Agha Shahid Ali's poem "Approaching Santa Cruz Airport Bombay" is a poignant exploration of the theme of alienation, capturing the profound sense of displacement and estrangement that the speaker experiences as he approaches the airport in Bombay. Through evocative imagery, vivid descriptions, and a nuanced use of language, Ali delves into the complexities of identity, migration, and the yearning for a sense of belonging. The poem resonates with a profound sense of nostalgia, loss, and the existential dislocation that often accompanies the immigrant experience.
The title itself, "Approaching Santa Cruz Airport Bombay," sets the geographical and emotional stage for the exploration of alienation. The term "approaching" suggests a movement towards a destination, but it also implies a sense of anticipation, a contemplation of the impending experience. The choice of "Santa Cruz Airport Bombay" as the specific destination adds a layer of specificity, grounding the poem in a particular place and time, while also hinting at the broader theme of global migration and displacement.
The opening lines of the poem immediately establish a sense of distance and disconnection. The speaker describes the "pale caravans of goods" that are carried away, emphasizing the transient and impersonal nature of the airport setting. The use of the word "pale" adds a subtle nuance, suggesting a lack of vibrancy and vitality, perhaps symbolizing the muted emotions associated with departure and the separation from one's roots.
As the poem unfolds, the speaker's attention turns to the architecture of the airport, particularly the "terminal's white expanse." The whiteness, a recurring motif in the poem, can be interpreted in multiple ways. On one level, it may symbolize the sterility and impersonality of the modern transit hub, devoid of cultural or emotional markers. On another level, the color white could evoke a sense of purity and emptiness, reflecting the void left by the departure from one's cultural and geographical origins.
The use of the word "terminal" is significant in the context of the theme of alienation. Beyond its literal meaning as a departure or arrival point in air travel, the term resonates with connotations of finality, suggesting an endpoint or a culmination. The airport terminal becomes a symbolic space where journeys begin and end, underscoring the cyclical nature of migration and the perpetual sense of departure and arrival.
The speaker's gaze shifts to the "coconut palms" that surround the airport, and here, too, there is a sense of estrangement. The palms, though native to the region, become a visual marker of what was left behind. The speaker observes them as "giant birds." This anthropomorphic imagery suggests a sense of longing and transformation, as if the familiar has taken on an unfamiliar guise. The use of the word "giant" emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the change, magnifying the sense of displacement.
Ali's poem is characterized by a series of vivid and contrasting images that contribute to the theme of alienation. The speaker describes the "jets" that "are turned away": a powerful metaphor for the idea of being denied entry or access. The turning away of the jets not only reflects the physical act of departure but also encapsulates the emotional experience of rejection or exclusion. This image captures the essence of the immigrant's journey — a perpetual cycle of departure, rejection, and the quest for a place to call home.
The airport becomes a liminal space, a threshold between worlds, and the speaker's perspective becomes fragmented, mirroring the fractured sense of identity that often accompanies the experience of alienation. The use of fragmented syntax and enjambment in lines such as "Through / the shuttle of the tram, its pulses" creates a disjointed rhythm, mirroring the disoriented and disjointed experience of the traveler. The "shuttle" becomes a symbolic thread connecting past and present, but its pulses suggest a rhythm that is irregular and dissonant, reflecting the discordant emotions of the speaker.
The theme of alienation is further developed through the speaker's introspective reflections on memory and identity. The speaker recalls a "longing in the former watercolor" and laments the "final page" of a passport. These references to personal documents and artistic representations underscore the fragility of identity in the face of migration. The watercolor, a visual representation of a distant past, becomes a poignant reminder of what has been left behind. The "final page" of the passport suggests a sense of closure, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, yet also symbolizing the limits and boundaries imposed by legal and bureaucratic structures.
Ali's use of the first-person perspective enhances the emotional resonance of the poem, inviting readers to empathize with the speaker's internal struggles. The speaker's voice is both contemplative and elegiac, capturing the complexity of emotions associated with the experience of alienation. The theme of alienation is not just a physical distance from a homeland; it is also a psychological and emotional distance, a sense of being uprooted and adrift in an unfamiliar landscape.
The poem's conclusion returns to the image of the "coconut palms," but now they are seen as "white obelisks." This transformation of the natural into the architectural reinforces the theme of alienation. The palms, once a symbol of natural beauty and familiarity, become transformed into sterile, man-made structures. The choice of "obelisks" adds a sense of monumentality, perhaps suggesting a memorialization of what has been lost or altered in the process of migration.
The concluding lines of the poem are particularly poignant: "I will remember this, / remember this." The repetition emphasizes the imperative nature of the speaker's remembrance. It is a deliberate act of holding onto a fragment of the past, a means of preserving identity in the face of change and displacement. The speaker's determination to remember suggests a defiance against the erasure of personal and cultural history, a resistance to the forces of alienation.
In summary, Agha Shahid Ali's "Approaching Santa Cruz Airport Bombay" is a deeply evocative exploration of the theme of alienation. Through vivid imagery, rich symbolism, and a nuanced use of language, Ali captures the profound sense of displacement and estrangement experienced by the speaker as he approaches the airport. The poem delves into the complexities of identity, migration, and the yearning for a sense of belonging, highlighting the emotional and psychological dimensions of the immigrant experience. "Approaching Santa Cruz Airport Bombay" resonates with a sense of nostalgia, loss, and the existential dislocation that often accompanies the journey of leaving one's homeland in search of a new place to call home.
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