recognized,

but I still love myself the way I am.

 

Born with a graceful look,

later twisted invisible in your sight,

though the journey wasn't smooth at all,

but I still love myself the way I am.

 

I was never the same formerly,

beautiful appearance rapidly got disappeared,

inverted my world just upside down,

but I still love myself the way I am.

 

Life transformed me from slim to obese,

beautiful hair got almost flimsy,

my hormones weren’t in balanced harmony,

but I still love myself the way I am.

 

Lost appearance frequently raised eyebrows,

my abilities have encountered the knife of distrust,

people typically became judgmental about me,

but I still love myself the way I am.

 

I lost my identity in this journey,

very few friends trusted my abilities,

they reduced me to sheer zilch,

but I still love the way I am.

 

There were moments of despair,

when my fertility was interrogated,

grains of futility were sown in my brains,

but I still love myself the way I am.

 

Experiences of being the other,

belittling remarks habitually ensued,

genuine sentiments of mine were stifled,

but I still love myself the way I am.

 

Today I am glad for 'Being Me',

I assent all my flaws with an open heart,

I am the one who can stand still,

while encountering the blows of a thunderstorm.

 

Each one is beautiful and worthy in every sense,

things and situations at times stumble,

life thus must endure an undesirable change,

but just try to love the way you are.

©Capt. Dr. Radhika S. Mukherjee

 

Capt. Dr. RADHIKA SUBHANKAR MUKHERJEE is an Associate Professor in the Department of English, at Satish Pradhan Dnyanasadhana College, Thane, Maharashtra, India. She is a recognized Post Graduate Teacher for the M.A. degree in the Subject of English of the University of Mumbai. She has an experience of 19 years in teaching English at Under Graduate level and 6 years in Post Graduate level. She is also an Associate NCC Officer Commissioned with Captain Rank at NCC Officers Training Academy, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh in 2009. Dr. Radhika S. Mukherjee has a Doctoral degree in African American Literature, from the University of Mumbai. Her area of Specialization is African American Literature. Her areas of interest are Diaspora, British Literature, Indian English Literature, Dalit Literature, Migration Studies, Communication Skills, Business Communication and English Language Teaching. She is a Poet and writes on various themes such as Love, God, Women, Friendship, Life, Happiness, Hope, Despair, etc. She is the author of Melodies of a Heart: A Collection of Poems and Glittering Pearls She has presented multiple Research papers at State, National and International Seminars and Conferences. She is on the Syllabus Framing Committee for Post-Graduation in English Literature at University of Mumbai, K. J. Somaiya College and Elphinstone College, Mumbai. Besides, she has published many Research Papers and Poems in International Journals, Books and Anthologies. She is currently on the Editorial Board for 3 International Journals. Furthermore, she is actively involved in Women Empowerment activities and social services towards the society. Capt. Dr. Radhika S. Mukherjee is the recipient of Director General NCC Commendation Card Award 2023, Inspirational Women Award, Certificate of Excellence in Firing (Shooting), Best Indian Author 2021, Lalit Mohan Das Memorial Trophy (Painting), Best Associate NCC Officer & Cultural Incharge, Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Performance (National Integration Camp), Achiever of the Year 2020 (Mararthon) and Krutavatya Shalini 2020.