Am I attempting a ghost story????
Kind of , I am sharing some ideas about mental my ghosts – sometimes they do occur in the form of ideas. Yesterday an idea stuck me that I should write something about my long term association with Ireland. The ‘association’ is only a psychological one bordering on obsession. This blog is an attempt to map my obsession with Ireland.
It started with W.B Yeats and his lovely poems which I read for my Master’s program. I did his poem ‘Second Coming’ and to substantiate my knowledge I did some background reading. I discovered two things about W.B Yeats,
- He is a victim of unrequited love.
- His fascination with Irish culture primarily the folklore.
The effect the poem had on me is so much that even today I can quote some lines from the poem,
‘Turning and turning in the ever widening gyre.
The falcon cannot hear the falconer’
Again Literature pulled me towards Ireland. This time it was Drama and the author was George Bernard Shaw. The affiliation started in my under graduate days when I read his ‘The Arms and the Man’. To a certain extent the credit also goes to my professor Mr. Philips who had a unique way of handling the class. Later on both in my student life and teaching career George Bernard Shaw was a dominating figure. As a student I read his ‘Pygmalion’ and as a teacher I saw the movie version of Pygmalion – ‘My Fair Lady’. My professors including VJM used to quote GBS to add the necessary punch to their class.
Another Irish author who made me get interested in Irish life was Frank McCourt. I have read his magnum opus titled Angela’s Ashes. As a teacher it was quite a rich experience to read his academic bio – Teacher Man.
My fascination for Ireland is not just restricted to literature. It also includes some popular culture elements like – U2 and the Corrs. U2 appealed to me for their eco-supportive songs and their great guitar work. Corrs for their sibling camaraderie and the fresh young voice especially of the sylvan beauty Andrea.
I don’t know much about Ireland. I have seen some flicks that were shot in Ireland. I have seen some wallpapers and screensavers. I have heard about the Catholic uprising and the IRA. The issues with Northern Ireland and how the UK is pampering the Irish people. Deep in my heart I do cherish a dream of visiting Ireland and inhaling the smell of the land deep in my nostrils.
