saidevo
14 September 2006, 05:40 AM
Read in original, Bharati's songs of jnana, create a sense of awe. His songs of bhakti bring tears to eyes. His songs of patriotism bring a sense of pride, courage and gratitude. Packed with firepower, these patriotic songs made a mole a firebrand.
The most distintuishing feature of all his poems, most of which were set by Bharati himself to tune in traditional ragas and popular tunes, is that they used simple words and phrases, and worked their magic with the masses and the pundits.
I do not pretend to be a translator of his poems into English. My presentations here are meant to share the lofty feelings of joy, happiness, awe, pride and gratitude that even an occasional reader of his poems gets. My only regret is that the readers of Bharati's poems in English or any other language for that matter, would always miss some of the spirit of the original.
1. Salutations to the Land
(Endhaiyum thayum...)
My father, mother were happy together
and lived here in this land. -- Its
forefathers for thousand years lived
and died here in this land. -- From their
minds grew a thousand thoughts
and fructified in this land. -- Won't I
keep this in mind and hail my motherland? -- Won't I
sing 'vande mataram, vande mataram' and praise my motherland? (1)
They gave their lives to foster us
and bless us in this land. -- Our
foremothers all lived as children, lisped
and learned about this land. -- As girls they grew
and played in moonlight, all here in this land. -- With
golden frames they played in the waters of this holy land. -- Won't I
sing 'vande mataram, vande mataram' and praise my motherland? (2)
As married women they made their homes and
raised the Dharma of this land. -- Their
golden babies they suckled and reared them in this land. -- People
grew in culture and raised their temples in this land. -- Later
they died and left their ashes scattered in this land. -- Won't I
sing 'vande mataram, vande mataram' and praise my motherland? (3)
2. Vande Mataram
Say 'vande mataram' and
praise our motherland!
We won't divide with castes and faiths. -- A mere
janma in this land if people get,
be they vaidhikas or other castes,
all are one and the same here. (1)
There are thousands of castes here. -- Still
would they justify a foreign invasion?
We all are born in a single mother's womb. -- Among
us we may fight, but aren't we brothers all? (3)
United we have our lives. -- From us
if unity departs, we all will fall.
This truth must be realized. -- When
this jnanam comes, what else would we want? (4)
Whatever the status we get,
we make it common to all.
Live all the thirty crores of us. -- Or
die all the thirty crores of us. (5)
3. Bharat, our Country
Bharat, out country,
is the best in the world.
In Jnanam, in Dhyanam on the Param, -- in high
dignity of pride and self-respect, in Anna Dhanam,
in Ganam, and in nectar-filled
Kavita excels -- Bharat, our country, is the best in the world. (1)
In valor, in might of armies, -- in heart
with compassion wet, in help and service,
in identifying the Essence and codifying it
in Shastras excels -- Bharat, our country... (2)
In charity, in strength of mind, -- in coolness
of heart, in sharpness of brain,
in feelings of poets who never
drift from Truth excels -- Bharat, our country... (5)
In Yajnas, in acumen of Tapas, -- in many
paths of Yogas, in many Bogas,
In blessings from the hearts and homes
of Bhakti excels -- Bharat, our country... (6)
More to come...
The most distintuishing feature of all his poems, most of which were set by Bharati himself to tune in traditional ragas and popular tunes, is that they used simple words and phrases, and worked their magic with the masses and the pundits.
I do not pretend to be a translator of his poems into English. My presentations here are meant to share the lofty feelings of joy, happiness, awe, pride and gratitude that even an occasional reader of his poems gets. My only regret is that the readers of Bharati's poems in English or any other language for that matter, would always miss some of the spirit of the original.
1. Salutations to the Land
(Endhaiyum thayum...)
My father, mother were happy together
and lived here in this land. -- Its
forefathers for thousand years lived
and died here in this land. -- From their
minds grew a thousand thoughts
and fructified in this land. -- Won't I
keep this in mind and hail my motherland? -- Won't I
sing 'vande mataram, vande mataram' and praise my motherland? (1)
They gave their lives to foster us
and bless us in this land. -- Our
foremothers all lived as children, lisped
and learned about this land. -- As girls they grew
and played in moonlight, all here in this land. -- With
golden frames they played in the waters of this holy land. -- Won't I
sing 'vande mataram, vande mataram' and praise my motherland? (2)
As married women they made their homes and
raised the Dharma of this land. -- Their
golden babies they suckled and reared them in this land. -- People
grew in culture and raised their temples in this land. -- Later
they died and left their ashes scattered in this land. -- Won't I
sing 'vande mataram, vande mataram' and praise my motherland? (3)
2. Vande Mataram
Say 'vande mataram' and
praise our motherland!
We won't divide with castes and faiths. -- A mere
janma in this land if people get,
be they vaidhikas or other castes,
all are one and the same here. (1)
There are thousands of castes here. -- Still
would they justify a foreign invasion?
We all are born in a single mother's womb. -- Among
us we may fight, but aren't we brothers all? (3)
United we have our lives. -- From us
if unity departs, we all will fall.
This truth must be realized. -- When
this jnanam comes, what else would we want? (4)
Whatever the status we get,
we make it common to all.
Live all the thirty crores of us. -- Or
die all the thirty crores of us. (5)
3. Bharat, our Country
Bharat, out country,
is the best in the world.
In Jnanam, in Dhyanam on the Param, -- in high
dignity of pride and self-respect, in Anna Dhanam,
in Ganam, and in nectar-filled
Kavita excels -- Bharat, our country, is the best in the world. (1)
In valor, in might of armies, -- in heart
with compassion wet, in help and service,
in identifying the Essence and codifying it
in Shastras excels -- Bharat, our country... (2)
In charity, in strength of mind, -- in coolness
of heart, in sharpness of brain,
in feelings of poets who never
drift from Truth excels -- Bharat, our country... (5)
In Yajnas, in acumen of Tapas, -- in many
paths of Yogas, in many Bogas,
In blessings from the hearts and homes
of Bhakti excels -- Bharat, our country... (6)
More to come...