“Meghadoot”, meaning the Cloud Messenger, is a Sanskrit poem of 120 stanzas or slokas, composed by the poet Kalidasa. Briefly, the poem is about a yaksha, who is banished from Alakapuri, takes refuge in Ramgiri, shares his sorrow with a cloud, and requests the cloud to go and tell his beloved in Alakapuri that he is safe. However, Kalidasa has developed this simple theme into a great literary masterpiece of unparalleled beauty. Even after a passage of 1600 years since it was written, Meghadoot continues to captivate the minds of its readers. Rabindranath Tagore, Madhav Julian, Kusumagraj, Shanta Shelke, and many literary stalwarts have translated Meghadoot from Sanskrit into other Indian languages. Kalidasa’s descriptions are so picturesque, that artists have been inspired to paint Meghadoot sloka by sloka. Its translations into several foreign languages have been posted on the internet.
It is said that a poet can see what even the sun does not. There are no limits to a poet’s imagination. Meghadoot, however, stands a class apart from other great poetry, as Kalidasa’s flight of fantasy transcends into the realm of real science which we know today as meteorology. It would be futile to conjecture how or from whom Kalidasa might have acquired his scientific knowledge. Perhaps nature herself was his teacher!
The very first sloka of Meghadoot paints before us a picture of a yaksha, meaning a servant, exiled from his home in Alakapuri, now living in a far away place called Ramgiri, lonely, broken-hearted and worn out, pained by the separation from his beloved. He is counting the remaining days of his sentence. And on the first day of the month of Ashadha, he suddenly notices a cloud, standing alone atop the mountain peak of Ramgiri (“Ashadhasya prathama divase”…sloka 1.1).
Historians are in general agreement that the town presently called Ramtek, near Nagpur, is the location of Kalidasa’s Ramgiri, while Alakapuri might have been in north India somewhere in the Himalayan foothills. It is important to note that the average date of the arrival of the monsoon over the Ramtek region in 400 A. D. was indeed the same as it is today. This is a reassuring fact, particularly in the context of climate change and the doubts that are being expressed about the changes in the monsoon patterns.
Now imagine that Kalidasa’s solitary cloud is standing proudly over the mountain top, overlooking the region around it, announcing the arrival of the monsoon rains to a population that has been suffering from the scorching heat of the prolonged summer. This cloud is spearheading the monsoon front, making sure that the way ahead is clear for the advance of the monsoon. The yaksha looks at this cloud which has such a heavy responsibility (1.3) and pleads with him to undertake an additional task of carrying a message to his beloved (1.4).
The yaksha knows that the cloud is made up of four ingredients: water, wind, electricity and smoke (“Dhoomra jyoti salila marutam sannipatah kva meghah…” 1.5). He is well aware of the different forms of clouds (1.6). Moreover, he also knows that the northern town of Alakapuri, where his beloved is, lies in the path of the monsoon clouds (“Gantavya te vasatiralaka…” 1.7). Today it is known that smoke consists of two types of carbon, organic and black, of which the former helps in cloud formation and the latter absorbs heat. The role of black carbon in global warming is however not yet fully understood. It is mindboggling that Kalidasa should have known about cloud processes in such detail in his times.
In today’s satellite era, it is possible to monitor globally the growth, movement and dissipation of clouds. The average life time of a typical monsoon cloud is at best a few hours. When Kalidasa’s yaksha asked the cloud to go with his message all the way from Ramgiri in central India to Alakapuri in the Himalayan foothills, he seems to be quite aware of this fact. He was sure that one single cloud would not be able to sustain itself along this long journey. So he finds a scientific solution to the problem. He advises the cloud to rest awhile over the several rivers that would have to be crossed on the way and get rejuvenated (“Neetva neelam salilavasanam muktarodhonitambam…” 1.43). The rivers mentioned are Vetravati (1.24), Shipra (1.31), Gambhira (1.42), Ganga (1.53) and others. It is obvious that Kalidasa envisaged a process in which the evaporation from the surface of these large rivers would help in cloud formation and development. Kalidasa’s poetic fantasy and scientific logic go hand in hand to help fulfill the yaksha’s desire. Little research has however been done since Kalidasa’s times till today on how the monsoon is influenced by the rivers that crisscross the Indian subcontinent.
The yaksha thereafter lays down the itinerary of the cloud. He wants the cloud to visit places like Vidisha, Ujjayini and Devgiri, which have great beauty and with which he has strong emotional bonds. He describes them in picturesque detail and entices the cloud to see them. But here again the scientist prevails over the poet and he says that the monsoon winds will surely carry the cloud to the destination (“Mandam mandam nudati pavanaschanukulam yatha twam…” 1.10). The monsoon winds will slowly turn westwards (“Kinchit paschadvraja laghugatirbhuya evottarena…” 1.16). The yaksha is acquainted with the circuitous route of the monsoon and he repeatedly cautions that the cloud must always keep moving to the north (“Vakra pantha yadapi bhavatah prasthitasyottarasham…” 1.27).
At many places, the yaksha tells the cloud to gain height in order to move faster, again suggesting that Kalidasa was aware of the fact that the monsoon winds gathered strength with height, while phenomena such as the tropical easterly jet and the low level jet were discovered by meteorologists only in the last century.
We do not yet have a precise definition of a typical monsoon cloud. But monsoon clouds over northern India are taller than those over peninsular India and are associated with thunder and lightning. At the end of the poem, the yaksha wishes that the cloud and his beloved, the lightning, may never get separated (“Ma bhudevam kshanamapi cha te vidyuta viprayogah…” 2.55).
Kalidasa’s Meghadootam is not only a poem of great beauty but an accurate scientific statement about the monsoon clouds and winds. What Kalidasa wrote about the monsoon 1600 years ago, can be said to be scientifically sound by today’s standards. In some respects, Kalidasa remains ahead of the scientists of the twentyfirst century and they can learn from him and draw inspiration for doing further research in the monsoon.
Prof. R. R. Kelkar
Kalidasa Day, 23 June 2009
Urmila Pramod Deodhar
Jan 11, 2018 @ 00:11:17
To,
Dr R R Kelkar sir,
नमस्कार .
आपला लेख वाचला.
Kalidasa:The poet with a Scientist’s mind
अत्यंत सुंदर सर्वार्थाने .सर्वांगाने. ह्या विषयावरील आपला अधिकार खूप मोठा आहे. पावती देताना हा लहाना तोंडी जरा जास्तच मोठा घास आहे ,ह्याचे भान आणि जाणीव ठेवूनच होते.आपण उत्स्फूर्त प्रतिसाद मानून घ्यावा ही विनंती .
My father Mr.V K Paranjpe wrote a book ,-मेघदूतावर नवा प्रकाश ,in Marathi and
-Fresh Light on Kalidas’s Meghadoot in English ,in way back in1958 and 1960
Both the books are available only in Bhandarkar Institute in current times.He tried his level best to put across his views on Kalidas and his Meghadoot from all angles and all sides as much as he could.
geographical aspect he has mentioned in his book with reference but details from its masters ,what he was looking for ,probably was beyond his reach or unavailable to him.
This subject itself pulled me in and I am very keen on going in for second edition of his books and keen on adding some information to it which he was keen to add and couldn’t as -my tribute to him and his तपस्या.
I am sure in my heart that,the Kalidas lover with a mastery over geography and Meteorology,as you are,I am to knock on a Devine door for a help.
My Great admiration for your great work sir
Thanking you
ऊर्मिला देवधर
Prof R R Kelkar
Jan 11, 2018 @ 01:04:27
Dear Ms Deodhar,
Thanks for visiting my site. I am glad you liked my article. I am giving below the links to three more posts of mine about Kalidasa of which two are in Marathi. I request you to see them too.
Click to access r-r-kelkar-kallidasa-kavi-ki-shnastradnya.pdf
Click to access meghdoot-padgaonkar-monsoon-220209.pdf
I wish you well in your endeavour to re-publish your father’s books.
Regards,
Ranjan Kelkar
Disha Thakkar
Jun 05, 2016 @ 12:17:22
Hello,
I am a journalist working with Lokmat Times Nashik. We would like to publish this article on the occasion of Kalidasa Din next month i.e Ashadhasya pratham divase. We require your permission. Please let me know at reachdisha@gmail.com
Prof R R Kelkar
Jun 05, 2016 @ 12:53:46
Dear Disha,
Thanks for visiting my site. I have sent you a mail.
Best wishes,
R R Kelkar
Dhirendra Jagtap
Jun 28, 2014 @ 12:03:56
Dear Sir,
Pl give your valuable consent to translate this wonderful article in Marathi to write on Misalpav.com
Thanks a lot.
Warm Regards
Dhirendra Jagtap
Cell No. 8446224248
Prof R R Kelkar
Jun 28, 2014 @ 13:26:08
Dear Dhirendra,
The English post is in fact a translation of my original Marathi article. It is available on this blog at https://rrkelkar.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/r-r-kelkar-kallidasa-kavi-ki-shnastradnya.pdf
So all you have to do is to give a link on your site.
Regards,
R R Kelkar
karthik parsa
Sep 25, 2013 @ 16:46:18
Dear Prof kelkar, I went through your blog.Your work is Really intresting.Can i get photos/ppt or any relevant things on your complete Research work about kalidasa?? I ll be happy to know in depth about your research work. Thank you!!!
Prof R R Kelkar
Sep 26, 2013 @ 00:38:11
Dear Karthik,
Thanks for your comment. I request you to tell me something about yourself and how you intend to use the information that you are seeking.
Best wishes,
R R Kelkar
karthik parsa
Sep 26, 2013 @ 14:21:12
Hi sir,I am karthik and i Finished my post granduation in pharmacy from Manipal university. Currently I am working in Research and Development wing of of Dr. Reddys Laboratories.I I would like to have a deeper understanding of your work as it ignited intrested in me.I wont be using it any where.Its out of my personal intrest that am asking you in detail!!! Thank you!!!
Prof R R Kelkar
Sep 28, 2013 @ 05:28:23
Dear Karthik,
Thanks for your clarification. I have given a few lectures on this subject before different audiences. However, my powerpoint presentations are all in Marathi. My articles are also in Marathi. Whatever I have written in English is on my blog.
So I am sorry that I can not send you more material.
However. let me say that if you decide to pursue your interest, you need to take a holistic view. You should go deep into history, geography, philosophy, poetry and the poet’s fantasy, all together. Then see how they match today’s science as a whole. If you just compare a stanza with a piece of scientific information or with a place on today’s map, you may not find a proper conclusion.
Anyway, my good wishes are with you,
R R Kelkar
Pune
karthik
Dec 20, 2013 @ 18:29:53
Dear kelkar,
I am karthik. I already Wrote to you on the same page.
My boss, Dr.Badri, Senior Director of My company, has Read on the similar lines somewhere.He wants to Extend his Knowledge domain by having a discussion on the same topic.Please provide me with your phone number or mail i.d as he wants to talk to you in person.
Thank you!
Prof R R Kelkar
Dec 21, 2013 @ 05:05:21
My email id is kelkar_rr@yahoo.com
Mr Badri is welcome to send me a mail.
Ranjan Kelkar
Navjyoti Dalal
May 02, 2013 @ 15:05:41
Dear Dr Kelkar,
I am a journalist with DNA. I am looking for someone who has written a book on how Kalidasa’s Meghdootam has scientific relevance too. But it was a long time back that I read about this unpublished author. While trying to find him I came across your blog. I know it sounds strange, but, have you written that book? If so, please get in touch with me at navjyoti.d@gmail.com.
Warmly
Navjyoti
Prof R R Kelkar
May 02, 2013 @ 15:43:46
Dear Navjyoti,
Thanks for your comment on my blog. Could you please tell me when and where you had heard about this book? Further, are you interested in Kalidasa or only in a book about him?
Best wishes,
R R Kelkar
Rama Rangan
Feb 11, 2012 @ 22:39:30
Hi Professor
Enjoyed reading your blog. Was indeed very interesting. Has tempted me to read other works by Kalidasa.Look forward to more such blogs from you.
Rama
Prof R R Kelkar
Feb 12, 2012 @ 00:16:52
Dear Rama,
Thanks for your comment. My primary interest is in meteorology and not in literature per se. I had recently given a talk on weather and life in Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry. But the ppt file is too large to be uploaded. If you are interested in it, let me know.
Best wishes,
R R Kelkar
Shilpi Mahajan
Aug 11, 2011 @ 13:43:56
Hi Dr. Kelkar,
Loved reading your blog. Unfortunately, for most Indians our history dates back to just the Mughal times and may be a few hundred years prior to that. Your blog has been an eye opener and it has encouraged me to read Meghdoot by Kalidasa. Thanks again for the profound reflections in the poem.
Thanks,
Shilpi
Chirtarun
Jan 13, 2011 @ 18:47:06
Dear Professor Kelkar:
It is easy to see that the Holy Spirit has endowed you with the gifts of erudition and perspicacity, which are clearly in evidence in each of your articles. I have enjoyed reading these discourses which interweave such disparate subjects as Jesus in the Gospel of John, Meghadoot, human vision, weather systems, and political boundaries. I am beginning to be a fan of your blog. May God preserve your vision and discernment, for all the days of your life.
Sincerely,
Chirtarun
Prof R R Kelkar
Jan 14, 2011 @ 09:07:37
Dear Chirtarun,
Thank you so much for your words of appreciation and encouragement, and for your prayers. I have five other blogs which you may also like to have a look at. Three of them are however are in Marathi, but Bible Meteorology and My Spiritual Experience are in English.
Regards
R R Kelkar
Akshay
Jul 28, 2009 @ 17:26:03
Dear Sir,
We would like to introduce you to eAnveshan, an online platform, where we strive to bring out the scientific discoveries in the ancient Indian texts to light. This will help the current and future generation to understand and appreciate our heritage and also help us solve many unanswered questions and doubts and also mysteries. We encourage open participation, meaning all the topics on the web site are open for discussion and interested individuals can add their opinion in the topics of their choice.
We have a panel of experts dealing with mythology, cosmology, Vedas, Vedic Mathematics, etc, and we are also constantly looking for some more interested individuals who can contribute their expertise. Please let us know if you are interested in joining the expert panel. We are also highly interested in finding scientific reasons behind Hindu rituals and traditions like Janeu Sanskar etc.
Please support India in exploring its hidden world of Scientific knowledge of Ancient Sanskrit texts. It is not enough just to say that Vedas contain particle physics or Brahmand Puran contains Cosmology, it is time to move on one step further because Science demands proof, and entire eAnveshan community is dedicated to present the Sciences in Sanskrit before the world.
Thanks and Regards
Akshay Bhatt
http://www.eanveshan.com
“You are the Universe Within Universe’
Contact us at: mail@eanveshan.com
Prof R R Kelkar
Jul 29, 2009 @ 01:08:54
Dear Shri Bhatt,
Thanks for the information about your web site. I gladly accept your invitation to me to join the experts panel.
R R Kelkar
Pune
JAGDISH INDALKAR
Jul 20, 2009 @ 12:33:01
NAMSKAR SIR!
AAPALA ABHAYPURNA LEKHA VACHALA! HE EK APURVA AAHE! BHARATIYA SAHITYAKADE MAGASALELYA DRUSTHINE PAHANARYANI HA LEKHA JARUR VACHAVA…. AAPALYA PUDHACHYA KARYASATHI LKSHA LKSHA SHUBECHA…..
Prof R R Kelkar
Jul 21, 2009 @ 14:10:52
Thanks for your kind words! Kelkar
T.N.
Jun 24, 2009 @ 17:17:05
Just read your article in सकाळ. It was “enlightening”!
Such a pity that we have a legacy in India of taking the west example and ignoring our own rich and vibrant heritage!!
Everything seems to be directing the world to the Ancient Indian Sciences and thoughts when our people choose to feign ignorance to everything Indian. Such a shame!
I salute your efforts in pointing this out.
आपला लेख आणि त्यामागचा विचार, दोन्हीही खूप अभ्यासाअंती निश्पन्न झाल्याचं कळून येतंच.. पण तरीही तो वाचताना क्षणोक्षणी खूप रोचकही झाला होता. खरोखरच सुंदर प्रयास!
आपल्या कार्यात अनेक शुभेच्छा आणि हे विचार इतक्या प्रभावीपणे मांडण्याबद्दल मनापासून आभार.
Prof R R Kelkar
Jun 25, 2009 @ 00:30:33
Thanks for your comments and words of appreciation. Would you like to disclose your name? Kelkar
padmini gahtyari
Dec 19, 2011 @ 18:39:32
Very beautifully essayed by you Prof. This easily generates anyone’s interest in reading and understation Sanskrit Literature and of course Kalidasa.
Heartiest Congratulations.
Prof R R Kelkar
Dec 20, 2011 @ 00:43:44
Thanks for your comment.
R R Kelkar
Tuhina
Jun 23, 2009 @ 07:30:08
Wonderful post Daddy. 🙂
gaurawtechi
Jun 23, 2009 @ 03:30:35
Nice blog. I have read about Kalidas and his slokas of Meghadoot during my school dayz. But I guess first time someone has correlated his thoughts with science.
Regards,
Gauraw