Page:Classical Poets Of Gujarat.pdf/16

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own latent poetry of life, and the man was wanted that could vlato and’ gratify their souls. Woman, too, in Gujarat has not been a silent factor in society. She _ Would listen to song, and, if possible, would join in a good song. In what way have all these souls created a poetry ?

It has been frequently noted that religions grow up likemushrooms in Gujarat. This is a fact, and is a result of the political extinction to which the province was reduced by the constant emigrations of the Rajputs and other potitical classes leaving behind a residue of anwanlike and home-keeping population which sough’ refuge in religion from the oppressions and anarchies which they were unable to cope with by any other — means. People here have thus had their own views and vicissitudes of life, and are predisposed to listen to all that might soothe and console or elate. Hach locality has thus its own traditions, and is ready to save them, incorporated in some myths and fictions. Some clever man who has thus felt the pulse of the folk in a town or village, finds it easy to set up a suitable religion for them, for religion is often a mixture of poetry and philosophy. There is no wonder that a supply of poets should have at all times existed in a land, the only history of whose people for at least a couple of centuries has con- sisted of vicissitudes and of sentiments as the only relief from their nightmares. But, as said, the