Where the nose breathes unhindered and lungs fill up with joy;
Where clean air is free;
Where the tongue craves taste and the stomach eats without concern;
Where food is safe;
Where winter fog envelopes all beings in its mysterious, soft embrace,
Free from the tentacles of its cousin, itchy smog;
Where sunlight, life-giving, source of brightness,
Has not been replaced by Vitamin D tablets and LED lamps;
Where clear streams of water gushing down Himalayan heights,
Have not been polluted by toxic waste and industrial effluents,
Where the world has not been divided,
Between cocooned, paid for life
With managed water, managed food, managed air, managed light that are safe,
And gushing water, unpesticided food, free air, abundant sunlight, that is not;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action;
Into that heaven of salubrity, my Father, let my country awake.
There, I did it! Wrote a poem. But I confess. The words are mine but the form that of a poem by 1913 Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, fondly known as ‘Gurudev’, titled simply as Poem 35, when it was published in the English version of Gitanjali, by the Indian Society, London, in 1912. Written before India’s independence, it represents the poet’s vision of a new and awakened India. This poem was most likely composed in 1900. The English translation was composed around 1911 when Tagore was translating some of his work into English.
I don’t know whether Gurudev, if he were to see the nation today, would consider his century-old vision articulated in the poem having been fulfilled or not. But I am taking the liberty of putting out this modified version of Gurudev’s poem on the occasion of the 70th Republic Day of India, as my own vision for a new and awakened India.
The title used is the title of a poem by Indian poet Henry Louis Vivian Derozio in 1828.
The English version of Tagore’s poem:
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up
into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action—
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
Best wishes to all readers on the occasion.
Thank you Ankur, Perhaps because it is Australia Day today (26 Jan 1901) we should both hope that sometime in the future the dreams can be realized and smog and smoke and rivers and the air can be cleaned up (here and there) . Anyway, back to the cricket……
Indeed John! Let’s get back to stuff that can bring joy and hope.
Loved your poem. I pray all good for our India.
Thank you Kavitha! Amen to that!
Beautifully put, Ankur!
Thank you Anna! When do we get to read your delightful English lessons once again?
I believe that the poem could also easily be entitled ‘To Canada, our native land’. It would contain the same sad truth about the loss of freedom through the MANAGEMENT of all aspects of life here in Canada. We need more warning messages like yours, Ankur.
That seems to be the unfortunate reality of our times, Peter! Nature has tremendous regenerative capacity, but I guess it is still finite.
What a wonderful tribute. I think so much of what you said could refer to lots of countries–if not in reality, metaphorically.
Thank you Jacqui! True. This could apply anywhere in the world.
Definitely universal in thought and appeal. A very nice idea never more to be had.
Thank you! The universal applicability of this theme is what seems to be coming through in many of the comments. So far we have agreement from Australia, USA and Canada,
To India 🇮🇳with love from Canada 🇨🇦
Wishing you continued democratic wealth… And hope you can please
accept our apologies for last year’s peculiar visit from “mr. dress-up”
Unfortunately for us, he found his way back to Canada! 😦 💜 Jackie@KWH
Oh! You mean it was an official trip? Paid for by taxpayer money? But, at a different level, he is a refreshing change from the standard Indian politician, who is typically about 90 years old.
HA! … yes, sadly unrefreshing official “business” worth less than worthlessness 😦 And not cheap either, since our money is never an object when it comes to lavishing it upon himself! 😛 💜 Jackie@KWH
Politicians have a difficult job, isn’t it? Having to spend other people’s money. And, what is more, they apparently do it for our own good 🙂
LoL 😜 Yup… pretty sad, but ‘guess it helps them sleep at night!
💜 Jackie@KWH
Wonderful post. You have captured the “itchy” issues well. Not to forget, we are all “managers”
Thanks Subbu! Somewhere along the line, “manager” became a desirable commodity 🙂
Dear Ankur,
All good wishes on the 70th Anniversary. May god (or gods, as the case might be) bless India with all things good.
Your poem applies to many nations, Singapore included.
Peace,
Eric
P/s. I know, I’m a little serious today.
Et tu Eric? Representatives from Australia, USA and Canada have already applied for inclusion.
There was a beautiful honest poem. Thanks
Thank you! Glad you liked it.
Nicely written post.
Do check my post on India too – https://mesmotsbysazz.com/2019/01/29/racing-and-pacing-towards-2020-an-award-winning-article/
Thanks. I did. Well done!
🙂
I enjoyed your poem immensely. You echo many people’s thoughts – please add tiny Greece to those aspirations…
Thank you! Always amazed to find how universal human feelings and aspirations are.
It’s beautiful 👌. I loved reading it.
Thank you! Glad you liked it.
As always, enjoyed the read.
Thank you for your continued support and feedback.
I got only one thing to say. Beautiful!
If you wish you may visit my blog and share your views on it. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
http://brokentraveller.com
Of course. Thx fr the invite.
Thank you! Glad you liked it.
Your poem is lovely – you’ve captured the essence of Tagore in your own way. Thank you!
Thank you for your kind words, Susan!
Here in Europe is no freedom. Sure is in India better. Food is sure better. Here is just asfalt and concrete. No nature.
Do you think so? Most Indians believe that Europe has done a good job of preserving its natural habitat, despite industrialisation. As it goes down the development path set by the industrialised west, India seems to be devouring nature that dares to stand in the way, be it rivers, forests, mountains or oceans.
Europe is industrial. Here work humans like machine. Work and work for a little money. Who is rich here will never be poor. Snd who is poore will never be rich
That seems quite unfortunate. One would have thought that there are endless opportunities for a hard working and enterprising person in a free market economy.
Here is corruption. No freedom. We are living worse like communism.
I am sorry to hear that. More than immediate condition, I find the absence of hope a deeper malaise. I hope the situation improves.
Europ showing other world how good is to live here. This is just lie. Here to are people living under bridge. People who have nothing to eat. On every step commercial who convince you to buy something. Sure job you can become. No problem. But you must work like in prison. No rights. If you are sick then can you stay home. People do not now how to live from nature anymore and that why mus buy all what you need. You can’t have one pig or chicken at home without paying taxes. Is this world you wanted?
As much as the problems are of our own making, most solutions will also emerge from humans who want to address them. Living in a society requires us to be sensitive to others as well.
Nice .
Thanks. Glad you liked it.
My pleasure