The Patriot by Nissim Ezekiel

This blog emerges from a thought-provoking group activity designed and facilitated by Prakruti Ma'am Bhatt, encouraging us to reflect deeply and express our collective insights.

Original Poem The Patriot by Nissim Ezekiel 

Step 1:Based on the poem one long and one short answer from the question bank.

Long question:

Comment on the ironic mode of ‘The Patriot’ by Nissim Ezekiel.

 Introduction:

Nissim Ezekiel’s “The Patriot” is a powerful satirical poem that uses irony to expose the contradictions within shallow and emotional patriotism. Through a dramatic monologue, Ezekiel presents a character who sees himself as a loyal Indian, but whose words and ideas reflect confusion, prejudice, and blind nationalism. The poem becomes a humorous yet serious critique of how people often use patriotic language without truly understanding its meaning.

1. Dramatic Persona and Broken English:

Ezekiel creates a fictional speaker who speaks in broken English. This voice is not to mock poor English speakers, but to represent a certain mindset — someone who imitates patriotic slogans without fully understanding them. The speaker says things like:

 “I am standing for peace and non-violence.”

But he then talks about fighting Pakistan, showing a clear contradiction. The irony lies in the gap between the speaker’s intentions and how he actually presents them. As readers, we can see the flaws in his logic, but he remains unaware of them.

2. Contradictions in the Speaker’s Statements:

The speaker claims to follow Gandhiji’s ideas but also says he’s ready to fight and die. He says:

This shows how he misunderstands the idea of non-violence. He praises India, criticizes Pakistan, admires America, and hates communists — all without any deep thinking. These contradictions create strong verbal and situational irony, as his version of patriotism seems more like a confused mix of emotional opinions.

3. Satire on Blind Nationalism:

Through this speaker, Ezekiel indirectly criticizes people who claim to love their country but fail to understand what true patriotism means. The speaker’s loyalty is based on hate for others, not on values like justice or truth. The poem uses irony to show that true patriotism is not about repeating slogans or hating other countries — it should be about self-awareness, understanding, and critical thinking.

4. Humor and Irony Working Together:

One of the most interesting things about this poem is how humor is used to deliver a serious message. The speaker’s overconfidence, poor grammar, and shallow ideas make the poem funny on the surface, but beneath the humor, there is discomfort. We laugh, but we also realize that many people in real life talk exactly like this — with strong opinions but little understanding. This is where Ezekiel’s irony becomes both entertaining and meaningful.

Conclusion:

In “The Patriot”, Nissim Ezekiel masterfully uses irony as a literary tool to expose the dangers of unthinking, emotional nationalism. By creating a character who proudly expresses confused and contradictory ideas, Ezekiel invites us to reflect on the quality of our own patriotic beliefs. The poem reminds us that true love for one’s country must come with knowledge, openness, and reflection, not just strong words and blind loyalty. It is a humorous poem, but its message is deeply serious and relevant even today.

Short question:

Explain Nissim Ezekiel as the true Patriot.

Nissim Ezekiel 

 Introduction:

Nissim Ezekiel, often called the father of modern Indian English poetry, was not just a poet but also a deep thinker and critic of society. While his poem “The Patriot” presents a comic and confused speaker, Ezekiel himself represents the idea of a true patriot—someone who loves his country with honesty, responsibility, and critical thinking.

1. Patriotism through Self-Criticism:

Ezekiel believed that true love for one’s country does not mean blindly praising it. He used poetry to point out the flaws, contradictions, and social issues in Indian society. His honest criticism comes from a desire to improve the nation, which shows a more mature and responsible form of patriotism.

2. Writing for Indian Identity:

Ezekiel’s poems reflect Indian experiences, language, and culture. Instead of copying Western styles, he gave voice to Indian realities, even using Indian-English in poems like “The Patriot.” This effort to shape a genuine Indian literary identity makes him a patriot in the cultural sense as well.

3. A Patriot Who Thinks, Not Shouts:

Unlike the speaker in “The Patriot,” who uses loud slogans, Ezekiel’s own voice is calm, reflective, and questioning. He believed that a true patriot is one who wants his country to be better—not by blaming others, but by working on its problems from within.

Conclusion:

Nissim Ezekiel can be called a true patriot because he combined love for his country with truth, honesty, and a critical mind. He didn’t use loud words or emotional speeches, but his poetry quietly and strongly worked for India’s cultural growth and self-awareness. That is the sign of a genuine patriot.

Step 2: Report of the group discussion 

Which poem and questions were discussed by the group?

Poem: The Patriot by Nissim Ezekiel 

Rutvi Pal: About poet: Nissim Ezekiel

Devangini Vyas: Plot summary of the poem

Srushti Chaudhari: Critical Analysis 

Trupti Hadiya: Stanza vice thematic study

Rajdeep Bavaliya: Nissim Ezekiel’s poem “The Patriot” can be – and has been – read in at least two conflicting ways: as a satire and mockery of the speaker of the poem, and as an affectionate portrayal of the poem’s speaker.

Sagar Bokadiya: Is the speaker’s broken English meant to be satirical, sympathetic, or both? How does Ezekiel balance humor and respect in his portrayal of the speaker?

Krishna Vala : Style and Form

Which points were easy and which ones were difficult for everyone in your group to understand?

I found most of the topics are easy to understand. The question about mockery was a little confusing at first, but after the group discussion, I understood it better.