Goodbye Party For Miss Pushpa T.S. , Short summary and analysis

 Goodbye Party For Miss Pushpa T.S.

Friends,

our dear sister

is departing for foreign

in two three days,

and

we are meeting today

to wish her bon voyage.

You are all knowing, friends,

What sweetness is in Miss Pushpa.

I don't mean only external sweetness

but internal sweetness.

Miss Pushpa is smiling and smiling

even for no reason but simply because

she is feeling.

Miss Pushpa is coming

from very high family.

Her father was renowned advocate

in Bulsar or Surat,

I am not remembering now which place.

Surat? Ah, yes,

once only I stayed in Surat

with family members

of my uncle's very old friend-

his wife was cooking nicely…

that was long time ago.

Coming back to Miss Pushpa

she is most popular lady

with men also and ladies also.

Whenever I asked her to do anything,

she was saying, 'Just now only

I will do it.' That is showing

good spirit. I am always

appreciating the good spirit.

Pushpa Miss is never saying no.

Whatever I or anybody is asking

she is always saying yes,

and today she is going

to improve her prospect

and we are wishing her bon voyage.

Now I ask other speakers to speak

and afterwards Miss Pushpa

will do summing up.

Short summary and analysis 

* Nissim Ezekiel in this poem narrates an incident when a lady namely Miss Pushpa is supposed to leave India and her colleagues have arranged a “Goodbye Party” for her. 

* The narrator begins by announcing that their dear friend is about to leave the country and they have gathered there to bid her goodbye. He then starts praising Miss Pushpa saying that she is beautiful not only because of her charms but her honesty as well. She keeps smiling each time.

* He then tells them that she comes from a reputed family. Her father is a renowned advocate. The narrator doesn’t remember the place and guesses that it could be Bulsar or Surat. He then starts talking about himself. According to him long ago he had stayed in Surat with his Uncle’s friends’ family. His wife used to cook very delicious food.

* The narrator is actually trying to exaggerate to show his love and respect for Miss Pushpa. Such kind of exaggeration is quite common in Hindustani and even an important part of Indian culture.

* After praising Miss Pushpa, the narrator begins talking about his stay in Surat which is also an exaggeration or a kind of self-praise which is also common in Indian culture.

* According to him, he has stayed with his uncle’s friends’ family whose wife cooked good food and in the end, he adds that was long time ago which indicates that he does not want others to cross-check his statement.

* Having talked about himself, the narrator returns back to Miss Pushpa’s praise. According to him, she is quite popular as she does everything whenever asked to do. She never refuses. Now that she is leaving he asks others to bid her goodbye.

* In the end, he asks others to praise her and finally, Miss Pushpa will sum up the event.

* The speaker announces the purpose of the gathering as their friend is about to leave. They want to wish her a good journey. He addresses his colleagues as friends and Miss Pushpa as his sister.

* The speaker moves to remind the crowd of Miss Pushpa’s “sweetness” and says that Pushpa is a sweet person, ever smiling. The poet exhibits the display of flattery and gets sidetracked. He explains that she is the daughter of a famous advocate. He says that she is popular with women as well as men.

* He praises her for doing everything he asks of her. Her response is always “just now only and I will do it? The speaker believes this is indicative of good spirit” Additionally, Miss Pushpa never says no, whatever he or anybody is asking. She is always saying yes. Finally, the speaker informs that it is time for others to speak, and then afterwards Miss pushpa will do summing up.

* Conclusion: Thus, the poem has all the qualities to be described as a farewell address. The inconsistencies in life and language are matters of humor in this poem. The speaker’s language reminds us of Babu’s English. The poem touches upon the use of English by Indians and the speaker’s attitude to comment on post-colonial Indian fascination to go abroad.