This section provides analysis for the poem Search for My Tongue by Sujata Bhatt. In Search for My Tongue, Sujata Bhatt explores the complex and emotional experience of losing one's "mother tongue" — the language spoken by a person's family and community — and the alienation that comes from speaking a foreign language in a different cultural context. The poem delves into the psychological and physical consequences of language loss, and how this loss creates a divide between the self and one's identity, heritage, and sense of belonging. You can read the poem below followed by detailed analysis.
Search for My Tongue by Sujata Bhatt.
You ask me what I mean
by saying I have lost my tongue.
I ask you, what would you do
if you had two tongues in your mouth,
and lost the first one,
the mother tongue,
and could not really know the other,
the foreign tongue.
You could not use them both together
even if you thought that way.
And if you lived in a place you had to
speak a foreign tongue,
your mother tongue would rot,
rot and die in your mouth
until you had to spit it out.
I thought I spit it out
but overnight while I dream,
(munay hutoo kay aakhee jeebh aakhee bhasha)
(may thoonky nakhi chay)
(parantoo rattray svupnama mari bhasha pachi aavay chay)
(foolnee jaim mari bhasha nmari jeebh)
(modhama kheelay chay)
(fullnee jaim mari bhasha mari jeebh)
(modhama pakay chay)
it grows back, a stump of a shoot
grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins,
it ties the other tongue in knots,
the bud opens, the bud opens in my mouth,
it pushes the other tongue aside.
Everytime I think I've forgotten,
I think I've lost the mother tongue,
it blossoms out of my mouth.
Analysis of the Poem
Structure and Form
The poem is written in free verse, which allows Bhatt to express the fluidity and unpredictability of her emotions. The lack of a regular rhyme scheme or consistent rhythm reflects the disorientation and internal conflict the speaker feels as she grapples with the loss of her mother tongue. This form enhances the theme of linguistic and cultural dislocation, as the speaker moves between different states of mind and identity.
The poem also contains a mix of English and Gujarati, highlighting the tension between the speaker's native language and the foreign language she is forced to adopt. The inclusion of the Gujarati phrases in the middle of the poem mirrors the shift in language that occurs within the speaker's own mind — an attempt to reclaim her mother tongue that cannot be fully expressed in English.
Language and Imagery
Bhatt's use of vivid and tactile imagery is central to the poem’s exploration of language loss. The metaphor of the "mother tongue" rotting and dying in the mouth is a powerful and unsettling image. The idea that the tongue would "rot" suggests not only physical decay but also the cultural and emotional death that comes with the abandonment of one's first language. Language is depicted as something integral to identity, and its loss is likened to a death or disintegration of the self.
The phrase "I thought I spit it out" reflects the speaker's initial attempt to rid herself of her mother tongue, perhaps as a form of assimilation or to adapt to her new surroundings. However, the use of the word "spit" conveys a sense of disgust or rejection. Despite this, the mother tongue "grows back" in the speaker’s mind, suggesting that it is an inseparable part of her identity that cannot be completely eradicated.
The growth of the mother tongue is symbolised by a "stump of a shoot" which "grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins". This growth imagery signifies the speaker's eventual reconnection with her native language, as if it is a living, breathing entity that cannot be easily suppressed. The “stump” implies something that has been broken or severed, yet it still has the potential to regenerate and flourish. It is only through the process of dreaming and subconscious thought that the language begins to re-emerge, showing that the mother tongue remains an intrinsic part of the speaker’s subconscious.
As the tongue grows stronger and begins to "tie the other tongue in knots," the imagery suggests that the speaker’s mother tongue will not be easily contained or controlled by the foreign language. The "bud" that opens in the mouth signifies the flourishing of the speaker's native language, a reclaiming of identity that is both a physical and emotional act.
Themes and Ideas
Language and Identity
The central theme of the poem is the relationship between language and identity. Bhatt uses the metaphor of the tongue to convey how intimately language is tied to one's sense of self. The "mother tongue" is not simply a means of communication but is deeply connected to the speaker’s cultural identity and heritage. The poem suggests that when a person loses their mother tongue, they also lose a part of themselves — their roots, history, and personal connection to their culture.
The foreign language is presented as an uncomfortable, inauthentic means of expression, one that cannot fully replace the richness and emotional depth of the mother tongue. The tension between the two languages reflects the speaker’s internal struggle between her cultural heritage and the demands of a new environment.
Cultural Displacement
Bhatt touches on the theme of cultural displacement, which is common in post-colonial literature. The speaker is caught between two worlds: the world of her native language and the world of the foreign language she must speak to survive. This tension leads to a sense of alienation and loss, as the speaker feels disconnected from both her native culture and the culture she now inhabits. The process of "losing" and "finding" her tongue suggests an ongoing struggle to reconcile these two aspects of her identity.
The idea of cultural erosion is evident in the depiction of the mother tongue "rotting" and eventually being pushed out by the foreign tongue. This could reflect the impact of colonialism and migration, where languages and cultures are often marginalised, leading to a loss of identity. The physical imagery of the tongue struggling to grow back also suggests the difficulty of reclaiming a lost heritage in the face of societal pressure to assimilate.
Reclamation and Resilience
Despite the apparent loss of the mother tongue, the poem ends on a note of reclamation. The language "blooms" and "pushes the other tongue aside," suggesting that the mother tongue cannot be permanently silenced. This image of the language blossoming again in the mouth can be interpreted as a symbol of cultural resilience — a reminder that one's heritage and identity cannot be entirely erased, even if they are temporarily suppressed.
The poem conveys a message of hope and renewal. Despite the struggles associated with language loss, the mother tongue ultimately returns, stronger than before. The final lines — "it blossoms out of my mouth" — are a triumphant assertion of the speaker’s cultural identity and the power of language to resist extinction.
Summary
In Search for My Tongue, Sujata Bhatt beautifully explores the emotional and psychological complexities of language loss, cultural dislocation, and the struggle to retain one's identity in a foreign environment. Through vivid imagery and the juxtaposition of languages, Bhatt conveys the inescapable connection between language and selfhood, and the resilience required to reclaim one's roots. The poem ultimately suggests that language is not only a means of communication but also a vital part of who we are, and it will always find a way to survive, even in the face of external
