Dr. Vanita

Dr. Vanita (b. 1954) minks new thoughts and expresses them exquisitely. The words are invested with new meanings when she gives aesthetic touch to her sensibilities. Supnean di Pagdandi (1985), Harian Chhawan di kabar (1989), BolAlap (1993) and Mandar Saptak (1997) are the collections of her poems.

Yashodra

Siddharath!
Not you but Yashodra
will seek Nirvana this time.
No longer she wants to remain cooped up
in your palace with decorated walls.

She feels depressed
as these embellishments appeal to her
no more.
This time
Yashodra will place in your lap
a pretty baby doll before going away.

Don't worry-
the weariness of life
in my absence
will augment your knowledge
already vast and rich.
I have no idea
what you gained
beneath that Bodh tree.
Now Yashodra will seek Nirvana
after abandoning the comforts
of your grand palace.
A pretty girl, a doll
she will place in your lap
for your new awareness of life
while she herself ventures forth
in search of Nirvana.                                             Yashodra