Ceiling is Leaking
Translated by Shashidhar G. Vaidya
Shishunala Sharif
The roof is leaking with ignorance
The roof is leaking
The roof is leaking
There is no one to strengthen the timber
In this darkness that surrounds me
I cannot climb up there
The wooden beam eaten by termites is broken
The bolts holding the beam have given away
The frame for the thatched tiles has holes in it
I cannot climb up there
The dry grass on the roof is filled with filth
And is torn and ants are all over it
The mud is not able to hold the water
The inside and the outside have become one
Oh mother! Listen to me with mercy
Heavy rains have come down on me
But I have faith in Shishunaaladeesha
He will protect me.
- Biography -
- Shishunala Sharif was a prominent Indian poet.
- Born: 7 March 1819, Shishuvinahala
- Died: 3 July 1889 (age 70 years), Shishuvinahala.
- Full name: Mohammed Sharieff.
- He was a Devadasi, a traditional Indian musician and dancer.
- Shishunala Sharif’s poetry is known for its spiritual depth and universal themes.
Shishunala Sharif (Kannada: ಸಂತ ಶಿಶುನಾಳ ಶರೀಫ) was a saint poet, philosopher and social reformer from the state of Karnataka in India. His compositions of tatvapada(moral poems) are in Kannada language. Sharif is recognized as the first ever Muslim poet in Kannada literature.
Shishunala Sharif was born on 7 March 1819 in Shishuvinahala, a village in shiggaon taluk at Haveri district, Karnataka. He was the only son and a late born to his parents. Legend has it that Shishunala Sharif was conceived with the blessings of Gods.
As a child, Shishunala Sharif was very charming and intelligent. After completing his studies, he worked as a school teacher for a while, before taking up the spiritual search. He found a Guru in Shri Kalasada Guru Govinda Bhatta. They both shared a very cordial relationship and often engaged in intriguing spiritual discussions.
Though a Muslim by birth, Shishunala Sharif believed in Hinduism also, bringing in communal harmony. In his birth place Shishuvinahala, even today, both Hindus and Muslims can be seen worshipping him at the same temple.
Shishunala Sharif was known to compose poems as per the situation and sing them to spread the message. Though he never wrote down his compositions, by word of mouth many of them have been passed down to future generations.
Furthermore it is believed that Sri Govinda Bhatta, a Brahmin (priestly class in Hindu religion), did not hesitate to make him a Brahmin. Shishunala Sharif’s preachings can be compared with those of Kabir Das’s(in northern India).
Film
Santa Shishunala Sharif has been the subject of a Kannada feature film directed by T.S. Nagabharana in 1990. The main character was played by the Kannada actor Sridhar, and supporting cast included Girish Karnad, and Suman Ranganath
Sharif’s songs have been sung by famous playback singers, notably C. Aswath.
Raghu Dixit’s work has been appreciated for spreading the words of Sharif’s wisdom to the world. Raghu’s self titled debut album launched by the popular music director duo Vishal-Shekhar contains two songs “Soruthihudu Maniya Maligi” and “Gudugudiya Sedi Noda”, which are inspired by Sharif’s poems.
Introduction/Theme
“Ceiling is Leaking” by Shushilanal Sharif is a poem that uses the imagery of a dilapidated, leaking roof to convey feelings of helplessness, despair, and the need for faith in difficult times. The poem vividly portrays a scene where the roof of a house is in severe disrepair, symbolizing both physical and metaphorical challenges in life. The speaker of the poem expresses their struggles, highlighting the overwhelming sense of neglect and decay, but ultimately places hope in a higher power, trusting that they will find protection and salvation.
The poem opens with the repeated line, “The roof is leaking,” setting the tone of the poem with an immediate sense of urgency and discomfort. The repetition emphasizes the gravity of the problem, showing that the leaking roof is not just a minor issue but a serious and ongoing one. The roof, a fundamental element of shelter and security, is failing, which signifies the speaker’s vulnerability and the collapse of basic protection in their life.
The phrase “The roof is leaking with ignorance” introduces a deeper layer of meaning to the physical problem of the leaking roof. Here, the word “ignorance” suggests that the problem has been neglected for a long time, either by the speaker or by others around them. It may also point to societal or communal negligence, where critical issues are ignored until they become crises. The leaking roof is symbolic of larger problems—whether personal, social, or spiritual—that have gone unattended for too long, leading to their deterioration.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the specific conditions of the roof. The timber that holds up the roof is weakened, “eaten by termites,” and the bolts that secure it have come loose. The roof is barely holding together, with the frame that supports the thatched tiles also full of holes.
The imagery of decay and disintegration reflects the fragility of the speaker’s situation. Everything that once provided stability and security is falling apart, and the speaker feels powerless to stop it.
The speaker confesses that they cannot climb up to fix the roof, which symbolizes their helplessness in addressing the problems they face. The darkness around them further reinforces the sense of isolation and despair, making it impossible for them to take control of the situation. The darkness may also represent a lack of understanding or clarity, as the speaker struggles to find solutions amidst the chaos.
Further describing the state of the roof, the speaker notes that the dry grass on top is torn and filthy, with ants crawling all over it. The mud, which should help seal the roof and prevent leaks, is ineffective and unable to hold the water. This part of the poem conveys a sense of futility – everything that should work to keep the house intact is failing. The line “The inside and the outside have become one” suggests that the barriers between safety and danger, security and insecurity, have collapsed. The speaker is exposed to the elements, both literally and metaphorically, as the forces of nature and life press in on them without any protection.
In the midst of this despair, the speaker calls out to their mother, pleading for mercy. This cry for help underscores the vulnerability and childlike desperation of the speaker. The mother figure could represent a source of comfort and nurturing, someone who might be able to provide relief from the storm. However, the mother’s ability to intervene is uncertain, which deepens the speaker’s feeling of isolation.
Despite all the challenges, the poem ends on a note of faith. The speaker expresses trust in Shishunala Deesha, likely a reference to a divine or spiritual figure, in whom they have placed their hope for protection. The mention of this figure suggests that while the speaker feels powerless in their current situation, they still believe that a higher power will intervene and offer salvation. The final lines reveal a deep reliance on faith as the only remaining source of strength in a time of great difficulty.
In summary, “Ceiling is Leaking” by Shishunala Sharif uses the image of a broken and leaking roof to explore themes of neglect, helplessness, and the need for faith in challenging times. The physical decay of the roof reflects the speaker’s inner turmoil and sense of vulnerability. Although the speaker is unable to fix the roof or escape the storm on their own, they ultimately place their trust in a higher power, hoping for protection and salvation. The poem resonates with readers who have experienced moments of powerlessness, reminding them that even in times of despair, faith can offer a sense of hope.
Question & Answers
One Marks
Answer: Shishunala Sharif
Answer: The roof is leaking.
Answer: The leaking roof.
Answer: Ants.
Answer: The speaker calls out to their mother for mercy.
Two Marks
Answer: It implies that neglect and unawareness have contributed to the deterioration of the roof, representing larger societal or personal issues that have been ignored.
Answer: The wooden beam has been eaten by termites, leading to its weakness.
Answer: The speaker feels helpless because they cannot climb up to fix the roof and are surrounded by darkness and decay.
Three Marks
Answer: The poem portrays despair through vivid imagery of a leaking roof in disrepair, the darkness surrounding the speaker, and the inability to fix their situation. The breakdown of the roof symbolizes their feelings of vulnerability and hopelessness, reflecting a lack of support and care.
Answer: This line suggests a loss of boundaries between safety and danger, indicating that the speaker’s home is no longer a place of refuge. It signifies that the problems they face have invaded their space, leaving them exposed and vulnerable.
Answer: Faith serves as a source of hope for the speaker amidst their struggles. Despite the dire situation, the speaker places their trust in Shishunaaladeesha, believing that this higher power will provide protection and support during the heavy rains.
Four/Five Marks
Answer: The poem uses powerful imagery to illustrate the neglected state of the roof, describing the broken wooden beams, holes in the frame, and filthy dry grass. This imagery evokes a sense of decay and hopelessness, suggesting that the speaker’s situation has been left unattended for too long. The dark surroundings further enhance the feelings of isolation and vulnerability, creating a vivid picture of despair.
Answer: The plea to the mother highlights the speaker’s vulnerability and longing for comfort and protection. The mother figure symbolizes care and nurturing, representing the hope that someone will listen and help alleviate their suffering. This cry for mercy underscores the depth of the speaker’s despair, emphasizing their need for support in a time of crisis.
Answer: The poem suggests a close relationship between nature and human experience, where the external environment reflects internal struggles. The leaking roof represents the chaos and challenges of life, while the heavy rains symbolize overwhelming difficulties. The inability to maintain the roof mirrors the speaker’s feelings of helplessness and neglect, indicating that the natural world and personal experiences are interconnected.
Ten Marks
Answer: In “Ceiling is Leaking,” Shushilanal Sharif employs the metaphor of a leaking roof to delve into profound themes of neglect, despair, and faith. The poem opens with the striking line, “The roof is leaking,” which serves as a repeated refrain throughout the poem, emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of the issue. The leaking roof is not merely a physical problem; it symbolizes the emotional and spiritual neglect experienced by the speaker, indicating larger issues of ignorance and unawareness that have led to this deterioration.
The phrase “leaking with ignorance” suggests that the speaker’s circumstances have not only been ignored by others but perhaps also by themselves. This neglect manifests in the physical state of the roof, which is described as having beams eaten by termites and bolts that have given way. These images vividly convey a sense of decay and the fragility of the speaker’s situation, reflecting how neglect can lead to the breakdown of safety and security. The roof, a fundamental source of shelter, becomes a powerful symbol of the speaker’s vulnerability and the dire consequences of allowing problems to fester without attention.
As the poem progresses, the imagery continues to portray despair. The speaker describes the surrounding darkness and their inability to climb up and repair the roof, reinforcing their helplessness in the face of overwhelming circumstances. The line “The inside and the outside have become one” further illustrates the collapse of boundaries between safety and danger. The speaker is left exposed to the elements, both literally and metaphorically, as the challenges of life invade their personal space. The mud unable to hold the water symbolizes how ineffective their defenses have become, highlighting the futility of their situation.
Amid this despair, the speaker calls out to their mother, asking her to listen with mercy. This plea emphasizes their vulnerability and the yearning for nurturing and support. The mother figure represents a source of comfort in times of crisis, reflecting the natural human desire for protection and care. However, the speaker’s isolation remains palpable, as the call for mercy suggests a deep need for help that may not be forthcoming.
Despite the grim circumstances, the poem concludes with a note of faith. The speaker expresses their trust in Shishunaaladeesha, believing that this divine figure will offer protection against the heavy rains. This faith serves as a lifeline for the speaker, providing hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. The acknowledgment of faith amidst despair highlights the resilience of the human spirit, suggesting that even in the face of overwhelming challenges, belief can provide solace and strength.
In summary, Shushilanal Sharif’s “Ceiling is Leaking” uses the metaphor of a leaking roof to explore themes of neglect, despair, and faith. The poem vividly illustrates the consequences of ignorance and the feeling of vulnerability that arises when personal circumstances deteriorate. Yet, through the invocation of faith, the poem ultimately conveys a message of hope, demonstrating the enduring strength of belief even in the darkest of times.